I'd like to hear from people who have or had psych symptoms from Bartonella. (Anxiety, panic attacks, mania, inability to sit still, paranoia, confusion, delusions, unaccountable fear, etc.) I'm currently being treated with Factive.
- Did your psych symptoms get worse while being treated? (like a herx?) - How long did they continue for? - What antibiotics helped you resolve Bart? - Did you need additional help from psychiatric meds to get you through it? Which ones?
I'd really appreciate info on any experiences you've had. This is the hardest thing I've ever been through in my life.
Thanks so much,
- Andrew
[ 12. July 2007, 07:25 PM: Message edited by: AndrewInCA ]
Posts: 443 | From The Wild West | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
When my Lyme came out of remission 5 years ago, I got horrible panic attacks, fear was everywhere!!!! I always thought of the worse possible thing.
If I drove over a lake on a bridge with my children I was terrified because at the time I had three children and only two arms...who would I save?
It's horrible. The list of psych problems are a mile long. I still haven't recieved treatment and therefore still have all the problems you listed.
I went to a psych doc and I can't say it helped much. He just told me I had it with in me to fix this myself.
I just know this is how I am and since I've been this way for so long now..it's just part of my life. I can't sit still and drives my husband bonkers. And he really get's sick of my panic attacks.
Maybe with abx treatment these will go away. I'll just have to wait and see when I do find a good doc.
You are not alone!!! Posts: 94 | From Greenville, Tx | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
Some of the side effects are from the Factive. Quinolones can give you insomnia, and make you jittery, increase anxiety, and give you excess energy....at least for awhile. Just stick it out. It will get better. Are you taking any other drugs? It's best to stay away from Psych drugs...they will only create more problems.
Posts: 134 | Registered: Feb 2005
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I'm aware that the quinolones can cause anxiety/insomnia, although I had all the psych symptoms before starting treatment.
However, they have been getting worse since treatment began, so who knows, maybe the treatment is contributing to the symptoms. I'm about 3-1/2 weeks into treatment.
The only other drug I'm on is Ativan to deal with the anxiety. I'm on a bunch of supps/homeopathic/herbal stuff too, though.
- Andrew
[ 13. July 2007, 01:05 AM: Message edited by: AndrewInCA ]
Posts: 443 | From The Wild West | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Andrew-I had horrible panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia-you name it. 12 weeks of rifampin were horrible-I thought I'ld end up in the looney bin. An additional 10 weeks of bactrim/zith, plus treating babs, now those symptoms are gone-I sleep better, I laugh once in a while.
Hang in there. I only took ativan to sleep
Posts: 561 | From eastcoast | Registered: Aug 2006
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Vanilla
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posted
As you know I have been there with the disgusting neuro symptoms and they do leave and life gets better again.
Hang in there. You have a lot of people pulling for you.
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
I had those symptoms for a long while, and took supplements to support the adrenals. It helped alot.
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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kelmo
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Member # 8797
posted
My daughter started with all those, everything you've mentioned. They started about 14 years old.
She went on psyche meds first, then when her body started crashing, and she was finally diagnosed with bartonella at 17, the symptoms got worse with treatment.
But, lately she has started to do things she was fearful of for the longest time. She is getting out more, around people.
She is still on heavy duty medication, and we hope to get her off, but sleep is vital right now, and we don't want to rock that boat until all other symptoms are gone.
Wish she didn't have to take them.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
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LisaS
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10581
posted
I have all these symptoms. My llmd is guessing that I have Lyme, Bart, Babs, and Erlich. So I dont know which one is the cause but it is horrible. After a year of treatment they are finally starting to go away.
But i still live daily with anxiety. It's a constant battle. And any stress seems to trigger the whole thing to start over.
Also after starting Cats Claw, the whole suicidal feeling has resided. That was one of my scariest symptoms. Just wanting to die.
I hoep you get through this Andrew and find something that helps. God Bless!!
posted
Gosh - I don't know which bug(s) I have other than Lyme for sure - but this sounds like me.
I'm lucky to get to bed by 4 or 5am. I seem to sleep maybe 5 or 6 hours tops.
Sometimes when I'm driving, I ride the break all of a sudden because I go into a panic.
I think one of the freakiest things though is how the slightest noise - even a creak - can make me jump.
Whatever is in my eyes, I don't know that this is babs though. Do bart and ehrlichia go into the eyes?
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Geneal
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posted
I had such horrible panic/anxiety attacks prior to getting diagnosed and starting treatment,
I was actually referred to a psychiatrist.
Thank God he wasn't taking any new patients and I pursued my quest to get
Any doctor to test me for Lyme disease.
I remember laying in bed and having what I call "waves" of terror roll through my body.
I was prescribed paxil and xanax....I did not take them.
My choice though as I have two small children and needed to be able to "function".
This has definitely gotten better with treatment for Lyme, babs and bart.
Hang in there.
These horrible feelings will get better.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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lymeinhell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4622
posted
Paranoia Fear Panic attacks Migraines Fits of rage Crying fits Insomnia
And then some.
I recall herxing on exactly a 28 day cycle so 3 1/2 weeks could be indicative of a herx. Things got worse before they got better. I do recall passing through a 'no feelings' kind of phase early on in treatment - which I guess was better than all the anxiety.
Rifampin plus very small dose Flagyl gave me my life back.
Hang in there. It's the bugs, not you. This too shall pass.
-------------------- Julie _ _ ___ _ _ lymeinhell
Blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed. Posts: 2258 | From a better place than I was 11 yrs ago | Registered: Sep 2003
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
OCD symptoms
a lot of disorientation (couldn't find my way home from the grocery store one time)
stuttering
panicky feelings
couldn't find my words--would be thinking of the word "bat" and would say or write something like "bar"--a little familiar but entirely wrong. I'm a writer, so that symptom was especially hard for me.
Unbelievable depression
insomnia
seizures
paralysis (full body)
sensory distortion
I started taking rifampin about a year into treatment. The symptoms did get worse but then began to improve. Aside from periodic insomnia, they're all gone now and have been for several months.
I'm so sorry you're going through what you are. Just hang in there; it does get better.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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posted
I have Bart and lyme. Los of eye problems. All my neuro stuff kicked in when I started the Doxy. Panic attacks, depression, brain fog. I am 27 and work in a big office. You can imagine what that was like. I had to go into the bathroom and cry like a baby for no reason. Total and utter fear out of the blue. I did a month of IV Cef, then a month of cipro for the Bart and I am on Amox for the lyme. The neuro stuff has subsided now mostly after 5 long months on ABX. Still a ways to go but hang in there mate. I can totally identify with what your going through. Just remember its a state of mind caused by these bugs and it will pass. I remember that no feeling stage too...like nothing mattered anymore. I am planning for the future now.. its looking good. I'm coming out of the dark. Good luck!
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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Boomerang
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7979
posted
I think that hubby had bart symptoms. It was the one thing we hadn't ever targeted over the last couple of years.
He has/had much of the same symptoms:
Panic type attacks where he just wanted to flee whatever situation he was in Terrible brain fog Mixing up words/couldn't think of words Depression Seemed very detached from things at times
He is getting better now. I've seen a dramatic improvement over the last two months. He took IV Primaxin for 35 days. Now he is on oral rifampin with flagyl pulses.
Has also done some IV PK protocol over the last 3 weeks. Has also been doing HBOT.
He is getting better. Still a ways to go though.
Take care.
Posts: 1366 | From Southeast | Registered: Sep 2005
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