My 25 yr. old son told me today that he's getting these 30 second spells where he feels like his brain is buzzing, dizzy, and ringing ears. He's on doxy, recently diagnosed with bartonella. Is this a common symptom of bart? I had this feeling when I went off paxil but he's not doing that...at least it sounds like the same feeling from what he described. Any ideas?
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Was Bart for me
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I've had lots of experience with that. I've read of others, too, with lyme & co.
Be sure his LLMD is aware.
Magnesium; Fish Oil help. Avoid neck strain. Be sure ergonomics and body posture are always excellent.
Tai Chi or Qi Gong may help. -
Posted by Dogsandcats (Member # 28544) on :
I don't know what bug caused it, but I had the zaps.
Eventually they went away, so there is hope.
Posted by lymeboy (Member # 24769) on :
I seem to get them most when I am waking up. I associate it with Bart, but I can't say for sure. Everything overlaps with me.
Posted by jlf2012 (Member # 36002) on :
Does anyone pass out from them? He's been trying to work the past few days and I think he's afraid it's a sign that he's going to pass out, which he did before at work. I told him when it hits to just sit down and drink a big glass of water and let it pass.
Posted by healthywealthywise (Member # 8595) on :
I've had these for years! Someone on lymenet suggested talking to my doc about getting Klonopin RX.
I swear, it's the only thing that worked for me.
Hopefully, it may help your son.
Just me
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Klonopin made me pass out. I tried it many times. My legs turned to jell-o, got much dizzier and weaker and passed out more often when I tried that.
For others, yes, it could lessen "brain zaps" but if he feels like he may faint, it may be the wrong medicine as it's very sedating.
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BEFORE it hits, he should sit down. Or LIE down. Often sitting is not enough.
Water might help - but it rarely is going to prevent fainting, even if from dehydration as once that has been set in motion, the body is in shock and needs more help.
Sea salt and water - or some homeopathic "cell salts" can help.
My brain needed to be horizontal. Even a recliner was not enough. I had to lie down, wherever I was. Wherever, even if walking on a sidewalk. I learned the importance of that the hard way. Over and over.
Blood GLUCOSE levels checked ?
Adrenal support on board?
** Does he work machinery that could be dangerous if he passes out? If so, IMO, he should stop immediately. Not one more minute. His body is begging him, it's not a demerit on his work ethic but his body begging him for help.
Yes, fainting can happen with lyme. I passed out hundreds of time, mostly with no doctor ever even listening to me about it, but assuming it was fake.
My take on this, if he feels like he COULD pass out, he well could. That is the warning sign.
If he works standing up, he should apply for an "accommodation due to disability" with the ADA guidelines.
He need not disclose the lyme diagnosis but might need a doctor's note stating the medical need for certain accommodations.
I can't tell you how much pain and damage my body incurred from so many times hitting the ground. I wish that on no one. But the feeling like it's about to happen is also very bad.
He should ask his LLMD about doing a Tilt Table test to assess NMH or POTS. But there are also other reasons for SYNCOPE in lyme.
He may need more sea salt in his diet.
Web Search: Borrelia, Syncope
Hypoperfusion is another reason connected to lyme. Any good LLMD knows all about that. A SPECT SCAN can help identify that but
all in all - key behavior changes are what helps the most. Standing when working, and feeling like fainting, well that can just spell danger.
It can also relate to inner / middle ear involvement (vestibular system), again, very common with lyme & co.
Driving ?
If he feels like fainting coming on during sitting, I hope he does not drive. This is no time to hope for the best, once behind the wheel. No matter what. No matter what.
Heat can also make this worse. Some faint from sudden sounds or sudden motion in front of their eyes. I know that all too well.
Fumes and scents can also trigger fainting, especially if he has MCS (multiple chemical sensitivities).
Fluorescent lights can trigger fainting, too, especially with inner / middle ear problems.
I hope he does not go bouncing other than maybe very gently only on a mini-trampoline. This is a very serious matter, indeed and I hope he takes decisive action.
ANY time he feels like this is happening, his body is telling him it needs to be horizontal. There is no negotiation with that. After that triage measure, then the causes and solutions can be assessed.
If he LLMD has not yet been informed about this, it's vital that he knows.
QT syndrome can also trigger syncope. Some drugs used to treat lyme can "short circuit" the QT rhythm of the heart and, in those affected, can cause fainting.
He should search for every drug and every OTC product now to see if any affect what is called
QT (it may be referred to as long or short but just "QT" should get him to the detail). -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- QT, POTS, NMH, and much more that can be connected to syncope is discussed here -- as well as might help that he'd ask his LLMD about: ---------