Psycho-Babble Health Thread 877140

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Lyme disease and psychological problems

Posted by Maria3667 on January 29, 2009, at 22:09:35

Hi everyone,

Would anyone know if Lyme Disease might lead to psychological/psychiatric problems?

About 11 years ago I got bitten by an infectious tick. It lead to a big red blotch on my leg so my Dr. gave me antibiotics. However, soon after my eyes turned extremely dry (very painful), I couldn't stand contact lenses anymore, I developped extremely dry mouth with loads of canker sores and ulcers and also got severe pain in my knees and lower back. I got tested again for Lyme's, but it turned out negative. Still I wasn't feeling well.

Besides my usual depression, now I also started to develop an anxiety syndrome and severe insomnia. This got so bad I had to be treated with strong sedatives... Four years later I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome (auto-immune disease) and hypothyroidism (not auto-immune)... Coïncidence or just bad luck? I really don't know.

But I do wonder if anyone else has suffered (more) psychological troubles after contracting Lyme Disease...

All input is welcome!

Best wishes,
Maria

 

Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » Maria3667

Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2009, at 22:09:35

In reply to Lyme disease and psychological problems, posted by Maria3667 on January 29, 2009, at 10:24:30

Well you know I'll chime in. As I never knew when the deer tic bit me as was from CT. But then live in VA Beach and a tic bit me in the center of my back the MD that did the physicals on the patients said there was a small red area around the bite. I couldn't see it so he gave me doxycycline for l0 days. Thngs were fine moved to NC and had three big dog tics in hair line not the lyme tic so that was fine. Then about a year later since I'd had a small deer tic on inner arm the pdoc who was an osteopath tested me by Western Blot and it was positive. He never followed up on retesting so was retesting by infection control specialist positive so more l0 days of doxy. Called back as didn't feel right and had had like flu symptoms and autoimmune thyroid discovered at same time. Another year went by and anxiety increased and was hospitalized for med change psych as then they the pdoc consulted infection control specialist who called in a rhematologist who thought I could have what he referred to as a miss mash of autoimmune diseases he mentioned sjornes and even lupus. Mri of head, spinal fluid taps all okay. Western blot came back positive again and the bands in the test were all positive so Iv Rocephin for only 5 days as the pic line and the nurses on that unit didn't know how to admister correctly. So with an ANA of 1:2800 and something with normal being under 1:20 now this was extremely high. Antibiotics for two years biaxin xl given three months at a time and then wait give again. moved here tested again still positive and rheumatologist said I'd had enough antibiotics. So do I feel they could be connected yes I do. Problem is the CDC will not support long term antibiotics for lymes. I also have fear and anxiety as a result my opinion only. I'd google LLMD's as they deal with lymes. Considered by bad names here. Well that's my story. Hope others chime in. Phillipa ps from what I gather there are false negatives but not false positives. Which test did you have Elisa not accurate the Western blot is?

 

Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » Phillipa

Posted by Maria3667 on January 29, 2009, at 22:09:35

In reply to Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » Maria3667, posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2009, at 12:18:27

Hi Phillipa,

I haven't got the foggiest what test it was. Once was done by my GP, the second time at the hospital also by blood test.

Why, is there a specific standard?

Love,
Maria

 

Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » Maria3667

Posted by bleauberry on January 29, 2009, at 22:09:36

In reply to Lyme disease and psychological problems, posted by Maria3667 on January 29, 2009, at 10:24:30

Wow, your story is textbook perfect. I aint no doc, but you have Lyme.

There is a brochure from The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) titled "Psychiatric Lyme Disease, What Psychiatrists Should Know About Lyme/Tick-borne Diseases". I haven't tried hunting for it online but I bet it is there. Their email is lymedocs@aol.com, maybe they could send you some educational information.

If you were not treated for at least a month on minimum 200mg Doxycycline, you are most likely infected. Most doctors only treat for 2 weeks. The Lyme lifecycle is 4 weeks. Even after a full course of 4 weeks treatment, people still can fall ill later. The Lyme bacterias are very cunning and deceptive.

The retest probably showed up negative for three reasons. First, it often does because most tests look at Lyme antibodies, which are often not found because the Lyme is protected within your own cells and within its own cysts where the immune system can't see them. Second, the only reliable test is the Western Blot, but unless it is done by one of only two labs who look at the entire spectrum of Lyme (most test kits do not) the crucial hints of Lyme could be missed. This stuff is all in the brochure and kind of complicated to explain here. Third, even with the best testing, tests can show up negative because as I said Lyme is very cunning and deceptive.

The two labs are IGenex in California and Stoney Brook in New York. They specialize in blood samples for Lyme.

There are three stages to test for Lyme. First is the Western Blot. Second is a clinical diagnosis of symptoms by a doctor who specializes in Lyme. Third is a challenge test with antibiotics. If your symptoms become remarkably worse when starting antibiotics, that is diagnosic.

Prognosis is good. Most people who do longterm antibiotic therapy by a doctor who knows Lyme regain full health, both physically and psychiatrically. Some people need a maintenance dose of antibiotic for life. Though that doesn't sound appealing, it is a whole lot better than maintenances doses of psych drugs for life. Especially when the recovery is genuine and not artificially fabricated.

The answer to your question is yes, Lyme does cause serious psychological, psychiatric, and physical symptoms. Psychiatric symptoms actually are at the top of the list. Practically everyone who has Lyme has depression, anxiety, or both, and often bits and pieces of just about any other psych disorder you can think of, as well as paradoxical reactions or oversensitive reactions to psych meds that would usually be expected to be helpful and tolerable. Everyone's symtom cluster is different depending on where the bacteria have settled in your body.

When Lyme disease affects the brain, it is often referred to as Lyme neuroborreliosis or Lyme encephalopathy and can mimic virtually any type of psychiatric disorder. Symptoms may be dormant and emerge years later.

100% of the symptoms you described fit the clinical picture of Lyme.

Best bet would be to go online and do a search "find LLMD" or "LLMD referall". You'll find places to request names of LLMDs in your area. LLMD = Lyme Literate MD.

You have my blessings to start feeling a little better starting right now. That's because everything you are feeling is not a mystery and prognosis is good. The outlook is bright. You just need an LLMD or someone who has had success in treating chronic late stage Lyme.

At the very least, try to get it ruled out. Something else might come up in the examination process and it won't Lyme. Based on the info you gave though, it looks quite classic.


> Hi everyone,
>
> Would anyone know if Lyme Disease might lead to psychological/psychiatric problems?
>
> About 11 years ago I got bitten by an infectious tick. It lead to a big red blotch on my leg so my Dr. gave me antibiotics. However, soon after my eyes turned extremely dry (very painful), I couldn't stand contact lenses anymore, I developped extremely dry mouth with loads of canker sores and ulcers and also got severe pain in my knees and lower back. I got tested again for Lyme's, but it turned out negative. Still I wasn't feeling well.
>
> Besides my usual depression, now I also started to develop an anxiety syndrome and severe insomnia. This got so bad I had to be treated with strong sedatives... Four years later I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome (auto-immune disease) and hypothyroidism (not auto-immune)... Coïncidence or just bad luck? I really don't know.
>
> But I do wonder if anyone else has suffered (more) psychological troubles after contracting Lyme Disease...
>
> All input is welcome!
>
> Best wishes,
> Maria

 

Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » bleauberry

Posted by Maria3667 on January 29, 2009, at 22:09:36

In reply to Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » Maria3667, posted by bleauberry on January 29, 2009, at 17:19:50

Dear BB,

Oh no! Now I'm going to die??

I don't think we have such specialized research centres here... I live in Europe.

My rheumatologist was convinced I have Sjogren's... the symptoms might resemble Lyme's???

Maria


> Wow, your story is textbook perfect. I aint no doc, but you have Lyme.
>
> There is a brochure from The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) titled "Psychiatric Lyme Disease, What Psychiatrists Should Know About Lyme/Tick-borne Diseases". I haven't tried hunting for it online but I bet it is there. Their email is lymedocs@aol.com, maybe they could send you some educational information.
>
> If you were not treated for at least a month on minimum 200mg Doxycycline, you are most likely infected. Most doctors only treat for 2 weeks. The Lyme lifecycle is 4 weeks. Even after a full course of 4 weeks treatment, people still can fall ill later. The Lyme bacterias are very cunning and deceptive.
>
> The retest probably showed up negative for three reasons. First, it often does because most tests look at Lyme antibodies, which are often not found because the Lyme is protected within your own cells and within its own cysts where the immune system can't see them. Second, the only reliable test is the Western Blot, but unless it is done by one of only two labs who look at the entire spectrum of Lyme (most test kits do not) the crucial hints of Lyme could be missed. This stuff is all in the brochure and kind of complicated to explain here. Third, even with the best testing, tests can show up negative because as I said Lyme is very cunning and deceptive.
>
> The two labs are IGenex in California and Stoney Brook in New York. They specialize in blood samples for Lyme.
>
> There are three stages to test for Lyme. First is the Western Blot. Second is a clinical diagnosis of symptoms by a doctor who specializes in Lyme. Third is a challenge test with antibiotics. If your symptoms become remarkably worse when starting antibiotics, that is diagnosic.
>
> Prognosis is good. Most people who do longterm antibiotic therapy by a doctor who knows Lyme regain full health, both physically and psychiatrically. Some people need a maintenance dose of antibiotic for life. Though that doesn't sound appealing, it is a whole lot better than maintenances doses of psych drugs for life. Especially when the recovery is genuine and not artificially fabricated.
>
> The answer to your question is yes, Lyme does cause serious psychological, psychiatric, and physical symptoms. Psychiatric symptoms actually are at the top of the list. Practically everyone who has Lyme has depression, anxiety, or both, and often bits and pieces of just about any other psych disorder you can think of, as well as paradoxical reactions or oversensitive reactions to psych meds that would usually be expected to be helpful and tolerable. Everyone's symtom cluster is different depending on where the bacteria have settled in your body.
>
> When Lyme disease affects the brain, it is often referred to as Lyme neuroborreliosis or Lyme encephalopathy and can mimic virtually any type of psychiatric disorder. Symptoms may be dormant and emerge years later.
>
> 100% of the symptoms you described fit the clinical picture of Lyme.
>
> Best bet would be to go online and do a search "find LLMD" or "LLMD referall". You'll find places to request names of LLMDs in your area. LLMD = Lyme Literate MD.
>
> You have my blessings to start feeling a little better starting right now. That's because everything you are feeling is not a mystery and prognosis is good. The outlook is bright. You just need an LLMD or someone who has had success in treating chronic late stage Lyme.
>
> At the very least, try to get it ruled out. Something else might come up in the examination process and it won't Lyme. Based on the info you gave though, it looks quite classic.
>
>
>
>
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> > Would anyone know if Lyme Disease might lead to psychological/psychiatric problems?
> >
> > About 11 years ago I got bitten by an infectious tick. It lead to a big red blotch on my leg so my Dr. gave me antibiotics. However, soon after my eyes turned extremely dry (very painful), I couldn't stand contact lenses anymore, I developped extremely dry mouth with loads of canker sores and ulcers and also got severe pain in my knees and lower back. I got tested again for Lyme's, but it turned out negative. Still I wasn't feeling well.
> >
> > Besides my usual depression, now I also started to develop an anxiety syndrome and severe insomnia. This got so bad I had to be treated with strong sedatives... Four years later I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome (auto-immune disease) and hypothyroidism (not auto-immune)... Coïncidence or just bad luck? I really don't know.
> >
> > But I do wonder if anyone else has suffered (more) psychological troubles after contracting Lyme Disease...
> >
> > All input is welcome!
> >
> > Best wishes,
> > Maria
>
>

 

Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » Phillipa

Posted by garnet71 on January 29, 2009, at 22:09:36

In reply to Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » Maria3667, posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2009, at 12:18:27

Phillipa,

What is it with the CDC and Lyme controversy? I've read about this from various websites; it smells of conspiracy theory, I hate to admit.

Of course I dont' trust the government, you know, the same that purposly gave syphillis to a certain group of U.S. soldiers...

Could this be an epidemic they don't want to cause panic? Could it be the medical industrial complex? How many govt. leaders have stock or serve on boards of Merck, Lilly, etc, before or after their tenure with the CDC or other govt. agency?

Even Obama hires an ex military contractor LOBBYIST to co-run our defense dept...

 

Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » garnet71

Posted by garnet71 on January 29, 2009, at 22:09:36

In reply to Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » Phillipa, posted by garnet71 on January 29, 2009, at 20:26:08

oh and i forget to mention the same entity who regularly slipped LSD into CIA workers' drinks....another proven fact admitted by our dear government.

 

Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » garnet71

Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2009, at 22:09:37

In reply to Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » Phillipa, posted by garnet71 on January 29, 2009, at 20:26:08

CDC advises docs that antibiotic theraphy is not needed for post lyme syndrome. I feel they feel too expensive. Phillipa

 

Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » Maria3667

Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2009, at 22:09:37

In reply to Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » bleauberry, posted by Maria3667 on January 29, 2009, at 17:46:47

Maria no you won't dies sjornes is not fatal it's autoimmune. And doesn't mean you do have lymes. Love Phillipa let me check files and send on what I can find may have saved.

 

Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems

Posted by garnet71 on January 29, 2009, at 22:09:37

In reply to Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » garnet71, posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2009, at 20:44:45

> CDC advises docs that antibiotic theraphy is not needed for post lyme syndrome. I feel they feel too expensive. Phillipa

---------------

Okay, this is intuitive only - I've given this some thought and I think what's behind it is the CDC worried about overuse of antibiotics - so they feel it is ok to sacrifice the Lyme suffers rather than overuse antibiotics that may lead to more bacterial tolerances and consequences on society.

Government action is usually based on moral consequentialism - not virtue. You can derive this conclusion from analyzing history from a philosophical perspective.

 

Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » garnet71

Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2009, at 22:09:37

In reply to Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems, posted by garnet71 on January 29, 2009, at 20:52:45

I feel it would be the patient on the antibiotics that would become resistant to other bugs ie MRSA etc. I just read the insurance companies will not pay for prolonged antibiotics for something they really don't want to believe in. It is real. People have died from it like the moderator of the lymes board a few years ago name of Rose. I received the newsletter daily and no one else would take it over too much work. Phillipa ps I don't think saved any will look after done on ebay posting.

 

To Blueaberry. LLMD here. Recent Report

Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2009, at 22:20:17

Well looks like the one I knew of is gone. Following article. Phillipa

http://www.medscape.com/infosite/abilify/article-2?src=0_nl_sm_0

 

Re: To Blueaberry. LLMD here. Recent Report » Phillipa

Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2009, at 22:20:17

In reply to To Blueaberry. LLMD here. Recent Report, posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2009, at 13:54:15

Sorry browser has last search cancel above for now Phillipa

 

Please Ignore Above thread Browser had old study.

Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2009, at 22:20:17

Sorry browser had old study. Got to figure this out. Phillipa

 

Corrected Link To Blueaberry

Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2009, at 22:20:18

Sorry about that hope this is correct or I've over posted apologies. Phillipa

http://sci.tech-archive.net/Archive/sci.med.diseases.lyme/2006-11/msg00029.html

 

Re: Lyme disease and psychological problems » Maria3667

Posted by Phillipa on January 30, 2009, at 0:10:58

In reply to Lyme disease and psychological problems, posted by Maria3667 on January 29, 2009, at 22:09:35

Maria I do think it's possible but a positive test is needed. Love Phillipa


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