First off, in case I'm leaping before I look, FYI I am waiting to be evaluated in a few weeks by an LLMD but am 99% sure I have lyme disease by now and may have since childhood.
Showering and bathing have been a problem since I was about 12 years old (I'm 31 now)--I take a hot shower or bath, I get out dizzy and have to lie down, short of breath, exhausted.
By the time I was in my mid-twenties this problem became weirder-- I was having temperature sensation issues, where if I took a warm/cooler shower, my skin would itch horribly and the only way to avoid this was to take a HOT HOT HOT shower and just deal with the dizzies and the 45 minute minimum of rest to recuperate.
I've had increasing problems with tinnitus for about two months now. It's become chronic, and getting louder. I've had my ears checked for an inner ear infection and 'they're fine'.
When I got out of a bath this afternoon, the vertigo and exhaustion was unusually AGRESSIVE, and the tinnitus grew into an OPPRESSIVE WHITE NOISE for almost a half hour.
Besides overall the showering and temperature issues, has anyone had that happen where they suddenly (whether caused by hot shower or bath or following something else) were overwhemled by white noise from their own ears or as an exacerbation of their ears ringing?
I listen to strange music sometimes... but I've never experienced white noise from my own ears before and it has freaked me out!
I searched just the topic of "showers" in general and in one of the threads there's a very informative reply by "Keebler" that has shed light on the hot shower/bath thing and lyme&co- infections. This insight is very appreciated:
- Wow. I am in a hurry and just skimmed. Never good at reading all sentences as my eyes jump.... I got all this written below and then saw that you've already seen most of it and thanks for posting that other link.
Avoid HOT baths. Generally not good for those with lyme (those who can tolerate heat already know who they are).
go for cozy WARM, only. And 20 minutes max.
About your EARS:
the ear ringing from getting too hot or exerting too much is common with lyme. Many reasons why.
Adrenal issues are likely but it's very complex.
When you listen to your "strange" music, keep the volume down and avoid the in-the-ear pods.
Avoid all food additives and caffeine.
The "white noise" you hear is also called "Tinnitus" - it can have many different sounds and sensations. More here about what can help, including liver and adrenal support links in this set:
Topic: TINNITUS: Ringing Between The Ears; Vestibular, Balance, Hearing with compiled links - including HYPERACUSIS -
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
A top LLMD here said nerves to the ears are being irritated.
I actually was able to quiet my tinnitus to zero for 6 hours at a time after PEMF treatments. I started out with a 10-second exposure, and moved to an hour of exposure by the 10th time. That's just me - we each see how much we're able to handle.
The PEMF machine is a pulsed electromagnetic frequency machine, a small box, that emits e'm pulses through a white coil that we hold next to our body. Chiropractors, physical therapists and bodyworkers could have one.
I now understand that the body gets depleted of e'm energy when sick, and what we're doing is replenishing our e'm energy so it can work better again.
The PEMF machine was first used on injured racehorses to return them to the racetrack more quickly, as they were able to heal in 1/4 the normal time. Pretty interesting, yes? Look into it...
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- To show how different each case is, the same therapy Robin found helpful caused me much harm, increasing tinnitus to maximun levels.
If you try that, just be aware that if the tinnitus increases during the time it is connected, stop. If it improves, proceed cautiously.
Dr. Burrascano advises (in his guideline set) for purposes of physical therapy to avoid all electrical stimulation. He does not say why but I suspect these two reasons may be involved:
Spirochetes HATE vibration so they may become more aggitated and cause more harm (as they spew out more toxins when aggitated and then they also burrow more deeply, trying to avoid the vibration).
Electrical stimulation can also cause stress hormones to rise, not a good thing for those with lyme, leaving them then with and adrenal hit.
However, IF the problem with your ears is that which this kind of stimulation may help (and maybe not even lyme connected), the electrical stimulation may be of some help.
Especially if the audiotry nerve needs more stimulation or help with circulation (perhaps), this technique could be helpful, though. Be sure to be on good adrenal support before and throughout - and already on treatment for lyme. -
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
I have just started taking vinpocetine, which is supposed to help reduce tinnitus and even has been shown to reverse hearing loss in some. I am only on day 2 - but it seems to have really aggravated my tinnitus instead of calming it so far.
I am going to give it some more time, but may need to stop if I get no relief. Ginkgo did the same thing to me.
Cranio-sacral therapy also worsened my tinnitus, which I had hoped would help to calm things. It goes to show you that each person is different and what helps one may or may not help others - similar to ABX and supplements/herbs helping many but not others. Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Gingo can exacerbate tinnitus for me, too. ANYTHING that has action to increase circulation can do that for me.
Allicin is another that raises tinnitus for me.
I also noticed a bit of increase in tinnitus with Vinpocetine.
My guess is that for those with tinnitus from reduced circulation, these help.
For those with tinnitus due to OTHER reasons, and IF their nerve fibers and adrenal systems are also already too agitated or irritated, such things may not be the best approach.
This includes those with toxicity and infection issues, such as with lyme.
Pretty sure in that Tinnitus thread, this is addressed.
And MAGNESIUM can often help to balance out an undesired auditory stimulatant characteristic of an herb if other properties of it are desirable or necessary. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- When considering herbal / nutritional / adjunct methods:
if at all possible - because each person & each case is different - it's best to consult with an ILADS-educated LL (lyme literate) doctor who has completed four years of post-graduate medical education in the field of herbal and nutritional medicine -
- and someone who is current with ILADS' research & presentations, past and present.
Many LL NDs incorporate antibiotics (depending upon the licensing laws in their state). Some LLMDs and LL NDs have good working relationships.
When possible, it's great to have both a LLMD and LL ND and even better when they have a long-standing professional relationship.
Integrative / Holistic M.D., etc. (Be aware that those in this category can have various levels of formal herbal &/or nutritional education, perhaps even just a short course. Do ask first.)
Much more in this thread, including HERBAL SAFETY LINKS. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- dbpei,
I'm sorry to see that you had trouble with this.
You say: " . . . Cranio-sacral therapy also worsened [your] tinnitus,"
Not sure what technique was used but any approach that suddenly twist or turns the neck or spine is NOT a good idea for those with lyme.
I had the disasterous results from such treatments before I read from a LLMD that we should NEVER, EVER, have our neck or spine adjusted in such a fashion.
What technique is good: UPLEDGER. But check to be sure the DC, DO or PT would not vary from its intended gentle approach.
FELDENKRAIS is another good technique.
See those links in the thread above.
Now, even with good techniques, just getting to an appointment, being there and getting back home again can raise tinnitus. The exerction, the exposure to chemicals (traffic exhaust, colognes, soaps, cleaning supplies in offices), your posture in the vehicle and the waiting room,
well, all that can do a number on tinnitus, too. I tend to think that reaction indicates the adrenal overload is involved in the "variety" of tinnitus when exerction triggers or makes it worse.
Be sure your adrenal support is tip-top.
Chemical exposure raising tinnitus can indicate liver stress & nerve fiber inflammation, too.
That's just my discovery / thought process about this, anyway - and my experience. More detail along those lines in the Tinnitus thread. -
Posted by MichaelTampa (Member # 24868) on :
When I use Ondamed, a specialized PEMF machine, it really mobilizes metals, and can temporarily cause very mild, no big deal in my case, I am detoxing well and when this occurs it subsides in a couple of days.
I have to wonder if that is part of the mixed results, mobilizing metals, and for some their body deals with it well, and for others, not as well.
Posted by C.M.B (Member # 39693) on :
Thank you for replying, all. Keebler the cooler showers have helped. Though the cool water is uncomfortable it's not as bad as the reactions the hot water has been causing. Interesting about the earbuds... Lots of food for thought, looking forward to my LLMD evaluation next week. Thank you -C
![[confused]](graemlins/confused.gif)