Hopefully someone with experience with it will come along shortly.

I'm sorry you're having such a terrible time with it. Is that the only drug you've been on for the Lyme?

Have you been checked for Bartonella and Babesia yet? Maybe one of those is responsible for alot of your symptoms...??

There are plenty of other abx out there that are very effective. Does your dr have alot of other plans in his "arsenal?"

Why did you stop the Lexapro?

Doc, my sense is that zithro is not that great for Lyme-I got that from a vidoe I watched of Dr J B from www.lymepa.org It's $12.

cigi-I don't seem to feel good emotions like I used to- I hardly even care to pet my dog some days

gotta keep trying

janet

[This message has been edited by janet thomas (edited 02 July 2005).]

First time on ceftriaxone - tremendous recovery from REALLY bad neuro stuff. Improvement in about 2 weeks. After about 5 weeks switched to orals.

Then relapsed several months later with some new neuroligical problems (these even more scarry than the first) that where different that the first

The back on IV cefriaxone. it took 6 months to see good improvement, but this time I also had babesia meds at the same time. Stopped babesia meds and relapsed while still on IV.

It took 4 months to recover from from that (again while still on IV) after babesia restart.

Stopped IV at the 1 year mark. Relpased startng 2 weeks after IV stop. It took 2 months to confirm relapse. Relapse appeared to be bartonella related (very specific symtoms, including neurologial things). Started new doxy IV + bartonella meds/ This was a very difficlt time with Doxy IV for first 8 weeks. Continued for 12weeks with doxy IV.

Stopped IV again and relapsed again. This time joint and neurological problems, bartonella seems to be suppressed though. Just restarted doxy IV and waiting to see what will happen.

So far it has been a step by step process. As each co-infection has been identified (after relapse) appropriate treatment has resulted in continued improvemen. It looks pretty sure that there is still another co-infection present that is weakly responsive to doxy + levequin. Might start to add flagyl again on the guess that it might be parasitic in nature.

(I had a very good response to ceftriaxone+babesia+flagyl meds while in IV the second time.)

Don't under estimate the power that various co-infections have to retard or prevent the drugs from working. For me it has been a tremendous wake up call.

This approach got me totally well: www.neuraltherapy.com/articles. "Lyme Disease: A look beyond antibiotics". I still did a few antibiotics, but went way beyond that.

Switched to Ceftriaxone for 5 months and again felt bad a couple of weeks then saw improvement for awhile and then downhill again.

Now IM Bicillin for 8 months, along with every oral possible...or pretty close to it.

Rocephin is IMO poor for neurolyme. I think LLMD's know it may not work but try it first. I hear countless stories of relapses. Two SPECT and a LP show neurolyme. Rocephin to me was a waste of time and money, but how do I know it did not help all along. I don't.

thanks for your responses - and i hope everyone gets the peace that we all need and deserve after this curse.

cigi

My husband took lots of different oral abx combinations (also for Bart) for 1,5 years and had only very little improvement (only night sweats and stuffy nose improved a bit).

Now, after 3 weeks of Babesia treatment, including Artemisinin, his extreme, uncontrollable blood pressure fell to nearly normal, his sleep apnea and breathing problems are gone. It's like his symptoms are just falling off of him.

For myself, the Babesia meds brought my period back after two years - it's like a miracle.

I've often read here people saying that they only started feeling better after they started Babs treatment. I always thought, these were special cases, but looks like these cases are not so rare.

When the joint pain and fatigue ceased, he released me. I followed with several months of detoxing and that's what cleared my head.

I was doing great for 4 months and then just starting relapsing, so I am back on the orals.

Doing good on Spectracef and hoping to be off it again in a month or two.

I attribute the IV Rocephin for getting me over the 'hump' of Lyme.

I think you just have to keep trying until you find what works for you. It's a life altering journey, but you can't give up!

I was on Rocephin for 2 1/2 months during the summer of 2002. I never had the issues you have, although I take Effexor for depression and have been taking an SSRI for the last 11 years.

Anyway, lost my gallbladder, followed up with orals for 4 months. Then foolishly my doctor at the time had me off all abx and I relapsed big time.

You mention Bartonella. IMO, and I am no doctor, you should be treated for it even though your most recent test did not show a positive. The fact that you had test indications of its presence once may be enough to indicate treatment is necessary.

Nancy Oh, what methods of detoxing did you use?

Sorry you are feeling so bad. What dosage of Lexapro were you on and for how long??
Did you just stop or wean?

The Lexapro withdrawal causes big time depersonalization. Youi may also notice electric like shocks/zaps to the head and limbs. Dizziness, nightmares, sinus congestion and stomach cramping. these usually occur about the sixth day after stopping or reducing your dose of Lexapro.

You may also notice anxiety and mood swings and extreme rage. This is all documented withdrawal symptoms from Lexapro.

Bach's Cherry Plum Flower Essence is safe and can help the feeling of detachment from reality.like you are dreaming or watching from a distance. You can order it from the Vitamin Shoppe at a cost of about $14.00.

Also Fish Oil Omega 3''s help with the hopeless feelings and depresion.

Let us know how you are doing.

aunt y

quote:

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Originally posted by Monica:
IMO, and I am no doctor, you should be treated for it even though your most recent test did not show a positive. The fact that you had test indications of its presence once may be enough to indicate treatment is necessary.

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ABSOLUTELY! Tests for all TBD's are pretty lousy. Go with the SYMPTOMS.

Was on 10 increasaed to 15mg lexapro, then back to 10 , then off the last 3 days. I need help and will get the cherry plum and fish oil omega. Thanks and hope to salvage some of my life back. Iwas so spontaneous, energetic, loved life and now just LOST. Thanks, i know you have your hands full and your family members are in much pain also. You still have the time for advice and I thank you. Time is so warped also. No one can know hell until you are living in it and I can honestly say, this is hell on earth.
I have ocd that all I can think about how I don't recognize my loved ones and the connection is lost. It's a vicious cycle.

But I did relapse, and it may be due to the 3 other TBDs they found. Back in 2001 the coinfections werent thought of as being the big deal they are today.

Many have rocephin failures though. Didnt you just have surgery cigi? If so those meds are killer on your emotions. Even without lyme I have been suicidal and INSANE for at least a month after surgery.

I dont have an in with God by any means, but I think about you and hope your able to get through this without too much MORE hell.

This will pass with the proper nutrientsand vitamins, the lexapro depersonalization. I need a wayto e-mail you.

I have e mailed you many people's accounts of their experiences after stopping Lexapro. Many are very similiar to yours as you will read.

The depersonalization is common with Lexapro and Celexa. This lasts about 4 months and can go on longer in some.

If you like I can give you a few phone numbers that you can speak directly to people that have gone thru this in the past year and are doing better. I have three people that would be willing to talk to you and help you thru.

I have not personally experienced these feelings but I suffer with my daughter as she experiences the withdrawals..

When you are feeling better, please read the emails to see that you are not alone and as you continue reading you will see that as time passes.......these people have improved.

I have also given you links for nutrient recommendations to help your mind heal after the SSRI's.

It is a tough road..........just hang on for the bumpy ride and in time the road will smooth out. Just keep reminding yourself that you are not losing your mind that it is all the withdrawal. You will see after reading the e mails that your feelings are common.

I will continue to forward more information to you.........you will get thru this. Please let us know how you are. God has helped me thru so much...............I will add your name to my list of favors that I will ask special help with. Ciji, it is not YOU but the WITHDRAWAL causing these bizzare feelings.