I am trying to figure out what came first. The lyme or the Psych stuff. My LLMD has recomended I see a psych doc regarding meds.
I have in the past tried almost every SSRI without any luck.
My GP says I may have type II Bipolar because he has never seen me manic. Which I will agree I have never been except when on SSRI's.
I know I have neuro stuff because I have lesions on my frontal lobe and pons. Are the lesions causing this bi-polar stuff or just Lyme?
And yes I am very depressed. It is hard to be making over 6 figures put your self through college. Only to have it slowly be snatched away by Lyme. I have always been a go getter, but my go has gone up and went. I am collecting SSDI this is not my dream.
Not being able to work or fully particiapate in your children's lives, forget your own. Who wouldn't be depressed?
Any insight's would be appriciated.
Take care and peace
Posted by JimMet (Member # 7787) on :
I guess which came first is difficult to determine, but it might be of interest to read the psychiatric brochure on the www.ilads.org website. It's referenced on the right of the home page. The first sentence is stunning. It says that 1/3 of all psychiatric inpatients test positive for Lyme. So, it would seem that Lyme can cause psychiatric problems.
Posted by DJP (Member # 5893) on :
Hey prconn, I didn't have psych issues before Lyme, but lately I've been having a horrible time! I've been anxious, depressed, crying, rage and have no drive to get anything done. It seems to start about 10 days before my period. It's like PMS on steriods!!!
It seems worse since I started taking doxy and I'm planning to talk to Dr. D when I see him next month.
I've been trying to just wait it out because I really didn't want to have to take anymore drugs, but I don't know if I can.
It is really hard to deal with the things you said! I stay at home with my kids, but was eventually planning on working when they go to school.
I put myself through college as well and had a great job before deciding to stay home and now I don't know if I'll ever get back to me!
Plus, this is not how I want my kids to remember me...a cranky tired old lady.
Hang in there, I'm hoping it gets better with treatment.
Posted by prconn (Member # 7113) on :
Thanks DJP,
I will speak with Dr. D when I see him next month myself.
I agree it is hard to feel like such a cripple for your children.
Never knowing what the next day physicaly is unsettling and makes planning longterm impossile.
Yikes who wouldn't have psych issues!
Take care and peace.
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
Hi PRConn.
It's your lesion buddy Michelle.
I have the frontal lobe thing going on as well, with 11 lesions, though none in my pons area.
There is no doubt it has taken a toll on my personality.
For long stretches at a time I have probably been depressed, angry at inanimate objects, overwhelmed, absolutely lacking in a sense of humour, not much fun, though I've tried hard to maintain as much "normalcy" as possible for my kid.
I take 10mg of Lexapro for the past six months of treatment. No psych issues ever before Lyme but struggling thru treatment, even I could recognize the "man, am I a SERIOUS DRAG" thing and so I suppose it has been helpful.
Just in the last month or so, I see and feel glimmers of my own real personality and sense of humour popping out more and more. I know it must be so because my friends and coworkers remark on it. I am beginning to feel the possibilities again, to look at my surroundings again with interest instead of just kind of shuffling through my day.
I think a lot of this depends on how you're feeling. For me, it's hard to smile and laugh and be everything to everyone when my head is shrieking.
I have real faith that every month is going to get better and better. I have seen HUGE improvement in six months of treatment.
Hang in and remember that your true self hasn't gone anywhere. It WILL be back!
Michelle
Posted by pattiecake (Member # 6424) on :
My 7yo has had issues since early on from lyme. He is NEVER happy for long, irritable most all of the time, gets angry easily etc. It is hard to watch a young child be so miserable. (not to mention hard to live with lol)
I hope with treatment he will improve. pattiecake
Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
I definitely believe it's the lyme...
I have had all your symptoms and some more....
I have no lesions but I know my frontal lobe has been affected by the spirochetes, from research.
Lexapro 10mgs twice a day has me in control...and of course the antibiotics helped the most with my symptoms before settleing on the lexapro. Methadone also helped at one time...and so did oxycodone...but along with false sense of well being made me more manic and argumentative...
There is also a significant amount of research that attaches ptsd to those that have chronic infections...
In my opinion and from what I have gained in my research and personal experiences...the lyme comes first and somehow it and what it does to our ability to cope brings on the ptsd which then exacerbates the lyme symptoms creating a vicious cycle...
Hang in there cuz with proper treatment of abx and when you are able to find an ssri that helps but does'nt add to your problems as did(prozak,paxil,wellbutrin) for me, you will see improvement..............zman
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
djp-it is known that a womans cycle affects lyme and lyme symptoms-a doc in calif is studying that.
everyone else: i now believe my whole family (parents-brothers, sisters) were infected way back...we have a lot of differenet kinds of substance abuse and some bi-polar dx. i have seen psyc drugs really mess people up---BUT i have also seen short term use of psyc drugs esp for acute symptoms really help. i use them for anxiety...and 3 times in my life went on antidepressants for a short time. these 3 depressed periods were different---once i just couldn't move...i wasn't catatonic...but close. the other 2 times i just started crying and couldn't stop. both of those times came after i did huge mental and physical work...got thru the problem then collapsed. these times that i took the meds were very different from depression i have that comes and goes...if there is a reason to feel depressed-like PAIN or going backwards or one more treatment not working or social problems cuz of the disease...i try not to take the meds. even tho docs seem to want to push them on me. (even vets are pushing them on dogs now) to me its NORMAL to be depressed if that stuff happens...like if someone dies...its sad so feel it and then move on. when you can't move on---thats when to use the drugs. i always had a plan to wean off them before i took the first one...that seems to help me be ok with taking them.
Posted by hopeful123 (Member # 3244) on :
prcnn,
i have psych issues as well, but had them before the lyme. it doesn't matter so much to me where it's coming from, just as long as the meds and working on my "issues" help relieve the worst of it.
don't give up trying different antidepressant combos. it can help the depression and the cognitive issues like poor concentration and spaceyness.
best hopeful123
Posted by BJG (Member # 4723) on :
HI All, Lyme can cause depression, anxiety and other issues that affect our moods and personality. Hormones can do the same. Trauma, stress on the immune system can also be the cause. {sorry Tom Cruise-idiot} Lyme can cause the entire hormonal system of the body to be "off"=depression and anxiety.
To anyone that may have TRUE Bi-Polar be careful taking any antidepressants. They can actually trigger an already existing Bi-Polar mood disorder.
It is important to get stablelized with Mood stableizers before using any antidepressants.
I believe Lyme can cause depression and Anxiety. I don't think it CAUSES BI-Polar.
Maybe trigger what is already there, but not create it.
There are many good SSRI's that affectively treat Depression.
If anyone gives you a bipolar diagnosis, get another opinion and be careful.If, in one sentece they say you are bi-polar and the next sentence they want you on a SSRI, before you are stable, find another doc.
Good Luck Peace, BJG Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
Are you on abx right now?
When I go on my week on abx I am double depressed and this is for me one of the worse herx syptoms! It is hard to not crawl in bed and just stay there.
I have a constant daily fight to stay positive. and not wallow.Like you, lyme has laid waste to my life.But I have had some good days this year and try to live for my next good one.
I am on doxipin 100mg at night.This helps keep me in deep reem sleep and helps alot for my depression.I have to take alot of fiber cause this can bind me up.
I hope you find some comfort and inner peace. Take care dana
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