Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction
This is where I am now and have been for about 10 days. It's not fun and makes life more difficult than it should be. However, it is a clear indication that the antibiotics are working. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is a temporary worsening of symptoms which can last days to months depending upon the individual and length of time the disease has been present in the body. It indicates that the infection is being affected by the antibiotics causing toxins to accumulate and therefore pain and inflamation increases.
Past therapies such as Methotrexate and Low Dose Naltexone mask the pain and inflamation symptoms but do not remove the cause which according to the late Thomas MacPherson-Brown, MD is mutated bacteria called mycoplasma. I highly recommend that you purchase Dr. Macpherson-Brown's book "The Road Back". http://www.roadback.org/ has all the resources including the book, testimonials and protocols which can be printed and given to your doctor to begin antibiotic therapy.
Reading this book is going to give you a complete understanding of rheumatic diseases and the history of treatment as well as the politicizing of treating people who are suffering apparently unneccesarily. You will be enlightened and empowered. I have discovered that in this day and time we have to be our own health advocate. What that means to me is gaining an understanding of my disease and what to expect from a therapy rather than hoping that my current doctor knows the answers and I am going to get healthy.
