The last four days I have had two nights where I am so terrified I can't sleep. The kind of fear where you would rather just be dead.
I have always had general anxiety since I got sick. I have no clue where the fear is coming from. I guess the limbic part of the brain, but it isn't cool at all.
Also, my right foot has always had three pockets of swelling on it sine the whole lyme thing started, however they are much more swollen than usual tonight. Any ideas?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm so sorry to hear this, Sacred. I know I had something similar many years ago. I finally had to go on anti-depressants. I sure didn't want to, but I could barely function.
I figured out many years later that it was flagyl that did that to me. So maybe you need to look at the side effects of all your meds?
Posted by mlg (Member # 35383) on :
You should please look at some of the links I just posted on proto (similar to babesia like organism).
After treating for this my anxiety is way better. I agree with that while some of the treatment works you should look for a lyme literate or knowledgeable psychiatrist. They can give you anti-depressants and/or other anxiety meds Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, etc.
Also Sam-e is good and omega 3 fatty acids. Hylands calms, getting good sleep also calmed my nerves.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Have you tried something simple, like taking really deep long breaths to get more oxygen in? When we're scared, our breathing is generally very shallow. It's an experiment you could try.
And just focus on breathing, like: breathing in, 1, 2, 3, 4, breathing out, 1, 2, 3, 4.
or if you feel like counting to 10 instead. Hopefully it would be a calming exercise to do, and an experiment, to see whether you feel any better after doing this for 5 or 10 minutes.
Posted by tulips (Member # 44773) on :
I had extreme fear and anxiety but it went away a few days after I started taking Cats Claw. I took NOW Cats Claw - 10:1 Concentrate, 1.5 percent Standardized Extract. This is a high percentage and a high concentrate and NOW is a very good brand. I'm not a very big person so I took 1 capsule 3 times a day.
I've never been able to handle the doses that Stephen Buhner recommends in his excellent books on Healing Lyme. I take as much as my body seems to want.
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Breaking up the paragraph for easier reading for many here -
[ 04-08-2015, 01:23 AM: Message edited by: Robin123 ]
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
What meds and herbals are you taking or have taken in the past few months?
Posted by SacredHeart (Member # 44733) on :
Thanks for all of the advice. I have wondered if it is a combination of the meds, and the anxiety already there from the lyme Judie.
I'm on doxy, plaquinel, amox, bactrium, and an anti-viral for the mono flare.
I have noticed that about two, to three hours after I take my meds I start to have higher anxiety.
The fear has been out of this world though. Like picture watching a horror flick at the scariest possible part, but that feeling doesn't go away for hours, or half a day.
I actually bought cigarettes, and I don't even smoke. I have only had three, and I don't plan on smoking anymore.
Regarding the psych meds, I have tried many of them, and I typically go totally nuts on those. I have yet to find one that works.
I'll have to try some of the other herbal stuff that you nice folks have suggested.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Sorry this is happening to you (not fun). It sounds like bart or proto to me. It's possible your meds are playing a part in it too.
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
Can you go off of your meds and see if that helps? Then add them back in one by one to see if you can isolate the cause? Assuming this is ok with your doctor that is...
Years ago, pre-Lyme, I had good results with Klonopin for anxiety attacks. Not sure if that's one you have tried. You only take it when you have an attack.
Posted by jlcd1 (Member # 18138) on :
i have the exact same thing. It's horrible!! So sorry your going through this. I hate to be alone it's so bad, but I'm alone with my kids a lot because my husband works so much.
mlg and catgirl: how did you treat proto?
Posted by SacredHeart (Member # 44733) on :
Same here, my wife works. I'm going to try real-estate school over the summer. I figure if I can make more money I can afford some of these other options that are out of reach for me.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
Vistaril...not the generic...gives me rem sleep and controls anxiety
Posted by Bitten in Bergen (Member # 34067) on :
So sorry for all the trouble. I've been in your shoes. Can definitely be the illnesses (protomyxzoa, babesia, bartonella).
I've also found that sometimes the treatment can exacerbate the anxiety symptoms. May need to find the proper dosing that doesn't try to do too much too soon.
If all else fails, ativan/xanax can be helpful (but not for long-term). There is also Psy-Stabil - a homeopathic remedy that is very effective and can be taken daily.