LymeNet Flash: Fresh Air and Lyme Symptoms

This is topic Fresh Air and Lyme Symptoms in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by tom63376 (Member # 7220) on :

Fresh air. Is there a conntection
between Fresh air and Lyme Symptoms?
It seems like a lot of my fatigue and
BrainFog is based on not getting enough
fresh air.

When I am in a shopping mall (no sun in there)
I always get BrainFog and Fatigued
within 10 mins and then feel much better
immediately once I get back outside and
start getting fresh air.

This is not anxiety or a panic-attack
because it the same thing happens in my
apartment.

When I am in my apartment and feeling
my daily 10AM to 5PM BrainFog, if I
can force myself outside to get fresh
air I always feel better even if there
is sun out there.

The air in my apartment is not bad either.
I change it all the time. I generally feel
much better once I open up all the windows.

The problem is that the weather is rarely
just right and I have to close the windows
because it's too hot or too cold outside.
I always leave them open a crack to keep
a little fresh air flowing but it isn't
enough.

So it seems like any time I am indoors
(Car, Apartment, Store) I start needing
fresh outside air.

During the winter when sun was limited I
always felt better once I got outside and
started breathing fresh air. I must say
in the Winter I mostly just have fatigue.
The BrainFog is more of a Sun thing that
comes up in Summer (Like Now..)

It almost seems like lack of constant fresh
air causes more fatigue and brainfog than
the Sun does.

We just have a week of 85-90 degree weather
and I had to keep my windows closed and
start the A/C. Last week was also my
hardest week in a long time.

I've had my lungs X-Rayed (No blockage)
and tested for volume capacity etc and
I seem to be have perfectly healthy lungs.

Do other people have issues with needing
constant Fresh-Air???

Does anyone know why or what is causing
this??

Thanks

[This message has been edited by tom63376 (edited 15 May 2005).]

Posted by mikken (Member # 2276) on :

Tom,

I suspect that you're experiencing a form of chemical sensitivity in indoor places.

Everything from plastics outgassing to floor cleaners can affect people who are sensitive and a lot of Lymies seem to fall into that catagory.

For your apartment, look around and see what kind of chemicals are in your life - laundry detergents, fabric softeners, cleansers, air fresheners, etc. It might be time to reevaluate your personal environment and how it affects you.

Posted by Foggy (Member # 1584) on :

Yes, certain environments make me feel better while others make me so foggy. For example, I went to a movie and to dinner and felt better. When I entered the hot smoggy garage to find the car, I was back in a daze.

Tom, If I go for a walk or sit outside I feel better. If I enter a room that's been painted, forget about it. I'm all wasted.
No visible mold to speak of but I notice I feel better when I'm away from home. Others in my home do not complain of similar symptoms so it's perplexing.

LLMD said something about how mycotoxins can stir up the bb and cause symptoms to rage. He hopes this will lessen with abx treatment.

Posted by surg (Member # 6937) on :

Babesia can cause chemical sensitivities. I used to really have a hard time indoors, my own condo and at work. Stores are really bad. I have been on mepron and zith for 2 months and it has really helped these symptoms by treating the babesia. Forget about a freshly painted room though. I'll be sick for a week.

Posted by burnbitter (Member # 7088) on :

You might also be sensitive to flourescent lighting. It has a 60mhz rate, especially bad and headache inducing if you also have your computer set to 60mhz.

You might try changing your lights at home to brighter full spectrum bulbs. I find that helps me somewhat. Or halogen lighting might be useful.

At work I've removed the florescent bulb above my desk and this helped greatly.

Posted by FightFireWithWater (Member # 5781) on :

In addition to the good points raised above, I think that Lyme patients may be accutely sensitive to minutely lower oxygen levels.

Posted by Lymeblue (Member # 6897) on :

Exactly the same used to happen to me I would even avoid going to the supermarket. I used to think this was caused because of lack of humidity in those places.....
Treating my bart and taking questran made me forgot about those moments....but now by reading your post I remember exactly how it use to be. I used to feel de-oriented and confused too. I'm going to let my husband read this post. Many times I would call him from the supermarket, cvs pharmacy,etc telling him how bad I felt.

Posted by Bill ATL (Member # 7817) on :

This mssg is for Burnbitter...Is there an optimum or better refresh rate for our PCs? I have gotten headaches continuously from my work PC. Thanks in advance for your replies/input...Bill

Posted by tom63376 (Member # 7220) on :

I can help you on that..

In the Windows XP control panel
you can set the video adaptor's refresh
rate if you click:

display->settings->advanced->monitor

You should see choices from 60hz to
85hz. I tried them all before I even
knew I had Lyme and found that 75hz
caused me the least eye fatigue.

Try each setting and pick the one that
is easiest on your eyes. For me 75 was
better than 60,70, or even 85.

Good luck!