Topic: Is this a lyme thing or a panic attack thing?!
disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
This is really scaring me. I'm not sure what to make of these or what they are. It's either lyme or a co-infection causing this or it's a panic attack. I don't have these 'episodes' very often, like once every few months or longer, but they are scary enough that I wish they would stop happening (and it seems that at least twice that it's happened was during my period - though I don't know if that's connected at all). It's only worse that these are happening and I'm not sure what they are.
Okay, here's what happens:
I get these waves all of a sudden that rush through me and I feel like I may pass out and I get very lightheaded, start having palps and trouble breathing, then hot flashes and then have chills even though I'm not cold and just had the hot flashes. The chills usually always happen near the end of the 'episode'.
The only thing that makes me not sure if it's a true panic attack is that the waves that go through me come and go during a 10 or 30 minute or even hour or however long episode it is. What I mean is, I'll have a wave of the lightheaded feeling and then feel like I am going to die/black out and then after the wave is gone, I'll feel slightly okay (except for still having palps and trouble breathing, etc.), and then I'll get another wave and then another, etc. I don't know if having those 'waves' are normal in a panic/anxiety attack. Anyone know or have this themselves?
Sometimes I think that trying to calm myself down helps somewhat or doing the slow abdominal breathing helps and is the reason why it comes in waves, but I'm just guessing as I really am not sure.
This happened to me last night starting around 11:00 p.m. and lasted at least a couple of hours.
It started with feeling like my throat was closing up and I had to cough and then I had like a palp at the same time, so it felt hard to take a breath in. At that same time, the hot flashes started running through my body and I got very hot quickly. That's when the waves started rushing through me and I felt like I was going to lose consciousness/pass out/die. The waves would come and go, but all the while I was having shortness of breath and palps. Then I went to lie down but was having a hard time laying there as I felt very ill and having shortness of breath. I tried to calm down more and then started having chills. When I tried to walk after that, I was very unsteady and shaky and weak and trembling.
Does this sound like a panic/anxiety attack? Do you get the "waves" feeling go through you or is that just me?
Also is there a 'sure' way to know that what a person is having is a panic attack? I'm never sure if these 'episodes' are panic attacks or not. I'm starting to get the feeling that maybe it's my bodies way of trying to off me already - that it can't take anymore of this darn illness... because when this does happen, it feels like I'm not going to make it through them.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I get something similar. It's hell. It's developed over time.
I have no clue if it's lyme or co-infection-that is, the ILLNESS....or just the fact that the illness has wrecked so much in my life.
I DO have upset because I wake up sick every single damn day, and etc--but to be honest, the doom/panic/anxiety hitting like a freight train--I NEVER had anything like it, no matter what kind of stress I had in my life.
I've certainly seen many psychiactric issues attributed to Lyme and etc. The question is....is that what is causing it for us or not?
It's hell, I know. Really, truly hell. I'm sorry you're experiencing this too.
Posts: 322 | From Venice, CA | Registered: Sep 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Anyone else out there who have anxiety/panic who can add anything?
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I've had it since my first herx on doxy last July. It sometimes feels like someone is main lining adrenaline into my body. I read in The Lyme Disease Solution , that anxiety is usually a sign of a Bartonella co-infection and can be treated by ABX. If you haven't found that book by Kenneth Singleton, MD. I Highly recommend it. Good luck- it's been one of the most horrible experiences of my life
Posts: 32 | From Southcoast, MA | Registered: Dec 2008
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
It is listed as a symptom of bartonella.
However, I must add that prior to diagnosis and beginning treatment,
I had the most horrible panic/anxiety attacks.
Mine were always accompanied by air hunger too.
Horrible.
I described it as having a wave roll through my body.
From my heat it would progress slowly to my feet.
I couldn't sleep at night due to this.
It would actually wake me up.
Doxy stopped all of those for me.
I haven't treated Lyme for a while.
Been stuck in babesia treatment for quite some time.
I am starting to get them again.
Little ones...but I know what they will lead up to.
Xanax didn't touch them and paxil made them worse!
Of course they were given to me by the local ducks who
Swore I had Generalized Panic/Anxiety Disorder.
Sigh.
Hang in there.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Disturbed,
I get this but for me, I know it isn't a panic attack. A panic attack lasts for only 20-30 minutes.
This stuff feels different. I have had both. I don't get hot and then chilled with my panic attacks.
When these attacks occur, whatever they are, they are also around my cycle. And it does come in waves. Death does seem around the corner, like everything is going haywire. Mine are often accompanied by the strong urge to have a bowel movement as well.
If i take my BP it is up, my HR is way up etc..
You are not alone. I do not have this real often or with every cycle. But I do dread that time thinking that it might occur.
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
feelfit, I have read that a panic attack can last longer than 20 - 30 minutes.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Lyme panic and anxiety can. But typical panic attacks are 20-30 minutes. Those not related to TBI's.
I was treated for panic and anxiety for 18 years before I was dx'ed with Lyme. My panic and anxiety was atypical. It lasted all day. I don't have that since abx.
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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Starfall1969
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17353
posted
What you've described here is almost exactly what I experience when I have these episodes, except I don't get the heat/chills with it.
The doctors all tell me it's a panic attack/panic disorder, but my understanding of panic attacks is that they only last 20 minutes or so.
My episodes last for days, and no anti-anxiety/antidepressants work. I have had severe reactions to everything they've put me on.
I've wondered too if this is related to Lyme or something else, because I don't believe that this is all in my head.
Posts: 1682 | From Dillsburg, PA | Registered: Sep 2008
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
This is very similar to what I also experience. I call it "weird" anxiety, because it is not like anxiety that I use to have before LD. I think it is illness related.
I actually saw improvement with it while on Malarone for Babesia. To me it relates to Babs, but could be from Lyme or others since the symptoms over lap. I don't think it is just regular anxiety or panic attack. Regular anxiety might jump in and add to it once it starts happening though.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
I never had any anxiety or panic attacks till I became sick with lyme. Since then, they come and go, sometimes triggered, but often times, free foating for no reason at all....
Common anxiety symptoms: Restlessness Flushing Headaches negative thoughts (doom)-panic racing thoughts Nervous stomache-nausea Chest Pains Neck, eye pain-tension shortness of breath Dizziness Hot and cold flashes or sweating Tingling in the body Surreal, out of control feeling Fear of death, going crazy Trembling or Shaking Want to cry numbness/tingling lips, jaw dry mouth
Methods and protocols I have used:
Deep Breathing (20-40 deep breaths, muscle relaxation, mantra, etc.), in through nose, out through mouth (purse lips.) Have your exhale always longer then inhale.
body posture: look up at the ceiling, relax the neck/shoulders, smooth the forehead, ... SMILE!
Stay in the present moment. Move attention from inside your body to legs, arms, outside surroundings.
"...Get out of your head, and into your life..."; do a mindfulness scan from toes to neck...whats going on with your body?
Mindfulness: Let it happen-submit (allow adrenaline to flow in your bloodstream..it will dissipate in your body)
Remember: ..."the more you fight the adrenaline rush, the stronger it gets..and the worse it will be next time"...
Focus on an object: describe in detail ..concentrate; as if describing to an invisible person...size, color, texture, etc..
...slow your thinking, Laugh and Smile, ..remember...you're not going crazy, you're not going to die...
Remember: ...crazy people don't know they're crazy, they just are...
Keep it positive...avoid negative thought patterns...replace any negative thoughts with positive ones.. Freeze the attack...concentrate on heart while slow breathing, replace with past postive thought.
Visualize (mentally put yourself someplace happy... a fond memory...or feeling)
Get mad at it! (Take Control... mentally feel and mean it...or say it)
Write down your feelings (express your feelings, let it out, ....and let it go)...then throw the paper away..
Talk with Someone (express feelings to a supportive, positive person)..vent...but..don't dwell on it... 5 minutes, then move on.
Don't continue to over analyze every feeling, pain, or twinge... Stop the "what if" game...
Do Something Else, get up and move (change your environment, activity, etc.)..but..not habit forming avoidance
Yoga (controlled breathing and stretching together); Exercise (aerobic movement, break a sweat)
Triggers: If you know your anxiety triggers...make a list of them with solutions to them...but.. don't avoid them!! Learn to overcome the triggers by facing your fear gradually, then fully.
Music: listen to either mellow music...or your favorite music...(helps our brain to retrain itself for enjoyment)
Get involved: Be in the company of those you love, and who love you...cultivate relationships.
Linking... take any negative thought or emotion and link it to a positive one (use music if needed), and practice thinking of the negative thought, and linking it to a positive, enjoyable one. So whenever a negative thought comes, your mind automatically links to the positive one.
Eat Properly (fruits, veggies, whole grains) and get plenty of sleep...at least 8-10 hours a day... supplements: valerian root; passion flower; L-theanine; seredyn product; GABA, 5-HTP
To Cope with Anxiety, Remember A-W-A-R-E
The key to switching out of an anxiety state is to accept it fully. Remaining in the present and accepting your anxiety cause it to disappear.
A: Accept the anxiety. Welcome it. Don't fight it. Replace your rejection, anger, and hatred of it with acceptance. By resisting, you're prolonging the unpleasantness of it. Instead, flow with it. Don't make it responsible for how you think, feel, and act.
W: Watch your anxiety. Look at it without judgment - not good, not bad. Rate it on a 0-to-10 scale and watch it go up and be detached, it will go down. Remember, you're not your anxiety. The more you can separate yourself from the experience, the more you can just watch it.
A: Act with the anxiety. Act as if you aren't anxious. Function with it. Slow down if you have to, but keep going....don't stop. Breathe slowly and normally. **If you run from the situation your anxiety will go down, but your fear will go up. If you stay, both your anxiety and fear will drop.
R: Repeat the steps. Continue to accept your anxiety, watch it, and act with it until it goes down to a comfortable level. And it will....it always will... Just keep repeating these three steps: accept, watch, and act with it.
E: Expect the best. What you fear the most rarely ever happens. Recognize that a certain amount of anxiety is normal. By expecting future anxiety you're putting yourself in a good position to accept it when it comes again.
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