Anxiety is beyond control now. Head/neck pain make me want to jump off my roof.
My PCP is thinking that maybe my Cymbalta is causing some of the headaches. Wants me to switch to paxil.
Stopped my pulse of azithro today and started Flagyl.
I just can't stop crying and feeling so panicky.
God give me strength..kit
[ 12-22-2009, 01:45 PM: Message edited by: kitkat32 ]
Posted by jenny76 (Member # 18205) on :
Hi there kitkat,
I'm so sorry you are suffering. I have to ask, did this start AFTER the Flagyl or before?
Just so you know Flagyl has this effect on me, it's very severe. I have felt the same way this weekend while not even taking Flagyl but the Flagyl sets me over the edge.
I also know that sometimes antidepressants can do this as well so it could be a combo of things.
I really hope you feel better and find some peace of mind.
Posted by kitkat32 (Member # 9682) on :
Thanks Jenny,
It started before the Flagyl. I just started that this afternoon.
I pulsed azithro with plaquenil for the last 4 days.
I was actually thinking of committing myself...it is so bad.
I can't handle this head pain and anxiety.
kit
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I did terrible on Paxil, absolutely terrible. It was so sedating that it depressed the nervous system to a point I wanted to kill myself.
I did terrible on every drug in that category - and I tired them all in the mid-90's. Never again. Ever. They thing is that they are all very hard on the liver and can create more toxicity, and that increases anxiety as the brain can't deal with all the added chemicals of the psycho-active drugs.
Magnesium and fish oil worked better for me than any of them. Both will help decrease anxiety. CURCUMIN, too, really helps.
You can even try Turmeric right from your spice jar until you can get some curcumin
B-12, B-6 and B-5, too. P5P, a precursor to B-5 is best.
Gotu Kola has also been a Godsend to help balance out the nervous system.
Anxiety can also be from the adrenal stress that comes with lyme and co. Adrenal support was also very helpful in decreasing anxiety. Ashwagandha and Siberian Ginseng is wonderful support.
But regular cat's claw (not Samento, it will not work for this purpose) helped the most to calm the nerve fibers down, within minutes.
Can you get a nice professional massage? That is very calming to the nervous system and helps the body move out toxins that contribute to anxiety.
Acupuncture, too, can really help balance things out.
There are solutions . . . in the meantime . . . take care. -
Posted by kitkat32 (Member # 9682) on :
Thanks for your support.
I have done well before on SSRI's...apparently not this time.
I went to the chiropractor this morning and he gave me a 15 min. massage on back on shoulders and then did my scalp too.
I am taking b6, b12 and magnesium.
I can't believe how I am falling apart. I am NOT suicidal. Just can't stand this constant state.
Just having you guys helps.
kit
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Kit,
I remember some of those hyper times and sometimes the only thing that helped was aggressive rest, closing curtains, covering eyes, no sound or just very soft music.
Breathing slowly and breathing in rhythm . . . it's all hard but that forced isolation seemed to help my nervous system calm down more than any activity to try to forget it. Adrenal support also was essential.
I sure hope you feel better soon. -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Paxil.. ugh. Maybe Prozac or Zoloft instead? I hear it's extremely difficult to get off Paxil.... just heard it... not experienced it.
Flagyl... oh my there too. If it makes things worse, call your LLMD immediately.
Hugs to you and I hope you feel better soon!!!! Posted by KS (Member # 12549) on :
When I first started treatment, I was on biaxin and plaquenil for a few months. I had such a severe herxheimer reaction that I was hospitalized. One of the symptoms that stood out the most for me was the extreme anxiety and gloom/doom while on plaquenil. I have never in my life experienced either of these issues and it was HORRIFIC for me.
When I came off of the plaquenil, the anxiety and crying subsided. Granted I still had a lot of other physical symptoms and treatment but at least the mental health was better. So, I'm not sure whether it was directly a product of being on plaquenil or a herxheimer but either way, I couldn't take it!
Just try to be patient while you try to figure things out and know that you will. Keep in mind it can take time for some of these drugs to flush out of you body so you might not experience immediate relief.
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Kit,
If you are considering Paxil I would like to tell you that:
A. It was the only SSRI that touched my anxiety. I was so anxious that I found it difficult to sit still and lost 20 pounds in about 2 weeks becasue my body never 'shut off'.
When the paxil kicked in, it was like a miracle.
That said, it IS a very difficult drug to come off of. The first time on, I tried weaning and experienced a lot of side affects.
The second time, my doc switched me to Prozac for two weeks and because of its longer half life (prozac) it was very easy to stop the meds. No withdral whatsoever.
I have episodic anxiety now, nothing like the gut wrenching anxiety in the past....that is almost unbearable.
Wishing you the best and hoping that you are able to get this under control!
Feelfit
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
Hope you feel better SOON Posted by venus (Member # 16991) on :
Kit,
I am right there with you. I am having terrible, terrible anxiety right now and I am trying desperately to figure out why - herx, hormones, anti-depressants. It is terrible. I can't help you except to say that I am right now down there in the trenches with you. PM is you need to release.
As my lyme friends always tell me, remember it is the disease. It is not you.
Hugs, Kathy
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
Sure hope you feel better soon. I have had similar anxiety and depression when starting drugs. It is so hard to get through. Maybe back down a little bit on the abx until you feel better.
Posted by Fordace (Member # 14874) on :
Hi Kit,
I am going through the same anxiety, shortness of breath all the time crap too. I feel spaced out, like I work in slow motion suddenly for hours. I am taking biaxin and Tindamax currently. Make sure you are evacuating your bowels at least once a day, toxins will build up in the intestine and be reabsorbed, prune juice, syllium power, all that, keep the gut moving to eliminate toxins.....take care and I hope you feel better...take ATIVAN when needed, just GET some.....Richie
Posted by kitkat32 (Member # 9682) on :
Thank you all for your kind replies.
I ended up waking my husband up at 3 this morning. I kept having nightmares that I was killing myself..they seemed so real.
I was shaking uncontrollably and could not stop crying and pacing/trembling.
Neither I or my hubby knew what to do with me.
I used to see a psych doctor back in 2005...called at 8 to see if I could get in but they had nothing until March. I don't want to go there now anyway because what kind of office tells a suicidal patient that they have to wait until March?
We called our PCP and hubby explained what was going on. He is not on board really with the whole lyme dx but was very helpful today.
He..not his nurse talked to my husband. He said to give him 15 mins. and he would find me someplace to go.
Within 10 mins. he called back and had an appt. scheduled for the next hour with crisis intervention.
Hubby drove me down and because of the condition I was in they wanted to admit to the psych unit.
We had a long talk with the psychiatrist and he agreed as long as I wasn't left home alone I wouldn't have to goto hospital.
He said for me to continue the switch to Paxil but told me I HAVE to take 0.5mg of Xanax 3 times a day until this gets under control. He said even if it's the lyme causing it the xanax will at least help calm me a bit.
I have a call into my LLMD to keep them up to par and see if they think my current treatment might have caused this.
This happened to me once before when I took Tetracycline.
Sorry so long. Just wanted to update every who helped so much.
Gonna go lay down for a bit.
With love...kit
Posted by aliyalex (Member # 6976) on :
glad you got someone to respond. hope you will become stabilized now. good for you and your husband to advocate on your behalf.
you are worth it.
Posted by Karen Mc (Member # 23354) on :
Hi Kit,
I just saw your post (been off site for a few days--trying to catch up)
I am so sorry to hear you are in so much pain, but I am sooo glad that your dr got you in so quickly to see someone.
Sounds like a dr that truly cares---thank the Lord there are still some out there! (:
I see you haven't posted since yesterday,I hope you're getting rest and I pray you are feeling better!!
As for the "long post" don't be silly---that is what we're here for.
I am sure many others feel as I do, I don't know what I would do without this site.
It has truly been a blessing finding this place.
WHENEVER you need someone to talk to or support...GET ONLINE!!!!
It always seems like someone is on.. no matter the time of day..or nite.... lol
I guess we are all like our "own little mini crisis, support, 911" life line group.
Please keep us posted.
God Bless, karen
P.S. I agree, thumbs up to hubby for support Posted by kitkat32 (Member # 9682) on :
Thanks so much for your kindness.
As for rest..not getting much. I am physically exhausted but my sleep isn't peaceful. I have this constant headache and neck pain which is making me so miserable.
When I do sleep it is for several hours a night and then I wake up at 3 sometimes later with either an extreme headache or extreme panic.
I took ambien for sleep last night but still got up at 3.
I have had this before but never this bad. I think if the head and neck pain would let up a bit I would do better.
This forum is a godsend to me. I have a very supportive husband but having others who have been through similiar things really helps.
I truly think I am crazy. I don't know how I am going to dig myself out of this.
kit
Posted by kitkat32 (Member # 9682) on :
Forgot to add that I spoke to LLMD yesterday. He wants me to stop all meds for a few days and then start again even slower after I feel better mentally.
kit
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Sounds like a good plan. Hope it helps.
Posted by Snailhead (Member # 18091) on :
Hope you are well today Kit. Yay for: Your husband. Yay for: Your dr. And yay for: Xanax!! It will take the edge off, I promise.
I used it to help me quit smoking almost five years ago, and I felt psychotic. Keep it at a steady level in your system. God bless you.
Posted by Snailhead (Member # 18091) on :
Oh and P.S., Flagyl completely freaked my brain out. Your dr. is right about stopping all lyme treating meds and restarting at lower levels.
"Go low, Go slow."
Posted by pryorka (Member # 13649) on :
When I cry I tell myself it's not all bad, at least i'm detoxing to some extent.
Posted by farraday (Member # 21494) on :
It's so great to hear all the support you are giving Kit. I know so well these feelings and in fact am in a mess myself right now.
My LLMD did warn me about Flagyl. He said he hesitated giving it to me because it was tough to handle. That's why the Bicillin shots instead.
I take Resperidone for anxiety and it seems to help. I probably need to increase it, though.
The constant pain, confusion and exhaustion are hard to endure day after day, year after year. I've been at it over 20 years and hope and pray that we are at a turning point.
My new LLMD said we'll go slowly and that sounds like good advice.
Having this support group makes such a wonderful difference in my life. Thanks to all of you!
Posted by Siciliano (Member # 15920) on :
Hi, Kit, I sent you a PM. I so related to you--I have experienced the EXACT same thing as you and I had to send you a PM and tell you that you are NOT alone.
I cried every single day for over 3 years!!! I mean every day, 24/7. It was so hard, it was hell on earth.
I am so thankful for this board, I just don't know what I would do if I did not have this site to come to every day. All of us have to stay together we have to lean on each other, we have to be there for each other--this is so hard to deal with at times.
I swear there have been times when I honestly thought I was going to "lose my mind", it makes you feel like your crazy inside. This is such a long, hard road.
Farraday, it is so wonderful to see that you are still with us. I remember the very first time you came to us and you were looking for a llmd in California and I gave you my list of names. You are such a nice lady and you were so sweet to me.
I now have a pretty long list of llmd's in California and tomorrow (wait, that's Christmas) or the next day I am going to send you this list because I don't think this is the one I gave you and I want you to have it so I will PM you and send it.
Farraday, I hope your new llmd will take things slower for you and you know we are here for you. Thank God for this site. We have to be there for each other.
You both can PM me anytime for anything, I will help you whenever you need me, you can count on me. Posted by kitkat32 (Member # 9682) on :
Thank you to each and everyone of you for the tremendous support you have offered me.
I am still one anxiety ridden mess but I am uplifted by my support I find here.
Peace to all, kit
Posted by missextreme (Member # 3610) on :
Kit,
Hang in there, and take it a minute at a time. I was there. It is awful and even past hell (and I do not swear). When I started my most intense Lyme treatment, the torture lasted about 2 months. You can do it. Maybe it will get better next month, who knows? I thought mine would never-ever go away
Exercise. Eat right. Sit in a sauna. Do coffee enemas. Lie down to rest (even if you can't sleep)
Pretend you are normal, until you can't anymore.
I did the Miss Wyoming Pageant and got 2nd runner up while I was in the middle of everything. It distracted me, since performance anxiety was nothing compared to Lyme anxiety. The scholarship money was fantastic, and so was forgetting my problems for a bit, too! I still can't believe I was able to do it in the midst of everything, but I am so glad I did.
Let me know if there's anything I can do!
Posted by farraday (Member # 21494) on :
Siciliano, I am so grateful for your early support when I had just gotten dxd. I was in shock because for so many years I was told that I was bedridden because of CFS.
Getting through the meds is tough. You don't know if you are herxing or just getting worse. I will see my new LLMD tomorrow to find out if he will continue the Bicillin injections or get more drastic.
I am so weak and trembly. I grind my teeth until they literally break off and my jaw feels broken. My legs hurt, I'm dizzy and exhausted.
I spent most of Christmas lying on my granddaughter's bed. It was wonderful to be with her. I helped her set up her new laptop from her dad. The grandkids called me to beg me to come....how could I refuse?
My five year old grandson said grace for the whole family. He listed all the things he was grateful for and I was included. There was not a dry eye in the room. He was amazing!
So happy New Year to all of you! There is a silver lining out there somewhere. You just have to be diligent and keep looking for it!
Posted by db (Member # 733) on :
I understand exactly how you are feeling. I, too, experienced that at the beginning of my treatment. Pls. don't hesitate to tell your doc if the xanex is not working. I couldn't turn off my motor off, couldn't sleep, and had excrutiating pain in left shoulder, neck and into head. The thing that helped me finally with that pain was (2) 600 mg of neurontin 3x/day. 2x/day helped but it was only the 3x/day that finally gave me relief. Even the pain meds didn't provide that kind of help. I sure hope you feel better soon.
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