Dd is doing really well EXCEPT for anxiety. The anxiety presents in the way of intrusive, uncontrollable and unrelenting OCD-type thoughts of worries, etc. She says the feeling is there all the time with it usually worse in the late afternoon to bedtime. She is now also getting vivid "weird" dreams that make her feel like she has been up all night instead of actually having slept.
She wants them to stop! I'd really like to hold off on giving any psych meds, but if she continues to get worse, I will have to possibly address that--just to give her some relief.
The only change has been an introduction of an herbal protocol (which we are slowly ramping up over the past few months) and she stopped the Rifampin--however, she was experiencing this prior to the stop in Rifampin, so I'm not convinced it is the cause.
She also took a break from the cycline family (mino and doxy) over the summer for several months with no visible backslide, yet still had the intrusive thoughts.
So, the only remaining thought is that the zith is causing the anxiety? or the herbals are causing a major herx that she just needs to get through?
I'm not sure what to do at this point--I know she finds this very uncomfortable, and she is really doing well otherwise--said she would be close to 90% if the anxiety would resolve--
Any thoughts? Are the abx causing this? Are intrusive, OCD type thoughts and/or vivid dreams a side effect of either doxy or zith? (I'm tempted to stop both the doxy and the zith to see, but I really don't want to stop over the winter months--yet don't want her to suffer over those months either.)
Rescue Remedy seems to help at night--but she is needing to take more and more over the past few nights--
Suggestions would be appreciated!
Thank you--
Posted by koo (Member # 30462) on :
I had this with my first round of Flagyl.....insane anxiety. Is she detoxing with pinella (brain nerve cleanse) and burbur? Epsom salt baths also helped me a lot. Ugh, I can relate. For me, anxiety was the worst symptom but it will get better.
Posted by jkmom (Member # 14004) on :
Our LLMD says that bart causes this. Do you think that has been treated adequately?
I had intrusive OCD thoughts for a few weeks after I mistakenly ate some gluten. If your daughter is GF, maybe that is a factor. If she isn't GF, maybe she could try it. I was always "stressed" before I went GF.
Posted by jackie51 (Member # 14233) on :
My DD has the same issue with anxiety. It is so bad at night and does not appear to be getting better. She is on Bactrim, Zith and Mepron.
Rescue Remedy I thought only worked for a short time, like a month.
Good luck.
Posted by aMomWithHope (Member # 19255) on :
Thank you everyone for your suggestions.
Koo--She is on an herbal detox, but I think I will up that and order some pinella, burbur, and parsley.
jkmom--I do think the Bart has been treated enough with abx, though she is still treating it with the herbals, and zith does touch it a tad, I believe. I know she definitely had it while on Rifampin.
I also think the GF suggestion might be a major factor. She is 100% GF and DF, but since we never noticed any improvement with her being on the "diet", we've gotten very lax over the past month due to the holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, her bday coming up, Christmas, etc.)---I'll have to make a note of increase on days she eats gluten and dairy.
jackie--I'm now wondering if it is a herx from the babs treatment--does babs cause anxiety?--the herbals she is taking are going after the babs as well, and this is the first time in 3 years of treatment that there is a significant focus on Babs--what do you think?
I agree that Rescue Remedy only works for a short time, then a break is needed, so she is probably due for the break--just don't know what else to give that would help.
My only other thought was that perhaps the anxiety is a side effect from the Zith (as that is the one drug that she hasn't taken a break from) or the doxy?
Anyone else have any thoughts or experience to share to help her with these intrusive thoughts?
Any homeopathic suggestions?
Thanks again!
Posted by jackie51 (Member # 14233) on :
I always thought anxiety was from bart. I've seen/read that impending doom at night was lyme. My daughter did so much better on amoxycillan than what she is on now.
We see the LLMD later this week and I'm pretty sure the LLMD will have us try to ride this out, though it is hard. I would like her on amoxy again and will press for it.
One thing I do know is that my kid does so much better if she gets some exercise, even if it is just walking. She tends to be more "regular". When she is backed up, it's not pretty and she is appreciately more neurotic.
If you're willing to go with Byron White formulas, that might be worth a try. I don't know enough about homeopathy and wouldn't even attempt without a good trained homeopathic doctor.
For BW, start at 1/6th of a drop for children. One drop in 6 ounces of water. Then increase as herxes become easier. If I remember to post, I'll let you know if her LLMD has her start this.
Posted by aMomWithHope (Member # 19255) on :
Thanks for the Byron white suggestion--I'll keep that in mind.
Anyone else have any suggestions on what worked for eliminating/reducing intrusive thoughts/anxiety?
Thanks!
Posted by lucky8711 (Member # 26221) on :
I am going through the exact same thing. VERBATIM. I personally feel it is a brain HERX but I am also on Zith so coupld be that as well. Its miserable. I too use Resue Remendy but do need to use Klonopin sometimes too get a decent sleep and calm down. I am also using a flower essence that wrks great with this....and the unrelenting horrifying nightmares. It is called "Deposession Essence" I swear it has really been helping me this time around and back a year ago as well while going through a huge neuro HERX. Here is the link for the drops. My Mom is the one who put me on them...and the one who seems to find everythiing that helps me...because thats what Mom's do! =) Good luckto you both. and please tell your daughter she is nt alone in this. Its the stupid illness and it will pass. Big Big hugs to her. http://www.desert-alchemy.com/txt/cf/depo.html Posted by nonna05 (Member # 33557) on :
I've had this happen on and off for over a year .
Right now it's calmer, but a few weeks ago several in a row..
I'm not sure about which or if ABX . . It just seems to happen. Not a fun experience at all.
You don't know if you're awake, asleep ,or some surface thing.
Let us know what you find out..Nonna
Posted by aMomWithHope (Member # 19255) on :
Thank you to all who have posted.
I've gotten a few suggestions and ideas to research and follow through with now.
I'm sorry that anyone has to go through these feelings, and I hope you all find relief too!
I'll post again if I find something that works.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I would say it's a herx too, and anything that is getting at the "culprits" would make her herx.
and as my doctor told me, "There is no such thing as a 'low gluten' diet." She could have effects of eating gluten TODAY showing up next week!
Posted by hopeandfaith (Member # 19884) on :
The anxiety could definitely be caused by the Bart. I had terrible anxiety while treating Bart. You said you thought that she was treated for Bart long enough. Sometimes it takes a long time to eradicate Bartonella. Perhaps the Rifampin wasn't effective for her?
I used MC-BAR 1 from Beyond Balance. It's an herbal formula which seems to help with the Bart. It's known to cause less of a herx than the Byron White formulas and I found it helped me with my anxiety. Perhaps you can try that.
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
Parasites/worms, a much overlooked co-infection can cause anxiety and OCD symptoms. Doxy kills baby Filarial worms.
You might want to consider some antiparasitic herbs to maybe get these parasites moving out of the G.I. track. Check out the symptom list at Humaworm and do a search on here for parasites.
Gael
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
Azithromycin caused terrible anxiety for me, and later pediatric doses of clairithromycin(biaxin) did the same. The macrolide family is mood killer for me.
There are others on the board that have felt the same way.
I've been depressed for several months on these meds, and now that I'm off I still feel their effects. But then, I just started Zhang's Artemesiae, so that may be a mood killer as well
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