Yes, my lyme until recently has almost exclusively effected my brain.
Kathy
-------------------- Severe neurological problems. Probably sick for years. Became chronically sick in Aug 2007. Undiagnosed for another 15 months. Started treatment for lyme and bart Sept. 2008. Improving, but very slowly. Posts: 515 | From washington dc | Registered: Aug 2008
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Yes, my lyme until recently has almost exclusively effected my brain.
Kathy
-------------------- Severe neurological problems. Probably sick for years. Became chronically sick in Aug 2007. Undiagnosed for another 15 months. Started treatment for lyme and bart Sept. 2008. Improving, but very slowly. Posts: 515 | From washington dc | Registered: Aug 2008
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
I'm sure it can, as the spirochetes in the brain can cause / mimic any and all types of mental illness, I believe.
However I would caution against believing Lyme Disease is the cause for most people with Borderline Personality Disorder. If the onset of symptoms was after Lyme Disease, or exacerbated with the onset of Lyme, that is one thing. If a person has had BPD since before Lyme, it may not be related.
For those of you who want to know more about this disorder, just google it.... Borderline Personality Disorder. It is the most difficult of emotional disorders to deal with; people with this disorder are extremely manipulative and toxic! They usually have been severely abused either sexually or physically.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
My experience is that Lyme and/or co-infections can present as borderline personality disorder. Also as bipolar disorder or even reactive attachment disorder in children.
When my symptoms got really bad, I functioned like someone with borderline in a crisis. My mood was unstable, judgment was impaired, and relationships deteriorated.
Then I figured out I had Lyme disease. When I got on antibiotics, the borderline type of symptoms resolved.
I am familiar with the diagnosis because I used to diagnosis and treat such disorders in others. I still have problems with concentration, memory, and am slow with processing what someone else says and forming my own thoughts.
Posts: 158 | From Ecuador | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
As years go by, I'm getting more and more convinced my uncle has BDP. He is extremely toxic, especially to those he loves, he's violent, has extreme mood swings (will tell you he loves you one day, and the next he hates you to death), he's an alcoholic, talks about suicide a lot, etc.
I don't think he has a diagnosis. But even if a psychiatrist were to tell him that's what he has, I doubt he would believe it. In his mind, it's everyone else around him who are wrong and mean, who want to hurt him emotionally.
I was thinking maybe it could be Lyme, because he lives in an endemic part of Quebec, near the US border (NY state).
Thank you all for your feedback.
Posts: 209 | From Montreal, QC, CAN | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
It's funny you mention this topic, because my soon to be ex-husband has BPD.
And my verdict is no, Lyme cannot present as BPD.
I've noticed that the predominant trait with BPD is manipulativeness. And this is something that you either have or you don't. Lyme can't cause this.
And I understand with Lyme you can have rages, mood swings, anxiety, depression and even hallucinations. But this is not what BPD is.
Posts: 366 | From MA | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
My experience is that Lyme can make a person appear manipulative and toxic.
I had been remarried about 6 months when my health deteriorated so much that I couldn't obtain employment. My problems with memory and listening, brain fog, mood, confusion when driving, kept increasing.
She thought I was making myself sick or faking to avoid getting a job or being responsible. She did not believe me when I was unaware of something she apparently had told me. She thought I was intentionally scaring her in the car.
Just before our first anniversary, I was hospitalized and developed Bell's palsy while there. Lower level staff told me about someone they knew with Bell's and Lyme and got IV antibiotics.
I figured out I had lyme disease, but the doctor told her that there was no way I had Lyme disease. So she did not let me return home and ended up divorcing me.
She also called my sisters and told them that I was manipulative and lied all the time. That is not the person my sisters or others know.
During the divorce process, I did get a general labor type of job and managed to start treatment with an LLMD. I was able to work several months, before vertigo and other cognitive problems made it unsafe to work. I also became too slow. (I had previously worked as a licensed professional.)
It sure is horrible to have severe symptoms of Lyme, heavy metal toxicity, co-infections, etc. and live with someone who does not belive any of it is the truth. Then medical professionals attributing it to psychiatric problems makes it worse. Lymenet was a key to connecting me with people who could help me.
Posts: 158 | From Ecuador | Registered: Apr 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
yes, mental and also alzheimer's disease!
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posted
I feel that clinical BPD is probably not caused by Lyme. I have had some experience with those who suffer from BPD, and it seems to have been situational, stemming from past abuse.
However, as with anything, Lyme might exacerbate the symptoms.
Just my belief.
Posts: 636 | From Saratoga County, NY | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
I think Borderline Personality Disorder develops over years usually following childhood trauma.
The trauma is often related to attachment problems. It is often difficult to determine which one came first. A trauma can cause attachment problems and not having secure attachment can be quite traumatic for a child.
This causes dysregulation in the brain that may be permanent. Parts of the brain are over-stimulated with other parts shut down. It is like having functional holes in the brain.
Dysregulation in a child can stem from physical illness in the parent(s) or child. The child needs the parent to be emotionally available and to respond to needs (including physical health, pain, etc.).
Physical illness, such as Lyme disease makes these problems with trauma and attachment more likely or can intensify them.
Since BPD is a personality disorder, it is separated into a Axis II diagnosis. Basically that includes personality traits or character that is very difficult to change with most treatments. Getting the Borderline diagnosis is like being blamed for your own problems.
BPD is treatable.
Posts: 158 | From Ecuador | Registered: Apr 2006
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Which treatment does work for BDP?
Posts: 209 | From Montreal, QC, CAN | Registered: Jan 2008
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is the most successful treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder. It is very very hard to treat. The person usually is in complete denial about their behaviors and issues, so therefore they see no need for treatment.
Excellent books on this include "I Hate You Don't Leave Me" and "Stop Walking on Eggshells." The second book also has an accompanying workbook you can buy.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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