Thanks in advance!
Posted by MissPatient20 (Member # 22581) on :
I've had it almost constantly for 2 years, so I totally feel your frustration.
I'm so sorry that I can't give you more insight than this, but all I can say is that not much helps aside from addressing the root of the problem.
I took artemisinin and enula for about a month or so, and it was a really hard treatment and I felt like I could barely breathe the entire time I was on it, but when I stopped the treatment my air hunger actually drastically improved for a couple of months. Unfortunatley though, it came back because I hadn't treated long enough.
I hope you find some answers, and some relief, soon!
Posted by txgirl09 (Member # 21612) on :
Thanks for your response.
Air hunger is so frustrating! I hate that you've had it for 2 years! Yikes!
My llmd said it could just be the lyme, and I'm
on flagyl until I go back to him in another
month. At that time, he said we might need to
think about coinfections. My other symptoms
seem to be somewhat under control, other than
this stinking air hunger.
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
I have air hunger too, and it has gotten steadily worse since switching from Doxy to Amoxyl.
Sometimes, though rarely, it helps a little to take a Benadryl, as it calms me down a bit.
Also, if I can get to sleep, it doesn't bother me while I'm asleep. It tends to be worse when I'm really tired, so I nap when I can.
Hang in there.
Posted by blaze (Member # 16838) on :
My air hunger used to increase while driving to my LLMD. Found out this was the trigger for me...
Copying a previous post of mine about how I got relief from air hunger:
Air hunger for me is related to babs AND acetylcholine. I only know this because I use muscle testing and found that things that increase my acetylcholine help a great deal to alleviate the air hunger.
Later, I read the article at the link below that explains that the borrelia toxins affect acetylcholine.
I'm cutting and pasting just a fraction of the article:
http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMar2006/lyme0206.htm Dietary Supplements in Lyme Disease One of the known actions of the Lyme spirochete toxin is to diminish the release and availability of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a simple organic compound (see above for chemical structure).
This substance is biosynthesized by the body as required in nerve activation and transmission.
Supplementation by the precursors of acetylcholine synthesis would be of value to Lyme patients since they have a deficiency of this substance. (See Listing 1.)
Listing 1: Dietary Supplements Increasing Acetylcholine Synthesis Improving Neurologic Function
If the inhibition of acetylcholine release were total, Lyme patients and those suffering from food poisoning would not be able to move; they would be completely paralyzed.
Since the blockage is only partial, any increase in the amount of available neurotransmitter would benefit anyone experiencing neurotransmitter blockage. For this reason, dietary supplements increasing the amount of available acetylcholine have been shown to benefit Lyme patients.
END OF QUOTE
----------------------------------------------
I'm not sure why it causes air hunger but there is some info related to anxiety and air hunger symptoms that show a relationship to acetylcholine. I think acetylcholine does control breathing to some degree.
My air hunger started out not lasting very long but as time went on and before I figured out how to stop it, it would last for weeks at a time.
I was able to control it most of the time with supplements but it is so much better since babesia treatment.
The supplements that have helped me the most to control it are Huperzine A choline/insositol Citicoline Seriphos
I also take many of the supplements listed in the article.
I find that boosting acetylcholine also helps brain function a great deal.
Terry I'm not a doctor
--------------------
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
My air hunger stopped after treatment for babesia. It took a few weeks, but mepron and zith or clindamycin/quinine were the most effective for me.
It was very dramatic how my difficulty breathing went away after babesia treatment. I hope you can find the treatment that helps you, it is an awful symptom.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Blaze, how'd you cure yourself from this issue?
Posted by jkmom (Member # 14004) on :
My air hunger was greatly improved on Biaxin or zith. It is even better now that I am taking Ceftin, Biaxin, and Levaquin.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
cpap breathing machine since i was found to have sleep apnea where i was not breathing while sleeping and restless leg syndrome.
sleep problems for 30-35 yrs. ... zero delta 4 sleep.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I read that nitric oxide from Lyme inflammation can interfere with the iron in red blood cells and thus interfere with us getting enough oxygen transport. Has anyone else heard this?
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Malarone helped mine significantly.
Posted by JamesNYC (Member # 15793) on :
I don't understand some of these responses.
Air hunger is a SIGNATURE SYMPTOM OF BABEOSIS!
Have you been diagnosed or treated for a babs infection? If you haven't then maybe that's why it hasn't gone away. Or, maybe it wasn't treated thoroughly enough.
And how are you differentiating air hunger from anxiety attacks, or lyme caused muscle spasms? Is it possible that the air hunger is one of those?
This is not really considered a lyme symptom.
James
[ 10-14-2009, 11:20 AM: Message edited by: JamesNYC ]
Posted by JamesNYC (Member # 15793) on :
Robin,
quote:I read that nitric oxide from Lyme inflammation can interfere with the iron in red blood cells and thus interfere with us getting enough oxygen transport. Has anyone else heard this?
I have not heard this--ever.
Posted by blinkie (Member # 14470) on :
treating bartonella helped mine.
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Robin,
I have read something like this. Wish that I could remember 'where' so that I could cite it for James. It is also a theory that Nitric Oxide is the culprit in chronic fatigue and lack of oxygen. It is called the NO/ONO theroy. This is talked about extensively in a small book called:
Cellular Hypoxia and Neuro-Immune Fatigue By: David S Bell MD, FAAP. This was an excellent book available on Amazon. and addresses Cellular Hypoxia related to Chronic Lyme Disease.
Feelfit
Posted by txgirl09 (Member # 21612) on :
Thanks everyone for the information. Its very helpful.
I am hoping next month to start treating coinfections. I have not been treated yet for any coinfections. However, my llmd seems to think if I have any coinfection, it might be bart.
I'm going to ask him again about babs too.
Posted by JamesNYC (Member # 15793) on :
feely,
How well accepted it this theory? It sounds like it's way out there. Another of many theories that are not validated by scientific research.
I'll look into it though.
Thanks,
James
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Jimmy,
I read the book last winter. I am about to read it again. I do know that nitric oxide dysregulation can affect the vascular and central nervous systems. There were cited references there. The author admits that it's (NO) affect on neuro immune fatigue has been piecemeal. Nevertheless, food for thought.
Feely
Posted by tpap1006 (Member # 19634) on :
my air hunger was mild during the day but i would completely loose my breath at night for a few seconds and i would wake up gasping for air. It stopped completly after being on zith, mepron, and planquinel for a week.
Posted by tpap1006 (Member # 19634) on :
oh and doxy
Posted by anthropisces (Member # 15672) on :
I used to get air hunger, especially when my symptoms first began to really show. I sometimes get concerned that I'm going to get it back, because anxiety feels alot like it.
I did seven or eight months of Mepron. I'm not sure if that is what solved it. I was also on Ceftin at the time.
I thought that in my case the air hunger was due to an infection with Babesia, although I can't be sure if that was actually the case. I had a positive FSH test, but I am not sure how accurate that test is in terms of really telling whether one has Babesia.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
A Pinch of salt in the mouth helped me.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
The NO! OH NOO! Theory and Suggestions For Treatment Articles - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Articles
James - I still have babs. Been in treatment for about a year all together AND on maintenance treatment for several years when not on full on treatment. That is low dose malarone.
I'm just relaying my experience and what I *think* the mechanism is FOR ME. I know of another person who tried my suggestion of using something to increase acetylcholine and her air hunger got a lot better too. She mentions it in a few posts here at lymenet. Don't know if it would work for others and I also don't know for sure why it works. I'm just grateful that it does. Terry
Posted by lymetwister (Member # 19590) on :
Try some childrens liquid Benadryl 25mg at first sign, this works well for me !!
Gary
Posted by Cass A (Member # 11134) on :
Dear Friends,
Good advice here!!!
My husband's air hunger was helped with systemic enzymes. These open up the blood vessels.
He's tried nattokinase, Neprinol, and now takes Vitalzym, as it is the most cost-effective and contains many different enzymes.
Best,
Cass A
Posted by txgirl09 (Member # 21612) on :
Thanks for all the great advice!
Posted by Shosty (Member # 12232) on :
I get air hunger from digestive issues, which have yet to be defined. I take Gas-X and belch and then I can breathe again.
The MD did testing and said my upper GI is fine, but that my lungs have excess air, meaning hyperinflation, meaning chronic obstructive lung disease.
But I don't believe it for a minute. Inducing belching with the Gas-X totally works for me.
I used asthma meds for a year before I figured out it was not my lungs!