I'm so sorry you are suffering. I have to ask, did this start AFTER the Flagyl or before?
Just so you know Flagyl has this effect on me, it's very severe. I have felt the same way this weekend while not even taking Flagyl but the Flagyl sets me over the edge.
I also know that sometimes antidepressants can do this as well so it could be a combo of things.
I really hope you feel better and find some peace of mind.
-------------------- Never, Never, Never give up! Posts: 395 | From Connecticut | Registered: Nov 2008
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I did terrible on Paxil, absolutely terrible. It was so sedating that it depressed the nervous system to a point I wanted to kill myself.
I did terrible on every drug in that category - and I tired them all in the mid-90's. Never again. Ever. They thing is that they are all very hard on the liver and can create more toxicity, and that increases anxiety as the brain can't deal with all the added chemicals of the psycho-active drugs.
Magnesium and fish oil worked better for me than any of them. Both will help decrease anxiety. CURCUMIN, too, really helps.
You can even try Turmeric right from your spice jar until you can get some curcumin
B-12, B-6 and B-5, too. P5P, a precursor to B-5 is best.
Gotu Kola has also been a Godsend to help balance out the nervous system.
Anxiety can also be from the adrenal stress that comes with lyme and co. Adrenal support was also very helpful in decreasing anxiety. Ashwagandha and Siberian Ginseng is wonderful support.
But regular cat's claw (not Samento, it will not work for this purpose) helped the most to calm the nerve fibers down, within minutes.
Can you get a nice professional massage? That is very calming to the nervous system and helps the body move out toxins that contribute to anxiety.
Acupuncture, too, can really help balance things out.
There are solutions . . . in the meantime . . . take care. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Kit,
I remember some of those hyper times and sometimes the only thing that helped was aggressive rest, closing curtains, covering eyes, no sound or just very soft music.
Breathing slowly and breathing in rhythm . . . it's all hard but that forced isolation seemed to help my nervous system calm down more than any activity to try to forget it. Adrenal support also was essential.
I sure hope you feel better soon. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
When I first started treatment, I was on biaxin and plaquenil for a few months. I had such a severe herxheimer reaction that I was hospitalized. One of the symptoms that stood out the most for me was the extreme anxiety and gloom/doom while on plaquenil. I have never in my life experienced either of these issues and it was HORRIFIC for me.
When I came off of the plaquenil, the anxiety and crying subsided. Granted I still had a lot of other physical symptoms and treatment but at least the mental health was better. So, I'm not sure whether it was directly a product of being on plaquenil or a herxheimer but either way, I couldn't take it!
Just try to be patient while you try to figure things out and know that you will. Keep in mind it can take time for some of these drugs to flush out of you body so you might not experience immediate relief.
Posts: 561 | From mass | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Kit,
If you are considering Paxil I would like to tell you that:
A. It was the only SSRI that touched my anxiety. I was so anxious that I found it difficult to sit still and lost 20 pounds in about 2 weeks becasue my body never 'shut off'.
When the paxil kicked in, it was like a miracle.
That said, it IS a very difficult drug to come off of. The first time on, I tried weaning and experienced a lot of side affects.
The second time, my doc switched me to Prozac for two weeks and because of its longer half life (prozac) it was very easy to stop the meds. No withdral whatsoever.
I have episodic anxiety now, nothing like the gut wrenching anxiety in the past....that is almost unbearable.
Wishing you the best and hoping that you are able to get this under control!
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
| IP: Logged |
steve1906
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16206
posted
Hope you feel better SOON
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
| IP: Logged |
I am right there with you. I am having terrible, terrible anxiety right now and I am trying desperately to figure out why - herx, hormones, anti-depressants. It is terrible. I can't help you except to say that I am right now down there in the trenches with you. PM is you need to release.
As my lyme friends always tell me, remember it is the disease. It is not you.
Hugs, Kathy
-------------------- Severe neurological problems. Probably sick for years. Became chronically sick in Aug 2007. Undiagnosed for another 15 months. Started treatment for lyme and bart Sept. 2008. Improving, but very slowly. Posts: 515 | From washington dc | Registered: Aug 2008
| IP: Logged |
nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
Sure hope you feel better soon. I have had similar anxiety and depression when starting drugs. It is so hard to get through. Maybe back down a little bit on the abx until you feel better.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
I am going through the same anxiety, shortness of breath all the time crap too. I feel spaced out, like I work in slow motion suddenly for hours. I am taking biaxin and Tindamax currently. Make sure you are evacuating your bowels at least once a day, toxins will build up in the intestine and be reabsorbed, prune juice, syllium power, all that, keep the gut moving to eliminate toxins.....take care and I hope you feel better...take ATIVAN when needed, just GET some.....Richie
Posts: 208 | From Hudson Valley, New York | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
I ended up waking my husband up at 3 this morning. I kept having nightmares that I was killing myself..they seemed so real.
I was shaking uncontrollably and could not stop crying and pacing/trembling.
Neither I or my hubby knew what to do with me.
I used to see a psych doctor back in 2005...called at 8 to see if I could get in but they had nothing until March. I don't want to go there now anyway because what kind of office tells a suicidal patient that they have to wait until March?
We called our PCP and hubby explained what was going on. He is not on board really with the whole lyme dx but was very helpful today.
He..not his nurse talked to my husband. He said to give him 15 mins. and he would find me someplace to go.
Within 10 mins. he called back and had an appt. scheduled for the next hour with crisis intervention.
Hubby drove me down and because of the condition I was in they wanted to admit to the psych unit.
We had a long talk with the psychiatrist and he agreed as long as I wasn't left home alone I wouldn't have to goto hospital.
He said for me to continue the switch to Paxil but told me I HAVE to take 0.5mg of Xanax 3 times a day until this gets under control. He said even if it's the lyme causing it the xanax will at least help calm me a bit.
I have a call into my LLMD to keep them up to par and see if they think my current treatment might have caused this.
This happened to me once before when I took Tetracycline.
Sorry so long. Just wanted to update every who helped so much.
Gonna go lay down for a bit.
With love...kit
Posts: 655 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Jul 2006
| IP: Logged |
As for rest..not getting much. I am physically exhausted but my sleep isn't peaceful. I have this constant headache and neck pain which is making me so miserable.
When I do sleep it is for several hours a night and then I wake up at 3 sometimes later with either an extreme headache or extreme panic.
I took ambien for sleep last night but still got up at 3.
I have had this before but never this bad. I think if the head and neck pain would let up a bit I would do better.
This forum is a godsend to me. I have a very supportive husband but having others who have been through similiar things really helps.
I truly think I am crazy. I don't know how I am going to dig myself out of this.
posted
Forgot to add that I spoke to LLMD yesterday. He wants me to stop all meds for a few days and then start again even slower after I feel better mentally.
Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Sounds like a good plan. Hope it helps.
-------------------- 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
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hope you are well today Kit. Yay for: Your husband. Yay for: Your dr. And yay for: Xanax!! It will take the edge off, I promise.
I used it to help me quit smoking almost five years ago, and I felt psychotic. Keep it at a steady level in your system. God bless you.
Posts: 374 | From United States | Registered: Nov 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
When I cry I tell myself it's not all bad, at least i'm detoxing to some extent.
Posts: 499 | From Indiana | Registered: Oct 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
It's so great to hear all the support you are giving Kit. I know so well these feelings and in fact am in a mess myself right now.
My LLMD did warn me about Flagyl. He said he hesitated giving it to me because it was tough to handle. That's why the Bicillin shots instead.
I take Resperidone for anxiety and it seems to help. I probably need to increase it, though.
The constant pain, confusion and exhaustion are hard to endure day after day, year after year. I've been at it over 20 years and hope and pray that we are at a turning point.
My new LLMD said we'll go slowly and that sounds like good advice.
Having this support group makes such a wonderful difference in my life. Thanks to all of you!
-------------------- DOCTOR: "I don't think you are sick." PATIENT: "We are all entitled to our opinions. I don't think you are a doctor." Posts: 697 | From Northern California | Registered: Jul 2009
| IP: Logged |
Siciliano
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15920
posted
Hi, Kit, I sent you a PM. I so related to you--I have experienced the EXACT same thing as you and I had to send you a PM and tell you that you are NOT alone.
I cried every single day for over 3 years!!! I mean every day, 24/7. It was so hard, it was hell on earth.
I am so thankful for this board, I just don't know what I would do if I did not have this site to come to every day. All of us have to stay together we have to lean on each other, we have to be there for each other--this is so hard to deal with at times.
I swear there have been times when I honestly thought I was going to "lose my mind", it makes you feel like your crazy inside. This is such a long, hard road.
Farraday, it is so wonderful to see that you are still with us. I remember the very first time you came to us and you were looking for a llmd in California and I gave you my list of names. You are such a nice lady and you were so sweet to me.
I now have a pretty long list of llmd's in California and tomorrow (wait, that's Christmas) or the next day I am going to send you this list because I don't think this is the one I gave you and I want you to have it so I will PM you and send it.
Farraday, I hope your new llmd will take things slower for you and you know we are here for you. Thank God for this site. We have to be there for each other.
You both can PM me anytime for anything, I will help you whenever you need me, you can count on me.
-------------------- I'm sorry but I am no longer accepting any private messages due to my own battle with lyme. Posts: 3897 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
Hang in there, and take it a minute at a time. I was there. It is awful and even past hell (and I do not swear). When I started my most intense Lyme treatment, the torture lasted about 2 months. You can do it. Maybe it will get better next month, who knows? I thought mine would never-ever go away
Exercise. Eat right. Sit in a sauna. Do coffee enemas. Lie down to rest (even if you can't sleep)
Pretend you are normal, until you can't anymore.
I did the Miss Wyoming Pageant and got 2nd runner up while I was in the middle of everything. It distracted me, since performance anxiety was nothing compared to Lyme anxiety. The scholarship money was fantastic, and so was forgetting my problems for a bit, too! I still can't believe I was able to do it in the midst of everything, but I am so glad I did.
Let me know if there's anything I can do!
Posts: 204 | From Wyoming | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Siciliano, I am so grateful for your early support when I had just gotten dxd. I was in shock because for so many years I was told that I was bedridden because of CFS.
Getting through the meds is tough. You don't know if you are herxing or just getting worse. I will see my new LLMD tomorrow to find out if he will continue the Bicillin injections or get more drastic.
I am so weak and trembly. I grind my teeth until they literally break off and my jaw feels broken. My legs hurt, I'm dizzy and exhausted.
I spent most of Christmas lying on my granddaughter's bed. It was wonderful to be with her. I helped her set up her new laptop from her dad. The grandkids called me to beg me to come....how could I refuse?
My five year old grandson said grace for the whole family. He listed all the things he was grateful for and I was included. There was not a dry eye in the room. He was amazing!
So happy New Year to all of you! There is a silver lining out there somewhere. You just have to be diligent and keep looking for it!
-------------------- DOCTOR: "I don't think you are sick." PATIENT: "We are all entitled to our opinions. I don't think you are a doctor." Posts: 697 | From Northern California | Registered: Jul 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
I understand exactly how you are feeling. I, too, experienced that at the beginning of my treatment. Pls. don't hesitate to tell your doc if the xanex is not working. I couldn't turn off my motor off, couldn't sleep, and had excrutiating pain in left shoulder, neck and into head. The thing that helped me finally with that pain was (2) 600 mg of neurontin 3x/day. 2x/day helped but it was only the 3x/day that finally gave me relief. Even the pain meds didn't provide that kind of help. I sure hope you feel better soon.
Posts: 153 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[kiss]](graemlins/kissing.gif)
![[bow]](graemlins/bow.gif)
![[woohoo]](graemlins/woohoo.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic