Kirstin
08-15-2002, 09:48 PM
Hi. I am taking Minocin, 100mg., 2x a day. I just started it four days ago and have been very dizzy, headachey, some vertigo and such ever since. I have typical herx like reactions along with this, so I don't know if it is a Herx reaction or a Minocin reaction. The insert of course says it can cause this but gives to indication of how long it lasts. I also here conflicting things about whether you should stay on it or not, if you do have these symptoms. My doctor is not sure whether it is Herx or medicine either. What a big help he is! Has anyone taking Minocin experienced this and if so, how long did it last? Does my body just need time to adjust? I don't want to go off this, as I need treatment. However, does Doxycycline has less side effects? Yuck, don't konw what is what. Help! Thanks.
Kirstin
Kirstin
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jane7178
08-16-2002, 12:07 AM
When were you diagnosed with Lyme disease? Is this your first course of treatment? I have had Lyme disease for almost eleven years. The herx reaction is very difficult and could be what you are experiencing. I know it is absolutely essential that you stay on antibiotic therapy, so don't get discouraged and don't quit, even though it may be necessary for you to change antibiotics.
Kirstin
08-16-2002, 12:45 PM
Jane,
Eleven years?! My God, how do you keep from wanting to slit your wrists every day? I've only had noticable symptoms for 16 months and even in this amount of time, I don't want to live. I was diagnosed two months ago, after seeing about 24 doctors. The minocin was my first antibiotic treatment for the Lyme. I know I have to be on something, but how do I distinguish between a Herx reaction and a reaction to the medication? If I switch to Doxy, since it's in the same family of antibiotics, odds are I'm going to have the same reaction and from what I hear Doxycycline and Minocin are the two most common and successful treatments for Lyme. Jane, how have you coped for so long? I have lost everything in my life, short of my relationship and I am seriously thinking of ending it with him. Please don't get me wrong. I love this man more than life itself. He has been there for me, since the very beginning of our relationship. He knew what the situation was from the start and was willing to go head on into this, knowing that we would proably never have a normal life. But now, things have gotten so bad for me. I cannot envision us ever being able to get married, even though we desperately want to, have children, live together, etc. We had planned on trying to find a house together, but now, I just don't feel like that's realistic. I feel like I will never be able to give the kind of life and love he deserves. Please don't tell me to go to a support group in my area. I have talked to several people who attend support groups and I hear nothing but negativity and how miserable everyone is and hopeless. I don't need more of how I already feel. My only saving grace is that I do not believe in suicide, otherwise I would have done it a long time ago. I have begged God, "please, if I am not going to get well, this please take me now. I don't want to live like this. This is not living, it is a slow, painful, lingering hell, like living in solitary confinement, in the dark, racked with pain. The mental anguish is just as awful as the physical pain. Sometimes, I don't know which one is worse. All I know is, I cannot keep going on like this. I just cannot. Everytime I get my hopes up, it never works out or the treatment falls through. I don't know what to do anymore. Thanks Jane for any insight you can give.
Kirstin
Eleven years?! My God, how do you keep from wanting to slit your wrists every day? I've only had noticable symptoms for 16 months and even in this amount of time, I don't want to live. I was diagnosed two months ago, after seeing about 24 doctors. The minocin was my first antibiotic treatment for the Lyme. I know I have to be on something, but how do I distinguish between a Herx reaction and a reaction to the medication? If I switch to Doxy, since it's in the same family of antibiotics, odds are I'm going to have the same reaction and from what I hear Doxycycline and Minocin are the two most common and successful treatments for Lyme. Jane, how have you coped for so long? I have lost everything in my life, short of my relationship and I am seriously thinking of ending it with him. Please don't get me wrong. I love this man more than life itself. He has been there for me, since the very beginning of our relationship. He knew what the situation was from the start and was willing to go head on into this, knowing that we would proably never have a normal life. But now, things have gotten so bad for me. I cannot envision us ever being able to get married, even though we desperately want to, have children, live together, etc. We had planned on trying to find a house together, but now, I just don't feel like that's realistic. I feel like I will never be able to give the kind of life and love he deserves. Please don't tell me to go to a support group in my area. I have talked to several people who attend support groups and I hear nothing but negativity and how miserable everyone is and hopeless. I don't need more of how I already feel. My only saving grace is that I do not believe in suicide, otherwise I would have done it a long time ago. I have begged God, "please, if I am not going to get well, this please take me now. I don't want to live like this. This is not living, it is a slow, painful, lingering hell, like living in solitary confinement, in the dark, racked with pain. The mental anguish is just as awful as the physical pain. Sometimes, I don't know which one is worse. All I know is, I cannot keep going on like this. I just cannot. Everytime I get my hopes up, it never works out or the treatment falls through. I don't know what to do anymore. Thanks Jane for any insight you can give.
Kirstin
jane7178
08-16-2002, 03:05 PM
Kirstin,
Hang on, don't give up, there is help out there! I promise that I have walked in your shoes, and I know exactly what you are feeling and what you are going through. You can get through this, and you can get better, and you can get your life back! I promise! You need to be on aggressive antibiotic treatment. Is your doctor a specialist in Lyme disease? If he is not, you need to find a specialist. These are doctors that go beyond the normal treatment and go for aggressive treatment to get back on your feet. This can happen. This is not the end of a normal life for you. I had it for 27 months before I received treatment. I found a wonderful doctor who made it her life's ambition to help those of us who had not found help anywhere else. She took the disease in hand, and together we conquered it. I still have flare ups from time to time, but I know what to do to get them under control quickly. I know what you are feeling. I will be glad to help you in anyway that I can. I feel that God allowed this to happen to me so that I can help others through it. I am here to tell you that I did get my life back, and I have done things that I did not dream that I would ever do again. You can do it too!! Hang on, help is on the way! Don't give up, and don't give in. Be positive, know that you can get better, because you can get better and put this behind you.
Hang on, don't give up, there is help out there! I promise that I have walked in your shoes, and I know exactly what you are feeling and what you are going through. You can get through this, and you can get better, and you can get your life back! I promise! You need to be on aggressive antibiotic treatment. Is your doctor a specialist in Lyme disease? If he is not, you need to find a specialist. These are doctors that go beyond the normal treatment and go for aggressive treatment to get back on your feet. This can happen. This is not the end of a normal life for you. I had it for 27 months before I received treatment. I found a wonderful doctor who made it her life's ambition to help those of us who had not found help anywhere else. She took the disease in hand, and together we conquered it. I still have flare ups from time to time, but I know what to do to get them under control quickly. I know what you are feeling. I will be glad to help you in anyway that I can. I feel that God allowed this to happen to me so that I can help others through it. I am here to tell you that I did get my life back, and I have done things that I did not dream that I would ever do again. You can do it too!! Hang on, help is on the way! Don't give up, and don't give in. Be positive, know that you can get better, because you can get better and put this behind you.
Kirstin
08-16-2002, 03:30 PM
Jane,
Tears of joy are totally running down my face right now. Oh please, I would love to know your doctor's name. Would she be willing to work with my doctor? I don't think you're in California are you? I need a doctor based out here, otherwise I would be willing to go anywhere. But if she were willing to co-treat with him, maybe this could work. Is my doctor a Lyme specialist? I don't think technically he is, but to be honest with you, I have found no "lyme specialists" in California. A quack doctor I saw at UCLA, a specialist in infectuous diseases mind you, told me that there was no Lyme in Calif. What a load of you know what, that was. I have since talked to a doctor's office in San Diego County that treats Lyme and they have over 400 cases alone! However, they are not taking any new patients, but the doctor will consult with my doctor on an outpatient like basis. My doctor is not a specialist, however he has treated many cases of Lyme himself. Any help you can give me would be oh so appreciated. Everyone I have talked to, with the exception of a few lucky people who were cured, have told me that it essentially is a death sentence. And since we really don't know how long I've had it, they said the longer I've had it, the worse my chances are for getting over it. Jane, please of please, get my her name and number if you could. I will be your best friend for life! LOL! Do I sound COMPLETELY desperate? My doctor is switching me to Doxy to see if I have less side effects, but I'm worried about that too. I just wish I could find the right combo. Herx is bad enough, but herx and side effects are terrible. That is, if it was side effects, and not just a bad case of Herx. Jane, my email is angelofeventide@Netscape.net, if you want to send it to me that way. How long were you on her protocol and how long did it take for you to start feeling better? Thank you again so kind. Oh bless you, bless you, bless you!
Kirstin
Tears of joy are totally running down my face right now. Oh please, I would love to know your doctor's name. Would she be willing to work with my doctor? I don't think you're in California are you? I need a doctor based out here, otherwise I would be willing to go anywhere. But if she were willing to co-treat with him, maybe this could work. Is my doctor a Lyme specialist? I don't think technically he is, but to be honest with you, I have found no "lyme specialists" in California. A quack doctor I saw at UCLA, a specialist in infectuous diseases mind you, told me that there was no Lyme in Calif. What a load of you know what, that was. I have since talked to a doctor's office in San Diego County that treats Lyme and they have over 400 cases alone! However, they are not taking any new patients, but the doctor will consult with my doctor on an outpatient like basis. My doctor is not a specialist, however he has treated many cases of Lyme himself. Any help you can give me would be oh so appreciated. Everyone I have talked to, with the exception of a few lucky people who were cured, have told me that it essentially is a death sentence. And since we really don't know how long I've had it, they said the longer I've had it, the worse my chances are for getting over it. Jane, please of please, get my her name and number if you could. I will be your best friend for life! LOL! Do I sound COMPLETELY desperate? My doctor is switching me to Doxy to see if I have less side effects, but I'm worried about that too. I just wish I could find the right combo. Herx is bad enough, but herx and side effects are terrible. That is, if it was side effects, and not just a bad case of Herx. Jane, my email is angelofeventide@Netscape.net, if you want to send it to me that way. How long were you on her protocol and how long did it take for you to start feeling better? Thank you again so kind. Oh bless you, bless you, bless you!
Kirstin
ttynn
08-16-2002, 07:35 PM
Hi! I was reading your posts and I became extremely interested. I can relate to a lot of what you both said, especially the part about seeing about 24 doctors, & things being so terrible menatlly. No one can figure out what's wrong w/me and I always thought that maybe it could be lymes. I would love to know what your symptoms are.
jane7178
08-17-2002, 05:26 PM
I also had MS mentioned to me. However, that was not the case with me. If you read the wonderful post that "ticker" has on here under Lyme Info, I basically had all but a few of those symptoms at one time or another. The symptoms changed with me from time to time, going from one thing to the other. You do not have to have the rash or remember being bitten to have Lyme disease. I wish you help very soon.