Day 152: Operation HOPE...Herxheimer What Now?

I've been battling for almost a week with symptoms from this detox.  A couple of days ago, Dr. C said that I should now do the shakes every other day.  So, that's what I did.  I didn't have one on Thursday, but had one yesterday.  I felt lousy most of yesterday.  I had a mild headache and brain fog, with pronounced full body pain.  Despite that, I plowed through my day {had lots and lots to do yesterday}.  Last night, right before bed, I crashed and burned.  I had a full blown migraine with unbelievable body pain.  I was so happy that it was bed time!

I woke this morning with my head pounding, stomach nauseous, slight dizziness and debilitating full body pain!  Just miserable!!  Tears filled my eyes as this immediately brought me back to how I was feeling before I started this wellness journey.  Oh how frustrating, and so saddening to me.

I reached out to Dr. C and told him all I was experiencing and feeling.  His response to me was, "It's Herxheimer Effect.  It is a healing crisis."

I thought, "Herxheimer what now?"  I immediately looked it up.  Here's the first explanation I found:

"The Herxheimer Reaction is a short-term (from days to a few weeks) detoxification reactio in the body.  As the body detoxifies, it is not uncommon to experience flu-like symptoms including headache, join and muscle pain, body aches, sore throat, general malaise, sweating, chills, nausea or other symptoms."

Wow!  Unbelievable!  That pretty much sums up how I've been feeling for most of this week.  Absolutely crazy!!

Herxheimer Effect/Reaction = Road Block  {Big road block with flashing lights and all!}

Dr. C wants me to stop the detox {yet again}.  I'm not happy about the fact that I can't seem to get through a detox that I know is so necessary for my healing.  But, am grateful that I don't have to plow through feeling the way that I do.  Dr. C said this morning that if I wasn't under pressure and stress {which yes is still an issue that I'm working on}, and it was warmer he would have me continue.  His suggestion is that we do the final detox in pieces over the summer when it's hot and there's sunshine.  He's told me in the last few weeks that I need to be out in the sunshine a lot more than I am; to which I tell him that I would be if we've had that type of weather.  It's been cloudy and/or rainy and cold most days here in the Northeast.

I'm disappointed because I really wanted to see this detox through this time.  But, I guess this isn't the right time.  Maybe it will be better in the summer, and maybe as I do it in "pieces" it will not effect me near as much as it has.  This road block is not going to stop me from continuing on.  I absolutely need to see this through to the end...no more pain!!

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens..."

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

H.O.P.E. = Hold On Pain Ends