posted
Anyone else suffer with this? I was always and anxious, type a personality before Lyme. Anxiety issues run in my family. But since I've been treating Lyme and Co, I've noticed my anxiety is through the roof.
But it's more than just anxiety - I feel like my whole CNS is on overload. I feel jittery inside, my hands shake (mildly, but noticable to me), sometimes I get lightheaded and the worry and what if's just won't stop.
I worry and assume the worst - these health issues that I've had because of TBI's don't help. Minor symptoms that my husband who is also positive for Lyme, Bart and Bab's can just let go, I worry over and fret about.
I have been taking Ativan or Klonopin as needed, but I feel like I would benefit from something that is more long term. A while back I had a really bad two weeks and was taking one in the am and one in the pm (my dosage is .5 mg)and noticed that by the end of the second week it didn't seem to have the same kick. So I stopped taking them altogether for several weeks.
Lately I've been having some bad days again and have taken an Ativan here and there but I worry (see the theme!) about becoming tolerant and needing more to sustain the calming effect. So I'm looking for some other answers to this problem!
Wondering if anyone else has treated GAD with something other than benzos. I have tried and SSRI in the past when I had anxiety and depression right around the time I first got sick but they really did a number on me and I won't go that route again - ever! So please give me some feedback on what worked for you.
I have treated Babs and Bart - the anxiety did get some better after Bart treatment and hasn't gotten any worse since I stopped the Rifampin. I am currently hitting Lyme with Ceftin, Probenecid and Biaxin.
So hard to tell - the chicken and the egg - you know? Did the lyme come first or the anxiety? Will it go away once I get into remission? Or is this just a side issue and will always be there and is just being made worse by the TBI's?
Love to hear your feedback and stories - helps to not only make me feel better knowing I'm not alone but also to sort through info and make a decision on how to proceed.
Posts: 239 | From Virginia | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
I had terrible anxiety-much of it physical-with a lyme relapse. I had never suffered with this before, so I don't really know if I have GAD. Fortunately that went away with 1 month of Doxycycline and Paxil. I went off the paxil but am still on antibiotics.
Regarding benzos-I took klonopin for muscle spasms for a long time. I noticed little ill effects while on it. However, tolerance develops rapidly...and getting off can be really hard. Use benzos with caution and sparingly.
good luck!
Posts: 172 | From ohio | Registered: Feb 2010
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mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
My anxiety came first but the Lyme/Bart made it oh so much worse.
I take Paxil (started on it before I got sick and temporarily upped the dose when my anxiety got bad early in treatment). Paxil works great for both my anxiety and depression.
I also use Benzo's - Ativan at night to sleep and on occassion Xanax.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Just like you, I've always been a worrier and anxiety issues run in my family. But, I remember, almost to the hour, that my anxiety disorder started. I explored it as just that for years. Have you ever tried xanax? That really helped me. All these years later, now that I'm treating Lyme, I'm seeing real progress. I'm still in the early stages of treatment and understand I'm not out of the woods in that regard, but now really see the anxiety as caused by the lyme. I still have my old worry traits, but it's nothing like the anxiety disorder.
As an aside, a friend who has PTSD from Iraq uses valium for anxiety and finds that helpful.
Good luck.
Posts: 252 | From New York | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
My anxiety continues to improve with Bart treatment. No more panic attacks!
I say treat the disease not the symptoms. If you need a benzo every once in a while take one, but not regularly if you can avoid it.
If you still have anxiety it may be good to treat Bart some more and take some supplements to rebuild adrenals. NO CAFFEINE!
Posts: 770 | From USA | Registered: Jul 2006
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