Coping skills

I havent been on in a while because I've been to busy just trying to get better and keep up with as normal of a life as I can possibly have. I have gotten really good at dealing with taking handfuls of pills (only 2 antibiotics but countless supplements) and what goes along with it. I have been in good spirits, not missing much work and still semi able to keep up with housework and other things that go along with having a toddler. But 2 weeks ago I got a head cold. No big deal. One of my symptoms was feeling like my throat was tight yet raw feeling and like I couldnt get a full breath of air. Once my cold went away the feeling in my throat did not. Its been 10 days of this new very frusterating symptom. I went to my gp and she gave me an inhaler which did nothing. I tried it for 4 days but since I didnt have any improvement I went back today. Since it feels hard to breathe I am getting terrible anxiety. Today my dr ordered a ct scan of my neck. But the appt is next thursday then I have to wait another week to get the results. This new symptom has made me feel like im going to lose it. I feel like I have done so well and changed my lifestyle so much and stayed positive that now with this I feel like im at my breaking point. I did go off my meds for 5 days to make sure it didnt have to do with those and it didnt. I have no swollen lymphnodes, from what the dr can see my throat looks fine. I came home and had a melt down. I cried so much I was afraid I was going to give myself a heart attack. I even called the suicide prevention hotline. Not that I am any way suicidal, in fact im TERRIFIED to die and thats my issue. I just needed someone to talk to. My family has no idea what its like and doesnt know how to deal with it. I just dont know where to go or what to do next. I'm trying to just suck it up and be strong but its getting harder and harder these last few days. Does anyone have any ideas of things I could do to just try and stay grounded..............?

I was thinking of air hunger as well. Do you know if you have Babesia? Air hunger is a common symptom. Try not to panic - I discovered the harder I tried to get that 'deeper' breath, the harder it was to breathe. As for sleeping, don't lie flat, sleep propped up on pillows (with one under your knees to keep you from sliding down) or sleeping in a recliner. I had to sleep on the couch for a few nights, as it was easier for me to stay propped up and not roll off the pillows.

Meditation can be very useful in dealing with the distressing symptoms. I use mindful meditation a lot.

Hi Gracelynn,
Are you finding it hard to take pills? The tight feeling around the throat can easily be caused by an enlarged thyroid and quite a few Lyme patients have trouble with their thyroid - for some it's over active and for others it's under active, which will generally indicate Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

I remember just before I was dxed with Hashimoto's, I was experiencing some of the same things you described about the tightness in my throat making it feel like I was "almost" having trouble breathing, and the lump in the throat, having difficulties in swallowing pills.

And yes, you can have anxiety that lasts for days on end!! I did, then I discovered that it was because my adrenal glands were really struggling. Many with chronic Lyme have adrenal insufficiency.

There is a great site called www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ that goes over everything about thyroid and adrenal issues, including medications and how to tell if you need to be tested. I would encourage you to spend some time reading there - it has helped me tremendously several times.

Hi Gracelynn (such a pretty name!),

You've been given a lot of good advice so far.

Have you tried anything like yoga or gentle walking to help keep some of the stress at bay?