posted
I just had to post to ask how many of you suffer with severe panic attacks? It seems like my anxiety flares severely once a month (although I have panic attacks daily). The attacks don't back down to xanax either. They last for a few hours and truthfully are bad enough to have me question going to the ER. Does anyone else have them this bad? I take xanax .5 mg 3x daily as needed but when I have these attacks it seems like I have to take 1.5mg before I can breathe again. I also take bactrim, monodox, inderal (for tachycardia, another lovely gift from lyme), and herbs. Thank you for any info you may have or stories! Sometimes it's nice to know you're not alone!
Posts: 132 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2012
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posted
I haven't had anxiety as bad as you're describing, but I have had horrible anxiety with this illness. I'm sorry it's so bad for you. I know it's an awful thing to experience.
Posts: 463 | From Sandusky, Ohio | Registered: Jan 2012
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posted
Hi jessig, I have terribly suffered from anxiety, especially during my first 3 months of antibiotic treatment (while I was used to panic attacks, it felt like a constant attack on some days). I took a Xanax here and there but tried to push through mostly. Eventually, the attacs declined in severity.
I had Xanax 1.0. I can not really reccomend much, you may be aware it s better to leave out caffeine, alcohol. It helped me a little to drink water all the time and to keep a xanax with me at all times.
I can only assure you that it will get better even though it is a tough way to follow. I am very convinced that I had "psycho-herx".
Posts: 78 | From Germany | Registered: Feb 2012
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
Anxiety is on the symptom list for parasites. Google parasite symptoms. You may have this infection and abx alone will not eradicate it.
If you are already open to taking herbs, you might want to check into antiparasitic herbs for parasites such as Parastroy or Humaworm.
One mos of tx this kind of infection is never enough and has to be ongoing until symptom free and then maintenance. I used to have severe anxiety attacks until I got rid of the parasites.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
The anxiety can be grueling during the first few months of abx treatment. The brain fog causes a lot of confusion and all the physical symptoms are aggravating. Hot epsom salt baths help. I take valerian root at night and it really helps.
-------------------- Lymer since 89 Namaste Posts: 52 | From Fort Worth Texas | Registered: Jan 2013
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posted
Thanks everyone! Gael, I was just reading about this today and am going to talk to my LLMD about an antiparasitic treatment. I definately have the symptoms. I've been on abx for 6 months with the bactrim and only 1 month with the monodox. The panic attack today is unrelenting. I took 1.5 mg xanax total (over a 2 hour period, I break the .5 pills in half and keep taking them til i'm calmer) and had some relief for about 3 hours and now I feel it creeping back up again. I normally take that for an entire 24 hour period and often less than that. I have had a whopping 3 drinks in the past 5 years, yes, that's it. And I had to give up caffeine 4 years ago when my tachycardia was found. I feel like my body is playing cat and mouse. Yesterday was a good day, I actually had some energy and thought a little clearer. Today, it's like a freight train hit. Is this what I can expect for years to come? It's so unnerving to not know what to expect to feel and I find myself going out less and less out of fear that i'll start feeling awful while i'm out. I have 2 little ones (2 and 6) on top of it all and I just want to be a fun mommy and play with them, not the mommy that shakes on the floor until her dose of xanax kicks in. Has anyone ever taken ativan? I've heard it may work better to control panic but I wasn't sure. I hope everyone feels better soon!!!
Posts: 132 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2012
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posted
Thanks everyone! Gael, I was just reading about this today and am going to talk to my LLMD about an antiparasitic treatment. I definately have the symptoms. I've been on abx for 6 months with the bactrim and only 1 month with the monodox. The panic attack today is unrelenting. I took 1.5 mg xanax total (over a 2 hour period, I break the .5 pills in half and keep taking them til i'm calmer) and had some relief for about 3 hours and now I feel it creeping back up again. I normally take that for an entire 24 hour period and often less than that. I have had a whopping 3 drinks in the past 5 years, yes, that's it. And I had to give up caffeine 4 years ago when my tachycardia was found. I feel like my body is playing cat and mouse. Yesterday was a good day, I actually had some energy and thought a little clearer. Today, it's like a freight train hit. Is this what I can expect for years to come? It's so unnerving to not know what to expect to feel and I find myself going out less and less out of fear that i'll start feeling awful while i'm out. I have 2 little ones (2 and 6) on top of it all and I just want to be a fun mommy and play with them, not the mommy that shakes on the floor until her dose of xanax kicks in. Has anyone ever taken ativan? I've heard it may work better to control panic but I wasn't sure. I hope everyone feels better soon!!!
Posts: 132 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2012
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
Breaking This Up For Easier Reading
quote:Originally posted by Jessig627: Thanks everyone! Gael, I was just reading about this today and am going to talk to my LLMD about an antiparasitic treatment.
I definately have the symptoms. I've been on abx for 6 months with the bactrim and only 1 month with the monodox. The panic attack today is unrelenting.
I took 1.5 mg xanax total (over a 2 hour period, I break the .5 pills in half and keep taking them til i'm calmer) and had some relief for about 3 hours and now I feel it creeping back up again.
I normally take that for an entire 24 hour period and often less than that. I have had a whopping 3 drinks in the past 5 years, yes, that's it.
And I had to give up caffeine 4 years ago when my tachycardia was found. I feel like my body is playing cat and mouse. Yesterday was a good day, I actually had some energy and thought a little clearer.
Today, it's like a freight train hit. Is this what I can expect for years to come? It's so unnerving to not know what to expect to feel and I find myself going out less and less out of fear that i'll start feeling awful while i'm out.
I have 2 little ones (2 and 6) on top of it all and I just want to be a fun mommy and play with them, not the mommy that shakes on the floor until her dose of xanax kicks in.
Has anyone ever taken ativan? I've heard it may work better to control panic but I wasn't sure. I hope everyone feels better soon!!!
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Soccermama, do you use xanax in conjunction with the ativan and only take the ativan as needed or vice versa? I want to know what the possibilities are. Sometimes i'm just taking what seems like alot of xanax to me to stop a full blow panic attack.
Posts: 132 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2012
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posted
Xanax and Atavan are both benzodiazipines. They are fat soluable and are very addictive. I would be very careful. If you are taking them a lot and decide to stop, you definitely want to taper off to avoid withdrawal symptoms. I don't take them.....ever!! Flexeril works well and is not addictive.
-------------------- Lymer since 89 Namaste Posts: 52 | From Fort Worth Texas | Registered: Jan 2013
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
I found over the years that the major component to anxiety and brainfog of the worst kind is basically due when dental toxins, toxic infected teeth and jaw are involved. These do not necessarily contribute a lot of pain, but the structural pains, lower back, occiput play a big role.
These dental toxins usually involve metal toxicity from teeth, crowns, and root canals.
And always involve some sort of parasitic infection which are the keeepers of the metals until the infestation is too great and continues to be the major factor of misery.
Dr. K. decided years ago, as also published in "Lyme Disease, A Look Beyond Antibiotics" in 2004 that parasite treatment needs to be out front because all else, i.e. metals, bacteria, viruses, are hiding within the parasites. Parasites are the largest of these infections, and the Lyme and viral infections are the smallest ones. Why chase Lyme for years while they are hidding within the parasites and toxic metal nests?
ART and other energetic response testing gives a good indication what the body is confronted with most and what the priorities for treatment are. I find it useless to treat anything without being tested with any of these methods (ART, EAV, or other good muscle testing). You will even get more of an indication what the body needs most if you learn to test with a tensor or pendulum.
All these methods can be easily learned and it is a small investment considering that you can find out what direction to go next if you find someone to teach you. Even taking a Klinghardt course is worth investigating. I learned some of it during my worst brainfogged years and can help myself and know where I am going and find that I am usually on the right course when I get tested on and off by someone expert.
Nobody I know today is not exposed to excessive EMF/Radiation and metal toxicity, and untreated dental infections and remaining metal and chemical toxins are the worst of all. Great contributors to brainfog, troublemakers for kidneys.
Try d-Galactose for these -- it clears things out. It's an old standby for me. Since I have the Smart Meter on my house now, I really know when the metal release is not leaving my body fast enough.
Consider MMS enemas for parasite treatment. It costs pennies and is very effective. Find a practitioner who can test you energetically and research it. Even learning to swing the pendulum can tell you whether it would be right for me. I am doing it presently. As metals are released, parasites show up and that may even bring up a bit of viral invaders.
Remember all our problems are very closely tied together --- the Babuschka Principle I posted many months ago. If you are not paying attention to that, you are wasting time and energy chasing in the wrong order.
One needs to pay attention to the toxic metals when treating parasites. There is not one without the other.
Parasite symptoms as listed are toxic metal symptoms as listed and are the same symptoms on every bacterial and fungal and viral infection symptom list. Do not go by this. There is no way to distinguish between any of these symptoms and the symptoms may lead you in the wrong direction for treatment.
Getting energetically tested is the best way to quickly find out what must be done at this moment, treat it, and then go on to what tests next. You will find that if you treat parasites with effective agents, metals are testing positive at the same time, and need to be treated. What usually shows next is fungi that should be treated a few days, and maybe then bacterial and viral stuff. If it tests positive energetically, the body is concerned with it and wants to be treated. No use treating anything that is not testing positive energetically at this moment.
Testing will change within few days and only in that manner can you gradually lessen the toxic load addressing the problem that really needs to be addressed.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I started on cymbalta - found that it helped my anxiety and paranoia.
Have you talke to your psychiatrist about another medication than xanax? There are so many out there that are good to better manage anxiety. The benefit of cymbalta is that it treats chronic pain as well...
Just a thought.
Posts: 160 | From MD, USA | Registered: May 2004
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posted
Just want to offer support Lately I have been dealing alot with anxiety. There is certainly and ebb and flow to it, some days are not so bad.
Lately I have been having a hard time with it.
I have 3 kids and a hubby who tries so hard to understand but doesn't really get it. He keeps signing the kids up for activities and that is what creates major anxiety for me.
For me I think it is part of a herx process but also sort of a conditioned response. I know I don't have the energy to do things but I know I have to. I also know that if I do, I will even have less energy and there is nothing I can do about it. This is my anxiety cycle. It's bad for me right now. I do take xanax as needed, but that was only once every month or every two weeks. It helps when the anxiety gets bad.
I wonder about natural anti anxiety herbs? Not sure what those would be but I think I would like to add some to my protocol.
Just sending you support. There are so many theories about this that it blows my mind, and it makes it hard to determine which direction to go in. I hope you feel better soon.
-------------------- Tick bite in 2006, bullseye rash, treated with 2 rounds of 2 weeks of doxy. (once in 2006, once in 2009) Dx with chronic Lyme May 2011. LLMD April 2012, Treating with omnicef/zith Lots of supplements! Posts: 640 | From Connecticut | Registered: Apr 2011
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posted
I just have to put my plug in for Valerian Root, again. I have been taking it at night for years. It promotes sleep and is a mild muscle relaxer. Helps a lot with spasms. I feel so much better rested when I take it. it makes a huge difference.
It is available at the health food store and believe it or not, in the vitamin department at Walmart. It costs about $5.00 a bottle. I take two of those capsules about an hour before bed. It smells like dirty sox but it is so worth it.
Sleepy time tea by Celestial Seasonings is another great relaxer. It is in the tea section of the supermarket.
My herb book recommends Ginger. Says it increases blood flow to the brain and decreases anxiety. Might help with the brain fog, I don't know. I like ginger for several reasons. for one thing it really helps nausea.
I also experience anxiety when I feel I can't keep up with all the responsibilities I have. I do yoga and it really relaxes me. Just focusing on the breath and nothing else brings the anxiety down. i also take hot showers or baths, aahhh....
-------------------- Lymer since 89 Namaste Posts: 52 | From Fort Worth Texas | Registered: Jan 2013
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droid1226
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34930
posted
try a slower metabolizing benzo like valium. xanax gets you out of a panic attack almost immediately but can rebound you into another when it wears off in an hr or two, or later. watch out for the flexeril too. it's not addictive but dangerous as any benzo.
if it's a true bartonella CNS panic attack, i don't think yoga or even herbals can help. i've tried EVERYTHING before resorting to valium...then to nothing. i'd taper down the xanax or definitely switch to low dose valium. seroquel or trazadone may work too for non benzo.
whatever you do, try to make an effort to treat lyme first, then taper down benzo..in that order. some people need low dose benzo. but it absolutely cannot be abused.
i used to have these daily and they were paralyzing. valium will limit the feeling of one coming on because it stays in your system so long.
posted
Is Bart more likely to cause panic attacks? Do Bart here's usually involve high anxiety?
-------------------- Tick bite in 2006, bullseye rash, treated with 2 rounds of 2 weeks of doxy. (once in 2006, once in 2009) Dx with chronic Lyme May 2011. LLMD April 2012, Treating with omnicef/zith Lots of supplements! Posts: 640 | From Connecticut | Registered: Apr 2011
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lymeboy
Unregistered
posted
Yes, Bart causes anxiety, (for me bordering on insanity and suicide). I know a lot of people here take antidepressants. I personally would never take xanax or Ativan (not judging, I just think those drugs are unhealthy and overprescribed, but whatever works I guess!) Many would disagree with me, but I cannot say enough good things about Marijuana for anxiety and pain. It is healthy when taken properly, non addictive and has never failed to take me out of the depths of depression. And there is no crash, at least for me. This has been my experience, and I think those of us that have experience with it would have a much better quality of life using it. BTW I rarely use it, just reserve it for those awful days, which seem to be dwindling the past month or so.
I know what a lot folks here have to say about it. They may be right. But I am a mostly neuro patient at this point, and it has never been anything but good for me. I would use it over a pharma pill any day. I've taken various antidepressants and found them to be personality changers and give me an overall drugged feeling. Wellbutrin actually made me worse.
I guess all I'm saying is if you're at the point where you are considering Xanax, this is a cleaner, less dangerous option, depending on where you live. And it turns out it's good for you if ingested properly.
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I have known people who took welbutrin and it actually caused anxiety and panic attacks. I have known others who said it really helped them. There is no predictability with antidepressants. Everyone has and individual response. I have also met people who said that marijuana made them paranoid.
I think it is important to monitor yourself because people respond so differently.
-------------------- Lymer since 89 Namaste Posts: 52 | From Fort Worth Texas | Registered: Jan 2013
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Razzle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 30398
posted
Anxiety from Bart. is what I've had...and it responds well to GABA or to Homeopathic Aurum Ars. for me...
Had panic attacks a side effect of Prednisone, but what got me over them was realizing that resisting them or fighting them makes them worse, gives them control over me.
But if I just let them happen and tell myself that I am ok right now (this moment), and that it is OK to feel the anxiety and panic and fear, then this takes the power out of the panic attack.
Doing this for several panic attacks in a row resulted in a decrease in the panic attack intensity and frequency, which encouraged me to continue.
And eventually the panic attacks completely stopped happening, and have never returned.
Since this is just my experience, it may or may not work for anyone else...but I hope at least something herein will prove useful for someone...
Essential oils (medical grade is best) may help - sniff them, diffuse them, and/or put a drop on the roof of your mouth... Lavendar oil, vetiver oil, or a blend called Peace and Calming are excellent for anxiety.
And for those of you who are in to reading the Bible, might consider meditating on Phil. 4:6-8...
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
i'm surprised no one has mentioned exercise, if you are able. Regular exercise has had a tremendous effect on depression, anxiety, and PANIC for me.
Of course, it's not all about me , the research is there to support this.
Posts: 520 | From Maryland | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
Thanks everyone! I don't take anti-depressents. I was on them years ago when I was told this was all in my head. I took myself off them when I put my foot down and said it's not.
I try to do yoga 3 or 4 times a week or go for a walk on the treadmill if I have the energy and time (2 little kids to care for drains me with this disease) but nothing kills these stupid panic attacks.
There is no trigger, no time of day, no rhyme, no reason. I'm thinking maybe I should have my thyroid and pituitary functions checked? I'm also having very pad heart palpitations the past few days. I have tachycardia and I feel like my heart rate is becoming very irregular at times. I always tell myself it's a panic attack and to relax, but when do I head to the ER? I get dizzy and my vision gets a little strange and I still don't go attributing it to a panic attack. Could it be part of a herx?
I guess i'm just trying to figure out when enough is enough and I should take it seriously instead of passing it off as anxiety. I'm also getting nervous that i've developed more cardiac complications from this stupid disease.
Hope we all get the healing we need!
Posts: 132 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2012
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Low magnesium can trigger heart palpitations. Low magnesium can cause anxiety, depression, panic attacks, insomnia, muscle twitches and spasms, sensitivity to light and noise.
posted
Hi Carol! I take the magnesium supplements daily. I'm starting to wonder about my body toxicity. I've been reading soooo much about detoxing and anti parasitic treatments that i'm beginning to wonder if these things are what I should be doing first. I need to ask my LLMD. I don't see the antibiotics doing any good if I can't get enough of the toxins out of my body.
Feel good!
Posts: 132 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2012
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, the research is there to support this.
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