Today, my best friend Jarisch paid me a visit right after I finished a work-out session. You know Jarisch, (full name, Jarisch-Herxheimer); he's probably your dreaded pal, too, and tends to show up after you get into battle with borrelia or babesia, to give you symptoms and provide you with a not-so-friendly reminder that you've killed some bugs.
In all seriousness, I'm not sure why exercise is a potentiator of herxheimer reactions. I suppose it's due to several factors; raising the body's core temperature, the greater cellular oxygenation that happens during exercise, as well as immune system stimulation.
What I haven't figured out is how to schedule my treatments around my exercise regimen in order to create this reaction. Okay, so I'm not enjoying writing this right now with flu-like achiness running through my limbs, but I'm excited that my 45-minute yoga session in my backyard out here in the tropics has provoked a visit from ol' Jarisch because it means I've eliminated yet another layer of infection.
Since this has only happened to me on a couple of other occasions, it would seem that exercise rarely perpetuates a herx, but that may not necessarily be true. It may depend upon not only the timing of treatments but also the intensity of exercise, what stage the bugs are at in their lifecycle and the strength of the immune system, among other factors.
Try performing a Lyme disease treatment an hour or two prior to exercise. It just may bring ol' Jarisch a-knockin' at your door!
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April, 2014- HELLO ALL! I am no longer posting to this blog. For the latest on me and my work, I invite you to subscribe to my NEW blog: www.conniestrasheim.blogspot.com where I share my latest findings on how to heal from chronic illness involving Lyme and other conditions. Thanks!
Greetings and welcome to my Lyme disease blog, a comfy cozy (and sometimes crazy!) place for cutting-edge information, encouragement and insight into the fastest-growing epidemic disease in the United States. In this blog you will find everything from bug-killing strategies to immune system and hormone help, as well as lifestyle and spiritual suggestions for healing from chronic illness involving Lyme disease. The information contained within this blog is based upon my own healing journey and what I have learned over the past eight years as I have been diligently digging and researching my way back to a better state of health. May you find it to be a source of hope, inspiration and wisdom in your own journey towards wellness.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
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4 comments:
Hi Connie,
I had a very strange symptom yesterday and I thought maybe it was a herx, since I have felt a lot better ever since. Maybe you will know.
I was at work, and everything started turning into a kaleidoscope, including my computer screen. It was actually very pretty, the only problem was I couldn't read! It lasted at least 5 minutes, I think. Afterwards I googled for Lyme and visual hallucinations but didn't find much.
I hope it was a herx, rather than Lyme bacteria eating my brain.
Well I realize that comment had nothing to do with exercise. I exercise every day -- yoga and walking -- but it never seemed to cause a herx. But I don't do anything extremely strenuous.
Hi Connie,
I find that taking a good load of chlorella before I exercise mops up toxins that are released, which if released, often just make me feel sick or induce some die-off. It makes the total world of difference and I have not for years now exercised without taking at least 3-6 grams of chlorella before hand. I still herx at time but a lot less and I just generally feel better.
Mistral
Hi connie,
I can't believe what Lemon said. I had the same strange kaleidescope visual disturbance happen to me once. I went to pick my baby up out of the high chair, and when I looked up at my husband I could see him very clearly in 4 distinct quadrants in my visual field, moving very slowly like a kaleidescope. I'm so happy to hear that I'm not the only one who this has happened to. It has only happened once about 12 yrs. ago. I'm in the process of being diagnosed with Lyme. This was one of the most frightening symptoms anyone could ever have. Not painful, jutst scarry....
Hi Belle,
That is interesting! I'm glad you found someone with whom you had this symptom in common. Lyme does cause some really bizarre stuff to happen in our bodies, and it is comforting when we meet someone else who had the exact same symptom.
Thanks for stopping by.
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