Can you help me understand

[RKF55]

Hello,

I have been taking antibiotics for a month now as my Lyme treatment and was actually starting to feel better. The first week I started them I felt as bad or worse than ever and the dr said that is a good thing. I have read a lot about herxing but I still dont really understand why that makes all my symptons shoot thru the roof. Or why just having Lyme is a bad this week and then better (not well but better) next week thing.

But my main question is this: I started yesterday taking Burbur and Pinella along with  the antibiotics and last night and today my symptons are real bad. I thought those two things were supposed to help get rid of the dead bugs and should make you feel better. And can anyone tell me if I should try not to take all this stuff at the same time? Like this morning I took the Burbur and Pinella along with my alergy pill Alegra, then I drank a glass full of Green Vibrance to get the other stuff I need, took a Lumbrokinase pill and Methylcobalmin pill and on top of all that a Doxcy pill. That is a lot of stuff to mix up in my stomach at once. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

[JackieCalifornia]

You say:  "I have read a lot about herxing but I still dont really understand why that makes all my symptons shoot thru the roof."  The Lyme bacteria like to hide in places in your body where the immune system can't see or reach them.  When the right meds are given to roust the bacteria out into the open, then your immune system starts to kill the bacteria, and that releases a lot of irritating chemicals.  That by definition is a Herxheimer reaction ('Herx' for short.)  You can look it up.  

You say:  "Or why just having Lyme is a bad this week and then better (not well but better) next week thing."  Because the bacteria reproduce in cycles, so the misery level rises and falls along with the number of bacteria.

You say:  "But my main question is this: I started yesterday taking Burbur and Pinella along with the antibiotics and last night and today my symptons are real bad. I thought those two things were supposed to help get rid of the dead bugs" ---

Prescriptions are medicinal, and herbs are medicinal -- so by taking what your doc prescribes *and* what you buy at the health food store is doubling up and causing the release of uncomfortable levels of toxins from the dying bacteria.  I would NOT take herbs along with phamaceuticals UNLESS my Lyme doc AND my pharmacist is okay with it.

You say, "a rise in the toxins release ... should make you feel better."  Actually, a walk in the spring rain can make you feel better, but a massive flood will just cause problems.  Ditto with piling on with meds.  I would not take anything medicinal (prescription or herb) without the okay of experts in both areas.  More is not always good, and can in fact be bad.

You say, "And can anyone tell me if I should try not to take all this stuff at the same time? Like this morning I took the Burbur and Pinella along with my alergy pill Alegra, then I drank a glass full of Green Vibrance to get the other stuff I need, took a Lumbrokinase pill and Methylcobalmin pill and on top of all that a Doxcy pill. That is a lot of stuff to mix up in my stomach at once."  That last sentence you got exactly right.  

You can also inadvertently cause problems by conflicts among the various chemicals you are ingesting -- whether it's herbs or antibiotics, they are all chemicals.  Be sure your doc okays non-prescriptions meds you are taking.

[mojogal]

Herxing is a worsening of your symptoms when you are taking things that kills the bugs. The toxins from this gets in your body causing the herx so detoxing is very important!

I took the Burbur and Pinella as well as the full Cowden protocol. You can take them per Dr Cowden, every 15 minutes, while herxing and it is suppose to improve your herxing symptoms. I never herxed on his protocol myself but I have heard it has helped many others. The full protocol didn't help me so I am changing to something else.

Jackie is correct, make sure your Dr is aware of everything you are taking.

[RKF55]

Thank you both for the thoughts.

My dr told me take all the herbals with my abx.  She believes in using the Cowden protocol with the abxs and then stopping the abxs after a few months. I did cut the dosage of the herbals in half and am handling it better. The instructions just weren't clear about mixing the abx and the herbs. I think I would do better if I could stretch it out throughout the day but that is not an option with having to go to work.

[JackieCalifornia]

If the dose is reduced to where it's more tolerable for you during the day, that could work -- if the doc says it would be all right.  In years gone by, I never thought to contact the doc's office to say "XYZ medicine is giving me these symptoms:  ___, and it seems to me I might tolerate it better if I could take it scheduled this way:"  ... then suggest what you think will work.  

I'd do the same if I changed the dose (as you mentioned, halving the herbal dose) so the doc is completely clued in.  Reducing meds can allow the targeted bacteria (or whatever) to survive and mutate to the point that they can become drug-resistant in you and in others.  Proposing changes to meds and dosage and timing is something the doc should okay before changing.  All you don't need is being still infected AND the infection is stronger and harder to kill.  Take care -- keep us posted, okay?