Arthritic/herx questions

wpack3

Regular Member

Joined : Jun 2016

Posts : 21

Posted 11/26/2018 5:35 PM (GMT -5)

I started my antibiotic protocol 10 days ago. My doctor wants me on 3 antibiotics but is going to ease me in because I had cdiff in 2005. I started azithromycin as the first one.
Well 3 days ago I woke up with severe foot pain. Since then is has become more swollen and red near my big toe. Today my primary doctor said he thinks it is gout. I do have a high uric acid level. He wants to put me on a steroid for a week.

I had thought this might be a herx reaction. That said I am only on 1 antibiotic so far. So maybe it is gout. Any thoughts?

Post Edited (wpack3) : 11/26/2018 3:42:56 PM (GMT-7)

Girlie

Forum Moderator

Joined : May 2014

Posts : 48577

Posted 11/26/2018 9:16 PM (GMT -5)

It could be a herx...but keep an eye on the toe. Just an FYI. When I was on amoxicillin, my LLND also prescribed Probenecid - it's a medication used to treat gout.... But, he prescribed it because amoxy has a very short half life and the probenecid also increases the length of time amoxy stayed in my blood.

What dose would the steroid be? The problem with steroids (unless they're really low doses) - is they will suppress your immune system...and this could allow your lyme infection to get worse.

So maybe have a conversation about probenecid - maybe it’s an option to treat the gout instead of steroids.

sebreg

Veteran Member

Joined : Jun 2015

Posts : 1925

Posted 11/26/2018 10:50 PM (GMT -5)

I am pretty quick to jump to calling something a herx, and it very well could be. Have you asked your treating physician what they think is going on? It could be that you are herxing but that it also inflames your weak points and maybe this involves stimulating gout episodes? (I don't know if that is scientifically possible, I just throw out the idea). Or maybe it is just a gout episode, but the timing of abx and subsequent episode is curious...

Are there any other treatments for gout episodes beyond steroids? The ideal would be finding an alternative to steroids if that exists.

Village Crazy Lady

Regular Member

Joined : Feb 2017

Posts : 459

Posted 11/30/2018 2:12 AM (GMT -5)

I would say herx is a big possibility.
Before I allowed steroids (knowing how bad they really are for us) I would bump up detox methods and see if you can pull off the symptoms.
Epsom salt/baking soda/ginger baths
Ionic foot bath
Lemon water like crazy
You could also back off on your azith dose and /or frequency of dosage and see if your symptoms reduce to help determine the cause of the foot pain.

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