I have been experiencing pain in my temples on the sides of my head 24/7. Has anyone experienced this and been able to overcome it?
Is it more related to Lyme, a certain co-infection, or a blood flow issue? Would be interested in hearing your story and success in overcoming.
Edited to add feeling faint to subject line.
[ 02-15-2010, 10:32 AM: Message edited by: MorningSong ]
Posted by nspiker (Member # 22824) on :
Is there swelling and head pressure by your temples?
Try Mucinex and see if that helps.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
I think you should be evaluated for Temporal arteritis.
quote:
Temporal arteritis is inflammation and damage to blood vessels that supply the head area, particularly the large or medium arteries that branch from the neck.
It most commonly occurs in the head, especially in the temporal arteries that branch off from a blood vessel in the neck called the carotid artery.
Symptoms
Excessive sweating Fever General ill feeling
Jaw pain, intermittent or when chewing Loss of appetite Muscle aches
Throbbing headache on one side of the head or the back of the head Scalp sensitivity, tenderness when touching the scalp
Vision difficulties o Blurred vision o Double vision o Reduced vision (blindness in one or both eyes)
Weakness, excessive tiredness Weight loss (more than 5% of total body weight)
About 40% of people will have other nonspecific symptoms such as respiratory complaints (most frequently dry cough) or weakness or pain along many nerve areas.
Rarely, paralysis of eye muscles may occur. A persistent fever may be the only symptom.
No swelling, just feels like someone sticking a nail in each temple. I even wake up with it at night.
carol- Thank you for the info on Temporal arteritis. Never heard of that before. I dont have any of the symptoms except feeling very weak.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
MorningSong,
How are you doing with this?
Carol
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
yeah, i have this too. sometimes it feels like an icepick stabbing at my temples.
my whole face jerks.
Posted by MorningSong (Member # 19989) on :
Carol,
Thank you so much for following up. My heart is touched by your caring -- especially today.
It has gone away -- hopefully permanently. I have been drinking water with sea salt which is supposed to help with Lyme and also help there be more fluid in the bloodstream. So maybe it did something to pathogens or increased bloodflow -- not sure.
LLMD states that Lyme/co-infection has affected nervous system and that is why I feel faint on standing. The fainting feeling has not gone away though. Am doing salt in water, salt tablets, leg compression stockings, multiple oral antibiotics.
My ILADS LLMD will not do IVs -- I asked for the 3rd time because orals do not seem to be getting to CNS. I cannot do mega doses of abx because of the liver so that is why I thought IVs would help.
I am feeling pretty desperate today. Just feel like crying. Praying for help and determine what next step would be.
Heartfelt thanks for checking in,
MorningSong
Posted by tick battler (Member # 21113) on :
MorningSong -
Sorry you are having a rough time. Have you thought about switching LLMD's? Sometimes that is the best answer. We have done it several times for my husband and we are finally happy!
I see you are in VA. Have you thought about Dr. J who just moved to D.C.? I don't know much about him but he sounds pretty good and I would guess that he uses IV.
tickbattler
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
MorningSong, I'm glad to hear that your symptoms have not progressed to Arteritis.
You said your liver cannot handle large doses of antibiotics. What are you doing for liver support?
You need to make sure that the liver gets what it needs to make glutathione, which it uses to detoxify the poisons left by the dead Lyme bacteria.
Magnesium and fish oil will help reduce inflammation, which is a big part of this disease. Arteritis is inflammation of the arteries.
If you feel faint when you are standing or walking, be sure you know how to "walk down the wall" if you think you may pass out.
Put your back to a wall or door and bend your knees until you're sitting on the floor.
If you're in a store, find a column to use. This saves you from falling and hitting your head.
Carol
Posted by MorningSong (Member # 19989) on :
Tick Battler-
Yes, I have been considering switching and thought of Dr. J in DC. Have not made a decision yet, but hope to soon. I have been on Omnicef (300mg 2 x day) and Zith (500mg 1x day) for almost 90 days, and feel like I am relapsing. Very concerned.
Carol-
Thank you for the liver information. Back in 2002, before Lyme, I had liver problems due to unknown cause and they stated if the liver enzymes did not return to normal it would require a transplant. The enzymes did return to normal, but my liver has been sensitive to long term medications ever since.
Currently taking:
amino acids Magnesium Fish oil
Will start back on the Acetyl L-carnitine and CoEnzyme Q10. LLMD recently requested Alpha Lipoic acid. Will look into N-Acetyl Cysteine. I also drink a lot of water and "green drinks" and juice vegetables when able to stand.
Thank you also for the helpful fainting information. How can one know if fainting is due to inflammation of the nervous system or if it is the infection itself?
If anyone has overcome feeling faint, please share. I know Wildcondor has as I have read her story. In need of much encouragement right now - it is really hard now.
Posted by Beachinit (Member # 21040) on :
If you have adrenal insufficiency, an herbal remedy for that is licorice. Will help avoid fatigue, make your muscles feel better, make you feel stronger and less likely to feel faint. Tea is preferred over licorice candy to avoid sugar-carbs and to be sure of getting real licorice herb rather than some combination of flavorings (anise gets added to many of the candies) Frequent migraine like aches or throbs seem to be common with TBD's I'm starting to think Bartonella is a more likely cause than Borrelia. Easy to exclude temporal arteritis by doing a CBC and sedimentation rate. The latter is usually normal for most people with Lyme/TBD disease but very abnormally elevated in TA. The test is run in the office many times and result quickly available. Do the test most rheumatologist would want this test done anyway and perhaps you already had it done.
Agree with the excellent nutritional supps listed by knowledgable posters above. Magnesium is my favorite for acute care of most neurovascular insults of Lyme disease.
walking together toward wellness,
Beachinit
Posted by MorningSong (Member # 19989) on :
I had a cortisol stimulation test done to test the adrenals which showed normal, but I know there is differing opinions as to whether these tests are reliable. I am wondering if part of this is due to adrenals.
Am going to my Family Physician this week and will ask to have sed rate checked in the case of TA. Will ensure taking inflammation and liver supporting supplements.
I have been only taking 400mg of Magnesium 1x a day. Is it important to take more for neurovascular issues? Carol and Beachinit, is there a brand and dosage you have found most effective? I take Nutrimedix Magnesium Malate.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
I like Source Naturals Ultra-Mag. Each tablet has 200 mg Magnesium (as magnesium citrate, taurinate, malate, glycinate and succinate).
Peter Gillham's Natural Calm is good, a powdered mag citrate that you mix up in hot water.
You can take 3000 mg pharmaceutical quality fish oil daily, which will help reduce inflammation and pain.