Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Quick Update

I have still been doing so much better! I have very slight muscle twitching and that is about all! I will be starting back on Rifampin next week for the next 3-week pulse. It might cause me to herx again and become symptomatic but it will be worth it because it has been the "wonder drug" that has made me feel so much better!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Day 5 - Tindamax

Still feeling pretty good but have noticed an increase again in leg twitching. It got kind of crazy last evening at my desk and now again today since getting back from a walk. I have been making myself take walks daily now to keep my strength and hopefully build muscle mass where it has been wasting. I'm sure the exercise is not helping the twitching muscles but I do not want to waste anymore muscle mass. As long as I don't feel terrible from walking ... which I generally DO during a herx ... then I'm going to keep it up!

Just wanted to note the increase in twitching again which I am attributing to the Tindimax pulse!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Just Checking In

After the initial headache that I had after my first dose of Tindamax, I have felt really pretty good! I have a few aches and pains here and there and even a few twitches now and then but really very few compared to what I have been having!

I am really getting encouraged that the Rifampin has worked well for me and that would be right on target for what I have read from other Lyme patients' experience with this drug as well! I will go back on the Rifampin after this 3 week period with the Tindamax. I may still experience a herx from starting Tindimax but I am hoping the initial headache was "it" for this drug!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

1st Day of Tindamax (Tinidazole)


I began my pulse of 500 mg. of Tindamax twice daily for 3 weeks. No other antibiotics with this drug for the next 3 weeks. I have had a headache which began this afternoon and is still with me tonight. Wondering if I am already beginning a herx or if this is just a "normal" headache.

A couple of days ago, I began having sharp pains and burning in my chest area which is worse when I am hungry and during and after eating as well. I am thinking that all the medications are starting to wreak havoc on my esophagus and stomach. I found my bottle of Protonix (Pantoprazole) and took the last pill. I will have to call and ask for a re-fill to help with acid reflux. I just pray that is ALL that is going on and not something worse like an ulcer of gallbladder problems.

I have felt so good the past 3 or 4 days that I am really dreading another herx! I have big plans for tomorrow and the next month as I am buying a horse and will be having training classes. I want so badly to feel good and be able to enjoy this fun time and not spend it in bed! PRAYING for good times!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Third Day Feeling Better ... I could get used to this!


I am stopping my current 3 abx and beginning a 4th new one tomorrow. I will do this change for 3 weeks then go back to the others for 3 weeks and keep teeter-tottering back and forth like that. It also has to do with the life / breeding cycles of the critters too! It is very complicated scientifically so it's not just guesswork, it's a scientific formula! Today has been my THIRD good day in a row! I am so thankful!!! Yep, I have a little fatique and a few minor aches but NOTHING like I have been up until now! The main thing is the past 2 nights I have had a true "restless leg syndrome" feeling in my left leg. The yucky feeling that only gets better if you move it constantly. It's not really a pain or ache that you can rub but an annoying sort of "nervous leg" feeling. So strange! I almost got back up and took a 2nd bedtime bath but instead just rubbed some Vicks vaporub all over my leg and tried to go to sleep. Thankfully, I did and slept well after that!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Symptom Update .....

In addition to my bladder problems the past two days, I was also very painful! Although I didn't have any leakage last night in bed, I did have to get up and take 4 Ibuprofen tablets to try and relieve some pain. My legs and hips were hurting so bad it felt like my muscles were being ripped to shreds!

What a difference today was! Although I woke up still a bit painful, I eventually got a burst of ENERGY! Yahoo!!! I can't believe how much better I felt. I even worked outside for quite a while ... used our electric hedge trimmers, raked up all the clippings, pulled weeds and cleaned up the patio area. Normally I wouldn't have been able to even attempt any of that! What a relief to feel fairly normal again!

Surprisingly, I didn't crash afterwards either. The rest of the evening was enjoyable as well. When I got in bed ... after a bath ... I still felt pretty good. Finally the achiness returned but not nearly as bad as the past few nights. It felt more like a true restless legs syndrome type feeling. In addition, I had pronounced stabbing and burning pains particularly in my feet and toes.

I have noticed that today and even yesterday at my "worst" that I haven't had hardly any muscle twitches! I remember having one soon after going to bed last night but the pain was my worst symptom.

I don't really remember having many twitches all day today or this evening either. I do feel like I am getting "stung" by bugs or something in many areas of my body today. Such an annoying and strange sensation! Tonight, as I stated above, I had a hard time getting my legs comfortable and it kept me from getting to sleep so I got up and took 4 more Ibuprofen tablets. Hoping to go back upstairs to bed soon.

A couple more symptoms that I need to note are the icepick stabbing type pains in my head ... more so the past 2 days during my most painful times. Also most of yesterday and a bit today, I have had a sharp pain in my right breast. This evening, I had a weird feeling deep in my throat which was scary but finally passed. So basically, the twitches have improved and the terrible aches have subsided and now mostly it is stabbing, stinging pains in various areas and particularly in the bottom of my left foot.

My feelings about these past couple of days is that the Rifampin herx sort of peaked and today started to subside ... and the good results are less twitching. I sure hope it lasts! I only have to take Rifampin for two more days then I will get to stop it for 3 weeks, as well as my other antibiotics (Doryx and Cefta) while I take only Tinidazole for 3 weeks. The Tinidazole will be another new one for me ... so chances of a "new herx" are likely. Hoping it won't be as bad as the Rifampin herx.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Bladder Incontinence .... not good!

The past two nights, I have been awakened around 4 to 5 a.m. with bladder incontinence. This morning was so bad that I couldn't even stop the flow to get to the restroom. I cannot imagine that I could possibly have a bladder infection with all of the antibiotics that I am taking. That leaves me to deduce that this is another neurological effect from the Lyme. I am very concerned about this as I just found more leakage that I didn't know had occurred sometime in the past couple of hours!

Are Depends next in my future of "treatment"? :(

Monday, September 6, 2010

"Neuro Head" Issues .....

I've been having more distressing neuro issues lately. I have a general uneasy feeling in my head and have lots of different pains. Some are sharp pains in my head and some are in the base of my skull which sometimes causes an itching type feeling along a nerve located there. I also have some facial pain and my left shoulder has been acting up ... with pain. Additionally, I get pains in the side of my neck and am feeling a woozy type feeling in my head when I walk ... as if I could be off balance. I do find myself being a bit off-balance again and I do not like that at all!!!

I am still having regular speech issues .... saying wrong words or scrambling the letters up and it really irritates me. I can hear myself doing it but can't seem to get the words to come out right. Today I got stuck on a sentence while trying to tell my granddaughter something simple. I finally just said, "I can't even talk" and gave up. :(

Lots of body aches and extreme fatigue again. I yawn so many times per day you would think I would pass out from lack of oxygen! I've also been very highly emotional and easy to break down and cry as well. This is a bad time for me right now. I am praying this will improve and SOON!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Herxing Has Begun - Rifampin

Just a quick note to say that I believe the Rifampin herx has now begun. It's been one full week since I began this newest antibiotic and I have become achy and painful once again. Various random pains and achiness last night all over quite a bit and stiff, achy hips this morning. Feeling more achy again this evening as well. Heading up to bed early again tonight.

Right now my calves and arms and back are aching .... still lots of muscle twitches as well. Started back on Cat's Claw yesterday as well ... had run out of it but found more at our local GNC store. Still waiting for the MaxGxL to come by mail so I can begin that. Couldn't find the Coenzyme B Complex anywhere locally so have ordered it by mail as well.