Anyone else suffer from debilitating anxiety?? More like Panic attacks...Like everyday?? This is one of the worst symptoms for me along with the dizziness, and overwhelming fatigue. I have lyme, but was told i have no coinfections. Has treatment helped anyone of you who suffer from this terrible symptom. If so, how long into treatment. When I herx this symptom is 10X worse!!
Posted by Jane2904 (Member # 15917) on :
My daughter has horrible anxiety, it seem to get somewhat better when treating with Rifampin,
But last few months it has become horrible again. It seem to get worse on Cipro and Bactrim.
She has Lyme, Bart, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrliciosis and Myco P.
Anxiety is her most bothersome symptom.
Hope you feel better.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- * Are you consuming even a trace of aspartame or MSG? Google for the names they both hide under. Even a trace can clobber you. Avoid all artificial ingredients and processed foods.
Stevia (from plants) is okay. SweetLeaf is the best brand. Trader Joe's is safe, too.
* Are you being treated by a lyme literate, ILADS-educated doctor?
Anxiety is a frequent symptom of lyme, due in equal parts to:
* Liver, brain, ears/balance, adrenals - all reacting to the toxicity of infection. Inflammation can contribute, too.
* Magnesium deficiency is common with lyme and a huge contributor to anxiety. B-6 is another supplement that is needed to help magnesium work.
In addition to treating infection -- liver support and adrenal support are key to managing this. The liver support also helps the ears, if you have any balance issue that through you off.
This book is specific to lyme and other chronic stealth infections. The author discusses the endocrine connection and effects of STRESS on a person with such infections. You can read customer reviews and look inside the book at this link to its page at Amazon.
Curcumin Prevents Some Stress-Related Changes (By CP Staff)
Excerpts:
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. . . .
. . . In addition, curcumin reversed the stress-induced increase in the levels of serum corticosterone, the primary hormone secreted during the stress response. . . .
. . . 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.''
The Potbelly Syndrome: How Common Germs Cause Obesity, Diabetes, And Heart Disease (Paperback) - 2005
by Russell Farris (Author), Per Marin (Author)
Much about stress reactions here. - you can read customer reviews at the link. Attention is given to lyme and other chronic stealth infections however, it does not go into details about solutions.
===========================
This is not a lyme book.
This book has only one reference to lyme (in the historical use of sarsarparilla for another spirochetal infection). However, it is a vital first book to read - or a reference - for anyone interested in understanding nutritional methods.
Search for Ashwagandha; Cordyceps; Siberian Ginseng in this book:
Graciously, much of this book is on line. It can also be purchased from this site or through Amazon where you can look inside the book and see many customer reviews.
The Rhodiola Revolution byt Richard P. Brown, MD and Patricia L. Gerbarg, MD, et.al.
See this at Amazon.
======================
If help beyond supplements is needed, sometimes LLMDs will prescribe LOW DOSE CORTEF (Hydrocortisone).
While steroids are dangerous with lyme, the low-dose Cortef is more like the body should be producing, but can't and lyme patients who need it generally do very well with it. A few may not be able to handle it.
Usually, the adrenal supplements are employed first.
For many good past LymeNet Threads, you can search here: -------------------------------
Search both terms, "Hydrocortisone" & and also "Cortef"
=================
Also keep this in mind: the inner ear (vestibular system) is usually affected by lyme (or by any of the tick-borne or stealth infections). This list explains a lot about how much stress that causes: ---------
Topic: TINNITUS: Ringing Between The Ears; Vestibular, Balance, Hearing with compiled links - including HYPERACUSIS -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Remember that lyme really messes up the HPA axis (Hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal network). The pituitary has much to do with weight/growth. Mess up any part of the endocrine system and other parts suffer, too. Panic can be the result due to depletion of stress hormones.
See page 4 where Dr. Burrascano describes a bit about the considerations of the dysfunction with the HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY AXIS: ----------
Advanced Topics in Lyme Disease (Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines for Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses
Dr. Burrascano's Treatment Guidelines (2008) - 37 pages
------------ As important as any supplements, sections regarding self-care:
Go to page 27 for SUPPORTIVE THERAPY & the CERTAIN ABSOLUTE RULES
and also pages 31-32 for advice on a safe, non-aerobic exercise plan and physical rehabilitation.
---------------------- This is included in Burrascano's Guidelines, but you may want to be able to refer to it separately, too. Cordyceps is suggested here to help adrenal function:
** Nutritional Supplements in Disseminated Lyme Disease **
J.J. Burrascano, Jr., MD (2008) - Four pages
=========================
It's very important to have this book as a reference tool for self-care and support measures. It answers so many questions, including those about stress issues:
Thanks for the info. I do coffee enemas daily...do they help to support the liver? If not, what do you suggest?
Posted by NJLymie (Member # 27717) on :
Thanks for the info. I do coffee enemas daily...do they help to support the liver? If not, what do you suggest?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Coffee enemas help to get toxins out but this is not the same kind of a liver support as is milk thistle. I would not suggest enemas daily - but maybe weekly. The colon and sphincter can loose a lot of muscle tone and elasticity if enemas are done daily.
A high fiber diet might be considered so that your bowels can eliminate without an enema.
=================
LIVER SUPPORT - 3/4 of the way down page one in the thread below, you will see that.
Topic: TINNITUS: Ringing Between The Ears; Vestibular, Balance, Hearing with compiled links - including HYPERACUSIS- -
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
I had terrible anxiety from Feb-April before I was diagnosed. I'm fortunate that it is all gone today. I'm in my 15th week of treatment.
Posted by NJLymie (Member # 27717) on :
bcb1200 I am so glad you are feeling better. I had the severe anxiety for 7 years before being dx in June. So you have no- coninfections either? So many people say that bartonella is the one that causes all the anxiety and not the lyme. But I tend to disagree.
Posted by sickpuppy (Member # 23846) on :
Treating for almost a year now. Some drugs seem to make the anxiety/panic worse but it's always there. Milk thistle made me nauseous after a while and did nothing for anxiety. I've given up. I white knuckle my way through the very few things I have to do which are ALWAYS accompanied by anxiety and or panic.
Everyone has suggestions on lymenet but most of them have not helped me one bit. Just lots of $ spent on this or that supplement etc. Not even the 6 abx cocktails have helped. Maybe the 20th or 100th will do the trick. I feel defeated today. Sorry for the pessimism.
Good luck finding relief.
Posted by kday (Member # 22234) on :
quote:Originally posted by sickpuppy: Treating for almost a year now. Some drugs seem to make the anxiety/panic worse but it's always there. Milk thistle made me nauseous after a while and did nothing for anxiety. I've given up. I white knuckle my way through the very few things I have to do which are ALWAYS accompanied by anxiety and or panic.
Everyone has suggestions on lymenet but most of them have not helped me one bit. Just lots of $ spent on this or that supplement etc. Not even the 6 abx cocktails have helped. Maybe the 20th or 100th will do the trick. I feel defeated today. Sorry for the pessimism.
Good luck finding relief.
I won't give you any suggestions, but 6 abx cocktails isn't going to help clean up your terrain. In fact, it would probably just do the opposite. It would probably add some extra yeast to the equation as well.
I haven't fixed my anxiety, but at one point I was told by my doctor and others that I had "the most severe anxiety they have ever seen in their career." No joke.
After lots of trial and error, and a bit of luck, I got my body to dumping toxins like crazy.
No, it wasn't Milk thistle, NAC, ALA, Whey, Coffee Enemas, epsom salt baths, etc. It was a few simple vitamins.
Though Whey and NAC helped me before I found something better.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
NJ, you say you have no co-infections.. Are you sure? They don't always show up with blood work and sometimes need to be clinically diagnosed.
Many people have spent years treating Lyme, when co-infections should have been addressed first.
Posted by applewine (Member # 26220) on :
I've had bouts of depression and anxiety after starting bactrim. I wonder if its related to that. Of course I have a lot of things to worry about as well because of the health. But, after I started taking the bactrim, I kept thinking morbid thoughts for some reason. I'm feeling better today, but who knows.
Before I knew I had lyme I was depressed because of the vestibular problems I was having. The vertigo attacks and balance issues. Thankfully that went away, though I got stressed this last week and today it seemed like it was almost a little sensitive. I wonder if stress makes this act up.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
I believe I have Bart. I tested just over the cutoff, so technically I'm positive. Plus I have (or had) a majority of the symptoms. (Gastritis, Gerd, Anxiety, depression, mental / neuro stuff, tinnitus, calf muscle twitching.)
I go on levaquin in September to get it. Been treating lyme until now.
Posted by NJLymie (Member # 27717) on :
Kday, what vitamins are you taking that helped? All the help you can give would be appreciated.
Lullully, They tested through Igeniex and they came back neg. How accurate they are I have no idea.
Posted by Amelia (Member # 17677) on :
Bactrim always escalates anxiety for me. I have thought it may be bart. I will be getting back tests soon but I have the foot pain and anxiety symptoms -- and I know that feeling of doom- it is like a true panic attack. This is happening less thankfully. I hope this gets better for you.
Posted by sickpuppy (Member # 23846) on :
Yes Kday, what are these supplements that helped you?
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
NJ, My daughter tested for babs through Igenex and got a negative result. She also tested through a DNA lab in Canada and got negative results. She presents with all the symptoms of babesia and is treating for that now.
We're told that if you test too early on, they can come back negative. The blood smear also doesn't always show the babesia organism. To put it the way our LLMD stated, it has to come out of hiding in order to be seen.
Posted by sickpuppy (Member # 23846) on :
So how long does that take and from what point? Do they come out during treatment?
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
It's such a hit and miss, I would never rely on blood tests for this diagnosis, especially if you're paying alot for each test.
Not sure if you can ever catch them at any definite time..
If you're one of the lucky ones with a positive result then definitely begin treatment right away, but don't always think that just because your test came back negative that you definitely don't have it.
Posted by sickpuppy (Member # 23846) on :
Well if I had babs I was just on 12 weeks of mepron and zith. If I have bart my tests were negative and when I asked my doc about it he didn't think I had it. All the symptoms overlap so how can you tell? I quess take the abx and see. Not sure I can convince my llmd.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
The best way to cover both is to take Bactrim DS as it treats both co-infections. My daughter is currently on mepron and biaxin.. if she doesn't see improvement after another month, we will switch her to Bactrim.
Posted by sickpuppy (Member # 23846) on :
can bactrim be taken with plaquenil and biaxin? that's my current regime.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
I have heard of it being taken with biaxin, and that is what we were planning to do. We are also pulsing Tinidazole (another cyst buster) so I would think all three would work together.
We are going to check with LLMD on Thursday just to be sure..
Posted by sickpuppy (Member # 23846) on :
It's one round after another. I'm not sure my doc'll put me on more than 2 things at once at this time. I made a note to ask about the bactrim next visit. thnx and goodnight Posted by NJLymie (Member # 27717) on :
So is all this anxiety caused by lyme, or babesia or bart??? It all seems so confusing, What vitamins help the anxiety??
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
I believe anxiety is mainly a Bart (primary) and lyme symptom.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
I have heard Bart as well causes anxiety. L Theanine helps with that. I've heard that Kava is good for that too, but due to strict food and drug restrictions, it's not available in Canada.
[ 08-30-2010, 07:15 PM: Message edited by: lululymemom ]
Posted by sickpuppy (Member # 23846) on :
Soooooo kday has yet to tell us what the "few simple vitamins" are.
Posted by Need Lots of Help (Member # 18603) on :
I never had anxiety, I am a fatigued sleepy depressed type of person. Until I tried two different medications that caused me to have anxiety.
1. Abilify...that drug almost killed me
2. Mepron...everyone talks about Mepron blues, but I must be one strange girl because it gives me light anxiety. Not so I can't function, but it makes it hard for me to sleep at night.
However, my husband has bart and has a lot of anxiety.
Posted by maybesparrow (Member # 27170) on :
NJ, anxiety/panic were some of my primary symptoms. within the first few months of taking oral doxy (along with several vitamins, minerals and supplements), my anxiety/panic disappeared.
i was just recently tested via IGeneX (finally!) -- positive for lyme, babesia and ehrlichia. still wondering if i have bart but i will be seeing a new LLMD next week to see what he thinks.
my heart goes out to you -- i know how awful this symptom is!!! i felt like i should have been in a rubber room.
Posted by organictexan (Member # 27653) on :
Lyme had shot my adrenals all to hell. My panic attacks were so bad, they would wake me up in the middle of the night. I couldn't get a massage without taking Xanax because my anxiety caused my claustrophobia to go off the scale. I am happy to say that once I started taking Dr. Wilson's Adrenal Rebuilder and started using Nutramedix Amantilla, I no longer have anxiety or panic attacks. Threw the Xanax away!
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