Stopped abx

A few weeks ago my llmd changed my abx and started me on ceftin. It flattened me with fatigue and depression / brain fog rendering me non-functioning. Dr recommended I stop ceftin to give me time to "wash out". Within 24 hours I felt great. Guess I know I was dealing with a herx but I'm wondering what this means moving forward...how long do you think the Dr will keep me off? Will this make bugs persist? My depression and some fatigue is starting to creep back in but not nearly like when I was herxing.

I trust my Dr but I also know she has neglected to talk to me about diet and detox so I know much of my healing relies on learning all I can on my own.

When I did cowden protocol for 9 months I didn't herx at all and felt great. Guess I was just keeping bugs at bay. Stress caused a flare and now I'm 3 months since starting abx with constant herx. Should I stick with abx?????

Can you call your Dr.? I think the best thing to do is have a conversation with her and tell her your concerns.

Many of us have taken time off during our treatments...it is necessary sometimes.

My Dr. didn't talk to me about diet, either...and as far as detoxing goes...just sold me supplements...but never mentioned epsom salt baths, or dry brushing, or even light exercise.



Edited to change 'him' to 'her'.

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Moderator, Lyme Forum
Symp started April/2013; Buhner's Lyme May 15-July24/14; Igenex pos. July 3/14
Doxy: July 4-Aug.24/14;Zithro July26-Aug24/14; Amox + Proben. Aug. 29/14; added biaxin Sept. 26/14 Disc. amox,added Ceftin Nov. 20th.; Disc. biaxin added Buhner bart herbs Dec/14;Jan/15 pulsing Tinda (w/ Ceftin); Abx/herb break Apr-July/15; July-mino; Aug. added Rif; Nov. switched mino to biaxin.

Post Edited (Girlie) : 5/29/2016 11:53:57 AM (GMT-6)

smcalumni96--

Good comments already.

I think you need to probe your MD a bit. There is a difference between herxing during treatment or after a change within the protocol (which can include fatigue and an uptick in symptoms)--and crashing. Manageable herxing is part of healing, crashing sets you back.

I would guess the ceftin is hitting the infection and that is what is causing the herxing but you might also investigate the possibility of having other issues overloading your immune system (a high viral load, or other bacterial dysbiosis in your gut).

And if you aren't also detoxing really well, your treatment will continue to overwhelm your body. So learn what you can about detoxing here (since your MD won't be of much help--and this is really disconcerting that she's not advising patients to detox) and try to match the pace at what you are killing things with the same pace of detoxing. Your herxing should just be an uptick of symptoms or maybe new symptoms get stirred up with the treatment hits new pockets of the infection--it shouldn't wipe you out.

Talk w/ your MD about slowing tx down--not necessarily stopping it. Or pulsing a few days on, a few days off. I wonder if MDs stop abruptly when patients complain of severe symptoms because they are concerned about the repercussions if patients get upset or insurance companies (or rather, their malpractice attorneys) feel like investigating (read: suing). So, it's a good idea to probe your MD so you can better understand what she is trying to accomplish by stopping altogether.

-p

Yup - the bugs are being killed and toxins created are too much for your detoxing to handle.

Can you bump it up a bit? Add in a few more detox methods?

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Moderator, Lyme Forum
Symp started April/2013; Buhner's Lyme May 15-July24/14; Igenex pos. July 3/14
Doxy: July 4-Aug.24/14;Zithro July26-Aug24/14; Amox + Proben. Aug. 29/14; added biaxin Sept. 26/14 Disc. amox,added Ceftin Nov. 20th.; Disc. biaxin added Buhner bart herbs Dec/14;Jan/15 pulsing Tinda (w/ Ceftin); Abx/herb break Apr-July/15; July-mino; Aug. added Rif; Nov. switched mino to biaxin.

Hi smcalumni96 -

It's pretty normal to be tired during treatment - this isn't like treating a UTI - this is a whole-body infection and it's best to allow your body the rest it needs whenever it cries out for it. It's clearly overwhelmed and that is not at all unusual when you're starting out treatment.

So, viruses either lie dormant or "reactivate" causing symptoms--they are not "curable". Even with treatment of antivirals they remain in our bodies. Most of the adult population has EBV but we "lymees", can certainly be overwhelmed if our immune systems are trying to heal lyme & co AND battle a reactivated viral load. And EBV is the only virus you know about--ticks can sometimes also share viruses with us (other common viruses w/ lyme are CMV, HHV-8).

I have always struggled with a high viral load (unless I was actively on antiviral meds) and my main symptom is extreme fatigue. And of course, when I started lyme & co treatment, I herxed just like you because the treatment was hard on the body and the viral load was just lying and waiting for an opportunity to pounce. It's like trying to drive a packed car up a hill in 110 degree weather with the A/C blasting... something's gotta give.

So right off the bat I want to encourage you to take an antiviral (Rx or herbal) and see if that helps lessen the load on your immune system.

But you probably also need to increase detoxing--which the charcoal will likely help with. Start slow and drink LOTS of water. And then work up to as high a dose as you can tolerate. You can even add in another binder like bentonite clay - double up. I may have already mentioned this but my tx took a huge turn when I implemented pure cholestyramine and I chase it with bentonite clay. HUGE difference (although I've also struggled w/ GI problems so not everyone needs this in their arsenals.)

When you're ON the abx, they are killing lyme and the dead debris and toxins can overwhelm the body--which is another reason you need to be detoxing as intensely as you are killing stuff. You gotta get it out of your body at the same pace you are killing it or the toxins will build up, causing more symptoms.

I've also read that the borellia microbe can be more active as it is trying to evade the abx and maybe this stirs up more symptoms.

When you're OFF the abx, your body isn't struggling as much because there is less debris toxins moving through it.

-p

Post Edited (Pirouette) : 5/30/2016 4:05:49 PM (GMT-6)