Feeling sick hourly

[anonymous680]

So, when I became ill, my symptoms were present all the time for a couple months. After that, they became daily/weekly/monthly. The past couple days the symptoms have literally been hourly. I feel sick upon awakening, an hour later I feel fine, and another hour later I am sick again. Can Lyme cause this?

I don't know if I have Lyme yet, I was just wondering if Lyme could do this.

[JackieCalifornia]

Sorry to hear about what you are going through!  There is a good bit of confusion in the medical field about how to diagnose and treat Lyme disease, so you are wise to keep looking until you find an MD whose approach makes sense to you.

I am not medically trained (nor is anyone here that I am aware of), but to my understanding, doxycycline is not effective against Lyme unless given very soon after initial infection, because the Lyme bacteria go hide in areas of the body (like cartilage) where there is little blood flow, and with no blood flow, the antibiotics can't get to the bacteria to kill them.  Many MDs do not understand this aspect of Lyme and still believe that 'doxy' is effective at every stage of Lyme.  According to Lyme experts, meds other than doxy are needed for Lyme, and separate testing and different meds are also needed for the other infections the 'Lyme' ticks carry about half the time -- doxy isn't effective against many co-infections.

Your doc is trying, but is going by an approach that is not used by Lyme specialists.  Another problem is that the infectious disease (ID) MD you are waiting to see may not be up to speed either ... ID docs are notorious for believing that after treatment with doxy, any remaining symptoms are your immune system over-reacting to a now-cured Lyme infection, so too bad (it's referred to as 'post-Lyme syndrome).  ID docs also are not always clued in about the co-infections the 'Lyme' ticks often carry.

I did not take herbs, tho some other posters here do, if not for killing the bacteria then for immune support.  I was treated only with antibiotics and some 7 years later now, I am quite well, as is another member of my family.

In your situation, I would find a Lyme specialist.  There is no exact way to know which docs really do understand Lyme, so word of mouth among patients is helpful, and one thing I look for is that the doc is a member of ILADS, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society.

I did a search online for

     -- lyme disease pontiac mi --

and found links to many MDs who think they are Lyme specialists, but it's not possible to tell what their views are from just reading their self-descriptions.

I found a website for Michigan Lyme Disease Association (MLDA [dot] org), which looks well-established and is often the kind of association that has the best information on finding a real Lyme doc and not one who just thinks he's a Lyme doc, if you get my drift.

That's where I would start, the MLDA website.  If that doesn't work out, then search more generally for  -- michigan lyme disease --.

You can also email to

                  -- contact  [at]    ILADS    [dot]    org --

and tell them where you are ('near Detroit' or whatever applies) and they can send you names of nearby Lyme docs.  Like any other docs, there are sometimes oddballs who practice in the Lyme area, so if you don't get a good feeling from the first one you see, go to another.  I always check docs (of all kinds) out on the internet, for the same reason.  (ILADS is short for International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, which is the main voluntary group for MDs who really understand Lyme.)

Getting a capable and experienced Lyme doc is very important for a proper diagnosis and effective treatment -- go for it!  And let us know how you do and how we can help, okay?  We've all been where you are.  

[Mesweet747]

I was just told by my Dr that I have stage two of Lyme Disease and started out on Doxycycline twice a day until I see a Infectious Disease Dr in October, I know I need someone to talk to about what is going on with me as my children even grown don't understand. Today I woke up not feeling so well hurt all over, headache took my medication and hour later started getting sick so I took a hot shower to help with aches but still feel sick, how long does this go on or does it ever stop. I read up on foods to eat and not to eat and what nutrients you should take so decided to order Ning Xia Red as it has everything in it I need ( also my boyfriend  takes it everyday and has not had a ear or sinus infection in 3 years) All I want to know does it get better? soreness in body ever go away? I have had surgery twice on back and one on neck with carpel tunnel in both hands Its hard to have to take this on now too, any suggestions for me, Mesweet747

[anonymous680]

I had been supplementing magnesium before I knew what was going on. I haven't been taking it recently, but I've been thinking about picking some more up at the health food store. I've been holding off because my stomach is a little upset, and I am afraid magnesium would make that worse. At my worst, my potassium was also low, but recent blood work showed that it's perfect without taking any supplements.

My cardiac and cardiac-like symptoms are by far the most bothersome. I haven't been able to do moderate to strenuous exercise for 8 months as my heart gets stuck in tachycardia and I feel sick. I used to be highly active and would mountain bike 20+ miles a day, and now I am careful just climbing the stairs. They say nothing is wrong with my heart, so hopefully these symptoms will go away when I start treatment.

I'm not sure why I felt so bad yesterday, but the night before I did lay on a FAR Infrared heating pad. Not sure if that has anything to do with it. I've been feeling very cold and I feel much better while laying on it. I took a nap on it this morning too.

[JackieCalifornia]

Sorry, I think it's not a Herx when you're not on meds yet.  I had terrible symptoms with my heart before I was diagnosed, but once in treatment and getting enough magnesium, my heart was fine.  

[JackieCalifornia]

Sorry to hear you're having such a rough time.  I think you're right, once you know what a Herx is like, it's less scary.  Still scary, but less so.

Did you talk to your MD about your heart rate?  Mine was a problem too.  I was told it's because Lyme bacteria use up the magnesium in your system, which also controls heart rate (magnesium is necessary to send the messages to the heart cells to contract or not).

I had a bunch of blood work done recently and all my levels of stuff like that were normal --- except magnesium, which was low.  For blood levels of magnesium to be low, the cells have to be low, because the cells are where most magnesium is.

This morning I woke up with a terrible leg cramp -- I jumped out of bed yelling OW OW OW and it took a while for it to calm down.  So I'm upping my magnesium supplements and hope that's the problem.  

Talk to your MD about taking magnesium supplements, and be sure to tell him/her about your heart irregularities.  [I'm not medically trained, so dont' rely on me.]

[anonymous680]

So, yesterday afternoon through evening was a struggle. I felt like I was getting the flu, but without the fever. Body aches everywhere, chest discomfort, and ribs sore on both sides. I tried tylenol and anti-anxiety tranquilizers. It didn't seem to help. Sometimes the anxiety medication helps when I feel like I may have a panic attack or have an anxious feeling, but this time it did nothing.

Woke up this morning, and the aches and pains are pretty much gone for now. Chest still bothering me, and I can tell I am having sinus arrhythmia this morning with a couple PVC's here and there (I got good at taking my pulse. It's not a very steady pace).

I am so looking forward to starting antibiotics. I'm ready for this to stop. The hardest part about each day is that I never know what to expect. It seems to help to just live in the moment and let the pain come and go when it pleases. I used to try to fight it, but it seems to help me much more if I don't. I think trying to fight it and letting it scare me was what was causing panic attacks.

[anonymous680]

After an 8 month journey, my testing came back CDC positive for Lyme. I was diagnosed on Friday, so I haven't seen a Dr yet to start antibiotics.

I am still experiencing unexpected symptoms that come and go by the hour. The last couple months I've been taking lots of acidophilus (a probiotic), and nothing helps more to keep my symptoms minimal and my upper GI/chest pressure comfortable. I literally can't go a day or two without it without paying consequences. I'm not sure why it helps me so much and why I need to take so much to feel good.

For those with chest pressure and chest pain, I highly recommend trying acidophilus. By far, the best stuff I have taken. Not sure if it will help everyone, but it is my "drug of choice" (even though it's not a drug).

[skarey]

Yes I definately get the hour to hour changing of symptoms.  That's very common with lyme patients.  I've had the really bad rib pain/tenderness once before and it wasn't any fun.  

[patsy10]

Yes those symptoms are present in lyme.   I had sore spots all over my ribs for years and the twitching on the ribs as well.

[jkv44]

Hi,
the symptoms sound very much like lyme. Some days you think wow, I'm getting better then out of the blue, new and old symptoms kick in.

Rib soreness like everyone here has mentioned is a classic symptom. This in the beginning, was my worse and since being on treatment, has subsided somewhat.

You can feel great upon awakening, and then within an hour or so feel terrible.

Keep us posted.

[gorbybelle]

yes - rib pain/inflammation is common in 'lymies' - also the 'hourly' change from o.k. to sick.

I have had - from time to time - very painful ribs/chest areas.

[anonymous680]

Now my ribs are sore. I have been having muscle twitches (fasciculations) between my ribs all day, and now my ribs are sore. They aren't sore to the touch just a dull pain when moving to certain positions.

All my symptoms are so weird.... Do people get this with Lyme too? Trying to see if the dots connect.

[patsy10]

My symptoms have been like that.