I see my LLMD in Thurs. to follow up after 25 days on Amox. because my lyme test came back equivacal-what are the chances that the tests he's going to run will be positive after all these abx?

I'm so afraid that I'm self diagosing and that my general md missed something, but they just tell me I'm suffering from anxiety and don't even want to discuss the possibility of it being lyme.

I could really use some assurance right now...

Thanks so much!

if your unsure about lyme i would say continue to see other doctors in pursuit of an answer but play it on the safe side and keep taking the abx. it won't hurt you.

if your concerned about yeast infections ask your doc to prescribe a month of nystatin or diflucan and eat a low carb diet.

I will bet you my right foot, bottom lower back and left lung that you do.

Now, if you REALLY want my right foot, bottom lower back and left lung, you just give me a yell

I went through it too. I thought "ugh, they are missing something" "im going to die", etc

Being ON abx, you are more than likely to NOT get a positive than you are to GET a positive because they are in your system.

You had an equivocal. Can you be half pregnant, as lymenet has said in the past? Nah, if half of that purdy blue line shows up-you're pregnant.

Lyme is a clinical diagnosis. Even if you were negative, doesnt mean squat.

You're not gonna die. You won't die. You dont have another mystery illness. But if it IS lyme and you do not treat it, I cannot guarantee any of the above. If its not lyme, in time, TIME you will know.

Have you herxed? Have you felt better at ALL in any way shape or form?

Be good to yourself. Take it easy!

You said..

"I'm so afraid that I'm self diagosing and that my general md missed something, but they just tell me I'm suffering from anxiety and don't even want to discuss the possibility of it being lyme".

They are idiots.

I just posted to momtoaidan...

Please check out the information there if you will.

You are no more crazy than the rest of us.

You WILL get better. I have seen it happen over and over and over again!

Please discuss the anxiety with your LLMD. Tell them you need to do SOMETHING for it. Don't be afraid to admit it to them. They have seen it all... really they have.

And the worst they can do is send you off to live in the zoo with the apes... and that can be kinda fun... so be sure to tell them you need help... ok?

You WILL get better.

PS. Please check in tomorrow and let us know how you are doing.

Deep breathing helped me some - if I could catch it when it was coming on.

I'm from Jersey also - central - now live in Tn. Living inland is tough for a jersey girl, lol

Just wanted to mention, I had my bloodwork done at Medical Diagnostic Laboratories in Mt. Laurel, NJ-has anyone heard anything about them? Mycoplasma was + and western blot was equiv., but the other tests all came back negative-I was taking abx shortly before these tests were run...

I'll be sure to check back in on Thursday after my appt.

Anyone heard of Effexor XR for anxiety-about the only thing my general md gave me that I might try!

Thank you again-and TinCup, I may just post that email you sent to Mommy on my fridge for motivation!

Since I am in the middle of my panic attack right now - I would kill for some Lexapro. I was treated for 3 years of Lyme (on and off - due to remission several times) and on the 4th year, my Doc said "try something" (I always refused) for the panic attacks,etc. She gave me Lexapro. It is great. Extremely, extremely mild. It just "smooths you out". I highly recommend it.

I am in central NJ and happy to discuss my doc, etc with you, if you wish

You've probably heard this all before, but it's true---- Magnesium Citrate will help a bit to relax those nerves.

I believe our nerves are truly irritated ---neuritis.

(Lyme depletes our Mg & antibiotics further depletes it.)

Do a search on Marnie on Lymenet for her magnesium information on the specifics.

Basically, her instructions are to purchase a bottle of liquid Magnesium Citrate from the laxative section from Wal-Mart for $l.84 and take tinsy amounts ever 2 hours. Take with a little selenium & a pinch of B6 & plenty of water.

I keep my bottle in the fridge. Try to avoid diarrhea------that'll mess up your electrolytes & we need all those minerals in the brain.

Also, Valerian herb is good from Wal-Mart.

My favorite is called, "Aspir-Source" made by Crystal Star Herbal Nutrition. I get mine from the health food store. (Contains no aspirin---just herbal white willow & 9 other herbs.)

No website on bottle, but their number is
1-800-736-6015 out of St. Louis, Missouri. Call & see where they sell close to you.
(It's $12 for 90 capsules).

The last thing is Taurine amino acid capsules. They come in 1,000 mg, but you don't need that much. Probably 500 mg is good with Vit. C & B6 to activate the amino acid.

Taurine is akin to a cell wall stabilizer like an anti-convulsant. It calms you down.

Country Life makes a product called "Stress M Rapid Release" & it has some Taurine, plus Inositol already added to it-----that'd probably be the best way to go.

If you can get Country Life at your health food store, check there. (Website is www: country-life.com & you can type in state & zip code to see what store near you sells it.)

Last thing I can think of is Vitamin Bioactive-B12 l mg., (methylcobalmin) by Enzyzmatic Therapy.

Take sub-lingually or stomach acid will destroy it. You can take l mg to 5 mg in the mornings.

Make sure it states "methylcobalamin" because that's for the brain (neuroprotective.) Do not get "cyanocobalamin."

When I think of brain (& mine's pretty flat) I think of having enough minerals & amino acids.

And you're right, we need all the supplements together (vitamins/minerals) not just isolated doses.

As far as your test goes: My first Western Blot from Igenex was negative.

Then I found an LLMD & he put me on l4 days of Zithromax prior to testing. Then, my 2nd test came back positive.

It all just depends on the person. I have read, however, that ABX work adversely with PCR testing.

You'll see--- everything will work out. This is just a long, tedious process we've all been forced to go through.

Sorry for the long post.

Take Care,
Jan

I'm anxious to see my LLMD today and I will definitely discuss my panic attacks with him-the most difficult thing for me is that I've always been so even keeled and now I just feel like my mind is going out of control with these terrible thoughts constantly. I was up and down all last night with scary thoughts and tingling in my chest and I'm sure I'm just making it worse by getting worked up and I'm so irritable I can't stand it-and neither can my family!!!

I hate feeling this way!

I am so sorry you are suffering with the panic attacks. The advice you have received is right on the money - get some meds for it before it gets worse!

I have been dealing with all the Lyme symptoms for years, and finally diagnosed 3 months ago! The first time I had the panic attacks they were horific - felt like I wanted to clime right out of my skin. Couldn't sit in one place, had hilucinations, and serious thoughts of driving my car in front of a truck!

You have gotten some good input here. I think "not knowing" can be very intimidating at times and it sounds as if you are doubting your own instincts as well as the MD.

You know your own body more than anyone else. Listen to your body. You will get all the confirmations you need re: Lyme.

Re: meds. You are the only one who can make the decision about taking medications, but I STRONGLY recommend looking at alternatives to dealing with anxiety. I like what Recipegirl wrote. She gave you some things to consider and websites, phone numbers etc. She mentioned Valerian root. Skullcap and Kava Kava are also good. Herbs work synergisticly and therefore in combinations rather than just a single herb. So look for something with combinations of herbs for anxiety.

Remember herbal formulas take longer to build a blood level that will provide the level of relief that you seek so start on something soon as it takes time to get into your system usually (never say always- someone will inevitably prove me wrong).

Having said all of that I have spoken with others who have hallucinated and this can be very frightening. Try to stay in communication with SOMEONE when you are experiencing an attack like you have done here.

We are all in this together.

I hope you find some comfort in what you are receiving here and I wish you the best.

You have gotten some good input here. I think "not knowing" can be very intimidating at times and it sounds as if you are doubting your own instincts as well as the MD.

You know your own body more than anyone else. Listen to your body. You will get all the confirmations you need re: Lyme.

Re: meds. You are the only one who can make the decision about taking medications, but I STRONGLY recommend looking at alternatives to dealing with anxiety. I like what Recipegirl wrote. She gave you some things to consider and websites, phone numbers etc. She mentioned Valerian root. Skullcap and Kava Kava are also good. Herbs work synergisticly and therefore in combinations rather than just a single herb. So look for something with combinations of herbs for anxiety.

Remember herbal formulas take longer to build a blood level that will provide the level of relief that you seek so start on something soon as it takes time to get into your system usually (never say always- someone will inevitably prove me wrong).

Having said all of that I have spoken with others who have hallucinated and this can be very frightening. Try to stay in communication with SOMEONE when you are experiencing an attack like you have done here.

We are all in this together.

I hope you find some comfort in what you are receiving here and I wish you the best.