posted
I've had it almost constantly for 2 years, so I totally feel your frustration.
I'm so sorry that I can't give you more insight than this, but all I can say is that not much helps aside from addressing the root of the problem.
I took artemisinin and enula for about a month or so, and it was a really hard treatment and I felt like I could barely breathe the entire time I was on it, but when I stopped the treatment my air hunger actually drastically improved for a couple of months. Unfortunatley though, it came back because I hadn't treated long enough.
I hope you find some answers, and some relief, soon!
Posts: 39 | From U.S. :) | Registered: Sep 2009
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I'm sorry you are suffering with air hunger.
Copying a previous post of mine about how I got relief from air hunger:
Air hunger for me is related to babs AND acetylcholine. I only know this because I use muscle testing and found that things that increase my acetylcholine help a great deal to alleviate the air hunger.
Later, I read the article at the link below that explains that the borrelia toxins affect acetylcholine.
I'm cutting and pasting just a fraction of the article:
http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMar2006/lyme0206.htm Dietary Supplements in Lyme Disease One of the known actions of the Lyme spirochete toxin is to diminish the release and availability of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a simple organic compound (see above for chemical structure).
This substance is biosynthesized by the body as required in nerve activation and transmission.
Supplementation by the precursors of acetylcholine synthesis would be of value to Lyme patients since they have a deficiency of this substance. (See Listing 1.)
Listing 1: Dietary Supplements Increasing Acetylcholine Synthesis Improving Neurologic Function
If the inhibition of acetylcholine release were total, Lyme patients and those suffering from food poisoning would not be able to move; they would be completely paralyzed.
Since the blockage is only partial, any increase in the amount of available neurotransmitter would benefit anyone experiencing neurotransmitter blockage. For this reason, dietary supplements increasing the amount of available acetylcholine have been shown to benefit Lyme patients.
END OF QUOTE
----------------------------------------------
I'm not sure why it causes air hunger but there is some info related to anxiety and air hunger symptoms that show a relationship to acetylcholine. I think acetylcholine does control breathing to some degree.
My air hunger started out not lasting very long but as time went on and before I figured out how to stop it, it would last for weeks at a time.
I was able to control it most of the time with supplements but it is so much better since babesia treatment.
The supplements that have helped me the most to control it are Huperzine A choline/insositol Citicoline Seriphos
I also take many of the supplements listed in the article.
I find that boosting acetylcholine also helps brain function a great deal.
Terry I'm not a doctor
--------------------
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
My air hunger stopped after treatment for babesia. It took a few weeks, but mepron and zith or clindamycin/quinine were the most effective for me.
It was very dramatic how my difficulty breathing went away after babesia treatment. I hope you can find the treatment that helps you, it is an awful symptom.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Blaze, how'd you cure yourself from this issue?
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
My air hunger was greatly improved on Biaxin or zith. It is even better now that I am taking Ceftin, Biaxin, and Levaquin.
Posts: 984 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
cpap breathing machine since i was found to have sleep apnea where i was not breathing while sleeping and restless leg syndrome.
sleep problems for 30-35 yrs. ... zero delta 4 sleep.
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posted
I read that nitric oxide from Lyme inflammation can interfere with the iron in red blood cells and thus interfere with us getting enough oxygen transport. Has anyone else heard this?
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
Malarone helped mine significantly.
-------------------- 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
I don't understand some of these responses.
Air hunger is a SIGNATURE SYMPTOM OF BABEOSIS!
Have you been diagnosed or treated for a babs infection? If you haven't then maybe that's why it hasn't gone away. Or, maybe it wasn't treated thoroughly enough.
And how are you differentiating air hunger from anxiety attacks, or lyme caused muscle spasms? Is it possible that the air hunger is one of those?
This is not really considered a lyme symptom.
James
[ 10-14-2009, 11:20 AM: Message edited by: JamesNYC ]
Posts: 872 | From New York City | Registered: Jun 2008
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quote:I read that nitric oxide from Lyme inflammation can interfere with the iron in red blood cells and thus interfere with us getting enough oxygen transport. Has anyone else heard this?
I have not heard this--ever.
Posts: 872 | From New York City | Registered: Jun 2008
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blinkie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14470
posted
treating bartonella helped mine.
Posts: 1104 | From N.California | Registered: Jan 2008
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Robin,
I have read something like this. Wish that I could remember 'where' so that I could cite it for James. It is also a theory that Nitric Oxide is the culprit in chronic fatigue and lack of oxygen. It is called the NO/ONO theroy. This is talked about extensively in a small book called:
Cellular Hypoxia and Neuro-Immune Fatigue By: David S Bell MD, FAAP. This was an excellent book available on Amazon. and addresses Cellular Hypoxia related to Chronic Lyme Disease.
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
Thanks everyone for the information. Its very helpful.
I am hoping next month to start treating coinfections. I have not been treated yet for any coinfections. However, my llmd seems to think if I have any coinfection, it might be bart.
I'm going to ask him again about babs too.
Posts: 490 | From TX- Go Cowboys! | Registered: Aug 2009
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How well accepted it this theory? It sounds like it's way out there. Another of many theories that are not validated by scientific research.
I'll look into it though.
Thanks,
James
Posts: 872 | From New York City | Registered: Jun 2008
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Jimmy,
I read the book last winter. I am about to read it again. I do know that nitric oxide dysregulation can affect the vascular and central nervous systems. There were cited references there. The author admits that it's (NO) affect on neuro immune fatigue has been piecemeal. Nevertheless, food for thought.
posted
my air hunger was mild during the day but i would completely loose my breath at night for a few seconds and i would wake up gasping for air. It stopped completly after being on zith, mepron, and planquinel for a week.
Posts: 65 | From massachussettes | Registered: Mar 2009
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posted
I used to get air hunger, especially when my symptoms first began to really show. I sometimes get concerned that I'm going to get it back, because anxiety feels alot like it.
I did seven or eight months of Mepron. I'm not sure if that is what solved it. I was also on Ceftin at the time.
I thought that in my case the air hunger was due to an infection with Babesia, although I can't be sure if that was actually the case. I had a positive FSH test, but I am not sure how accurate that test is in terms of really telling whether one has Babesia.
Posts: 152 | From West Palm Bech, FL | Registered: May 2008
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
A Pinch of salt in the mouth helped me.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
The NO! OH NOO! Theory and Suggestions For Treatment Articles - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Articles
James - I still have babs. Been in treatment for about a year all together AND on maintenance treatment for several years when not on full on treatment. That is low dose malarone.
I'm just relaying my experience and what I *think* the mechanism is FOR ME. I know of another person who tried my suggestion of using something to increase acetylcholine and her air hunger got a lot better too. She mentions it in a few posts here at lymenet. Don't know if it would work for others and I also don't know for sure why it works. I'm just grateful that it does. Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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lymetwister
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19590
posted
Try some childrens liquid Benadryl 25mg at first sign, this works well for me !!
Gary
Posts: 1227 | From District of Columbia | Registered: Mar 2009
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Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
Dear Friends,
Good advice here!!!
My husband's air hunger was helped with systemic enzymes. These open up the blood vessels.
He's tried nattokinase, Neprinol, and now takes Vitalzym, as it is the most cost-effective and contains many different enzymes.
Best,
Cass A
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