Here's a great explanation taken from Chronic Illness Recovery Website.
This phenomenon is known as the Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction and is often referred to informally as herx or herxing.
Herxing is believed to occur when injured or dead bacteria release their endotoxins into the blood and tissues faster than the body can comfortably handle it. This provokes a sudden and exaggerated inflammatory response.
The first week I was on treatment went just fine, I didn't feel anything worsening, in fact within days my finger joints went pain free. I was so excited! I could actually bend my fingers with no pain! I thought wow, that was fast! It's all up hill from here! NOT!
Week 2 my knee joint pains were subsiding, however at night my body would be in so much pain. Only at night though, full body aches that made it hard to sleep, but during the day I felt fine.
Week 3 my heels hurt so bad that I could barely walk on them. My dear friend, Pennie, bought me gel heel pads and new slippers and heel pads for my shoes that really helped alot. This heel pain lasted for another week and went away....until Feb.
In November I was hit with extreme hay fever...I never have hay fever in Nov! It was so bad and agonizing, the worst hay fever ever. Nothing helped, I got no relief. Finally out of desperation I called my LLMD and he told me to take Allegra. That helped some but it didn't go away completely.
January 2014 I felt pretty good, I was still having occasional joint pains and headaches, but I was truly seeing improvements after so many years of suffering. At this point I started having migrating joint pain that would go to my wrists, this was a new symptom for me. The end of Jan I had my 4 month appointment with my LLMD and he was encouraged to know I was handling everything just fine. So he said lets just keep doing what we're doing. I was still having some hay fever flare ups so he prescribed a nasal steroid spray which gave me relief. He was encouraged to know I was herxing as that definitely shows you are treating the Lyme correctly.
Feb 7th 2014, I woke up with my right side of my head hurting. I can tell a Lyme headache from a normal headache. I can take Excederine and get rid of a normal headache, however nothing touches a Lyme headache. This morning I tried taking Excederine, then I tried Ibuprofen, the headache was getting worse. It was in the back of my skull, where my skull and neck meet, I could feel it was inflammed. This lasted 2 weeks with my head hurting, my right cheek went numb and tingly. Then as soon as the headache left my left elbow was inflammed and hurting so bad. In all these years my left side was never attacked, but now all of a sudden my left side was being targeted.
I kept having different symptoms, painful nights, painful elbows, painful wrists, then one day I felt great! Whoo hoo! The herx is done! Or so I thought....the very next day I woke up and could barely walk on my heels again. My entire body felt weak and my muscles felt over exerted. I couldn't even pull my comforter up as I had no strength in my wrists.
Everytime I got up from sitting down it would take a bit to straighten my body out and walk normal. Everything hurt.
This is where I am today, although today has been a better day..so much I took this pic and sent it to my husband with this text: "I feel good so far today! I even put make up on!!"
I know my herxing days are far from finished. But I press on, one day at a time...listening to my body, resting when I need to, and now I have made this blog to also help keep on track.
So this herxing is normal, and it can be a good sign that things are dying off, so I must stay strong and encouraged. But I also have to learn how to detoxify and take care of myself during this herxing stage.
God is always so good to give me just the right scriptures too when I need them. Here's what I read this morning. My foe is Lyme. God is turning my mourning into dancing. He has answered my cries for help, He showed us who this foe is, and I know He is delivering me.
Psalm 30
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joy Comes with the Morning
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.[a]
4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.[b]
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.[c]
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
and give thanks to his holy name.[b]
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.[c]
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O Lord,
you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.
“I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O Lord,
you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.
8 To you, O Lord, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,[d]
if I go down to the pit?[e]
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,[d]
if I go down to the pit?[e]
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
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