I am on my fifth week of antibiotics for LD (Bicillin) and Bartonella (levaquin).
I feel I am going slightly mad...I have this feeling of being scared, depressed as if I am about to die all the time.
When I try to sleep I feel that I go out of my body and keep dreaming that I am running and screaming.
When I am awake I am shaking like a leaf as if something terrible happened to me and I am petrified but I don't know why.
I sometimes burts into tears and then everything seems to cool down for a few minutes.
Does anyone get this? Is it typical LD or bartonella?
I guess I am Herxing but it would be nice just to read if someone else went thru this coz I feel that I should book myelf into a mental institue....
Thanks for your help, Maude Posted by Gabrielle (Member # 5329) on :
It could be a Bartonella herx but it could be also the Levaquin.
I get depressions and panick attacks when I take Ciprofloxacin which is also one of the Flourquinolones. I've taken all kinds of other abx including Zithro + Rifampin for Bartonella and none of them gave me this horrible feeling.
So either Rifampin isn't working for my Bart or it's the Quinolones themselves that are causing the psycho problems in my case. Cipro is the only one from this family that I have taken, though (had to give up with Avalox after 2 days because of tendon problems).
Gabrielle
Posted by lalyme (Member # 8964) on :
I have Bart and Lyme and got alot of what you are describing. I had alot of anxiety and the sleeping weird thing was explained to me as the dying off of the Lyme. It feels so weird. Ask someone close to you to support you through this. Let them talk you down from your panic and know that it went away for me. I was also on Levaquin and it worked to an extent. I am on Rifampin now. And when I herx, I always say that I feel like I am going to die. It is such a strange feeling. But you are not, you are not. Spend as much time being supported by family and friends. Hava go to person. Talk to them, and write us. Good Luck
Posted by kelly06 (Member # 10417) on :
Maude,
I just finished emailing my mom earlier today
telling her that at times I feel like I'm gonna
end up on a psych unit somewhere. I am only in
my first week of treatment, but I've had a lot of
crying spells the past month. I think for me, its
the loss of control as well as the illness that
is making me feel so depressed and anxious. I
recently started on Cymbalta, but think its too
soon to tell if its working. I truly do
understand where you are emotionally. When I
distract myself from this illness and try to do
some positive thinking, it helps at times. I
just keep telling myself, this is temporary and
there is light at the end of this tunnel. Best
of luck to you.
Kelly
Posted by Maude (Member # 10324) on :
thank you all for your response. I guess like you all say its all due to Herx. I feel a bit better again now but its like the beast inside me is asleep.
I don't understand how this disease can affect our brain in order to make us feel like we are about to die but it must be pretty strong to do that!
Its conforting to know that some of you go thru the same and that I am not going mad. I guess the positive thing we have to tell ourselves is that it is working.
Lots of love from Maude Posted by jjeennnniiee (Member # 7964) on :
Hi Maude,
I just posted a reply to Dunc, who is asking about her daughter's reaction to Levaquin. I'm posting basically the same reply for you.
I have a few posts here regarding my reaction to taking Levaquin. If you will do a search for them, I'm sure you will find them. There are also links to other sites contained in them, which you might find useful.
Your may or may not be having a reaction to it, but I just thought I would throw this out there, so that you can gather some more information.
I hope you find what you need to assess your situation and make a decision!
![[dizzy]](graemlins/dizzy.gif)
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)