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Ever wonder what is from lyme and what is not?

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Posted 4/3/2011 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
While I know I have neurological lyme, I often wonder what pyschological symptoms are from lyme and what are from, well, just getting older.  I suffer terribly from anxiety which was one of my first symptoms and have suffered from lyme rage, mood changes, paranoia, etc.  However, I was always shy, a worrywart, type A personality, always striving to do better and a workaholic.  So while I am feeling better in ALOT of ways (and thankful for that), I continue to have a hard time with moods and struggle with doubting where I fit in.  I guess I just wonder what is from lyme and what is a lasting result of now having just one more thing, that may possibly never leave, to make a lasting effect on my life.  Of course all this stems from going out last night and struggling with socializing.  Guess its part of the disease but how do we know for sure? 
Posted 4/3/2011 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
Springsjean you have hit the nail on the head for me, from being a social - party animal I can no longer tolerate being in crowds, or talking to people (anybody) for that matter. I have neurolyme, which after 2 years of treatment I feel I'm close to finishing the ABX and being Lyme clear, and I do feel it has changed me as a person. I have no confidence anymore and am happy to be sat in house, I'm sad that you feel exactly like I do but happy that it's not just me.

Be good.
Posted 4/3/2011 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I think when a person is sick they forget who they are and perhaps what they were all about prior to getting sick. 

I know I was always stubborn (my family always teased me about that), I was never moody, rarely depressed, and pretty much a loner.   I used to be a perfectionist and a workaholic but I learned how to slow down in those areas when I became better.

When I was sick I let myself get depressed, hey, how can a person not?  It's a depressing disease as well as frustrating especially when one is looking for answers that work..  I know I was sooooooo frustrated not only with myself but with the many doctors I saw, my family who did not accept lyme, and the list goes on. 

So how much is lyme-related?  For me the depression/frustration, moodiness, lyme rages, was most definitely lyme related but disappeared when I became better (today I do get moods from menopause yet I know the difference).   I still have to remind myself not to be the perfectionist and that I am human..

Socializing for me was VERY difficult when I became better because I was totally alone for so many years except for my very best friends.   I was scared, nervous, but I did it anyway, dating, etc.  Strange, I was actually scared of getting better if that makes any sense..  

What advice do I have?  Write down what you were all about before getting sick as well as your favorite hobbies and try to remind yourself who you were and start doing some of those hobbies if you can.   Please don't let lyme or any other illness define what you are truly all about.. 

Hope this helps,

Denise

Posted 4/4/2011 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
I too had terrible anxiety as my first symptom of lyme. A week prior to my first panic attack, I was traveling Europe for 10 days at the age of 20 with no fear or anxiety at all in my life. Then boom, as soon as I returned I was having anxiety and panic and didn't know why or what it was at the time. Well, 3 years later and many symptoms later I was finally diagnosed with late stage neuro lyme and I was a total mess. As crazy as any lymie could be. I was on abx for 2 1/2 years before I was well and healthy again. But, the anxiety still remained. I was afraid to drive (since I hadn't in about 3 years). I couldn't go into stores, or be in crowded places or let alone think of traveling or going on a plane, etc...

I started therapy (no meds) and after 6 months I was fine. My anxiety was pretty much gone and I was out driving again, went back to work and eventually got on a plane and traveled across the country (I used to be afraid to leave my house).

But having an illness like lyme can change you for sure, but it doesn't mean it can't change you for the better too. You can get to a really good place. I knew I would never the be same as I was pre-lyme and it took a while to let that idea go. But you soon realize you can never go back. You just find a new normal. And it can be really good too. The best things in my life have happened after I had lyme and had I never had it I wouldn't have ended up where I am.

When you do stop meds and feel well you may still have some lingering issues as a result of having lyme, but it doesn't mean you can't get better from that too. Therapy worked for me. I had never gone before but I figured it was worth a try. I had nothing to lose and it took a few different therapists to find the one that worked for me. I also had to do a lot of work on my own by starting out doing things again and in small ways. My first walk into a store...before I ran out. Little at a time, I eventually got back to a "normal" place where I could do everything I did before again.

You have the ability to do it.
Posted 4/4/2011 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all so much. Had a great day after a rough start. Ended the day feeling empowered and enthusiatic. Was down and out fearing my husband too may have lyme as he suffers from terrible sudden anxiety which has come on just in the past year. He was always the easygoing type. I so fear he has lyme but keep telling myself we all get older and hoping that's all it is. So going to keep playing the lottery as he is my best friend and would love to give him the gift of early retirement. LOL.
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