I'm into my fourth month of lyme disease. A week ago i almost passed out from light headedness while taking a shower. Scared the heck out of me. Since then i've been walking around feeling like i'm wearing a balloon on my shoulders.
I'm nervous about it happening again since i am still having of and on light headedness, not as bad as the first incident though.
Is there anyone out there who has had a simular symptom? I'm still feeling very empty headed.
Posts: 26 | From Wales,MA | Registered: Nov 2003
| IP: Logged |
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Hey hey...
Welcome to Lyme Net!
Others will be along later to lend a hand..
Yes to your question about the dizziness. It can make you feel awful. So sorry this is happening.
It is difficult to say why it is happening because I don't know if you have been treated.. are on any meds... or have co-infections??
But it is a common symptom we get a good deal here.
May I suggest?
Try not to use such hot water when in the shower. I have learned this can help sometimes.
I would also consider not locking the bathroom door... as a safety measure in case you were to fall. NOT that you will.. it is just better to be safe than sorry.
I also found this symptom to be nasty but it did improve greatly with the proper treatment.. so hang in there.
SunRa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3559
posted
yup, big symptom for me too - I agree with Tincup, making the shower a bit cooler helps (hi Tincup!!!!). And I always keep the door unlocked just in case.
Low blood sugar can cause my fainting spells so that may or may not be a problem for you too. I often have to eat something small first before taking a shower when I get up which helps.
Yes to your question about the dizziness. It can make you feel awful. So sorry this is happening.
It is difficult to say why it is happening because I don't know if you have been treated.. are on any meds... or have co-infections??
But it is a common symptom we get a good deal here.
May I suggest?
Try not to use such hot water when in the shower. I have learned this can help sometimes.
I would also consider not locking the bathroom door... as a safety measure in case you were to fall. NOT that you will.. it is just better to be safe than sorry.
I also found this symptom to be nasty but it did improve greatly with the proper treatment.. so hang in there.
Thanks for responding to my post. No i am not currently on any Lyme meds. I was put on 10 day doxy only when i got diagnosed. I've had a lot of problems besides the lightheadedness.
As a rule i never take hot showers but i do appreciate the advice. Never had a problem with low blood sugar either.
I made an appointment finally today with my PC to see about getting tested for a co-infection. I'm sick of feeling sick.
Thanks so much for your concern and advice. I will keep you posted.
Posts: 26 | From Wales,MA | Registered: Nov 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi Daisy...I had this problem a lot in the beginning. Just use common sense. No baths when you are alone. No driving when you feel lightheaded. Its a real pain in the butt but it does get better.
Hang in there and make sure you are getting proper treatment!
Hugs, Naomi
Posts: 276 | From Boston, MA, UsA | Registered: Nov 2003
| IP: Logged |
Beverly
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 1271
posted
Hi Daisy,
Welcome to Lymenet.
I have had this symptom too, not fun. Great advise from Tincup as always. ( Nice to see you posting Tincup)
The 10 day treatment is not long enough, you need to be treated until you are symptom free. And it is very important to get tested for co-infections. The link Tincup gave you above will help you find a LLMD, Lyme Literate Doctor. LLMDS are the best, the really know their stuff and they care.
Please keep us posted, so sorry you have lyme, but glad you found us.
posted
Hi Daisy, I too have lightheadedness (if you do a search you'll see I've asked about it before) and have had it pretty much around the clock for about 4 months now.
I had it before meds and it continues on abx. There was a period where it seemed to be improving, but now it is back in full force. My LLMD said it's part of lyme disease, but I'm going to an eye/ear specialist just to rule out any kind of inner ear thing. It's different than dizziness, though, so I doubt it's ear related.
I recently had a massage and the guy asked me if I'd been dizzy. He said some sort of plates at the base of the skull could be out of alignment and cause dizziness. He recommended I see a chiropractor. So many problems/doctors, so little time!
Lastly, I use some essential oils with varying success to help with the feeling. I use a blend called "brain power" that I think includes helocrysm (sp?). It's rather costly, but I can give you the info if you're interested. I also have tricks where I just look at one thing, etc.
I have the feeling that I might faint quite frequently, but it has never actually happened. Thank goodness because I'm with a toddler all day. I can funciton o.k., drive, etc. but it's a very uneasy feeling. Feel free to e-mail me if you want to discuss further.
I'm looking for answers to this symptom all the time because it's so pervasive. It also worries me because I just don't understand the root of it.
Posts: 70 | From Rhinebeck, NY USA | Registered: Sep 2003
| IP: Logged |
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Daisy6 Sorry I didnt read everybody elses posts hope Iam not repeating.
If when your taking a shower the water temp is probaly to high. I cant take it as hot as I use to I get all dizzy and out of breath. Take cooler showers helped me. I no that spirochetes dont tolerate hight temps maybe were making them sick at the same time.
Posts: 10564 | From PA Where the Creeks are Red | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged |
TheCrimeOfLyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4019
posted
Ten days of antibiotics have done you no justice besides to stir the bugs up.
Thats not even long enough to catch the lyme during a reproductive stage ( once every four weeks, I believe)
Late lyme, and sometimes even early lyme patients are treated for MONTHS with HIGH dose antibiotics by LLMDs ( usually only LLMDs) until their symptoms are gone.
Everyone else gave you really good advice. MD,PC, Gp, ID, etc etc dont know how to treat lyme, nor do they research it,
advocate it or treat it properly like LLMD's do. Ya wouldnt go to an eye doc to have a baby delivered, right? Dont trust your PC with this then- not his area and soon, he
will be diagnosing you with ABL ( anything but lyme) when this is the problem for you
and ( it sounds like a coinfection also)
Please post in seeking a doctor so someone can send you a LLMD's name.
Hope all goes well for you Lightheadness is very common. I started out with that and ended up with vertigo for five months straight- every second of the day- with absolutely no breaks in between at all, along with severe headaches and stiff neck
and.. all my former PC did for me was offer me prozac and paxil.
Ive been vertigo free for about 8 months, but I still do get it time to time during a herxheimer and definatly when in the shower- I take baths and hang on for dear life.
actually, my fiance sits in the bathroom with me while I bath because pre diagnosis, I had many episodes where i landed on my butt.
Hope this helps and pleaes find the right doc to treat this for you so you can get on with your life and not have to suffer needlessly anymore or with impending, improper diagnosis.
Good luck
Posts: 3169 | From Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged |
Beverly
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 1271
posted
Up.
Posts: 6641 | From Michigan | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged |
rosesisland2000
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2001
posted
NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN OLD POST!!!
Can't for the life of me see why it was brought up after a year. Surely, Daisy has gotten the correct help she needs by now.
With so many new ones here and so many new posts, it's very hard to keep up.
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/