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Posted 4/22/2014 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I've had Lyme for 8 years and have been able to manage it ok. 6 months ago I went to a wedding and got drunk for the first time in my life. I figured I'd have to pay for it, but never in a million years did I figure I'd become incopacitated and that it would last this long. It's now been 7 months, and my symptoms are acrually getting worse. I have severe anxiety/panic, headaches, and the worst thing of all is my eyes have been burning like crazy ever since. It's so bad that even just typing this is extremely painful.

I don't know what to do anymore. I've seen regular MD's, a Naturopath, and LLMD's. No one can help me, it's so frustrating. I can't work anymore, I can't even go for a walk or I feel like I'm going to pass out.

Has anyone heard of this reaction to alcohol before? My eyes are burning and stinging so bad, and it's been 7 months, I feel like I'm stuck in a nightmare.
Posted 4/22/2014 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Well I know that we aren't supposed to consume alcohol at all. Some people even have problems with herbal tinctures with alcohol in them.

How come an LLMD isn't helping you? Are you on any antibiotics?
Posted 4/22/2014 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
The LLMD'S tell me they can help me and put me on meds/herbs. But nothing has worker so far. When I tell them I'm getting worse, they have no answers for me.
Posted 4/22/2014 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Yikes that's crazy how it could affect you so much! You must have gotten really quite drunk. I think it temporarily depressed your immune system and the Lyme just took advantage of that and it all got out of hand. I think you need antibiotics to help get this under control? I am confused how you say you saw LLMD's and they haven't been able to help.
Posted 4/22/2014 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
Michel D,

How long do you stay on the antibiotics? You will most likely get worse on them before you get better. Some people just start feeling better but it's usually a long road of feeling worse, than better, than worse, than better until hopefully it is just that you are feeling better.

And this isn't a quick recovery. Some people needs months or even years of antibiotics to feel better.

It's called a herx. It's a worsening of symptoms because of the die off of the bugs and the toxins they release.
Posted 4/22/2014 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that it stunned your immune system. There is no way alcohol (even in copious amounts) would stay in your system that long. And if you've never been drunk (bless your heart!), then I bet it didn't even take that much for you to feel it.

I would try to boost your immune system with diet and sleep. And yeah, take some abx!
Posted 4/23/2014 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Michael,

I can tell you that I went out to socialize and had a few drinks. The next day I woke up and lost the hearing in my left ear. A week later I started to stutter. It took 3 weeks for the drs to figure out I had Neurological Lyme disease (after the blood tests came back). After my PICC line was put in and I got the antibiotics I feel a whole lot better but I am still not 100%.
Posted 4/23/2014 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Michel, I can hand on heart agree with you, not with all your symptoms after drinking but, the length it's effected you. I used to be able to control my illness (never knew it was lyme at this time, just knew I had some sort of illness like CFS or so the doctors insisted) when I used to drink by having a few days in bed after etc, but nearly four years ago to the day (when England lost 4-1 to Germany in the world cup) I drank an absolute copious amount all through the night.

The next day I woke up and I instantly knew something was seriously wrong, I felt so ill I could barely move. My breathing was so shallow and I was so disorientated. This persisted with constant panic attacks, light sensitivity increased 10 fold plus other symptoms, I went to AE around 8 or 9 times in the following months it was that bad, and since that day I've never been the same since. Needless to say I've been t-total since. I finally started a treatment plan from an llmd last week so hopefully it gives my body a much needed jump start.
Hope this helps

All the best Carl
Posted 4/23/2014 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Michael,
My very first symptom of Lyme was getting super drink on 1/2 glass of wine. I thought I was dehydrated, but, it happened every time I had wine. Eventually, I couldn't even handle a few sips. The vertigo started a few months later, along with the other delightful neuro symptoms!
Treating with oral antibiotics, hoping for a port or PICC soon.
Good luck! IV antibiotics, if you can, are best for treating advanced neuro Lyme - or so I've been told!
Posted 4/23/2014 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
One of the things that tipped me off to lyme was alcohol intolerance. There was quite a while when I wasn't being treated (because I didn't know what was wrong), and I couldn't drink any alcohol or I would feel horrible for days.

I want to give you a little hope. I started taking samento & banderol (nowadays I substitute cat's claw for samento), and I have been able to drink alcohol just fine ever since.
Posted 4/23/2014 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
I think with Lyme disease. It is best to avoid excessive drinking. I used to be a binge drinker myself and I would consume 4-8 drinks pretty easily, some nights even more. After catching Lyme I had a glass of wine for New Years and wow I felt so intoxicated after drinking it. Also the alcohol isn't pleasureable with Lyme disease. Like before drinking just boosted my mood, made me all warm and happy, and I would get pleasure from it... Now it's just ugh. I don't even enjoy it. On well I guess I'm officially a non-drinker now that I got Lyme. That could be a good thing at least it will keep me out of trouble. It's funny some people goto AA meetings trying to keep themselves from drinking. Or you could just catch Lyme disease! Then you won't have to attend meetings and alcohol won't be pleasant anymore! Lol.
Posted 4/23/2014 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Another thing that might help is antifungals. Alcohol challenges the balance of microbes in the gut and yeast can get out of control incredibly fast - morphing into different forms, punching through the intestinal lining and seeping into the bloodstream. Fungus grows exponentially and loves alcohol.

-p
Posted 4/23/2014 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry you feel so bad. I have a hard time believing 7 months from alcohol, but I would think the Lyme got crazy drunk with you and are now acting out.

I'm definitely that way with alcohol and any drugs for that matter. Everything hits me super hard. Even chemical smells.

I stopped drinking altogether even before my diagnosis bc a sip would get me tipsy. I will have cranberry juice with a lyme when in those environments. (And I excuse myself as being tired) when my crowd becomes drunk and irritating. There's nothing like a sober person around a bunch of drunk people...lol.

Again, I am sorry you feel so badly. Hope it calms down soon.
Posted 4/23/2014 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry, but you can't drink with lymes. Also, cut out all sugar and yeast. The sugars and yeast are a growth medium for lymes. I made the same mistake as you and went through hell. My LLMD had told me to cut these items put of my , but I didn't and really paid the piper.

I haven't eaten sugar, yeast or had any type of alcoholic beverage for over 10 yrs now.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Infected at age 18 in 1874. Undiagnosed for 40 years.
Started treatment at age 42. 12 years of every treatment available.
Had 4 "good" yrs. Thought we nailed it.
Nope. Its back. 58 now and suffering greatly.
Back on hundreds of pills and protocols.
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