The Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction: It Hurts So Good
“The Scream” by artist Edvard Munch.
Credit: Christopher Macsurak’s Flickr stream
Credit: Christopher Macsurak’s Flickr stream
Sometimes during my recovery, I want to scream. But I tell myself to hang on. Because with lyme, you often have to feel worse to get better. Welcome to the Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction, or “herxing.”
Today, for instance, my chest is tight and burning, and there’s an uncomfortable sensation like ice water running through my veins. I feel ill all over, like you do when you have the flu or a high fever.
There’s more: Joints in my left foot throb, along with both knees and hips. My legs and arms are on fire with a burning pain deep in the tissue, as is my digestive tract. Add in weak muscles and low energy, and you can see why I’m on the sofa.
My mind might as well be underwater, my thinking is so muffled and remote. (As you may have guessed, it’s actually taking me several days to write this post). Chills crawl over my lower back and hips.
On the worst days, I don’t feel up to reading or watching a movie or visiting with a friend by phone. All I want to do is lie here. Surprisingly, I’m good with that. Here’s why.
These doctors observed the reaction in syphilis patients; later doctors saw it in patients with other illnesses, including lyme. With lyme, it may be caused by toxins released as the bacteria die off.
The name is a mouthful, so most people call it herxing. Here’s the good part: The reaction confirms infection, very helpful for diagnosis since lyme testing is unreliable. It means the medication is working.
Case in point: my first herx.
A primary care doctor had prescribed a couple of weeks of antibiotics for possible lyme following a tick bite, bull’s-eye rash, pain and fatigue. When I suddenly got worse after starting the antibiotics and could not get out of bed, I called her to report my rapid downhill slide.
She told me that my body simply wasn’t tolerating the medication. She said she’d just gotten my lyme test back and it was negative, so to stop taking the antibiotics—I didn’t need them.
I know now that she didn’t understand that lyme tests can’t be relied on. And she didn’t realize I was herxing.
The symptoms let up when I dropped the meds, but the lyme kept thriving, launching me on a lengthy battle to find a lyme literate doctor and get on the right path.
When taking a new antibiotic, I cope as best I can until I get to the other side. I’ve had herxes last a few days or a few weeks, depending on where I am in my treatment and which medications I’m starting.
Lyme literate doctors may adjust treatment depending on the severity of the reaction, and suggest steps to take at home to get a little more comfortable.
Blogger Lymechick offers a video on detoxing. My acupuncturist recommended drinking plenty of filtered water with fresh-squeezed lemon juice. I also soak in Epsom salt baths, which for me lessens the flu-like feeling dramatically. My microwavable heating pad is my best friend.
Managing a herx sure can seem like a part-time job, but it’s also a short-term job. And when the heightened pain and other symptoms are over, I know I’ll be that much closer to feeling great full-time.
