I was dx with depression and Bi-polar II 20 yrs ago and Neurocardiogenic syncope 10yrs ago with positive tilt tests.
DX with Lyme one yr ago by a IlADS LLMD and many co-infections after seeing a million Drs... I am currently on Bactrim 2 tab bid and Flagyl pulsing 2 days per week along with Plaquenil, Cortef and many supplements.
I have been on these meds for a while. My LLMD would like me on IV antibiotics but insurance won't cover and I can't pay for it. So I will be starting Biaxin within the next 2 weeks.
I taking fludrocortisone 0.1mg 4 tabs daily for over 10yrs. For the past 3 months I have been having episodes of passing out always around time of my period. -
I have to drink SO much water and electrolytes to keep me hydrated due to the heat and that time of the month.
Recently I had a Manic state it was kind of out of body experience I was talking and laughing non stop acting so wierd for me -(I know that doesn't sound bad but if you saw me you would have been scared and stayed away.)
My Psych Dr decreased my Cymbalta from 90mg to 60mg and d/cd my Vyvanse which stopped the Mania.
But this sent me into a major depression with thoughts of suicide which my Psych Dr and LLMD and Therapist are all aware of. My Psych Dr is currently increasing my Lamictal slowly.
I'm not sleeping much at night which I know doesn't help the bi-polar. I have to take 1 to 2mg of Clonazepam to sleep + Halcion 0.25mg prn My Psych Dr really doesn't want me to take the Halcion often but I don't sleep if I don't have it.
My LLMD instructed me to do orgainc coffee enemas 1 to 2x per week to help my liver detox. and I have started using burber more often. I have only started with the enemas so no big changes yet.
I know with CLD and Herxing anything can happen but I feel horrible physically, mentally and emotionally.
I am getting help from my Dr's and Family but I am sick and tired of being sick and Tired.
Anyone have advice for sleep or anything.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
I wonder if the fludrocortisone is keeping you up. Any steroids (even a small dose) makes me wired and I can't sleep. They can also interfere with Lyme treatment because they suppress the immune system.
I went through a period where ambien helped with sleep.
There's a bit about sleep and insomnia on this page:
My approach to treating insomnia is to start by giving my patients one sleep remedy at a time, and then adding others as necessary, by �stacking� them up, one on top of the other, until patients are able to sleep well. I start by recommending natural remedies such as glycine, L-theanine and GABA. Dr. Zhang has a fantastic product called Herb Som, which contains schizandra. To overcome insomnia, it is important that those with Lyme find supplements that promote their GABA pathways.
If the natural remedies don�t work for my patients, then I will prescribe them pharmaceutical drugs. I will basically do everything under the sun to get them to sleep, so if the drugs don�t work, then as a last resort, I will refer them out to a psychiatrist for a prescription of Xyrem, which seems to help when all else fails."
Good luck! I hate not being able to sleep.
Posted by kimmie (Member # 25547) on :
My heart goes out to you. My very best friend is Bipolar and I see her day to day struggles with that alone. I dont know if she has lyme or not, but she has many other health issues that suggest it. She is on many of the medications that you are on as well.
I can only imagine what it must be like to throw herxing into the situation. I know emotional herxing for myself is very depressive.
Hang in there and know you are not alone. Hugs
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
This is what Dr. H. of NY suggests to get rid of the symptoms of herxing (from BetterHealthGuy website--his notes from 2010 Lyme Conference):
Herxheimer reaction
Take-home message: DETOXIFY YOUR LYME PATIENTS!
It does NOT matter what antibiotic you give people, they will NOT get better without detoxification
For Herxheimer reactions: 2 Alka-Selzer Gold (no aluminum) in 8 ounces of water with lemon or lime followed by 6-8 capsules of glutathione or 1500 mg of oral liposomal glutathione.
70% will feel better in hours
On the topic of water: Dilution is the solution to pollution. This suggests that in order to help our bodies detoxify, we must drink more water
Hope this helps you to feel better!
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
I'm so sorry you are feeling so awful. I just wnet through a horrible herx myself. I felt like my spine was being cut in half and my head was splitting in two. The pain was awful. I was depressed, crying alot, just miserable. I stopped my zithromax and mepron and held off on my bicillin shot for a few days and I am starting to feel better. I drank a ton of water with lemon in it. I couldn't believe how much the lemon water actually helps. In the past I have used alka seltzer gold which has helped as well, but was out of it. I posted a little while ago a link on herxing, perhaps it may help. Hope you are feeling better soon!
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
The lemon water really helps me. I guess my body needs the alkaline. I feel better within an hour or two. Exercise helps me with depression (weight lifting).
For time of the month, acupuncture. Also B vitamins, and evening primrose (calms me down). Had I known how much easier life could have been for me with acupuncture, especially period time, I would have done it long ago.
Hang in there!
Posted by Jen117 (Member # 28156) on :
I've used the HerbSom sleep aid by Dr. Zhang and it really helped me. Dr. Zhang also has a life saving product called AI3 which is a few herbs designed especially to reduce the herx symptoms. It was a lifesaver. Actually, of all the treatments I've had (IV antibiotics, oral atbx for 18 months, etc.) it was Dr. Zhangs herbs (taken as recommended in Dr. S's books) that finally got me from miserable to healthy. I am riding horses, doing everything now...Finally, after years. (I started with meningitis and severe tremors, headaches, etc.)
I agree that anything with cortisone is a big no-no for Lyme/coinfections because it makes the disease worse.
Good luck and hang in there!
** edited to remove LLMD's name **
[ 09-09-2012, 12:53 PM: Message edited by: sixgoofykids ]
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
The tiny physiological amount of Florinef (fludrocortisone) taken to support her adrenals shouldn't be suppressing her immune system. It is the large doses of steroids for pain and inflammation that Lyme patients need to avoid.
Getting good sleep will help you feel better all around. My favorite sleep support supplement is Sedalin by Xymogen. This is recommended by my LLMD. If you are interested in trying it you can find it online: http://pureformulas.com/sedalin-60-vegcaps-by-xymogen.html