posted
I've been lurking for 3 months since my tick bite and onset of symptoms, and finally decided to join the discussions.
My symptoms are mostly neuro. Dizziness with near syncope episodes and a feeling of left ear being clogged and "tipping" or "leaning" to the left. I'm on abx (a good healthy dose of doxy for Lyme and Levaquin for suspected bartonella).
I'm taking steps to get into an LLMD, but fortunately my PCP is working with me on interim treatment. I was put on abx a mere 2 1/2 weeks after tick bite, but symptoms persist despite 3 weeks of doxy and 3 weeks of IV Rocephin.
Now we've upped the doxy dose and added Levaquin. (took a month off b/t tx which was a big mistake).
The dizziness and other neuro symptoms are almost debilitating at times.
Please tell me what band-aid approaches you've tried. I'm desperate. Valium? Herbal remedies? Anything?
Any other recommendations will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Posts: 28 | From Kansas | Registered: Aug 2009
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Dawn in VA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9693
posted
Before you start anything that might suppress your vestibular-ocular-CNS input/output, as the following drugs will do, you may want to see a neurotologist ("balance clinic" doctor).
They can do all kinds of testing, from inner ear to cranial VIII nerve testing, that might help your diagnosis and treatment to be more specific.
They can also provide you with a vestibular rehabilitation program. If you choose this method, you can't be on CNS suppressants b/c you need your system to be fully active in order for the rehab. adaption to "stick".
Meclizine (an antihistamine) may work.
Benzo's (like valium, xanax, ativan) might be something to bring up to your doctor if your vertigo is really severe. Be aware of the addiction potential though.
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
See my post on Dizziness as Main Symptom and SSRI's to treat Dizziness further down the page.
Very ironic that you posted this just now.
Dizziness is my main disabler for 3 straight years now.
I wish I had an answer for you. Still figuring it out myself.
I will follow this post closely.
Posts: 819 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2009
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Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
As I recall, vertigo was handled for me as a main symptom (and became an occasional one) by doing Buhner's Babesia protocol. His book is "Healing Lyme."
I later did about 7 months of Mepron/Zith, but I was 8 years late (at least) in treating Lyme, so everything was entrenched.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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Starfall1969
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17353
posted
I pulled this post up because I woke up this morning feeling groggy but okay...till I got out of bed.
As soon as I stood up, I started stumbling around. Felt like I had a barbell attached to my right ear that was throwing me off balance.
Then when I bent my head over the sink to wash my hair for church, the whole spinnning thing started.
I've been feeling loopy ever since.
Took 2 Benadryls (usually only take 1) and 2 aspirin, but nothing really helped.
Trying to figure out what kicked this off again:
1. Had a cold this week? Mostly gone, but could be in my ears.
2. Rain, rain rain for 3 days. Just now starting to clear up.
3. Stress. My husband was laid off AGAIN on Friday.
Probably a combo of all three, plus the Lyme and cos.
Just frustrated that I feel so crappy again.
Posts: 1682 | From Dillsburg, PA | Registered: Sep 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- From my experience with vertigo, fainting, etc.:
Best thing to try now: Ginger capsules. Ginger tea can help but capsules are best due to their having more condensed ginger that could not possibly be contained in a cup of tea.
You can also make a tea from the ginger spice jar in your kitchen cupboard. If you have a bit of Agave or a tiny touch of honey, you can add that to the hot water after you make a ginger paste. Best to take with a light meal - some complex carbs are good.
Ginger will not stress your liver as some meds can do but ginger can be a bit stimulating, so don't take it too near bedtime until you know how your body works with it.
You can find research links about Ginger in the Tinnitus thread below.
Your closest vitamin store (GNC, etc.) or natural foods store should have this. Some pharmacies will carry it, too, over the counter.
Various kinds of vertigo go with lyme and other tick-borne disease (TBD). Treatment can intensify that due to release of toxins and the stress of meds on the liver. Treating infection is of utmost importance, however, so the next best thing is to support the liver.
Some of the meds used for vertigo can be very hard on the liver and that may be why all my efforts with Rx for vertigo has failed (my liver can't process them). However, some people report that valium can help with a vertigo attack . Still, some research shows that ginger works equally well without any toxicity or drowsiness.
The liver is the most important element to help (as is avoided extra stress on your liver). Many questions are addressed in the links below.
What is your liver support? Milk Thistle and NAC are two top ones suggested by LLMDs. There are many others, but I'll stop there. Liver support can help prevent excess toxins from recirculating and making their way to your ears. The ears are the number one toxin-alert system of our body.
While inner/middle ear (vestibular) issues can cause syncope (fainting) so can cardiac issues, so I've included that link, too.
I wouldn't panic, though, as it can be something simple like a low blood pressure upon exertion (called NMH, neurally medicated hypotension). Many with lyme deal with this but it can get better with treatment.
In the meantime, there are some helpful suggestions in the cardiac thread. Hawthorn extract is one of the best helpers. Magnesium, too.
A little extra sea salt in your diet or adrenal support can also help prevent syncope. Cordyceps is the easiest adrenal support to try.
Topic: To everyone with cardiac symptoms please read!
Posted by btmb03 -
[ 09-27-2009, 04:18 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Dawn's suggestion to see a neurotologist is a good one. However, be absolutely certain that any ear specialist you see is lyme literate.
Many ear doctors will prescribe steroids - and that can have devastating effects on lyme patients for even months after treatment ends (steroids can make lyme blossom).
See if the LLMD who is closest to you can give the the name of a good neurotologist who, even if not LL, has a decent level of understanding of lyme.
Not all vestibular symptoms are from lyme, which is why a work up is a good idea. However, since lyme can be so involved with the ears, you will do far better with a LL specialist who knows how to determine what is causing what symptoms.
posted
Postural Orthostatic Hypotension can cause dizzines. It is basically a blood pressure regulation problem. My daughter was diagnosed by a cardiologist. She is on medication for it and it has increased her functionin so much! A good website is dinet.org. I am part of a lyme mom support group and quite a few of the teens have POTS caused by lyme and co.
Posts: 28 | From North Carolina | Registered: Jul 2006
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Meclizine...works for that, or should.
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