flashing lights or images. I try to think pleasant
thoughts but it's as if my brain is overcome by the
activity. My involuntary twitches and jerks pick way
up and electrical zaps or stinging sensations
too. I may drift off then my brain will just turn
back on and wake me up. I also can be really
drowsy, in and out of sleep, but have an extreme
general noxious sensation that overcomes me. Dr.
thinks central pain ( I get this in day too,
especially when herxing). It's
almost like the act of sleeping ramps up my
nervous system!
These symptoms had been so much better since
starting treatment for Lyme but recently have
come back during the past week. I'm in the middle
of Babesia tx, so added in Mepron a few weeks
back.
I have to take Ambien as it's been my only relief
I've found so far, but it doesn't always overcome
this when it happens.
Anyone else experience this? Anything help? It's
really like torture.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Indeed, what you describe is very common with lyme / TBD for various reasons: the neuro-excitatory (neuro-toxicity) aspect of it; the adrenal hit to the HPA-axis; and so much more.
Liver support, antioxidants to counter the toxicity & Adrenal support (not boosting, though) is of help.
Try to avoid anything that you feel over-charges you. Be sure all electronics are either out of the bedroom or unplugged. And best to avoid electronics for an hour or so before bed (I know, that's hard but it helps).
Turn off WiFi or any such stuff, too. No need to have any of that on during the night.
Best help: avoid all food additives as many are excitatory in nature. And:
See post: Caution: Aspartate; Glutamine; and Phenylalanine (3 excitatory amino acids that can be wrong for us when added as supplements, beyond a normal dietary level) -- anything that claims to give you energy: be very cautious
Seaweed has its own natural MSG and can be very excitatory
Be sure to avoid electric blankets, heating pads and the like. Those really wired me for a long time and I had no clue.
Good luck. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- You say:
" brain will just turn back on and wake me up" . . . "almost like the act of sleeping ramps up my nervous system!" (end quotes)
While lyme / TBD can do this do it its own toxic activity and depletion of magnesium . . . and other ways it short circuits the various nervous systems and adrenal system . . .
Ambien did that for me. It would JOLT me awake in the middle of the night, big time, with a jolt that lasted for hours. So unsettling and beyond.
At first, it was wonderful, it lulled me calm. But then it turned vicious on me. Worst time of my life. Wish I had known then about magnesium and also about
Scullcap tincture, Holy Basil tincture. In the sleep thread above.
Take care. -
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Yes me too.
The very act of laying flat, in the dark, seems to speed up my brain activity.
Sometimes, even though it is pitch black in my room, my brain tells me there are big flashes of white light, even though there aren't.
I don't take sleeping meds every night.
With or without them, I still get the ramped up feeling when I lay down.
Still get the bright flashes of light.
Sometimes my brain tells me there are strange smells also.
It is very annoying to be exhausted when sitting up, but to get ramped up as soon as I lay down to go to bed.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Be sure you are getting enough good fats in your diet. Coconut oil, one tablespoon every 8 hours, especially one at night before bed, is really helpful to the brain to be able to settle down.
A variety of oils, too, throughout the day, in addition. FISH OIL, a good clean source, vital. -
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
quote:Originally posted by GretaM: Yes me too.
The very act of laying flat, in the dark, seems to speed up my brain activity.
<snip>
It is very annoying to be exhausted when sitting up, but to get ramped up as soon as I lay down to go to bed.
I was told if one feels more energy lying down than sitting up, it is a symptom of adrenal exhaustion.
Posted by VV (Member # 38828) on :
I would be on the verge of sleep and wake up in what seemed like a brain shock. It didn't hurt, but it jolted me and often my whole body would jerk.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Razzle posted:
"I was told if one feels more energy lying down than sitting up, it is a symptom of adrenal exhaustion." (end quote)
Yes. And, it's not the act of lying down / resting that does it -- but it brings the state of alarm to our awareness. When up and doing things, we just don't "hear" it or feel it as much.
Please, do not interpret this as you should not lie down / quiet yourself. All the more reason your body is screaming that is want it needs and that it's been over "cooked" so to speak.
It's a very, very rough spot because we want to run from this icky experience. The only way I know it so just not fight it and continue resting.
I admit, this is the worse time for all fears, regrets, demons, etc. So, it's take a lot of work but when they (or pain) is just overpowering, I have tried to learn instead to focus on good memories that are visual and "go into those" . . . or dreams / hopes of future - being somewhat practical or just way out there in fantasy land.
As for the pain, instead of the horror of the reality and feeling like "my goose is cooked" it can be a time to wonder, "okay, what else might I do differently?"
But even that is too much work for toasted adrenals.
Deep slow steady breathing . . . gentle music or travel videos can be a bridge but for a true adrenal crisis, it's best to have as little sensory stimulation as possible. And good nutrient support, too - all "unplugged" as possible.
For those who do not live alone, this could be a time for quiet conversations, story telling, if up for that. Could be a time to enrich relationships.
Poetry might save the day, too. I find it too hard to read much else and poetry is starting to really call to me. It's a very unique place.
National Geographic magazines, too. I ask the people & places of each photo to tell me their / its story. -
[ 09-29-2014, 05:35 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Dogsandcats (Member # 28544) on :
I remember sleeping and twitching like I was holding on to live wires.
I don't remember what stage of treatment I was in, but I sure remember how miserable it was.
Sorry.
Posted by geronimog (Member # 34875) on :
I've had this horrible sensation that wakes me up in the middle of the night too. It's never happened while I was upright, or during the day. I've gotten this after taking tinidazole, as well as GSE. But here's what solved the mystery for me: eating larger ocean fish. In my case it's mercury. When I awake with this symptom I quickly take lipoid acid, and walk off the awful wired feeling. I'm usually ready to sleep again in 15 minutes.
I never used to have this problem, even while chelating mercury. At some point the mercury just got a whole lot more toxic in my system. As I understand the science inorganic mercury can change into organic mercury under the right circumstances. I think this happens in my body.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Wow, metals, great find Geronimo! Interesting how tindi and GSE both hit parasites--parasites release metals when they die.
Posted by mamalicious (Member # 43611) on :
Unfortunately I get this everytime I sleep although it fluctuates in intensity.
I haven't been on tinidazole yet. What is GSE?
I am not a fish eater but doesn't mean it's not a metal...
geronimog- how much lipoic acid do you take?
Posted by mamalicious (Member # 43611) on :
Unfortunately I get this everytime I sleep although it fluctuates in intensity.
I haven't been on tinidazole yet. What is GSE?
I am not a fish eater but doesn't mean it's not a metal...
geronimog- how much lipoic acid do you take?
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
mamalicious,
(GSE) is - Grapefruit-seed Extract
Do a search on (grapefruit-seed extract + Lyme)
Steve
Posted by geronimog (Member # 34875) on :
Mamalicious,
I take 200 mg. I've used LA for quite some time and am able to do this without problems or discomfort. However if you haven't done any mercury chelation you'll probably want to stay away from this. Certainly people who still have mercury in their mouths or consume a lot should never take LA, as it can take that mercury across the blood-brain barrier and then let go of it.
The other chelator I've used is DMSA. There's no risk of transport to the brain with this one. The downside is it's expensive and doesn't work as quickly.