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Positive lyme, with psychologist assessment

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Posted 2/21/2016 8:29 AM (GMT 0)
So I posted awhile back with my lyme results and my fatigue etc. For kicks a few months back I went to see a psychologist when I asked my doctor if I could get an assessment done he refused and said it wasn't necessary so I did 1 out of pocket for myself, 1400 dollars later and thousands of questions and hours of talking this is what she came up with.

Severe depression, out of anyone who goes to get tested I rank higher than 95% of people diagnosed with depression.
Severe anxiety
and Severe PTSD due to a lot of traumatic events in my life.
Also my fatigue and chronic pain scale was above 90% of the average person.
She thinks that I over exaggerate my symptoms so that I will be heard.. which honestly really pissed me off to hear that, I frankly don't think I say enough of it.
Also in her report it was 15 pages, and their were a few things she wrote that I completely did not agree with.

She knows about my lyme disease and knows I been fighting with it for awhile now. But in her report she suggests I go see a physicist and get prescribed Zoloft or something.

Things she doesn't know is I stay up really late because I am really stressed out about my life and in a worry that I won't feel better and always thinking of ending it all but something always holds me back. Like today I won't because my parents don't leave until Tuesday for NY, and I have to finish a side job that will last another week after that. Also I don't know if her diagnosis is correct, and that is another reason I am staying up is because I am trying to figure out if this is a cause from lyme to cause all this or it could really be a mental health problem. She suggested that if you treat 1 thing maybe it will help the other but tbh I really don't want to take any medication for mental health because if it due to lyme I would be able to fix it without harmful meds. If that makes any sense.

So what I am getting at is, does this sound like it could be from lyme and co infections alone?
Also I am doing a co infection blood panel through a place here in Calgary on Tuesday they are drawing the blood and I will know in 2-3 weeks about co infections.
Posted 2/21/2016 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, Sandor! It's clear this psychologist is not Lyme-literate and I'm really sorry you had to deal with this nonsense.

Lyme and its coinfections are famous for causing psychological issues. Here's a link to an informational booklet by ILADS that you could share with the psychologist:

www.ilads.org/lyme/lyme-brochure-psych-2014.pdf

You'll find countless sites addressing the psychological aspects of Lyme. Here are a couple more:

/www.holtorfmed.com/lyme-disease-psychiatric-disorders/

www.igenex.com/psychological_effects.htm


And, even if the coinfection testing comes back negative, I wouldn't necessarily rule out the possibility of coinfection.

There are more strains of Babesia and Bartonella than tests available. New strains are being discovered every few months.

Healthy people are walking around with asymptomatic Babesia and Bartonella infections. Even the CDC acknowledges this on their website:

www.cdc.gov/parasites/babesiosis/

"Although many people who are infected with Babesia do not have symptoms, for those who do effective treatment is available."

www.cdc.gov/bartonella/clinicians/index.html

"Most cases of cat scratch disease (CSD) resolve without treatment", although some patients may develop complications from disseminated disease.

Cat scratch disease is the henselae strain of Bartonella which is a common coinfection to Lyme. Actually, researchers and savvy doctors are now saying that Bartonella is so prevalent that Lyme should be considered the coinfection.

If healthy people can have no symptoms of Babesia or Bartonella and still be infected, it's entirely possible that those of us dealing with any of these infections could also be infected with Babesia and/or Bartonella....and not necessarily have any symptoms...or have mild symptoms...or just one symptom (mild or not)

Most savvy LLMD's trial meds for the "Big 3" (Lyme, Babesia and Bartonella) to gauge response. If a person herxes with symptoms that indicate possible coinfection, they're treated for that particular infection.

I'm not sure where you're at with treatment but, you might want to discuss this with your doctor...or possibly even trial some coinfection herbs yourself.

Good luck!
Posted 2/21/2016 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
I see a psych Dr for some of these same issues,never had problems like this before?

Now I wonder....lyme?
Posted 2/21/2016 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
You've got some great links to look at already. That you are asking questions is awesome! I would also like to add, I would trust your instincts, only YOU live inside your body. For years I was treated for PTSD and had the label of bi-polar, which, in reading and researching, just did not resonate as what was going on. I argued and argued with my psychiatrist, took him books in hopes he would read about the subject, said he was too busy to read. After a ten year break I went back into therapy after returning to writing a memoir. My somatic therapist took one look at my files and really pushed me to get a new psychiatrist, and it made all the difference in the world! New diagnosis, new approach to using medication - I am actually off all med support and manage the PTSD journey holistically, and with meditation, art, somatic therapy. If you aren't happy with the psychologist's report, dump them! I only wish I had dumped my psychiatrist, as well as my GP sooner. But I guess I wasn't ready to let go. Good luck, and keep asking questions!
Posted 2/21/2016 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
Great advice cd and multifactedme!

I have ALWAYS been a happy person (except for the beginning of menopause) and lyme threw me for a loop. I was crying at the drop of a hat. I didn't want to be around people. I was very content to stay in the house. Lyme did change my personality. Treatment was my help. Everyday of treatment I got better.
Posted 2/21/2016 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
One thing we MUST remember is that doctors only offer opinions on your condition(whatever it may be) - if they are not trained for spotting and understanding Lyme and these other infections and how they impact not only our body, but our brain, then they are little use to us. Move on to someone that does actually understand these things.

In the 40 years that I was undiagnosed, I had all kinds of doctors trying to tell me all kinds of falsehoods about my condition. They insisted that I have all kinds of treatments, some I tried, but many I didn't. I try to not hold it against them (although some I do), but I knew when they were wrong about me and what I was dealing with and would just stop going to the ones that didn't understand the real issue.

Lyme is very, very well known to cause anxiety and depression. It's known to cause all kinds of psychological as well as physical symptoms and most of them have been well written about already. If anyone ends up sitting in the office of a non-believer, walk out. We don't need the hassles or the stress they add to our lives.
Posted 2/21/2016 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Sandor - I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this.

Have you checked out the clinic in your Province? I think that's what you need to do if you haven't already done so.
Also, you can travel to my Province if necessary for treatment.
You really need to get started with Lyme treatment.

I better not comment on Psychiatrists because I 'fought' with them for five years when my father was treated by a so-called Geriatric expert Psych. I am biassed - not in a good way.

But, having said that...even though your mental health issues are most likely due to untreated lyme and co's....sometimes while treating a little 'help' is needed. Treatment to resolve the issues could take quite a while...and you might want to help with the symptoms. But, you certainly don't want someone treating you who dismisses your lyme diagnosis.

What were you like - psychologically prior to Lyme? Many of us have had no issues - no depression or anxiety...until lyme hits (as in my case) ...and then out of nowhere it appears. Mine came on suddenly...and have resolved.
Posted 2/21/2016 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
I'm cancelling appointments with a rheumatologist and pulmonologist next month...both of whom I told I believed I had Lyme.

The rheumatologist (who diagnosed me with RA) actually told me that she had never seen Lyme in an ankle joint. In addition, she knew about my migrating joint swelling and pain. (I even showed her pictures!) I've since learned that it's only Lyme that does that. How in the hell does a rheumatologist in Upstate New York not recognize that as Lyme???
She was lovely and kind and she very proficiently aspirated fluid from my ankle, but you can be sure I won't be wasting another minute of my time with her.

My biggest resentment is against the "Integrative Medicine" place that specialized in Lyme...I went to them first. They didn't test me for Lyme, and I deferred to them. They diagnosed and treated me for "adrenal fatigue". What a mistake! Never again.
Posted 2/21/2016 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Just to be clear, adrenal fatigue is a very real and very devastating issue, and it happens all too often with chronic Lyme - but it doesn't cause the same symptoms as chronic Lyme. You can't treat adrenal fatigue and expect it to work if the person has Lyme disease - chronic or not.

A little disclaimer - I have severe adrenal fatigue, and when it combines with these infections, it's really hard to deal with at times. I wanted to be sure that everyone understands there's a difference. :-)
Posted 2/21/2016 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hey thank you for all the replies. I just woke up had a terrible night couldn't sleep so I posted this. I need to go through all the links you provided. Girlie on about my depression before Lyme, not that I know of I was technically diagnosed in Jan 2015 with Lyme but I have been sick and believe I was sick with Lyme for about 8 years. Before than I was a bubbly kid no depression no mental health at all.

The clinic you told me in email is the 1 that is going on to test my co infection on Tuesday for a whopping 855 dollars lol. Also they are only natural paths but they have a clinic in be 3 hours from here that can give oral antibiotics. Also the clinic in Calgary does IV mess just not antibiotics. She said she wanted to test for everything before she starts treating.

The physiologist I went to see had said she believed Lyme could cause some problems but she doesn't know about Lyme at all.

At this point I am on no treatment just Epsom salt baths when my joints are killing me and numb.
Posted 2/21/2016 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
Just read first article to my fiancé her words " that's you"
Posted 2/21/2016 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
I would suggest that you find a GOOD LLMD/LLND that will take treatments slowly and that you detox a lot more. When we herx and it's the psychological symptoms that ramp up, it can be very, very hard on us. Take it from someone that has been through it.
Posted 2/22/2016 5:52 AM (GMT 0)
Sandor what Province are you in, Alberta? I just found a very helpful LLND in Vernon, British Columbia. His cost is not unreasonable either. Just wondering in case you were able to travel. I know a lot of people from Calgary visit the Okanagan frequently. But hopefully you are able to find someone in your area. If not email me and I'll tell you about him.
Posted 2/22/2016 6:29 AM (GMT 0)
Sandor - I'm sorry that you are being requested to spend $855 on co-infection testing before being treated.

Doing more for detox can help you with your symptoms. You mentioned epsom salt baths.

Take a look at this thread for more ideas to detox;

www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html

There are some easy detox methods: Drinking lots of water (add fresh lemon juice into some glasses), Alka Seltzer gold, dry brushing your skin prior to the baths, taking alka seltzer gold, Nutramedix Pinella and Burbur, Milk thistle for liver detox.

They are relatively cheap...except the Pinella and Burbur.
Posted 2/22/2016 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Angel yes I am from south Calgary in high river. I am seeing a llnd yah follows ilads in Calgary very expensive after I do the confections I won't be able to afford the treatment until I sell my home.
I am not on any treatment ate so no real die off just a lot of joint pain and muscle pain so that is y I do the baths, thank you for the link when I start to fight it if I ever get the energy to.
Posted 2/22/2016 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Sandor - the detoxing can help you now. There is die-off from the life-cycle of the bacteria.
Posted 2/23/2016 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
So is my chest pain, joint pain, muscle pain, neck pain, headaches from the lyme, co infection, or the die off?
Posted 2/23/2016 6:44 AM (GMT 0)
The source of a lot of our symptoms is the inflammation caused by the toxins created from the bacteria die-off.
Since Lyme rarely travels alone, it's most likely you have one or more coinfection.
Posted 2/23/2016 8:32 AM (GMT 0)
I posted in another thread that you posted in about how expensive the clinic is.
It would be more reasonable cost-wise for you to travel to BC - Dr. C. does phone appts after the initial consult.
He is in Richmond, so close to the airport.

You could also start an herbal treatment on your own.
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