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having a bad anxiety day...could it be a herx?

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Posted 2/16/2013 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
I can't wait until this symptom goes away! I was fine last night and decided to do a detox foot bath with sea salt and a little food grade peroxide. I think it has revved up my anxiety. I can't even nap because everything is racing. Is this a Herx ? Did I overdo it.

I'm in heavy prayer that it passes. Any suggestions would be helpful. I might take some Magnesium soon.

Feeling sad...I don't want Lyme!
Posted 2/16/2013 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
I get this all the time. Sometimes it gets overwhelmingly severe. I try magnesium first. Then I do a shot of methylcobalamin B12. That usually helps significantly. In fact, I would have had to go completely off all treatment due to horrible anxiety herxing if I hadn't started B12 shots. They help depression significantly as well for me.

If I still have anxiety and I need to go to sleep, I take ashwagandha (an herb that helps your body deal with stress), Valerian root, or benadryl 50mg.
Posted 2/16/2013 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Summer. I will try magnesium. As you know it hits you like a ton of bricks. Been like this since 8am. It calmed down late morning and revved back up. Days like this I cry remembering what normal was like and why it was stripped from me. I will get a B12 on Monday. Calling my doctor. For now I'm staying away from the food grade peroxide until the anxiety symptom goes away.
Posted 2/16/2013 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
It gets so severe for me. I have literally nearly run myself to death to try to calm down. One day I ran almost 10 miles despite feeling absolutely terrible physically. I find that anxiety and depression are MUCH harder to deal with than physical symptoms for me. I never had any of these symptoms before Lyme. It's definitely aggravating.

The B12 will probably help. Dr. B. suggests 25mg per day but that's a HUGE dose. Most people find that 1mg-3mg daily can help them.
Posted 2/16/2013 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
I took 2 B12 tablets already this morning. I'm with you, I always felt sympathy for people that have anxiety and never knew it would be me. I feel awful, I want to take my son for a walk, make lunch without feeling crazy. I'm laying down and my neighbor told me to call her when I'm up. I truly hate this. Praying for all of us to be healed from this wicked disease.
Posted 2/16/2013 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
I feel for you writer. I had panic attacks after all 3 of my children and then many other times plus general anxiety thrown in for good measure so I know this beast well and I think I would rather suffer with anything rather than that. When I first started tx, I was doing epsom baths and it left me with severe crying jags and the herxing which I have been doing a lot of lately gives me some depression. This disease sucks big time. Do you have any anxiety medication. I take clonazepam- the tiniest bit takes the edge off when I feel this bad.

I wanted to get your herbalist info too- you live in DC I think right? I live in Alexandria, right near you! We should meet sometime for coffee/tea. It really does help that other people are going through this with us but I am sorry you are suffering. Gentle hugs, lots of deep breaths, and there are some meditations online if you search for it - I find that helps with my anxiety.
Posted 2/16/2013 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
When i started cephalexin I went BONKERS for about 24 hrs 2-3 days after. By bonkers I mean 100% I was convinced that I was going to die. This was before the shooting pains and everything else that followed started. I literally went out and ran two miles and without any difficulties was still convinced that I was going to die even though I went out and ran two miles....it was weird.
Posted 2/17/2013 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
All of this very helpful! Shadow I will email you! The herbalist is in Laurel but I'm afraid to take another medication. I'm on one but my body is so sensitive but the anxiety isn't helping at all and even effecting my job! And it just comes when it wants. I need something until the Lyme/Bart/Babs dies down or I'm symptom free!

This disease is evil I tell you!
Posted 2/17/2013 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Wryter & Summer,

I take 5mg / day, by subcutaneous injection - but I use hydroxocobalamine, it's the strongest and most natural form of B12. I've been doing this for more than 2,5 years.
It's a great supplement!!!

Wryter, have you tried the B12 injections? Lots of people can't absorb B12 if it passes by the digestive system. It's not scary at all to inject yourself, the first time is a bit of an unknown challenge, but it's really easy.
Posted 2/17/2013 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
I've had the injections before from my doctor. Would she have to prescribe the injection to me? I've never seen so many needles in my life. It's so daunting but I will do what I have to so I won't feel anxious or feel like the room is closing in on me, etc. There might be days that pass and nothing. Then suddenly it hits out of nowhere.

Calling my doctor tomorrow and we will see what she says. But between work and even simply going to the store overwhelms me. If I worked in a small place things might be easier but my bldg is large and a simple errand across the way is a bit much. Sigh.
Posted 2/17/2013 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know how it works in the US, but I just go to the pharmacist and buy the hydroxocobalamine and the seringes - and then do the subcutaneous injections myself. It's really easy. You can let your doctor show how it's done, or a diabetic friend (if you have one).

My GP let me believe I needed a prescription to get the B12, but he was lying. He just didn't want me to take it. It's part of the protocol I get from the Dr I'm seeing now. I'll send you some more info about the different B12's in a next post - I need to look it up again.
Posted 2/17/2013 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
just a short description of the 3 B12's (I copied this somewhere cause it's a good short description):

Cyanocobalamin: can be given as an IM injection, not IV. However, after injection it will need to convert to methylcobalamin, and then to hydroxocobalamin to be used by the body. Of all the forms of Vitamin B12 it is the least painful for the patient to inject. After introduction into the body it provides a small amount of cyanide. For individuals who are overall very healthy this is a good choice and this is also the least expensive form of injectable Vitamin B12. It is known that some people, such as smokers, are less able to transform cyanocobalamin into methylcobalamin due to toxins and heavy metals in the liver. These individuals need to use other forms of Vitamin B12.

Methylcobalamin: is more bioactive and can be given IM, IV and intraarticularly. It is slightly painful to inject into the muscle. This is also a better choice for smokers who are unable to convert cyanocobalamin into methylcobalamin.

Hydroxocobalamin: is the most bioactive form of Vitamin B12 and mostly given IV as IM injections are very painful. If given IM it is mixed the local anesthetic procaine. Hydroxocobalamin is retained longer in the body and can be dosed less frequently. An additional application of hydroxocobalamin is that it can be used for patients with cyanide poisoning as it binds cyanide and allows for elimination through the kidneys.
Posted 3/8/2013 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
HI all, I was looking for a reason why I am having major anxiety. Got some good answers here. I wanted to add a thought. I have been reading a lot on Lyme lately. I am trying to write a pamphlet to help others. Yes I forgot why you get anxiety. After reading I think mine could be one of three things. B12 low, forgot to take it today. I have Bartonella and I stopped treatment yesterday to do a detox for five days. Or I am herxing from the detox.

Here is my thought. Someone mentioned Magnesium. Take a moment to really look into this supplement. Lyme sufferers are normally low on this mineral. Lyme loves magnesium and needs it to survive. That is why you are probably low. Lyme is stealing it so to speak. In order not to feed the enemy, Lyme you should consider getting magnesium from epsom salt soaks or from a liquid magnesium. It is absorbed thru the skin. Your body will only take what it needs. Here is a web site to help you explore this issue. website http://lymebites.com/blog/2010/06/15/transdermal-magnesium/

Thanks for all your help

I have had Lyme off and on for 10 years. I am determined to beat it and keep it in remission. My symptoms currently are as bad as when I was first diagnosed. I also have parasites, mold, microtoxins, a yeast infection not the typical one for girls more complex, babesia, bartonella, estrogen dominance, hormone issues, a genetic disorder called MTHFR which stops you from breaking down folic acid . (This goes hand in hand with low B12.) And I was wondering why I am having anxiety?
Posted 3/8/2013 11:26 AM (GMT 0)
I have had SEVERE ANXIETY and panic attacks. My racing thoughts were so bad that I stayed curled up in a ball in bed all day. I cd off work for a week (also pre-children) and cried and cried. My depression got so bad that I had bad thoughts. Little did I know at the time that this could have been associated with my tick bites.

I literally was losing my mind and I couldn't imagine anyone else having to go through this. I tried several all natural doctors/therapists and acupuncture, etc. Then I broke down and finally got put on a small dose of Xanax-prn. It works wonders and is so fast acting- but unlike clonzepam it doesn't have that "groggy feeling". I finally had to realize that my mental stability and health was worth taking a script. Even though I spent at least a year going the holistic route. Also on a small dose of Prozac (for racing thoughts).
Posted 3/8/2013 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
I wish I could use Epsom Salt baths but I am highly allergic to sulfate/sulfur. However in my IV treatment my doctor uses magnesium chloride. So I am praying I see a difference soon.

MomOf2WithLyme I have been trying the complete natural route but I may need a script and hope my body doesn't reject it (I'm sensitive to abx). But I have to work, take of my son, go out and some days are great and I don't have a drop of anxiety and others (like yesterday) are awful where I am physically trembling from anxiety.

This is awful, I can't wait for the day to be symptom free and if there was one symptom that could leave me alone right now it would be the anxiety (and semi poor gait).

Thanks everyone!
Posted 3/8/2013 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
I think I am having some anxiety too, but I think it may be a response to Diflucan that I took for a yeast infection. I have never had that problem with diflucan before but lyme is a whole other beast. i have been taking paxil for 12 years since i had panic attacks after the birth of my first baby- every time i try to go off, they come back so i just stay on it. I have klonopin to use if needed. I don't need it much, but nice to know it's there. Anxiety is almost as bad as lyme....
Posted 3/9/2013 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
I think anxiety is as bad as Lyme! It's horrific!
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