LymeNet Flash: Shortness of breath

This is topic Shortness of breath - Yeast or Lyme? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by broguearcher (Member # 5905) on :

I have been experiencing a lot of shortness of breath since stopping my LD Abx and focusing on what I believe is my yeast problem.

The shortness of breath seems to always be accompanied by tightness in the stomach and chest (gas?).

In the past I often experienced symptoms like this (but not to the same extent) and attributed them to LD at the time. Now, I'm wondering if some symptoms were due to yeast all along.

This problem has not been prominent really until I began the yeast fighting/low carb diet five days ago. Now, the pressure and diffuculty breathing is nearly a constant.

Any help or hope you can offer me?

Thanks,

Sam

Posted by Lymester (Member # 5848) on :

Sam,

This is like me! It is very scary. I apologize that I can only validate the feeling and respond from my own experience. This said, please act on your own in these instances and if you need to seek medical attention, do so.

I believe our immune system trigger is our gut. When this is out of whack, it effects the "I'm dumb, fat, and happy" brain receptor and say's "I don't know what I feel, but it ain't good".

Anxiety, concern, etc. starts to pile up in your brain. The toxins are not releasing and if they do release through urine/bowel movement they pull along any nutrients that you desperately need to make you strong.

I get weak, shaky, uncertain, panicky, teary, nervous--it all adds to the can't breath feeling.

I think it's malabsorption and retention of toxins. I have experienced IBS/malabsorption problems and called 911. You are okay if you need to see a doctor.

I suggest you contact your doctor. Are you regular? if not, you may be impacted. All those fun toxins are sitting in your intestines poisoning you.

Please contact the doc.

Lisa

Posted by broguearcher (Member # 5905) on :

I also feel weak and shaky often too. Not so much of the panic or anxiety though. I will hopefully see my doctor within the next month and I can share my experiences with him... until then, I'm glad for any help I can get here.

The breath thing does seem to me to be directly linked to the tightness in my chest and stomach; this appears as if it could be due to the gas pressure (from yeast fermenting and/or dying??). My guesses anyway....

Sam

Posted by Lisianthus (Member # 6631) on :

Shortness of breath can be a symptom of Babesia. Have you been tested for it?

Shaky and weakness in the muscles are very common sysmptoms of LD.

I would talk to your Dr. about it the next visit. Its good to keep a journal of everything your going through so they can better understand and treat you. Symptom you may think are nothing may lead to something else.

Good Luck,
Lisi

[This message has been edited by Lisianthus (edited 01 July 2005).]

Posted by Lymied (Member # 6704) on :

The shortness of breath, feeling like you can't catch your breath, severe anxiety, that I experienced was due to babesia.

When I treated the babesia it let up exponentially.

I would definitely get tested for babesia through IgeneX - my whole blood test was negative but the FISH test they did was extremely positive.

I talked with one researcher who claims there are hundreds of different strains of babesia.

Take care...

Posted by broguearcher (Member # 5905) on :

I have been tested for babesia and found not have it... I did test positive for Erhlychia though and was treated with Rifampin for that.

I have received SO much treatment for the LD at this point, that I really have to wonder if it's been beaten back into submission now.... I never had symptoms that were nearly as severe as some of you... Intense fatigue, heavy brain fog.... concentration and memory problems... those have been the worst over the past two years.

Posted by Lisianthus (Member # 6631) on :

There are hundreds of strains of Babesia. They only have a test for TWO of them. Just because you tested negitively doesn't mean you don't have it. You have to look at symptoms too.

Here is something writen by TC. Check out #20 for symptoms of Babesia. The other symptom that is not noted here is paranoia. You don't have to have all of these symptoms to have Babs. you can have just a few.
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/013670.html

From what my LLMD told me. If you have been treated for LD a long time a still not getting better then its usually untreated Babesia.

Lisi

[This message has been edited by Lisianthus (edited 01 July 2005).]

Posted by broguearcher (Member # 5905) on :

What is generally prescribed for Babesia? My LLMD I believe did try to cover treatment for it with some of my Abx before we knew if I did have it or not.

I have taken the following:

Amoxicillin
Doxycycline
Rifampin
Ceftin
Biaxin
Plaquenil

I have taken all of them at various times for extended periods... some for much longer than others (i.e. Biaxin, Doxy, Plaq, Ceftin)

Posted by zing (Member # 7124) on :

I too experinced shortness of breath with babesiosis but if is different from what I experence from my gut.

I have always had stomach problems prior to Lyme(hiatal herina , acid reflux,ect...),so it was easy for me to seperate the symptons.

With my stomach I experence the tightness in my chest(sometimes w/pain)and a gassy pressure feeling.
When I get this feeling I drink 2 or 3 cups of hot water(about coffee hot)one right after another.usually within minutes I start to belch, this relieves the pressure & hence the shortness of breath.

It a pretty simple thing to do but I have gained plenty of relief this way over the years.I hope this helps,but either way you should talk to your Dr.

Hope you find relief
zing

BTW- It also helped when I was having gallbladder pain.

Posted by Lisianthus (Member # 6631) on :

The treatment for Babesia is either Malerone(sp) or Mepron with Zithromax

Posted by broguearcher (Member # 5905) on :

I really feel that my shortness of breath is directly related to gas pressure. it often occurs after meal times, or just prior to eating (when the yeast is yelling at me to feed it!! lol.... (which I've not been doing)

Posted by Mathias (Member # 5298) on :

It could be mycoplasma. That is also a big time lung pathogen. Doxycycline will treat it but the florquinlones are much more effective at eradicating it.

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

I'd be willing to bet alot of $$$$$ you have babesia.

You can also treat it with clindamycin/quinine or artemisinin. The art really should be taken with something like Zith though.

Mepron is great if you like drinking yellow paint and have good insurance or lots of $$$.

Have you had any heart tests run?

------------------
oops!
Lymetutu

Posted by pippy (Member # 6005) on :

possible babesia co-infection. Babesia known symptom is hunger for air and shortness of breath. Tests are not good and there are lots of new strains of babesia. Have you been treated for this?

Posted by pippy (Member # 6005) on :

Hi there
babesia is a clinical diagnosis and PCR and other test are costly and not always accurate since there are so many strains.

Also, Mepron/Zithromax is less toxic and best treatment for chronic form of babesiosis.

There is a Bridges to Access program for Mepron from the drug company so it may not cost you as much.

you can try out 400mg artemisinin/day to see if you herx but be sure to do this under supervision of an LLMD since you may have bad herx/side effects if you truly have babesia.

I tested negative but have a bad case of babesia. Lots of people with lyme have this and it interfers with lyme treatment...it may be why you are stuck w/ lyme treatment. Do you have an ILADS llmd??? They would know what to do about this.
Good luck!