When does a HERX normally occur??

[skarey]

I started my Cefuroxine last night and so far so good.  No side effects at all (not yet anyways)!  I was curious when a herx normally happens after starting abx?  And also, if I don't herx, does this point away from lyme?  

I'm still feeling pretty well for the most part, and am just wondering when to expect a herx if it is going to happen?

Thanks!

[Chatterbox58]

I didn't even know anything about this herxing stuff until now, however I do remember after taking the doxy I was in such terrible pain, mainly at night, it was just awful.  I thought my body was going to jump out of my skin.  Now looking back I do believe I was herxing...that sounds like an awful word!!! My pain was mainly joint pain, numbness including my head it felt like it wasn't even attached.  I remember it lasted a couple of weeks, mainly at night.  Gosh, now I understand what was wrong with me at that time.  Also, I remember a time where I was sick with a fever and stomach pain around the same time with the joint pain.  I really should've written all this stuff down when it was happening to me.  How in the world will I ever know if I have or is there a such thing as chronic lyme.  I just posted a question about pain a few minutes ago.  The other day I couldn't take a step to walk, my leg was in such pain.  Is this chronic lyme?

[gorbybelle]

sounds like you could be herxing - I am having worse/new pain at the moment too - am also thinking/hoping I am herxing.

gorbsx

[gorbybelle]

I had stabbing ear pain whilst taking doxy - also a sort of muscle spasm feeling in my face/ear area - I was also constantly swallowing - like something was in my ears and draining . - I don,t suffer any sinus problems.

[skarey]

I also forgot to mention that I've also been getting the worse STABBING ear pain!  It hurts!

[skarey]

Yesterday was day 4 on abx and I noticed I felt worse.  My brain fog I had at the very beginning was back and I felt out of it.  I also was very tired and somewhat nauseasted.  Also, my hands, ankles, and knees hurt more.    I don't know if this is a herx or not.  Cause it wasn't horrible... i just felt worse than I have in awhile.   But I seem to have worsening of symptoms every few weeks anyways when I'm not on abx.  

How do you diffrentiated a herx, or flares?  Or are they the same thing?  Why do we get flares when not of abx?  Is it cause they are dying and reproducing??  

Oh, so confused about this.

[Jena906]

Mine was also 3 days.  Then i crashed for about a day 28 days later.  That's when I knew that we finally found what was making me sick for the past 2 1/2 years.  I almost stopped but the dr and husband told me that it would get better and eventually the lyme would be killed off.  It did get better.

Keep up with the meds even if it gets tough it is well worth it to stop any further havoc on your body.  

Jena

[gorbybelle]

what I 'experienced as a herx' was different to my usual flares - that was from 'doxy' - at present I am on 'amox' - I seem to get that 'whole body feels wrong' - feeling about 2 hours after taking the abx. and it lasts for anything from 1 to 4 hours - I obviously don't know if this is just the effects from 'amox' or some sort of 'herxing'.

I am reasonably sure the 'doxy' caused a 'herx' because  - other than the 'intensity of it - I felt so much better once it was over - that feeling lasted over a month - I felt that my body /mind was sort of  free from all this stuff - I was my pre-lyme self. - something bad had been cleared from my system ?
It was fantastic to know I am still 'me' !!  

I haven't had - so far - the same experience with 'amox.' - I have only been taking it for 3 weeks - I realise that 'doxy' is thought to be a better abx. when dealing with lyme and so I will likely try to take 'doxy' again - it seemed to cause 'gerd' - but now I feel that it was just my bodies way of expelling the toxic waste - of course it could be that since my initial 'herx' I don't have such a heavy load of bacteria and so will not feel the same intensity from 'herxing' - whatever abx. I take.

this is of course is just my experience and theory - everyone is different - I think with time and experience we begin to recognise 'herx' from 'flares' - this is also what I have read from other 'lyme' experiences.

[jason80]

This is a little hard to explain but....Do any of you feel like you had a similar feeling of having a herx prior to taking abx?

I started abx a few weeks ago and after several days, I had one really bad day (actually about 4 hours long) where I felt that flu like feeling that my whole body felt wrong and I had to go home. My pain/symptoms have been fairly steady over couple years, but every once in awhile I've gotten that same feeling, but it only happens about once every several months and it's only that level of discomfort for about a day long.

That's why I can't tell if the symptoms I had a several days after I started abx is really a herx or just coincidence with one of my other episodes.

[Hope75]

If mine was a herx and not an allergic reaction - then it was about a week, I think?  Yeah, it would definitely have to start killing before toxins would be released, I would imagine.  I don't know that any two people are just alike.

[gorbybelle]

'herx' are different for everyone - some have increase in usual symptoms - others - myself included - have more 'emotional' stuff - I did a lot of crying ,etc; - also itchy/prickly sensations -

also not everyone with lyme experiences 'herxing'  - just a gradual improvement in health.

you will be o.k. - gorbsx

[lymesurvivor]

hey girl, if your feeling good thats a good start, but believe me, you will know if you start having herxs. you will feel like your nerves are going crazy, like creepy crawly. sorry, not trying to scare you, just trying to help. it is very painfull. if you don't have this, i would definetely question if you have lyme disease. there are false positives, but i don't' know your situation. feel free to leave me a note asking me anything. i have been sick for a really long time. but anyway, good luck, i hope you don't have it for your sake. god bless!

[gorbybelle]

mine started after 2/3 days - doxy

[patsy10]

About 5 days for me.

[Stephen898]

It was 3-4 days for me. It may take that amount of time to build up a level of abx's to sufficiently start to kill off the bacteria. The other possibility is at that point your body can no longer detox fast enough which makes you feel bad. Could be both.

[JackieCalifornia]

I'd give it about 3 days, based on my experience.  Takes some time.  Others' experience may vary.