posted
Hi. Ever since I was first infected (found the tick so know the date) I've had very severe anxiety, and now it's been 17 years. I take 3mg of Klonopin prescribed by my LLMD which used to knock out the anxiety, but now it's worn off and my doc understandably doesn't want to up the dosage.
Right now it's 3pm and I'm too scared even to pay my bills or leave my house. I have to pick my kids up from school, but am too scared to drive, so I asked a friend to drive them to their swim practice. I still have to pick them up in a couple hours though, and my bills will be late if I don't get them out today. I'm too afraid to go to work tomorrow, or to even take a shower right now. I'm frozen scared in bed. Not a panick attack, but still scared stiff.
Any ideas of what I can do about this? Thank you!
-------------------- Ellen _ _ ___________ _ _ lyme disease dysautonomia Chiari malformation anxiety Posts: 72 | From Birmingham, AL | Registered: Dec 2013
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surprise
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34987
posted
In my humble opinion, experience,
Bartonella infection, which can and does in some folks induce horrible neuro issues.
Sending good thoughts-hang in there--
-------------------- Lyme positive PCR blood, and positive Bartonella henselae Igenex, 2011. low positive Fry biofilm test, 2012. Update 7/16- After extensive treatments, doing okay! Posts: 2518 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2011
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posted
I was going to echo teh same thing although in my case it was/is babesia. If this has gone on this long all indications are that it is a coinfection.
Keep in mind i never tested positive for any of them. Never had a night sweat or fever with babesia fopr 7 years...but alwasy had the pscych stuff....now that i am treating it has gotten a lot better.
Dave
-------------------- On my journey to wellness - One day at a time. Posts: 989 | From NJ | Registered: Sep 2008
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
I second both surprise and Dave.
Hang in there Ellen. It will pass. Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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lyme in Putnam
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11561
posted
Get hormones checked too. All with anxiety, it can't hurt, lyme throws everything off, stress...
-------------------- He took u to it, He'll you through Posts: 2837 | From NE. | Registered: Apr 2007
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Yes, I was going to say Bart, too. ANd probably Babesia, too. Arghhh!
It sounds like, in addition to treating the TBD's, you need to work with a Lyme sympathetic psychiatrist to see what meds can help without having to up the benzo's.
(Forgive me, if you are already doing this). An antidepressant might help, as can something like neurontin, or even tiny doses of an atypical antipsychotic. no, it doesn't mean you're psychotic! But they help take anxiety and overwhelm down.
What we have to endure is so blasted extreme that we need all the help we can get. Yes, magnesium and fish oil, kava kava, etc. can help. But with the level of anxiety that you are talking about, you need more than that (preaching to the choir, I'm sure).
I sometimes think this disease complex will make saints out of us!
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
Ellen,
The only thing that got rid of my anxiety was getting rid of parasites. Please check the symptom list at Humaworm and take a look at the PARASITE WARRIORS SUPPORT THREAD here on lymenet. It has been the missing link for many with chronic Lyme.
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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droid1226
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34930
posted
With anxiety that debilitating, bartonella.
posted
Thank you everyone. Yes, I did test positive for both Bartonella and Babesia. I forget: do both cross the blood-brain barrier?
Will definitely check out the parasite warriors support thread.
I wish I could find a LL psychiatrist. In Alabama, where Lyme is "supposed to be" non-existant, I'm thankful to have even a LLMD. I did see a general psychiatrist, but of course she doesn't recognize that Lyme can cause anxiety or even acknowledge that it exists in AL.
Maybe talking to my LLMD would help. He's not afraid to Rx psychoactive drugs. After all, he did Rx the Klonopin. I want help without being viewed as crazy.
-------------------- Ellen _ _ ___________ _ _ lyme disease dysautonomia Chiari malformation anxiety Posts: 72 | From Birmingham, AL | Registered: Dec 2013
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posted
Nothing right now. I'm usually on either oral or IV abx/antimalarials, but now and then my doctor wants me to take a 4 month break from Lyme treatment to prevent resistance development.
I don't even know which drugs best treat babesia. If you name them, I can tell you whether I've been on them, when, for how long, and whether by IV or oral.
Thanks for asking.
-------------------- Ellen _ _ ___________ _ _ lyme disease dysautonomia Chiari malformation anxiety Posts: 72 | From Birmingham, AL | Registered: Dec 2013
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posted
Is babesia really the biggest source of anxiety? I've not heard that before. I've become so sick that I'm not as involved in my own treatment as much as I used to be. For now, I'm just trusting my doctor to call the shots. I've not had a long conversation with him about my anxiety before. I was afraid he may not see it as a Lyme or coinfection symptom and send me to a shrink. He's VERY Lyme literate. Do you think I should just come straight out and tell him I need help with anxiety, and that I need babesia treatment?
-------------------- Ellen _ _ ___________ _ _ lyme disease dysautonomia Chiari malformation anxiety Posts: 72 | From Birmingham, AL | Registered: Dec 2013
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posted
In my personal experience it was not babs that caused anxiety. It was Bart.
Quote from dr. S (the lyme disease solution pg.363):
"The antibiotic drug rifampin can often be extremely effective in treating severe anxiety symptoms that are due to Lyme/TBDs. Severe anxiety is often a clue to the presence of Bartonella/BLO"
Posts: 381 | From The Netherlands | Registered: Nov 2013
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desertwind
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25256
posted
Some people develop a tolerance to Benzo.s very quickly.
Tolerance withdrawal or interdosing withdrawal syndrome when using any Benzo especially the shorter half life ones like Xanax can cause severe re-bound anxiety.
Not saying this is the case in your situation but just wanted to note it as something to consider in addition to lyme and co-infections. Could be making it worse.
Posts: 1671 | From Tick Infested New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2010
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