I’m sorry I’ve not written for a week, but last week I had a health set back. Because of having chronic lyme, I have real bad edema in both my legs. One of my legs started leaking a clear liquid. It is like one pore started sweating and water kept pouring out of it. It is actually called weepy leg syndrome. People who have edema that has been caused by massive infections or chemotherapy often times get lymph edema. And that is because there is so much pressure on your leg and the vascular lymphatic system is unable to pump that liquid back up to the body to be processed through the kidneys.
So my doctor immediately put me on a new antibiotic (the blue one in the photo). It is a rather high dose and she was hoping I’d have some fast results. She also gave me an herb to help my vascular system (the brown pill). My weepy leg syndrome dried up in a day or two.
When lymes patients start on a new antibiotic or change medication regimes, they often get a hexheimer reaction. Currently I’m right in the middle of one. I found this article that is reblogged in part on Lyme Disease Blog, please pop over to their blog to read more.
The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (or herx for short) is an inflammatory response to antibiotic treatment for certain diseases (although some non-antibiotic treatments can produce the reaction). It’s also referred to as a “healing crisis” or “die-off,” meaning a detoxification of dead or dying bacteria and other pathogenic organisms in the body.
A Herxheimer reaction feels like a worsening of illness symptoms and can include:
- fever
- sweating and chills
- rapid heart rate or palpitations
- shortness of breath
- muscle and joint aches and pains
- headache
- brain fog
- insomnia
- swollen glands
- ringing in the ears
- sinusitis
- itching
- digestive issues
- unstable emotions
- general feeling of sluggishness
About the only symptom I am not getting is the rapid heart rate or palpitations. Herxing usually last me a little over a week. Then once the initial die-off happens, I start feeling better.
Hugs and blessings
Cee
WOW Wow, and wow some more. This is just so interesting but I am so bummed that it is happening to such an awesome woman. Could we not just have a medical prop to learn this from? Does Cee really have to be the one who teaches us, does she really have to be the one who deals with so much?
Lymes I detest you!!
Gosh Cee, this is so not fair that you have to deal with this. I know people say that fairness is subjective. But this is overkill when one symptom over another keeps hitting you in the gut. And yet you keep smiling, you keep that energy as positive as you can when you are able
This too is all going to pass, another crossroad on the path of your particular journey with Lymes Disease.
Thanks so much for sharing with us, because we care I think it’s very important to be informed about all that we can. Thanks for offerring up more ways to learn. I am most grateful~
Love you girl~
i hope you recover quickly!
Wishing for your full recovery!
Sending hugs and healing prayers your way.
Could we not have a collective / universal SPIT at LYME. I wish we could. Do keep well, Cee. When you need the universe to listen, we are here to support you.
Sending you healing light and love Cee!
Cee,
Bless you for doing this and teaching us all.
Cee, honey, you are the first person I know to have those symptoms, other than me. When the edema gets established, the clear blisters start to show up. Then, rather than drying up, mine turn to ulcers. But I finally have a handle on those; primarily to keep my stupid hands off, so they can heal. Thanks — I hate that you have weepy leg syndrome, but I’m relieved that it isn’t just me!
This weepy leg thing was so weird. I didn’t have any blisters or ulcers. It was just coming out of my pores…it seems to have gone away now.
Prayers and good vibes for a speedy recovery, Cee. Hang in there!
Hope this coming week will be better for you!
OMG … I’m so sorry to hear about what you’ve been going through. I am praying you will feel better very soon.
I wish for your speedy recovery, Cee.
Earlier I gave you an order, and that was to get better quickly.
I demand that you follow that order!
Yes ma’am. Actually finally today I’m starting to feel human again. Still going to take it easy though. Maybe by tomorrow I’ll be back to my normal self….whatever that is.
I’m to wise (or to scared?) to head into a debate on what/who’s normal or not
Get well soon Cee!
Hope you are feeling better quickly. I have a friend with a gut problem, and every so often she has to go on a liquid diet that kills off the extra bacteria in her gut. She really in bad shape for about a week with Herxheimer, but as you said, begins to feel much better. Hope your heading the right direction!
Hope you’re feeling better, Cee!
I’m hexed with different ailments – basically the same symptoms. I’ve been posting graphics lately because writing a full post is too much.