randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
ya'll know about my headaches and my dr's visit.
he's ordering an mri tomorrow and i'm scared witless.
i keeping thinking "oh god, i have infection of the brain...i've got an infected sinus and it's going into the bone....i'm going to go blind...i should go to the ER right away...i have system yeast and it's going to kill me cause it's gone into my brain and organs."
well you get the point. i'm so scared i can't think straight.
how do you deal with the fear of the unknown? i keep telling myself i can't do anything about it and hey, it would be nice to see mom again...morbid i know but hey...
he didn't give me any meds just ordered this test. i know my family history of strokes and heart attacks is a concern.
but getting scared and not knowing is driving me crazy...a very short trip...
looks like no sleep until i get the results back. course i'm not sleeping anyway but now i'll be worrying.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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When you start to feel scared or anxious, the best thing you can do is to try to calm yourself with deep breathing. Right now, you are in a constant state of fight or flight response so you need to send messages to your brain and hence to your body to calm itself. Try to spend a few minutes sitting in a relaxed space, noticing how tense your body is, breathing deeply and trying to let go of the tension. When you feel the anxiety returning, breathe deeply into your belly and relax your body (think, drop your tension in your shoulders). You are on the right path to fix things, just try to put one foot in front of the other and go easy on yourself. I know this is hard, but you can do it!
Posts: 141 | From East Coast USA | Registered: Sep 2010
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posted
Somehow I stay calm. I don't know if it's my faith .. or just the way I am. But I am calm until I know for sure that there is something to worry about.
When I went into A-fib 2 yrs ago, they had a crash cart in my room and I was about to be zapped to get the heart back into rhythm. I was as calm as a cucumber. Concerned yes, panicky...no.
You can do it, randi! Just let what happens happen. There is nothing you can do about it anyway.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Well, randi, the doc has to order the MRI in case there is something terribly wrong. This way, you can't sue him for not doing the test. But, in all likelihood, if you think about it, the MRI will likely show nothing--just like all the tests that are done to lyme patients.
So, then he will have to try various things on you to help you with the headache. Trial and error.
See if you can resign yourself to the likely result that the MRI will show nothing and it will be a slow process of trial and error to help you with your headache.
You may have to go to a neurologist to get real help. That is the speciality that treats headaches.
I suffered for months with a terrible headache 24/7. It started in the fall. I will never know what started it. Allergies? I ultimately went to a neurologist for it. He said the medication the first doctor gave me for the headache (fioricet) was causing rebound headache. He was right.
I feel for you. I remember that 4-month killer of a headache well.
So, if you think this way, maybe you will just be depressed and not full of fear. Is that a help?
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I certainly can relate to worry and fear. I've done my share of it. Just remember that 90% of the time we worried for nothing. Also remember that Lyme can cause migraines. That is most likely what you are experiencing. Try to think of the most reasonable explanation.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Oh boy can I relate. I dont handle it well either randibear. I cry...after I cry I feel better!!!
Then I remember that it is going to be nothing serious again and move on...I have this damn headache for months..only exedrin migraine helps a tad and only sometimes. I think our stress makes it worse....Much luck and love...it will be fine soon
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Remember that gloom and doom is part of this disease process.
I originally thought I had a brain tumor when I got ill.
I was so panicked during my pulmonary function test, I hyperventilated.
Remember, that anxiety is part of this disease too.
You cannot control the outcome of the test.
I am praying for you and for positive results so a doc can help you with those headaches.
Stress is so bad for us.
I remember having anxiety attacks that would make my body numb.
Except for my heart which was galloping away so fast I thought I would die.
Take a deep breath if you can and know that prayers are being offered up for you.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I remember when I was first diagnosed with the Lyme..the neuro had looked me over, done a bunch of in office testing and said I want to send you for a MRI and for some blood work because you are either going to MS or Lyme Disease. Holy Cow I thought please let it be Lyme! HA!
Anyway, now I know better, but thanks to the coinfection of Babs I have had a migraine since January 7th. I am up to 200 mg of Topamax twice a day that barely touches the pain and does nothing for the halos and the flashes of light. Since I have seen my LLMD and started the 200mg of Doxy twice a day the "chronic sinus infection" does seem to have improved, but I do know that we will have to treat that separately.
I know she said it could just be sinus or she said it could be something else but my brain is dead this evening and I just can't recall the two other things she said it could be.
I live in fear every day that this damn bug is eating my brain. My hubby and I "joke" that its a good thing we have matching rings because someday that may be the only way I will know that he is my husband.
I have few to no memories of my childhood or my sons childhood and that angers me. I hate so much about this disease that there are days that I want to give up.
But then I realize that the bug wins. And no way am I letting a little pinpoint of a beast getting the better of me. I have to keep fighting, for me, for my son, for you, for all of us.
One step at a time is all it takes Randi, and then maybe tomorrow it will be better.
-------------------- J Posts: 91 | From Northwest Indiana | Registered: Dec 2004
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chiquita incognita
Unregistered
posted
"Ignorance causes fear" said a friend of mine when I was still in my teens. Somehow, the words stuck. THey had a ring of truth to them.
Ever since she said that, what I have done when I am scared (I am good at that, alas!) is to get information.
Ask doctors fact-checking questions.
Example: In every book I have read, and also every doctor I have talked to when I Had yeast myself, I was told that yeast patients don't die of that disease.
I asked my LLMD today about certain symptoms that had scared me with the lyme, and here was his response:
Lyme is said on the internet to kill people at times, but in fact during about 30 years of practice, he has never once in his lifetime even seen it. He said this only happens when organ systems are failing. If there is liver failure, kidney failure, etc then the lyme can wipe us out. Short of that, again his exact words were "Never once in my lifetime" has he seen a patient succumb to lyme, even with the worst of herx's.
Does the infection actually penetrate the bone? If yes, then you surely would have known by now, just based on your symptoms.
If yes, then those infections can surely be handled by abx, so I would think, or nystatin if they are yeast. But I have never heard of someone having a bone infection from sinus infections, even one friend who has aspergillus growing in her nose.
I think the nature of fear is:
It goes to the worst-case scenario. That is the way fear thinks.
Fear is trying to prepare us for the worst. If we are prepared to deal with it, we will be okay. So that's why we worry. We think we will "deal" better if we somehow can work it all out...in our head.
Yeah right. That's when we get it all worked *up*, not worked out.
Remember: Fear is always, always, as a pattern, going to the worst case scenario. Recognize the pattern for what it is.
And realize: We are on an upward spiral, not a downward one. There is no such thing as an endless cycle of defeat. That is an illusion, the lie which is fear. False Evidence Appearing Real.
When I Had my MRI years ago I too was scared. But it turned out, of course, they could see no signs of MS that they were looking for, the doctor clicked up his heels in the air and said "you are cured!" He literally and actually clicked his heels. He was trying to cheer me up, I guess.
This was the best neurologist in this whole area. Not even he mentioned lyme. My god.
It was a chiropractic neurologist who diagnosed it. What an interesting specialty, and what a sharp, sharp man! My god ,the rigorous workup and movement tests he had me do. It *Far, far!* surpassed the mainstream neurology. By far! He was able to pick up such subtleties...and he is the one who diagnosed lyme.
Then he said: "OUt of my door! I want you to have the best, the very best. Not just someone who has treated a lyme case or two. No run, don't walk! GO!"
He was a good man.
I hope much the same turns out to be the case for you. False Evidence Appearing Real.
ONe thing I truly have learned from this disease:
When big symptoms make a big loud noise in the body, underneath it is usually something simple.
You'll probably be okay.
Best wishes to you and we will be thinking of you. May you come out feeling like a conquerer and know that this can never scare you again! BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Raspberry.......
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chiquita incognita
Unregistered
posted
PS A book that has helped me enormously:
The Feeling Good Handbook by David Burns, MD
This has practical exercises, not just theoretical discussion which gets you nowhere, to face and conquer fears.
It also has brilliantly tracked down the thought patterns that give rise to...anxiety, depression, whatever it may be....
Once you recognize the patterns (an endless cycle of defeat, all or nothing thinking, mental filter or where we put our focus, etc) then we can get the better of the patterns.
It has helped me a lot to read and re-read this book.(I still struggle however, I am not pretending to have it all perfectly together. IT's an ongoing work, what can I say. Part of lyme disease. My LLMD said the anxiety is not going away until the lyme does). Well, at least we get to conquer and learn a spiritual lesson as we do so eh?
I hope this helps.
Best, CI PS as I think about it and as I write this, I think that laughter helps a lot. Ever heard of laughter yoga therapy? Google it and see some youtubes, it's a blast to watch. These people are laughing absolutely hysterically, rolling on the floor....and laughing at absolutely nothing at all. They have seen with cancer patients that immune cells go up, they tolerate their chemo therapy better, and other benefits. Laughter really is the best medicine, and it costs nothing, and it has no side effects, said one Indian physician on one of those youtubes. What a good man, I love it! Check it out. And maybe, stare at the machine to get familiar with it, then laugh at it, and laught at yourself, and raspberry your fears! Doing it physically (in private) may help, because there is something about working with the body that also helps to reach the mind. Just an idea?
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Randi,
I second what someone else said: after the MRI, you need to see a neuro who is a headache specialist to help you with the headaches. Yes, in the long-run, Lyme and co treatment will help the most with them. That's certainly my experience. But in the meantime, you need to get relief.
I will find the links later to find such a dr in your area.
On the MRI, probably the most it will show might be some hyperintensities, which many of us have. It looks similar to MS, except not exactly. Most drs will say it means nothing. But LLMD's know it's from the Lyme. And they can go away with treatment.
The biggie here is that I think you don't have an LLMD now, right? didn't they run all the LLMD's out of your state? #!*! But then I heard that someone else started practicing there? Is there any possibility you could get treatment from this dr or someone else who is a good LLMD??
Heaven knows you certainly need it.
And on the fear: another tactic is to have your feelings all you want into a pillow---or not into a pillow if no one is around. Cry, yell, plead, whatever is there uncensored. If I didn't do that, forget about it!! Don't judge anything that comes out. It's between you and you (and God, if you want).
Posts: 3792 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
thank you so very much.
yes, if someone does know of somebody practicing here please please let me know.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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