LymeNet Flash: Can't stop flying off the handle-HELP!

This is topic Can't stop flying off the handle-HELP! in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by uthminmel (Member # 5748) on :

Hey folks
Any suggestions would be so helpful. I am in the process of trying to get my insurance company to allow me to go to someone that has a clue about this horrible disease.

In the mean time I am struggling so much with my temper. I am normally extremely even tempered. But Lyme makes me crazy and I find myself losing my temper over nothing. Little things that I normally would not have a problem with.

It is hurting my work. I am a youth minister and my livly hood depends on having solid relationships with teenagers. My students know about my Lyme and they are trying to understand but I find myself alienating some of them because I am going off on them for little or no reason.

So that was me wanting to get that off my chest.

Now for the question, what can I take over the counter that will help. I am desperate here since treatment may still be months away.

Please help.
Mel

Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :

Anger is a ticky situation.

Before I got to bad, I was still working and wondering why all of a sudden I was behaving differently.

Some of the things I have learned is to try and attack the problem instead of the person or people.

Try to step outside of the situation and figure out what is going on. Is it too much movement? too much noise? heat? cold? can't read the print on the paper? too exhausted to think straight? lighting? too many things coming at you at once? trying to do things to fast...need to slow down?

I am amazed at how I really don't need to think or move as fast as I use to and life still goes on.

I recalled when I went back into the classroom, I told my students if they didn't make any sudden moves we would be all right.

This was before being dx and still trying to figure out what happened to my body and mind seemingly overnight.

I did and still do a lot of talking to God to help me figure this thing out. Things that I took for granted aren't there anymore.

There is a lot of different types of anger situations going on.

Get plenty of rest and have plenty of down time. Show lots of movies. Try to keep things low keyed. Have discussions after the movies, but use a soft ball. The one holding the ball is the one who will be talking...others need to wait their turn and listen.

My brain feels like it is swollen right now so I hope this makes sense.

Posted by janinco (Member # 6278) on :

Mel, my son-in-law is also a youth minister struggling with a short temper and with symptoms of lyme. He's developed some autoimmune symptoms, too (including a rare eye infection). I feel for you!

I've communicated with many people who have had good results with Samento (TOA-free cat's claw). You can buy it at the health food store and give it a try until you can get approved to see a LLMD.

I would suggest starting with a small dose (like 2 drops of the liquid or 1 capsule a day). If you don't have severe reactions, increase the dose. It is powerful stuff.

Anger related to illness is usually a sign of brain swelling. Sometimes an antihistamine like Benadryl helps. You also need to note which foods seem to increase the tendency to get angry - it's usually foods high in histamines like tomatoes, pineapples, bananas, tuna, shrimp, strawberries, melons, etc. MSG can also causes brain swelling and it's in loads of foods.

Hope your insurance comes through soon -

Jan

Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :

Hi,I have had terrible rages.I just yell and holler and throw stuff. I have punched the refridgerator door and the door to my bedroom and broke them. With me it goes along with loss of eyesight. My lyme doc gave me chlorpromazine HCL. I don.t know of any over the counter remedy but you should check at the healthfood store. Now I am doing pretty well with only short bouts of rage. It has cleared up with the benzathine penn. shots. The Samento sounds like a good idea. Watch out for the (herximer reactions)when starting treatment it will get worse before getting better. That is when I get punchey,while herxing. MADDOG

Posted by RECIPEGIRL (Member # 5884) on :

Hi Mel,

Welcome to the Neuro Lyme Club.

Seriously, if this does not disappear with LD treatment, then definitely ask to be tested for Bartonella, which is a LD co-infection.

You may need treatment for Bartonella based on symptoms; even if you test negative.

But yes, this anger is faster than a speeding bullet. It comes out of nowhere.

Do not beat yourself up over this. It is a manifestation of Lyme Disease or one/or each of the co-infections: Bartonella, Babesia, Erlichiosis.

It is physiological. I admire you so much for being transparent and open about this.

I realize the following suggestions are not cures, but perhaps you could research them and view them as a stop-gap measure until you get help.

Magnesium Taurate capsules by Cardiovascular Research Ltd. 60 capsules. (About $13 a bottle; they may have to special order for you.)

You can read more about this at George Eby's website: www.coldcure.com

He has a huge website with info about Magnesium. LD depletes magnesium. You will have to dedicate yourself to getting that magnesium in your system. It can't be hit or miss.

Magnesium is great. The taurine added in this is an amino acid. It's like a mild cell wall stabilizer. You can't go wrong with this combination.

Or, buy some Magnesium Citrate Capsules by Allergy Research or Nutricology; and then purchase a bottle of Mega Taurine Caps by Twinlab or your favorite brand.

(Twinlab makes 1,000 mg capsules which is a LOT of Taurine; I'd probably just take 250 mg or 500 mg to start with; just depends on the person)

I've read in one book, that Taurine in lower doses is much more effective than in higher doses.

Research Taurine; it detoxifies the liver, helps the electrical system of the heart, and helps the eyes.

This anger is like a mild "electrical spurt" in the brain and Taurine is like a natural, very mild, anti-convulsant."

Country Life makes a product called "Stress M Rapid Release" & it has some Taurine, plus Inositol already added to it--------this would also be excellelnt.

Yes, it is a hassle to ask stores to special order for you, but these specialty items can make a huge difference.

If you can get Country Life at your health food store, check there.

Website is www:country-life.com

Type in your state & zip code to see what store near you sells it.

Also, if you know a DOC who would prescribe 50 mg chewable "pediatric" dose of Dilantin---------that would take the edge off your anger.

No, it's not an adult therapeutic dose. The point is to take just a little. Too much and you feel worse. It's a fine balance. The effect is VERY subtle.

If you ask for a pediatric dose 50 mg taken twice daily ---- that will increase your chances of obtaining a prescription. Ask for a 1-month trial basis. It's cheap.

Here is some info about Dilantin. They don't prescribe this frequently because it's cheap & they make more money off newer, high ticket drugs.

http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/028338.html

RX Klonopin .5 mg would be lovely, but most won't prescribe it for you, as it is addictive.

If you want to build your immune system:

Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract tablets called DEFENSE PLUS. This Defense Plus has things like astragalus and Reishi mushrooms & many more immune stimulants. It's $25. Read the label carefully. Again they may have to order it, but it's worth it.

DO NOT purchase just the Grapefuit Seed Extract capsules. That's the first bottle the store clerk will hand you. This does not have the extra immune stimulants. Not the same thing at all.

It absolutely must say "DEFENSE PLUS" tablets on the bottle.

Samento (TOA-free cat's claw) herb is an herb by Allergy Research.

It will go after the LD, but your symptoms will most likely worsen on this. Not sure. It affects everyone differently.

It's very strong stuff & not cheap. You have to start very, very slowly. Low dose & slowly ramp up.

Again, it depends on the person how much you can tolerate.

Be sure you're taking an all around multi-vitamin & minerals by a good brand. You can't fit everything you need into 1 pill.

Anyway, all these supplements have to work in concert with each other to be truly effective. Mineral and the brain are vitally important.

Other calming things are:

Phosphatidylserine by Solary for the brain.
TwinLab fish oils softgels for the brain.
Solaray's CoQ10 100 mg for the brain.

Someday, I hope you will promise yourself to try NAC. This is very calming & gives you energy at the same time; it definitely impacts the brain.

I have been taking this since the early 90s. Research about this. Be sure & take this away from your minerals, as it will pull out minerals & heavy metals. It is a super, super detoxifier.

Anyway, I'm a huge responder to NAC. It is the precursor to Glutathione which builds the immune system.

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) capsules is an amino acid. You can get them by BioChem Country Life NAC. Take with Vit. C & B6 with the NAC on EMPTY stomach or away from protein/meats, milk, cheese, ice cream.

Amino acids work on an empty stomach. That is key.

And don't underestimate a good Vitamin E such as Solaray's 400 IU of d-alpha tocophehrol (natural Vitamin E). It's a strong immune enhancer & will help the brain.

Remember, Vitamin B 50 mg is a person's best friend. It's water soluble & will leave the body daily. It does not build up in the body. It helps with the nerves.

Stress burns up your B vitamins very quickly. You also might try some Emergence-C packets to mix in water for Vit C.

It also has minerals in it. I use 2 packets when I can & it tastes great. It comes in a box of about a dozen.

Hope I haven't created volume overload.

Just review these suggetions & see if 1 or 2 items might fit your situation.

Thes suggestions are not given to you on a whim, but have been learned about firsthand.
Lots of reading & lots of money.

I'm not a nutritionist or a doctor, but I understand what you're going through.

Best Wishes,
Jan
(Sometimes a "Dr. Janet and Mrs. Hyde")

-------------------------
You are not your Disease!

[This message has been edited by RECIPEGIRL (edited 27 October 2004).]

Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :

See my post at [email protected] Message 15749 -- Regarding use of IV magnesium and epsom salts baths

Posted by MelodyeL (Member # 6405) on :

Sorry you're experiencing these neuro symptoms, I do, too, I know how incapacitating it can be! My husband is ready to divorce me, it's like I'm bi-polar! Something that I've been using with good results is a stabilized version of vitamin b3 called ENADA-NADH, you can buy it from www.vitaminshoppe.com. Start with one in the morning & go from there. When I'm really bad I sometimes take 3. It's not cheap, but it helps me function while I play the same waiting game as you! Insurance companies don't want to pay for anything anymore! Good Luck!

Posted by liz28 on :

The two things that help with my mood (which has improved greatly since I found a good abx combination, by the way) are L-theanine, which you can get at a vitamin store, and anti-inflammatories. I like Celebrex and Bextra, but there are alternatives out there.

Remember that minocycline and doxycycline are both widely prescribed for acne. If you take mino, you should know the herx can disable you for weeks, so you might want to start on low doses, 20-50mg/day, and build up.

Posted by bg (Member # 46416) on :

Mel,

Zoloft, 50 mg/day, prescription has really helped me...helps my chemical imbalance.

Husband has noticed night & difference w/me taking it now 3-4 yrs. Betty G., Iowa

Best wishes on learning to overcome it.

I agree also on getting to the root of what angers you. Lights, noise, etc. really set me up with my extreme sensitivities.

Posted by Rita on :

My neighbor gives the fury to God.

I give the rage to the air.

My grandson has learned to take control.

I was in DC sitting on the wall, at MOW, when a woman said "I think it's Chronic Fatigue syndrome". If I hadn't regained control I'd have been jailed.

You have to figure out what works for you.

Posted by gracezren (Member # 5040) on :

I had horrible rages two years before I was diagnosed. I lost a lot of weight (now put on 50 lbs!) and was living outside of my body. It was horrible. I had horrible arguements with my family - totally contrary to my nature. I felt that everyone was bothering me. Light, sound, people's mannerisms, everything bothered me. Fortunately, after starting treatment, it went away, but I now have horrilbe depression - lots of tears. That too has subsided now that I've taken a holiday from the antibiotics. Perhaps an antidepressant would help you, although it didn'n't help me. You need to be treated. Hopefully your insurance will come through soon. Perservere and be relentless with them.
I have some meditation tapes and a CD on Wellness by Beleruth Naprastak that helped me a great deal. Helped me sleep - something you may not be doing.

peace be with you,
grace

quote:
Originally posted by uthminmel:
Hey folks
Any suggestions would be so helpful. I am in the process of trying to get my insurance company to allow me to go to someone that has a clue about this horrible disease.
In the mean time I am struggling so much with my temper. I am normally extremely even tempered. But Lyme makes me crazy and I find myself losing my temper over nothing. Little things that I normally would not have a problem with.
It is hurting my work. I am a youth minister and my livly hood depends on having solid relationships with teenagers. My students know about my Lyme and they are trying to understand but I find myself alienating some of them because I am going off on them for little or no reason.
So that was me wanting to get that off my chest.
Now for the question, what can I take over the counter that will help. I am desperate here since treatment may still be months away.
Please help.
Mel

Posted by SpdDrv (Member # 5861) on :

Mel,
I know what you mean about rage and the insurance situation. I am also fighting my insurance to get the treatment I need. The stress not only makes it harder for me to get well but it causes me to lash out at anyone that gets in my path! I am lashing out at other people instead of my insurance company which is causes all the stress and tension in my life! If my insurance would just leave me alone and let me get well I would do a lot better.
Do like tincup told me, Get you a sign to carry around that says "I'M SORRY" and carry it around so everytime you say something you shouldn't you can hold up the sign and pray the people understand. Then make you some little signs that say "I am getting better" and stick them all over your house in places you will see them regularly just to remind you that even though things are hard now the further you get into treatment you will start improving. As for over the counter stuff to help with the anger and snapping at people part. I think a LOT of prayer would be good about now!

Hang in there it will get better with treatment,
Stacie