posted
I am losing my balance. I am dizzy. I was suppose to take my dog to the vet to get her teeth cleaned this morning but I am so dizzy I cannot drive (have a call into my Dr.)
I have NO patience. I am angry. I am confused. This is all beginning to cause big problems with my 14 year old son and myself. He says "Why are you so crabby all the time?" And I AM.
I bought a new laptop yesterday and what is usually a normal experience was a NIGHTMARE. I was in tears and almost walked out of the store. Thank God my daughter was with me.
Am I going crazy?
-------------------- Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired!! Posts: 153 | From St. Louis, Missouri | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
I'm sorry you're feeling this way but I agree with Six. These things should improve after a lot of treatment. I'm in the same boat only I don't have any kids to point out my difficulties.
Posts: 702 | From North Eastern USA | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
I have been there as well. I am sorry you feel like this.
I still have the dizzy, but emotions are under control.
Posts: 819 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Consuelachacha,
It is so sad that we live in a society where the first question you ask about some very profound symptoms is if you are crazy. My guess is that you've been told this, or tell yourself this a lot. And that is very common by the time most of us get diagnosed - because before now - doctors had no answers.
Well, I can't say whether you are "wild and crazy" as comedian Steve Martin can expound with such flair, but the symptoms you describe are a flare of very common lyme symptoms - and also symptoms of a herxheimer reaction (also common during treatment).
PLEASE don't ask any doctor, ever, if you are crazy - or even say it feels as if you are. There are plenty of doctors out there who know very little about the inner ear and even less about lyme. They already think we are crazy and have already put that in most of our medical charts. If you've not already had this happen, don't feed them the line because they will make you the punch line and it's no joke to be labeled forever.
Also, while my focus is in the ear system, there are other reasons for vertigo and dizziness. Low blood volume, etc. The CARDIAC thread below touches on that stuff.
While searching for answers for my own inner ear carnival 9that is no fun in the distorted "fun house" of life with inner ear dysfunction (as it was in my youth at those carnival side-shows with odd mirrors and tilted walls and floors) - well, not only does it impair my ability to compose a decent sentence but it also affects many other tasks.
In the thread below is much discussion by many dealing with inner/middle ear (vestibular) system symptoms. It's a long and winding thread but there is good stuff here.
I'm taking to using the word "stuff" now whenever I want. It's just easier. So, too, if you can make your day easier, that is easier on your vestibular system.
I have so many "first, this helps . . . " so bear with me and then, I hope later you can study the thread as it really is a life-line for anyone with any kind of "disturbance in the force" so to speak.
Also, while the symptoms you describe did land many in insane asylums decades ago, NOW we know better. Ask your LLMD for advice. He/She may want to refer you to an ear specialist.
But, if you just find one on your own, they won't know about lyme and can really mess you if if they prescribe steroids, which happens a lot. You need a LL ENT or LL neurotologist.
I'm not sure about LL but there is an excellent neurotogist whom I've read about in St. Louis. I'm not sure where in Missouri you are, though. While lyme really does a number on the ears, not all ear stuff is lyme. So, be sure to talk to your LLMD.
AVOID STEROIDS. Some ear doctors pass out steroids like candy. AVOID STEROIDS. That's another whole set of posts but just take our word for it, for now.
Also, many Rx and OTC products affect the ears. More in the thread about that.
* GINGER CAPSULES. First, make a ginger tea (fresh ginger, bags or dried ginger from your spice cabinet). Then, go buy some GINGER CAPSULES.
Capsules provide far better of a therapeutic dose. Ginger helps calm dizziness and vertigo - and the nausea they cause.
* Check the manufacturer's site for each of the Rx or OTC things you take. See if any of your symptoms are described as side-effects.
* LIVER SUPPORT is vital to prevent (or help minimize) vestibular involvement during lyme. Explained 3/4 of the way down page one in the Lyme/TINNITUS below.
* Go SCENT-FREE, and be sure to avoid chemicals as best you can: new textiles, carpet, new car (that new car smell is from very toxic chemicals), etc.
Good luck. All the details to follow will likely be overwhelming if you try to absorb it all at once. It took me years to learn and gather some of this. It's all here to save you time. You might want to save all the links to your computer "study" file for easier reading and reference in days to come.
With hope that you never really need most of this:
Topic: To everyone with CARDIAC symptoms please read !
=====================
What you describe makes PERFECT SENSE. I just read in your posting history that you've recently started on doxycycline (a short course from you GP while you find a LLMD). You are probably experiencing a "herx" -
Liver support is vital to helping with this. Your BP probably did not tell you to also take MILK THISTLE. That often helps.
Also be sure you are take plenty of good PROBIOTICS to prevent a systemic candida infection (yeast). Candida can also add to toxicity. That is best to prevent. OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT (OLE) works great for me. But not to take with Probiotics. Probiotics need to be taken away from Rx and OLE.
The Herxheimer reaction (also known as Jarisch-Herxheimer or Herx) occurs when large quantities of toxins are released into the body as bacteria (typically spirochetes) die during antibiotic treatment.
Typically the death of these bacteria and the associated release of endotoxins occurs faster than the body can remove the toxins.
It is manifested by fever, chills, headache, myalgia (muscle pain), and exacerbation of skin lesions. Duration in syphilis is normally only a few hours. The intensity of the reaction reflects the intensity of inflammation present.
The Herxheimer reaction has shown an increase in inflammatory cytokines during the period of exacerbation, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 and interleukin-8.[1][2]
The reaction is also seen in other diseases, such as borreliosis (Lyme disease [3][4]
and tick-borne relapsing fever[5]), bartonellosis, brucellosis, typhoid fever, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, and trichinellosis, Q fever, and cat scratch disease. [6][7]
====================
HEARING DAMAGE ALERT: When on antibiotics (and some other drugs), the noise level (called decibel level, abbreviated "db") at which hearing or balance damage can occur is far lower than usual.
EAR PLUGS &/or EAR MUFFS (rated for db level of at least 29) should be worn even around a hairdryer, vacuum, blenders, lawn equipment, in traffic.
Loud concerts should be avoided, even with hearing protection because a lot of vibration in transmitted through the body, via bones. The open nose and sinuses also transport sound.
"House concerts" or quieter venues may be best for now. Just Google the term to find a whole new world of intimate musical events.
AVOID in-the-ear "PODS" - even at low volume, these can damage ear nerves, especially when on abx (antibiotics) and for up a year after being on abx, the ears can be more susceptible to damage from lower db levels.
Take care of your ears. They do much more for us that just help us hear. EVERYthing we do needs our inner ear to help us get that done, even just talking and walking.
More detail can be found here: ----------------------------
There are at least 743 drugs that are known to be ototoxic. Here are just 84 of them:
You can look inside this book and read customer reviews here:
Ototoxic Drugs Exposed: Prescription Drugs and Other Chemicals That Can (and Do) Damage Our Ears
- by Neil G. Bauman -
[ 06-22-2010, 03:02 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- ADRENAL SUPPORT is important for every lyme patient. Those who experience vestibular (word loss again) - stuff - well, they need MUCH more attention to adrenal stuff. ( I know this stuff but my words are just not coming today)
When the inner ear is kaput or unsure which way is up - or overwhelmed from the slightest sensory stuff - the body goes into shock with that "fight or flight" response. Our mood, too, can zoom all over the place. Adrenals support is absolutely vital.
To help with that: -----------------------
Cordyceps is recommend here:
This is included in Burrascano's Guidelines, but you may want to be able to refer to it separately, too:
Curcumin Prevents Some Stress-Related Changes (By CP Staff)
Excerpts to follow in next post.
=======================
In addition to VESTIBULAR REHABILITATION (which, at this point is more of a SAFETY COURSE as until lyme/infections are fully addressed and on their way, and the liver is a happy camper, "retraining" is not going to have the same effect as in the absence of infection.
However, this training is essential for your safety. So you learn how to walk when the balance system is off kilter. There are definite changes to make for your safety, even in just where you look when you walk.
That is addressed a bit in the TINNITUS thread.
Also, and not at all because you are (not) crazy, but I hope you can see a LL therapist/ counselor/ psychologist. You need someone who is extremely knowledgeable about lyme to help you express your emotions around all this. Lyme can be devastating even without the inner ear stuff.
A LL therapist can help you find short cuts for figuring out what is lyme, what is inner ear and what is emotional stuff -- and how to manage all that.
WHAT IT DOES: Turmeric root is bitter in taste and warming in action. It strongly reduces inflammation and mucus in all parts of the body, protects the liver, lungs and intestines . . . .
SAFETY ISSUES: Due to mucin-reducing effects, do not use the concentrated extract (curcumin) or oil in high doses, especially if you have bile duct obstruction, gall stones, or stomach ulcers. Use turmeric as a spice freely.
- full article at link above. From ``The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook'' (Tilltoson, et.al.)
A recently published study investigated the effects of curcumin, a constituent of the botanical turmeric, on changes in cognition and memory caused by stress. . . .
In this new study, researchers investigated the effect of curcumin supplementation on stress-induced learning defects in mice. . . .
The results of the study showed that curcumin reversed memory deficits in a dose dependent manner, meaning increasing dosages of curcumin provided increasingly improved memory in the mice.
In addition, curcumin reversed the stress-induced increase in the levels of serum corticosterone, the primary hormone secreted during the stress response.
The researchers also found that the effectiveness of curcumin was similar to the effects of a tri-cyclic antidepressant.
. . . inhibited changes due to corticosterone-induced toxicity including preserving nerve cell connections, and inhibiting the corticosterone-induced activation of the enzyme calcium/calmodulin kinase II and stimulated glutamate receptor expression, which play a role in neurotransmitter secretion and certain kinds of memory and learning.
The researchers concluded, ``Thus, curcumin may be an effective therapeutic for learning and memory disturbances as was seen within these stress models, and
its neuroprotective effect was mediated in part by normalizing the corticosterone response, resulting in down-regulating of the phosphorylated calcium/calmodulin kinase II and glutamate receptor levels.'' -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Oh, that new laptop -- be sure your windows are open (or your AC system has a good fresh air exchange and there is good ventilation around your computer when you use it for the first few weeks. It will off-gas and that will affect your inner ear function.
Now, this seems counter to my having just added lots of stuff for you to read, but it may be best NOT to even turn your new computer on. Be sure not to put it in your bedroom and you might set it away from where you spend most of your time.
About off-gassing, it's the actual hardware, with the plastic, etc. but also the fire retardant sprayed onto the internal working and, when that gets warm from the computer being on - that creates more chemicals for your brain and body to sort through.
I know it's probably hot in Missouri these days but if you have a garage where you can put this, at least at night, turn it on and let it just be on for a while - away from you, SOME of the initial off-gassing might help. Then, after it's aired out a bit, when you use it, having a fan blow on you so that your air supply is not just coming from the computer - well, that should help.
When I got a new computer, it sort of knocked me out. That chemical reaction can be very hard for most lyme patients. But it's also not good for anyone. Let the computer be alone for a little while. It needs its space, so to speak.
When turned off / unplugged - you might just wipe down with a slightly damp cloth - or wash off the areas that you can wipe down with a non-scented detergent that has a citrus base, as citrus can cut through a fine layer of petroleum. (Seventh Generation and BioKleen are good).
Also be sure to keep out of direct sunlight so that it does not get too hot. When plastics get hot, they off-gas. Hopefully, as this is a lap top, you will have more metal than plastic. But it still could use a wipe down.
And that leads me to suggest a towel over everyone's car dashboard and steering wheel. It cuts down on some of the off-gassing when parked on hot or sunny days. Also, when getting into a car, open a couple doors and let it air out for a minute before getting into it.
I really feel bad loading you up with all the stuff. I recall how each new consideration could be crushing. Still, I hope some of this helps you get your balance around all this.
Another consideration is that when you bought that new computer yesterday, the store might have been just overwhelming to you vestibular system but you managed - at least while running the gauntlet with all the lights and sounds of the store - and then your body caught up and said "whew, that's was hard."
Also, for many with inner ear stuff going on, just looking at a computer can be hard. Rest your eyes as needed. Rest your body as needed - a 30% angle is best for your inner ear with your head/torso raised up a bit. Don't just raise head, but entire torso so as not to strain your neck. Just layer a few pillows under your back from your waist up.
With knowledge, treatment and time, this can get better. We also need understand and deep compassion for ourselves as we work through this.
I see that you have just posted for a LLMD. I hope you find one very soon and that all goes well.
Good luck and take care. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Get a professional MASSAGE if you can. It helps in so many ways. We can also start exchanging foot, hand, shoulder massages with close friends and family members.
Avoid massaging the spine, though. Only those trained should be working around the spine especially because lyme really affects the vertebrae in the neck.
I was just reminded that we all need a massage now and then: ------------------
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