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Panic attacks/ feeling of going mad.

Treated with high dose antibiotics for 8 months in 2008 for late stage lymes. Now seems to be struggling with severe balance issues and what seems to be panic/anxiety attacks. Labs all came back excellent again. Thyroid med got inc a smidge.  I struggle with not knowing what to do to help simmer down these aweful feelings. Ekg sinus rythem all ok too. MRI in 2008 showed no ms or lyme settled in the brain.

Appreciate any wisdom or self help to help with this crazy feeling.

Thanks,
Jena
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Avatar universal
Well said!
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Avatar universal
Balance issues show up on the symptom lists for Lyme and for the common co-infection Babesia.  I have over the past couple years  developed  issues with my balance also - I have always had excellent balance so it's disconcerting to say the least when I lose my balance walking down the hall or I have to put my hand on the bed when I'm navigating around it or I'll fall over.  This isn't vertigo; there's no dizziness with it for me.  I just lose my balance.  Since balance issues are a symptom (my LLMD was quite interested), I'm hoping my balance comes back as my treatment progresses.

These infections get into and interfere with a lot of different systems in our bodies.  It's so hard to tell what might be the little buggers' influence.  They can influence mood, state of mind, appetite and cravings, and who knows what else, in addition to all the more noticeable symptoms.  And I know for me as things change I get used to them and adjust and then they become "normal".  I didn't even mention fatigue on my first LLMD visit because 5 years of being flat out exhausted all the time had made it "normal" and I forgot what normal is actually supposed to be.

I hope you can find an LLMD and get re-evaluated and treated for your current situation.  Hang in there, and good luck!
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1763947 tn?1334055319
Balance issues could be POTS. Many lymies including myself have it. Try mentioning that to your LLMD when you go to one.
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Avatar universal
Just sent you a 'private message' on this system.  If you have any problems locating the message, post back here and we'll figure it out.  Best to you!  
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Avatar universal
Welcome back ... but so sorry to hear what you are (still) going through.

--- You were treated with "high dose antibiotics for 8 months in 2008 for late stage lymes."

Lyme has several variables, including

     -- what infections you have in addition to Lyme -- they are called 'co-infections' as a group.  These 'bonus' infections are common among those of us with Lyme -- perhaps half of us have Lyme and at least one co-infections, so I have read; and

     --  what medications you took and at what doses -- Lyme and the co-infections often (even usually) need different medications from Lyme and from each other.  

Therefore it is possible that your doctor treated for what s/he thought was right, but may have been missing a few things -- which happens with Lyme disease and its co-infections.  Lyme and the co-infections are tricky, and it takes a thoughtful and nimble MD to watch how treatment proceeds and make changes to treatment as needed.  Not all docs are that wise or experienced, and sometimes finding a new MD is helpful.

Because the symptoms overlap in each person, depending on what co-infections you have, and how your body and immune system react to Lyme and the meds, no two people have the same reactions.

Also, sometimes after treatment has begun, different symptoms may appear which indicate other infections the ticks brought that were not suspected at first.  In other words, it takes a wise and thoughtful Lyme doc to keep changing with developments and symptoms.

There is not a single 'cure' for Lyme with one set of medication used -- it's tricky for everyone -- but some docs are not up-to-date or have different views.  Lyme is a tricky bug.

You say above that you were "Treated with high dose antibiotics for 8 months in 2008 for late stage lymes."  You may have had other infections in addition to Lyme that were not killed off by the meds you were given, but I'm not medically trained, so would suggest you see a new Lyme doc for a fresh assessment.

You also say that you seem "to be struggling with severe balance issues and what seems to be panic/anxiety attacks."  Clearly something is still going on, and Lyme likes to mess with the whole endocrine (emotions) set up in the body, which could account for at least some of these symptoms you are having.

You say:  "Labs all came back excellent again."  Consider that other tests should be used, and that the tests used were perhaps not very accurate.  The older ELISA and Western blot tests look for your immune system's reaction to a Lyme infection, but the Lyme bacteria have the ability to *suppress* your immune system, so the tests can wrongly say that you do not have Lyme, when really you could have a real and miserable Lyme infection.

There is, however, a newer and more precise test made by IGeneX Labs in California.  My doc used the IGeneX PCR test, which looks in your blood for the *genetic material* of Lyme bacteria instead of relying on the dodgy immune system approach used by ELISA and Western blot tests.

You say that you are now "struggling with severe balance issues and what seems to be panic/anxiety attacks."  This often happens -- because Lyme messes with the endocrine system, meaning it messes with your emotions and stability issues.  

When you say, "Labs all came back excellent again."  Consider that they may have been the wrong tests to diagnose your particular ailment(s).  

You say, "Thyroid med got inc[reased] a smidge.  I struggle with not knowing what to do to help simmer down these aweful feelings."  

You also say, "MRI in 2008 showed no ms or lyme settled in the brain."  That was a seven long years ago, and testing has improved, and docs' understanding of Lyme has improved too.  Also note that (acc. to what I read), MRI is not particularly useful in diagnosing Lyme anyway.
----------------------------------------------------
I just searched online for    

                            ---  minnesota lyme disease doctors   ---

and got some interesting links.  Here are the first few of them (and if they get blocked out by the system here, look for a private message I will send to you with the same information).

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Minnesota Lyme Association
www.mnlyme.org/
Minnesota Lyme Association support services envisions each ​person affected ... included a full copy of ILADS newest treatment guidelines for Lyme disease.
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"How To Find A Lyme Literate Doctor (LLMD) In Your Area ...
mylymediseasetreatment.com/lyme-disease.../how-to-find-a-lyme-literate...
Sep 19, 2010 - Here is how to get a Lyme-literate physician referral in your area: 1. .... "
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Doctors in Minneapolis, MN who treat or diagnose Lyme ...
www.lifescript.com › Doctor-Directory >>
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You go!  You must be strong and determined to have kept pressing ahead in all this.  I admire that in you, and send you all good wishes to finding the right doc to help you get well again.  

Please keep us posted -- will be thinking of you.
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