I've been at this lyme for so long now, I need extra help to get through the depression and anxiety.
I'm seeing a psychiatrist on Monday. Presently I'm taking ativian, zoloft and supplementing with L-theanine, kava, adrenal supps, trace minerals, 5 htp, and whatever else works. But...I still need help.
I've been down this route, with the severe anxiety and depression many times before but my Lyme doc just says - just get through it.
Well, I can't and don't want to just get through it anymore. I've read somewhere here that some of you have taken (emergency) type meds for severe depression and anxiety when needed.
I've been researching and see that there are many medications out there. There's got to be one for me. My racing thoughts, electrifying feelings, deep depression and anxiety are really getting the best of me.
When I go on more meds I just get emotionally worse. Mt doc knows this and there again just says - get through it. I'm trying the herbs for the KPU but I need help NOW!!!
Any suggestions greatly appreciated. I'm at my wits end.
Posted by lyme in Putnam (Member # 11561) on :
I know the feeling. Took zoloft and anafranil for years and they helped, just recently can't take anything except benzos. I've had it too, keep on plugging. Doing herbs for treatment. There are alot out there, just have to hit the right one. You'll be ok.
Posted by darwinsdream (Member # 30314) on :
Lyme in Putnam - I was your neighbor in Dutchess County. My sister lives in Brewster. So, Hi neighbor!
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I went to a psychiatrist recommended by an endocrinologist. He was superb. Got rid of my racing thoughts, anxiety, etc.! Thank God for that!
Glad your appointment is Monday. Hope he is excellent and helps you speedily.
The key is to find someone excellent. They will know what to do for you.
Posted by elizzza811 (Member # 24713) on :
For the poster who said that benzos were the only meds that ever helped...be watchful. I'm on disability for depression, anxiety, and SEVERE OCD (it is a 100 on a scale of 1 to 10), and like with you, benzos were the only meds that ever helped any of my symptoms.
I recently learned I've been having absence or partial seizures...had one while driving back in December and another one this past Tuesday. This kind of makes me believe that the reason benzos help so many people with anxiety (over SSRIs, for example) is because most people with anxiety disorders likely have some sort of underlying seizure disorder. I truly believe this now after what's happened with me...anxiety disorders = underlying seizure disorders.
Keep in mind that EEGs are about as accurate as Lyme tests...unless you are having a seizure during the 45 minutes it takes to run that EEG, you are pronounced seizure-free. And figure the odds of that happening? I am scheduled for a 24-hour ambulatory EEG in February, and somehow I have a hunch it will come back 'normal', even though I had two seizures in front of paramedics.
Posted by darwinsdream (Member # 30314) on :
TF thank you for the encouragement. I needed that. I woke up this morning feeling like I was going to lose my mind. My whole body felt like it was being electrocuted. Racing thoughts, just on the edge.
I really hope she can help me tomorrow. I hope she is lyme friendly, but I guess even if shes not she can still help.
I've been like this before but it's extra hard for my to handle right now. I just moved to AZ and don't have much of a support system. I'm scared, isolated,and down. I'm sure the stress is a factor in making me worse. I've just got to get some help.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- First,
What does your LLMD say about all this? I would not count on the psychiatrist knowing anything at all about lyme.
Still, I hope the appointment goes well. If so, be sure to check with your LLMD about any new Rx to be sure it will go along with lyme treatment.
If the appointment does not go as you had hoped, ask your LLMD for a LL psychiatrist &/or LL therapist.
Also consider MAGNESIUM. For lyme patients, magnesium is often dangerously low and that can cause a lot of physical and psychological symptoms.
FISH OIL and other key nutrients, too, are very important.
Good luck.
========================
You said: " . . . When I go on more meds I just get emotionally worse. . . ." (end quote)
That sounds like a porphyria reaction - or just too much added stress on the liver and kidneys from Rx.
There are MANY safe ways to get emotional relief:
1) address lyme and any co-infections
2) nutrient deficiencies that can cause serious emotional problems
3) liver, kidney and adrenal support
4) whatever else then need extra support, remembering that supporting the body is often more successful than numbing it.
If you are on the KPU protocol, as that relates to porphyria, there are many drugs (see the lists at the links) that should be avoided and, if taken, can make symptoms much worse. You might first see the "Secondary Porphyria" post: ---------------
Includes links from GiGi, Dr. K, and others about KPU / HPU (mauve factor) . . .
& links from TerryK regarding METHYLATION issues -
Posted by darwinsdream (Member # 30314) on :
Keebler, I'm not liking what my Lyme doc says - (WELL KNOWN LYME DOC) PA there says to just get through it. I've told her I feel extremely depressed while flaring. It really brings me to the dark side. I know there's got to be something that will help.
Believe me, I have been at this for a loooonnnngg time. It's just getting harder and harder to bare.
The anxiety has been really bad as well. I've been though this before, I hate it.
In order for my to continue herxing I've got to have some help. Thought of suicide are just too much.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Of course, help is needed. Of course.
You say you've been at this a long time. But, to the reader, we can't see if you are on liver support, etc.
Toxicity issues can cause all the problems you describe, even consideration of suicide.
Just be sure that you have the liver, kidney, adrenal support FIRST or any drugs you add could make things worse. If all those things are in place and added Rx are needed, then your body will be in a much better position to have them work with your body.
The toxic burden can be huge. As that can be lightened, things will get easier. Really.
I hope you are at least taking Milk Thistle or a similar liver support. A gluten-free diet also lifted my mood tremendously. It was amazing the difference that made.
Good luck. I do hope tomorrow's meeting goes well. -
Posted by SashaC (Member # 18968) on :
I couldn't have made it through without lexapro.
I didn't have any side effects from it. It just seemed that, the longer I took it, things didn't seem so "desperate" as I felt before.
My doc said lexapro seemed to work the best in his patients.
I had to d/c it last week because I am supposed to use triptans for my migraines, and the two meds can have strong and possibly fatal interactions.
I noticed the difference by day two of discontinuing it. I have been back to crying and my anxiety level has been through the roof since I stopped lexapro. Ativan has helped to cam down my anxiety issues.
He switched me clonazepam instead, but it doesn't seem yet to be effective:(
Posted by darwinsdream (Member # 30314) on :
Keebler, I have been taking adrenal supps. They really help me with the stress. I just started back on milk thistle, but I should have gone on this a while ago - it's been too long off. I am doing trace minerals, b's, zinc, Vitc,cal,mag powder, omega 3 oils, amino acids, detox stuff, etc.
I do need to try to go off gluten and see if that helps. My yeast diet is pretty good except for cheating occasionally. I know I can do better. I guess i just feel like i get lax on these things now and then.
Recently, since the move, my adrenals were so bad it was raising my BP. Since on the supps BP went down.
I've had a really stressful past year - as many others here have. I'm sure this is contributing to my relapse. I'm really trying to keep my stress down. I'm a on the go type person so this has been a challenge for me. I really think alot of my flare ups lately have been from the stress. But, I'm sure you all know how that goes.
Part of my problem is having a very hard time mentally with herxing anymore. I have to take the meds slow. I've had it for too many years and the psychological effects of constantly herxing have played a toll on me. I do have to try and get the rest of the KPU supps as i feel these will help.
It's just getting harder to tough it out. My cup is already full.
Posted by darwinsdream (Member # 30314) on :
Sasha - thanks for your info. Right now the doc put me on Zoloft. i did well with that in the past. I was on Savella and that didn't cover much of the anxiety. As for Lexapro - I'm not sure my insurance will cover that - I think it's costly.
I'm on Ativan also. i am going to ask the psychiatrist about clonazepam and also klonopin.
Has anyone else tried clonazepam or klonopin?
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
I take Paxil for depression/anxiety. Ativan 1.0 for sleeping at night and Xanax .5 for break through anxiety.
The Benzos really help me with my herxes. At one point I was taking three different kinds (I was a mess) but after a few weeks I was able to wean way back pretty quickly.
Posted by darwinsdream (Member # 30314) on :
Thanks Mojo that was helpful. Xanax probably works better and quicker for break through.
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
Xanax is good for the panic attacks because it begins to work in about ten minutes - and goes to full potency at an hour. Ativan takes longer to kick in but lasts longer.
I hope you find success! Anxiety is not fun. I'm going through panic attacks with my daughter rignt now (a 22 year old - doesn't have Lyme)
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
Question?
I was going to mention to my LLMD this visit that I am having serious depression problems and some anxiety too. He is also a pyschiatrist.
Someone just told me that since I had to apply for SSD that I should not tell him things like that since it will hinder my disability? Why? Is this true? Do they say no to disability if you are having depression along with lyme and menieres? Anyone else have this problem
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I went so long with a mood disorder that was triggered by LD. I thought it was just the lyme and I should wait it out.......WRONG!
My LLMD treated me with a mood medication and it helped me so much. Even my fatigue improved on this medication. The changing moods also settled down and I was more able to deal with the physical stuff.
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
I had been seeing a psychiatrist for many years (panic/anxiety runs in my family). She got me through my early Lyme herxes by giving me whatever I needed - including Tramadol for pain.
She was very instrumental in getting me approved for SSDI. You want to list EVERY thing wrong with you - inlcluding "severe depression and anxiety" which was listed by my psychiatrist.
quote:Originally posted by annier1071: Question?
I was going to mention to my LLMD this visit that I am having serious depression problems and some anxiety too. He is also a pyschiatrist.
Someone just told me that since I had to apply for SSD that I should not tell him things like that since it will hinder my disability? Why? Is this true? Do they say no to disability if you are having depression along with lyme and menieres? Anyone else have this problem
Posted by 4Seasons (Member # 14601) on :
When my daughter was at her sickest, she was on Zoloft, Valium, Seroquel and Klonopin at the direction of our LL Psychiatrist. We did phone consults with her, as she is out of state. I can PM you her contact info if you want.
We pulled her through and she is now off everything.
As for me, besides Valium, my LLND believes my depression has to do with brain toxicity and has me taking lots of Fish Oil, Acai Berry Powder, Yuccan Root, Cholestryramine and other things to deal with brain inflammation and toxicity. It makes sense to me since no anti-depressant I tried helped me much. But I am dealing with Lyme and mold biotoxins.
It is sad, but true that many of us think of suicide because we are suffering so much. I think it is important to evaluate the current risk and not feel like it is a subject that is taboo to discuss. We regularly have new people at our support group meetings who nervously bring it up and want to know if others have felt the same.
There is a difference between thinking about it and acting on it. Of course, even thinking about it is an indicator of just how much suffering you are enduring. I hope things improve soon.