posted
My mother is in her 70s and has just started to have these symptoms. She's been seeing and hearing things that seem very real at the time. Added to all her other symptoms it's almost unbearable for her.
She's attempted suicide twice in the last 6 months (overdosing on her meds.) and is currently in the hosp because of attempt #2.
In talking to her, she said that she's not depressed or sad, it's just the stuff she's seeing and hearing and she feels she can't go on like this.
She has never been tested for lyme or anyother bacterial infections so I also posted in seeking dr. to try to get her tested.
-------------------- "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"--Carl Sagan Posts: 317 | From Kansas and New Jersey | Registered: May 2008
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
Hi,
So sorry to hear the torment your mother is going through.
Below are 2 links to information that discusses the psychiatric manifestations of lyme.
They definitely mention psychosis as a possible manifestation.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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Thank you for the info. I have lots of neuro symptoms from lyme and others but nothing like this. Just lots of anxiety and twitching and such.
It's hard not to think her problem is bacterial or something physical. I'm not totally ruling out psycosis. Just need all possible things to look for and that is not what her doctors are doing.
again, thank you sooooo much.
-------------------- "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"--Carl Sagan Posts: 317 | From Kansas and New Jersey | Registered: May 2008
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posted
Hi. I understand how aweful these symptoms can be.
In the beginning of my illness I had some of these symptoms. I would hear voices and had a few hallucinations and elements of my dreams were right in front of me when I awoke. I was pretty scared by it.
Once starting treatment, the herx caused these to be very intense and I ended up in the ER.
The diagnosis was possible schizophrenia or bipolar with psychotic features. (they weren't aware that lyme could cause these symptoms). These issues resolved quickly as I continued my treatment.
I was aware these hallucinations were happening, and knew that something wasn't right, but was still terrified. The docs also tested me for syphilis which can also cause these symptoms.
I hope your mother can find some relief soon!
-------------------- -Love and Gratitude Posts: 69 | From another planet far far away | Registered: Oct 2008
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-------------------- This is NOT medical advice - and should NOT be used to replace your MD's advice. Info is only the opinion of those who publish the site.
The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at a time.
cb Posts: 669 | From somewherebetweentherocks | Registered: Mar 2008
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nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
Amy Tan, the famous author, dealt with hallucinations and psychosis, etc., caused by Neuro Lyme. She bravely discusses this openly on her website here:
These symptoms, and others, went away with Lyme treatment.
There is a Literaries of Lyme Group including Amy and the male author/naturist from Under Our Skin - they do an interview at a LDA meeting with Brian Fallon.
Amy goes into great detail there about her neurological symptoms from Lyme. She speaks about psychosis, anxiety, panic, feeling she was losing her mind, and loss of self, etc. If you are interested in seeing it or showing oit to your mother, I will try to find it for you.
I am so sorry your mom is going through this, and she is a very lucky mom to have you for a daughter. Good luck finding her a good Lyme doctor - it's always worth it to check into all possibilities, and this looks like a strong one.
Does she have any other symptoms? It's possible to only have neuro symptoms with Lyme, but just curious.
My best wishes to your mom and you, and your family.
nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
I will copy a small portion where she describes many of her symptoms so that I can break it up for Neuro-Lymies that can't read large blocks of text. I hope Amy Tan won't mind me excerpting:
"Hallucinations began, what I now realize were likely simple partial seizures, the result of lesions on my brain. I saw people walking into my room, two girls jumping rope, numbers spinning on an odometer, a fat poodle hanging from the ceiling.
I also had strange episodes in which I behaved strangely but had no recollection of what I had done as reported to me by others. I apparently rang people up at midnight and talked in a wispy voice. I had flung laundry around the living room.
My husband said I acted at times as if I were in a trance, eyes wide open but unresponsive to his and a friend's questions. I now had nightly nightmares and acted them out, punching at lamps or my husband, and once landing on my head in a dive toward my dream assailant.
By day, my memory was held together with friable threads, my concentration was as easy to disperse as blown dust, and when I tried to read, I often found by the second page that I had no idea what the book was about. When I wrote by hand, I reversed letters. When I spoke, I substituted words with like-sounding beginnings."
D Bergy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9984
posted
You could try to give her additional Magnesium in the form of Magnesium Citrate. Mental problems are associated with too little. It cannot harm her in any way.
I would look closely at the rarer side effects or interactions of her medications. Has she changed something around the time of the symptoms? It is not uncommon for medications to cause effects like these, especially when many are being used.
Dan
Posts: 2919 | From Minnesota | Registered: Aug 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
Great suggestions above - yes, magnesium and also vitamin deficiencies can contribute even if lyme or other infection is beneath this.
AND - her medicines, themselves, might be contributing to a toxic state of her body (adding to lyme toxins). Toxins can create all sorts of symptoms.
Liver support might help but also consider all of this.
Will she be able to get to a LLMD ?
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Hi all, I'll try to answer your questions, very busy trying to multitask. LOL my lyme brain is spazing right now.
<nenet> "Does she have any other symptoms? It's possible to only have neuro symptoms with Lyme, but just curious."
She has had many many odd symptoms over the years and the drs. haven't been able to diagnos her. She did test positive many years ago for EBV and was told that she had cronic fatigue as a result of that.
The post of Amys' was almost verbatum what my mom told me yesterday.
<D Bergy> "Has she changed something around the time of the symptoms?"
The only thing that has happened recently was that she had her thyroid removed because of growths and one of the growths was positive for cancer.
They put her on replacement therapy but took her off to do the radiation follow up. Both extreme episodes happened when she was off the thyroid replacement meds.
She did tell me though that she has had these episodes off and on over the last few years but were not bad enough to really bother her.
She has been a Vegan all her life and is very up on supplements and staying on top of what she needs.
<Keebler> "Will she be able to get to a LLMD ?"
I'm looking into that right now. I did post in seeking dr.
It's so hard to make sure she's doing what she needs to do from such a distance. I have told her about my lyme battle but she's not pro-active as far as doctors go.
Too many years of complaints and doctors not finding anything. I think part of her believes what the doctors say, that it's all in her head and she quit fighting the battle long ago.
I wish she wasn't so old, and that I was diagnosed long ago. Hind sight is always perfect. I don't really know what we can do for her at this point but I'm not giving up the ship just yet.
I'm prepared to lose my mother to old age or accident but not this.
Thank you everyone very much for your help.
Hugs, Proudmom
-------------------- "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"--Carl Sagan Posts: 317 | From Kansas and New Jersey | Registered: May 2008
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
Absolutely it can.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
posted
Dekrator... Could you please take your long link to www.tinyurl.com ? It's making the thread go W-I-D-E and difficult to read.
Thanks!!!!!!!!
PS.. it's real easy to do
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
yes she can. also read somewhere that 90% plus of mental illnesses you mentioned are LYME DISEASE!
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
Lymetoo,
Thanks, I changed the URL. I had never heard of that site, or doing that before, but I figured it out.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
dek, we hadn't either until someone w/good computer skills told us about it, and it's been a huge blessign to this board with many 2-5 lines of address causing things to go super wide!
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