Hi, is it possible to only be displaying psychological symptoms with Lyme, specifically anxiety ? No headaches, no joint pain, or fatigue.
I must be a strange and unique case. Either I never had Lyme and I am suffering from acute anxiety or I have Lyme but it's displaying mild to no body symptoms.
I did test "very" positive on my IgeneX WB and treated with several ABX for 6 months while taking core Buhner herbs. I continue to take the core herbs. I felt virtually the same while on or off all this stuff.
I never had a herx reaction to any ABX or herbs (even while combining large doses of both) ... I guess that is a good thing, but also very confusing.
I have also done Colloidal Silver, Cumanda, Banderol and now Enula with no herx.
I continue to have Anxiety and do not know what to do next. Should I stop all my herbs and see what happens ?
When I stopped my ABX after 6 months I felt no real shift in symptoms (during or after). That was 7 months ago.
Any opinions as to what could be going on here ? False positive ? Even with a CDC positive IGM ?
Also, I tested negative for all coinfections with IgeneX and tested negative for Lyme with Florida Labs Direct Antigen Test. My two CD57 tests both 72 (not sure what it is now).
Posted by bunnyfluff (Member # 14117) on :
Initially I had symptoms of mania. And it was working to destroy my villi, making Dr's think it was Celaic's. I think a lot has to do with how strong you are genetically, as well as which systems it is active in. Just MHO.
Bunny
Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
Yep. My grandmother's only symptom is severe dementia.
Mine are also primarily mental.
[ 07. April 2008, 02:24 AM: Message edited by: adamm ]
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on :
Most of my symptoms are also psychological. I highly resommend you get tested for Bartonella at Fry Labs in Scottsdale, AZ.
Igenex missed my Bart and my MAIN symptom, anxiety was alleviated somewhat with Lyme treatment but the Bart treatment is nailing it.
You sound like you may have a classic case of Bartonella. It is the most anxiety-provoking coinfection, at least for me!!
Best,
Posted by tailz (Member # 10014) on :
Some of my symptoms have remained constant, regardless of antibiotics, but I have microwave sickness, and I believe that is the root cause of my anxiety. I guess it's possible that an underlying, untreated coinfection is involved, but regardless of whether one of these exists, my symptoms flare whenever I am exposed to electromagnetic or microwave fields - and I've measured this with a meter.
If anxiety is an ongoing problem with you, start paying attention to where you are (what room, store, etc...) and what you are doing at the time of your worst symptoms (driving, on the computer, etc...)
Though this method won't catch all of your triggers, if every time you cross a certain intersection you begin to sweat and feel palpitations, you are likely responding to an area cell phone tower, wi-fi, an airport, etc...
Posted by lightwise (Member # 10661) on :
Tailz, and Clarissa, I found your posts interesting. It's funny, I was planning on doing the Fry Labs very soon. I have the kit and everything. Thanks for all of your opinions.
Posted by trish4 (Member # 14156) on :
Most of my symptoms are psychological and fatigue
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
boy, you are UNUSUAL; NO pain in joints or fatigue!! LUCKY YOU!!
best wishes on anxiety though... Posted by shazdancer (Member # 1436) on :
My son's were all psychological/cognitive when he was diagnosed.
Posted by xtine (Member # 13928) on :
my LLMD says that up to 20% of lyme cases don't have joint pain. I started self-treating my lyme (before I knew what I had) and am now on ABX. I've have a slow but continual improvement over the last 4-5 months.
I don't think I get much join pain/issues- I do have a spot in my neck that is something joint/nerve related. I think I do get some stiffness from herxing.
What does your LLMD say about it?
Posted by Cass A (Member # 11134) on :
I think that getting Fry Labs tests for Bartonella AND Babesia (blood smear and titers) would help to sort this out.
Zinc deficiencies, and B vit dificiencies (that get eaten up by any drugs/antibiotics), especially Vit. B1, can lead to anxieties. The bacteria tend to eat up the zinc, so you don't get much.
Whatever treatment plan you try, I'd recommend zinc and B vits.
Best,
Cass A
Posted by lorenzfam (Member # 14938) on :
I have had Lyme for 14 years, and my main symptoms have always been psychological. I was actually very manic and never felt any pain. I have only started noticing body pain the last few years.
Good luck!!!
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
Hubby's main symptoms are also cognitive/anxiety type problems.
He hasn't had joint pain since early on during treatment.
Best wishes.
Posted by lightwise (Member # 10661) on :
Question for all who replied. I guess Bart is notorious for causing vascular issues. Anyone here have or know Bart victims who have any of those types of issues ?
I have this curious symptom where noticeable dome shaped bulges heve occured where certain veins meet. Mainly on my feet and some bulges on my arms.
I know it sounds strange and I've never heard anyone complain of this specific problem. It might not be related to infection. I am going to try and see a vascular specialist.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: You can also have "anxiety" as a separate entity too. If you respond well to anxiety therapies, including counseling, or some medications in combination, you'd have a better answer.
You can have dormant Lyme, causing positive test results, but have anxiety as a seperate condition as well, or have dormant Lyme in low bacterial load levels that have invaded the brain, triggering mild symptoms, which would also not lead to a strong or if even noticeable Herx reaction.
A false positive for both tests is highly unlikely.
The best way to approach would probably be try a broad antibiotic for Lyme like "Tetracycline" for a month. See if you react to that one, and if not -- if your anxiety disappears or not. If you've already used that specific antibiotic (I don't mean the Tetra family, just Tetracycline itself), then get a psychiatric evaluation specifically for Neurocognitive testing. A psychologist can evaluate some of the best testing as well. This is to find out if you have "subtle" symptoms of Lyme that you may not even notice or perhaps something else. It's a valid consideration whether Lyme is or isn't the issue, since the symptom is ongoing.
You could also get additional testing from another Lab like Fry to check for co-infections. Your symptoms "could" be caused by one of those, even if Lyme was no longer an issue, and different treatments entirely separate from Lyme are often needed, like Bartonella or Babesia. If a tick gave you Lyme, chances are much higher than not that you could get more than just Lyme in that one bite!
Also since the Anxiety is so acute, a Brain SPECT scan wouldn't be a bad idea, to see if possibly you have defects or abnormalities related to Lyme or other infections or pathology.
Consider deficiencies in nutrition as well -- which is a fundamental "duh". Anxiety has so many causes, but you might as well cover your basis to make sure.
I would consider them in order of least expensive with highest benefit.
Nutrition first, Tetracycline second, Neurocognitive testing, psychiatric care and or counseling combination (to attempt symptom treatment while searching for the cause) Laboratory testing (Fry perhaps), and finally a Brain SPECT.
I would work with a Lyme literate doctor who is also well educated with Co-infections. They can prescribe further antibiotics and or connect with the other aspects of the ideas above, such as nutrition, lab testing, psychiatric referral for Neurocognitive testing and or treating with the doctor as well as care with a counselor as well as Brain SPECT.
These are just ideas to consider. Talk to your health care provider about it to generate more discussion and perhaps additional treatment.
Posted by lightwise (Member # 10661) on :
Thanks for all the advice M. Blue. I have done Tetracycline.
The ABX I have done wereDoxy, Biaxin, Zithromax, plaquenil and a host of herbs, supplements.
I will do the Fry Lab Test for co's and maybe ART testing.
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