posted
Last Friday I had what I've been told is an atypical migraine - no pain, but the fuzzy aura in my peripheral vision.
Today I had two weird things happen, which really scared me. It's like my brain starts moving around in my head, and I get all dizzy and feel like I'm going to fall down, or I'm losing control of myself.
And the second time this happened, I lost control of my mouth and couldn't talk. I was driving home from ABQ in the rain, after picking a friend up at the airport. Luckily, I was able to pull over and stop so she could drive.
This happened about 45 minutes ago, and I still fell very weird and sort of dizzy-ish and a little slurry. This all seems to be in my head, I'm not noticing anything in my legs/arms so much.
I checked my blood pressure when we got home (my roommate has a cuff), it was 136/91, pulse was 61.
I started the Biaxin on Sunday, 1/2 of a dose once a day. I'm up to the full dose of Omnicef - 300 mg 2x/day. Ketokonazole, for the last 3 weeks or so. Supplements are the basics, and I've added the nattokinase, 1 pill once a day, and the ox bile, usually about one pill a day.
I don't know of the migraine and the episodes are related.
I've got a message in to my LLMD, and will call my neuro in the morning.
Could any of the medications be causing seizures or stroke-like symptoms? Or is it just another wonderful gift from Mr. Lyme?
This is scarring the crap out of me.
-------------------- dx: MS in 1998 2007 - Lyme suspected 2009 - Positive Lyme, MS worse. Now: Copaxone shots for MS gall bladder out 7/09 Ceftin, Zith, Septra LDN Acyclovir Monolaurin, DHEA, Pregnonelon, Curcumin Posts: 243 | From New Mexico | Registered: Feb 2007
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
I get similair symptoms Denise. I literally cannot function and feel like I am having a stroke (at least what I imagine a stroke would feel like).
My head becomes all tingly and my brain (which has no feelings) seems like it isn't working. I have disequalibrium. Speech becomes difficult. It lasts for about an hour(intense sx) and then I feel like I have been hit by a semi for a long while after.
Klonopin helps. I am not sure that it is actual seziure, but the anti-seziure med regulates things.
It is sucky and very scary. I have expereinced this since Lyme and Co. I have more 'episodes' around that time of month.
Hope this helps, feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Are you having any tinnitus?
fuzzy aura in my peripheral vision could have been a sign of a type of seizure. This is not uncommon for lyme patients. Some seizure drugs help many. I was unable to tolerate any of them as most are very hard on the liver (Neurotin goes through kidneys but I could not take that, either).
MAGNESIUM is your first line of help. Really. MAGNESIUM can be very helpful to lessen seizure activity and it helps the liver as it calm over active nerve impulses.
I find Andrographis really helps minimize seizures for me. Allicin, too. Andrographis can be very sedating, however. Allicin is not. Schizandra berry is also very helpful for me. It helps the liver and the brain.
Was your blood sugar low, by chance? I hope your doctor can help. For now, it is probably best not to drive until you figure that out.
You could be having some inner ear involvement, too. Biaxin can trigger that (although Zith and mino are usually the ones to mess with that moreso).
If you are having inner ear stuff going on, that can trigger a sharp and sudden drop in blood pressure and blood sugar, too. Ginger might be of help in that case to settle the inner ear and the nausea that triggers a cascade of other things, including slurred speech, "frozen" muscles, etc.
I didn't see any liver support? Are you taking anything like milk thistle? If this is from Biaxin involving the inner ear, liver support is essential to keep the toxin level down.
If this happens again, no matter where you are SIT DOWN immediately - or lie down, even. I have fallen probably a couple thousand times over many years. For a long time, I'd just try to bounce back up with the "I'm okay" speech. That takes a toll.
It's better to prevent falls than try to recover from them. Believe me.
You might ask if your LLMD knows of a neurotologist (neuro - otologist) - an inner/middle ear doctor with a specialty also of neuro. But be sure they also know all about lyme as many ear doctors want to shot steroids into the ear and that can be very detrimental with lyme.
With inner ear problems are very common with lyme, there are some conditions that may be separate. And, if you have something like BPV (benign positional vertigo) there is a simple procedure (non-invasive) that can set you straight in no time.
Still, there are many reasons for vertigo. The ear is just one consideration. The liver is the first thing, though, that I'd be sure has the support it needs. You may not be getting toxins out fast enough. But fast "detox" events are not the answer. Ongoing support. Milk Thistle is best. NAC, too.
Glutathione - or even a glutathione IV might help a lot.
Vestibular therapy (with a LL P.T.) might help, too, especially as to where to look if you are driving (later) or even as a passenger.
posted
FF - thank you so much! You hit the nail on the head - it feels like what I'd think a stroke feels like, and it's my time of the month.
Luckily it's only lasted for 5 seconds or so, although the one where I was driving was probably 10.
If you are on anti-seizure stuff can you still drive?
I'm thinking that now that I'm on abx, the little boogers are getting mad and fighting back!
-------------------- dx: MS in 1998 2007 - Lyme suspected 2009 - Positive Lyme, MS worse. Now: Copaxone shots for MS gall bladder out 7/09 Ceftin, Zith, Septra LDN Acyclovir Monolaurin, DHEA, Pregnonelon, Curcumin Posts: 243 | From New Mexico | Registered: Feb 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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If on anti-seizure meds, usually one can drive AFTER an intro period. If you did have a seizure, your doctor may recommend that you not drive for 6 months. Seriously. And there are reasons for that - your life and that of others.
Your LLMD may suggest a neuro workup with an EEG to measure brain wave spikes. That may or may not show anything - and often are inconclusive but a first line of diagnostic tools. If you see a neurologist, try to consult one your LLMD would recommend and one who is LL.
However, there are these sorts of events that may not be seizures. Read the VRP article and you will see that excess toxins can trigger seizures in anyone. Your LLMD can help you figure this out.
Good luck.
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From my file notes:
B-12 shots have helped me tremendously. A special kind is mentioned here:
ARNICA - BOIRON homeopathic - I take this right after a seizure and it reduces brain swelling and days' long migraine that can follow.
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[ 09-17-2009, 11:49 AM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Oh, sorry I don't think of everything at once. Are you ingesting even a trace of aspartame or MSG? Even a trace? check even your cough drops, toothpaste, etc.
Aspartame and MSG should be avoided totally. You can google for the many names that MSG falls under. It is often in canned tuna, but that should be avoided anyway due to high mercury (which can also cause neuro problems as mentioned in the VRP article linked above).
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And, adrenal exhaustion can also trigger a sort of seizure and vertigo symptoms as you described. What is your adrenal support?
Have you read Singleton's book: The Lyme Disease Solution" ? There is much attention there to adrenal support.
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[ 09-17-2009, 11:51 AM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Keebler - thank you for all the great advice!
Yes, I do have tons of inner ear involvement - the tinnitus is amazingly loud sometimes. I'm going to read up on the links you supplied.
I am taking NAC, but I think I'll switch over to Pure Encapsulations Liver/GI Detox. My doc likes that stuff better. Of course it costs more, but I think it'd be worth it.
I do take Magnesium Calm, but not so much anymore since my surgery, because of the loose bowel issue. I'll start again small dose and work my way up.
Also - I think there is some blood sugar issue involved here, When it happens it's usually in between meals. Since the gall bladder came out, I'm not as hungry (good thing, I need to lose weight), but I probably don't eat often enough.
Plus hormonal stuff, too, it was my period.
My LLMD suggested it could all be atypical migraines, or part of a herx, since I'd just started the second abx. Still working on the neuro.
I found a neuro in Utah who is LLMD and treats for it, I am going to go see her, since all my stuff is neurologic and it scares the crap out of me to think what is happening to my brain.
The neuro I have here (NM) doesn't understand Lyme much at all, and calls this MS (which it is, but as we all know, that label doesn't address WHY it started).
So. Thank you, thank you for your support and help during this scary time.
-------------------- dx: MS in 1998 2007 - Lyme suspected 2009 - Positive Lyme, MS worse. Now: Copaxone shots for MS gall bladder out 7/09 Ceftin, Zith, Septra LDN Acyclovir Monolaurin, DHEA, Pregnonelon, Curcumin Posts: 243 | From New Mexico | Registered: Feb 2007
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