I have not had the swelling you mention above. I had a friend who had cat scratch and it was an actual lump on his neck.
A herx reaction is different in each person so I can only speak for myself. It usually hits me about 5 days into treatment.
Hi gorbs, wow sounds like your dr is with the program!
I haven't had doxy, so can't speak to it.
As to your neck, I get puffy watery bits like that below and inside my knees right after a Herx (if I'm on meds) or after the bugs have had a little hatching party (if I'm off meds). Gravity causes the watery stuff to run downhill to a spot where it stops and has to just be absorbed back into the body. Ask your LLMD, it's a worthwhile question.
I don't really remember how long it took to get my first Herx after starting treatment, probably a half week or a week. Mine were never much more severe than the symptoms I was having already, tho some people have worse Herxes I think. Others can comment....?
Remember, the fear and anxiety are the bugs talking; hang in there and that too will eventually go away.
Keep us posted! Good for you!!