To herx or not to herx..
Sewer Rat
WHY do some people THINK you HAVE to herx?
HOW do these people KNOW when something is a herx?
HOW do these people DEFINE a herx ANYWAY?
WHERE THE HECK DO THESE AND OTHER IDEAS COME FROM??!
This is topic Still no herx on Biaxin/Plaquenil in forum Medical
Questions at LymeNet Flash.
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Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on 28 May, 2008 10:38 PM :
I've been on it 3 wks. and no herx yet. Anyone else experience this? The
only thing I have going on is fullness in my ears and some visual motion
problems as well as my bad ear going deaf for a few seconds followed by
a few seconds of ringing and then it dissipates. I don't know if any of
that can be part of a herx.
I have constant ear/sinus/neck/eye issues on the right side anyway but I
haven't had this fullness since last year. Maybe it's seasonal allergies
or something. I also suspect a perilymph fistula but I've been to 2
ENT's and they look me over for about 5 min. and send me on my way.
Posted by pamoisondelune (Member # 11846) on 28 May, 2008 11:47 PM :
I think it might take several months for the Plaquenil to build up
levels in your blood high enough to herx. I didn't check the accuracy of
this idea.
On one round of Biaxin-Plaquenil, although i can't remember offhand
about sooner herxes without checking my notes, I do remember
feeling pretty bad all during the 5th month, then the last week suddenly
improving; but that was before i started herbals to remove most of those
bad feelings.
Posted by Peck (Member # 14526) on 29 May, 2008 02:00 AM :
I wanted to die within the first week of treatment. I actually stayed on
it another 4 months. Not pretty.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on 29 May, 2008 06:23 AM :
I experienced zero results with that combination.
I did 3 cycles in total.
Cycle 1: 8 months long
Cycle 2: 8 months long
Cycle 3: 8 months long
My doctor kept hammering away thinking it would eventually work. It was
a lot of wasted time.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on 29 May, 2008 09:44 AM :
Hmmm...I wonder why some don't get herxes with this. I had terrible pain
on Zithromax which I believe to be a herx. I started the
Biaxin/Plaquenil at the end of a flare though so maybe in a couple weeks
it will happen. I also think I had a bad herx on Diflucan. Same
w/Ceftin. Doxy definitely did something too.
Hopefully my herx won't be as bad next time around. That would be nice.
How strange huh? I'm feeling pretty decent and I'm complaining about not
feeling bad! [lol]
Could the ear thing I described be a herx?
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on 29 May, 2008 10:06 AM :
I had the total opposite experience with this combo. I started herxing
within a few hours.
I had this horrific metal taste in my mouth, felt dizzy, couldn't feel
my arms, incredible stomach pain (but that could have been yeast).
Then the painful headaches came forehead and lower skull/base of neck. I
was in bed for 2 mos with a heating pad on my lower back and stomach and
ice bags on my forehead and neck. Worst herxes EVER!
Then again, I believe I am a congenital Lymie and this was at age 33 and
the first time I attacked these buggers.
Maybe it's a good sign that you're not herxing...meaning you don't have
a lot to kill? OR, maybe you have a coinfection that's causing your
symptoms and this combo isn't hitting it.
I think Biaxin/Plaq primarily hits Lyme cysts and spirochetes.
Hang in there...it will become clear soon! A lot of this is trial and
error but you'll get to know your body and its various responses (or
lack there of) over time.
Furthermore, I've heard that not everyone has to herx to get
better...that certainly wasn't MY story but what a lovely version of a
Lyme treatment it sounds like to me! [Wink]
Posted by Sojourner (Member # 9424) on 29 May, 2008 11:59 AM :
It took a good 4 weeks on that combo (plus mino) for my husband's herx
to really get cooking and then, "watch out"
Ah, but everyone is different. Our doc usually tries to keep one on this
for at least 12 weeks because the plaq can take a while to start cyst
busting.
Posted by kmm215 (Member # 15666) on 29 May, 2008 11:20 PM :
Hi Laura,
I was on that combo a few years ago and never herx'ed...I've been back
on now for about 8 weeks and so far no herx. I also alternated with
Minocycline in the past as well. The only reaction I had and currently
have was the awful metal taste! Which the dr suggested sipping diet soda
and/or chocolate to take away the metal taste. It actually seems to
work, although the chocolate sure does pack on the pounds!
I did eventually stop the Plaquinal, as I was worried about the color
blindness side effect, that would be a horrible effect for my job and I
didn't want to risk it.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on 30 May, 2008 09:35 AM :
Oh great! I didn't know color blindness was a side-effect. If you notice
it coming on and stop will it resolve?
I'd like to continue w/the plaquenil b/c it's a cyst buster and my LLMD
doesn't Rx Flagyl.
Posted by kmm215 (Member # 15666) on 30 May, 2008 10:32 PM :
Hi Laura,
I saw my eye dr, every 6 months when I was taking the plaquinal. But
after a while, I was just a little too nervous.
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/hquine_ad.htm
I'm a graphic designer and just didn't want to take the chance? Its a
possibility, but thankfully isn't always an issue.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on 01 June, 2008 11:28 AM :
The herx has arrived.......
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on 01 June, 2008 11:31 AM :
Did it bring flowers and chocolates when it arrived? [bonk]
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on 01 June, 2008 11:39 AM :
HA! I wish! Nope, just lots of pain, fatigue and nausea.......
I woke up feeling like I had morning sickness but I know for sure I'm
not pregnant. Would be immaculate conception (poor hubby)!
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on 01 June, 2008 05:55 PM :
Congrats on your first Biaxin/Plaq herx. It some weird way, it's
probably validating because it feels like it's killing something, right?
I hope it doesn't get too bad!
Hang in there.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on 01 June, 2008 06:17 PM :
I knew it would arrive sooner or later. I go on vacation in a month. I
hope I'm not too bad then.