posted
Does anyone have this problem? Whenever I have any type of confrontation, nervousness (like speaking in front of people), or agitation, I get very shaky with muscle weakness, and LOTS of heart palpitations.
Last night this happened, and I checked my BP, and it was higher than usual. Then I started to get dizzy, and almost felt like I was going to pass out or die. This part has never happened before. These symptoms seem to be getting worse with time.
It's really hard to function in life when you can't deal with any stress. I don't know what to do to help this. I take propanolol when this happens, but it doesn't really help that much and other heart meds. only made me tired, and also don't really help.
Anti-anxiety meds. haven't helped either. Maybe something is wrong with my adrenals or thyroid, but blood tests to not indicate a thyroid problem (although I know that you can still have problems with a normal test).
I am waiting to see an endocrinologist, but I'm wondering if anyone might know what this is?
AliG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9734
posted
It sounds to me like it might be a surge of adrenaline, like a panic attack.
Have you been tested for Bartonella?
I know lyme can cause panic attacks.
I get like that but not quite as severe. It's very frightening.
Are you on any ABX right now?
Sorry you're having this happen. Ali
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
Sorry this is happening to you. I get different symptoms, but under the same conditions. I'm sure it's just the lyme and/or co-infections in my case, and I suspect it may be the same for you.
Any time I have stress - too many people, anyone arguing with me, even a debate where I find myself explaining my view to someone. Too much light, sound. Even sometimes just trying to choose between several things, like what to pick on a menu the few times I've tried to sit in a restaurant.
My whole brain seems to just shut down. My respiration becomes shallow and slow, as if it could just stop because I don't feel like breathing. I always involuntarily tilt my head down and to the right, and if I'm standing, arrange my weight over the "bones" of my left side, and walk with a shuffling, limping gait. I usually can't speak at all, and my thoughts are in slow motion, like I have an IQ of celery. Sometimes I end up drooling a bit.
During these episodes my startle reflex is all out of whack. Literally the tiniest thing can shock the crap out of me, even if I see it coming. Like someone setting a pencil down on a table.
I generally make people feel uncomfortable, so I don't go out much. And I've stopped telling non-LLMD docs about this, as they get all interested in sending me to the psycho ward. It was recommended that I take anti-depressants, but I wasn't interested as I wanted instead to kill the lyme - it's not in my head, dammit. I ended up relenting and trying a single Lexapro, resulting in a full-blown panic attack lasting several hours, during which I thought I was going to go insane and die. No more, thanks.
Ultimately, I think the lyme wipes out the adrenals, and my fight or flight response is heightened, however there's no "oomph" behind it. I can neither fight nor flee.
My holistic doc put me on some supplements containing dessicated bovine (cow) adrenal glands. Yeah, gross. This actually seemed to help, but then my LLMD asked me to stop with "the ground beef" as he put it. Apparently this is the stuff steroids are made from, and steroids are very bad for lyme patients. So, I stopped and the episodes are more frequent again.
I figure I have to be more patient, and attack the lyme (root cause) instead of just eliminating a symptom.
posted
This happens to me too... it has been a bit better, I think some of my symtoms have been better after my treatments for my co infection babesia, I just did my third fish test and it finally came back neg, so I guess I am just fighting the lyme now.
Posts: 7 | From CA | Registered: Aug 2008
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posted
this happens when I have to go to the bank,the grocery store etc. When I am in these places I want to run and hide BUT I DONT KNOW WHY. I am 54, smart, educated, eloquent.
Posts: 234 | From BC Canada | Registered: Aug 2008
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Yes, yes and yes. This has been my life story for 2.5 years. I just was diagnosed and started tx in March 2008.
It takes very little stress to send my nervous system in overload, shaky, dizzy, palps, feeling like I might pass out. This will also occur very randomly, with almost no stress.
For me, I assume, it's a part of the Lyme or the many various co-infections I have...I try to remain hopeful that in time with tx, this will improve; it's awful. There are days or hours where I think I've seen some improvement, only to get slammed again to make me wonder if there's any improvement at all.
I am trying very hard to look at the "big picture," months at time, to assess improvement. In my 7 months of tx, I would say there's been some....but, painfully SLOW.
Anyway....yes, yes, yes, me too. TS
Posts: 566 | From West Coast | Registered: May 2008
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posted
Thanks for the replies. I'm sorry to hear that you all have to go through the same thing. It stinks!
I have been on antibiotics off and on for 7 yrs. I have been back on orals for about a year now, but am now taking a 2 month break to treat possible candida issues.
These problems seemed to have gotten worse after I started antibiotics again last year.
I have an appointment with an endocrinologist in 2 weeks, but I suspect nothing will come out of it. The endocrinologist association (I forget the actual name of it) has recently recommended a different normal range for TSH values in diagnosing thyroid disease. According to this new range, I would be hypothyroid.
So, I am hoping that perhaps this is the problem, and she will recognize it as such. I will try to remember to repost after the appointment.
Thanks again to all.
Posts: 418 | From NJ | Registered: Sep 2007
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LisaS
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10581
posted
HI AMK, Yes this is such a horrible symptom. Heres what happened to me the other day. I just got married and my husband has an ex that wont leave him alone. The other day she came into the gas station that we both work at. Seriously My heart pounded so hard and I got so shaky I couldnt stand. I started to slump to the ground right in front of her!
How embarrassing. This has happened twice with her, and several times in any other situation. I have even walked off jobs that I really liked because of getting confronted about something that wasnt my fault but I felt like I was fainting so I just immediately ran out of the building.
My tests for adrenal and thyroid have all been normal too. How do we get rid of this? It makes it hard to work. Or function in any situation actually! I feel for you and hope this symptom goes away for you!
Maybe have a saliva cortisol spit test done to see where your cortisol levels are.
I'm on low dose florinef and Cortef which seemed to take the edge off.
-------------------- Bart Henslea 1976 Fibro/CFS/arthritis 2004 Lyme diagnosed 2007 3 1/2 years treatment with oral combos, Cowden, IV roc. BW herbs. Off all abx in 12/10. Feeling good. Posts: 647 | From NY | Registered: Dec 2007
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