can stress bring back old symptoms??

I was wondering, if getting stressed out brings back symptoms which have improved over a couple of mos? I still on antibiotics going on 2 and a half mos, tonight had a intense discussion with my mother she is doubtful about lyme symptoms my boyfriend who is now experiencing bad symptoms but is stubborn to go to a lyme specialist. i spent an hour trying to convince him he needs to go. I became stressed started to feel light headed as well as some pressure on top of my head, which freaked me out but subsided quickly, should i tell my dr. about this and is this normal??

Will this always happen?? the bacteria can just increase with stressful situations kinda of scarey because, you dont know if it will happen for the rest of your life or eventually your body will fight it off and at least return to 99.9 percent normal hopefully after treatment but i guess worrying will cause stress also, sometimes I feel like I have to live in a bubble lol.

poohcheez said...
Will this always happen?? the bacteria can just increase with stressful situations kinda of scarey because, you dont know if it will happen for the rest of your life or eventually your body will fight it off and at least return to 99.9 percent normal hopefully after treatment but i guess worrying will cause stress also, sometimes I feel like I have to live in a bubble lol.

Not just from emotional stress, not likely. The further and further you get asymptomatic, and over the treatment to kill the bacteria(remember that's your last step, to kill, according to Buhner), the stronger you'll be.

Dealing with any residual bacteria that might come out under traumatic circumstances probably wouldn't be any different than stopping any other common bug in it's tracks before it makes you sick.

That's why I feel it's important to keep up your immune system support for life, taking in probiotics, being careful of your diet, continuing keeping your ph neutral with acv or lemon water...that sort of thing.

poohcheez, stress is a huge health killer without lyme.

Stress triggers the “fight-or-flight” response. The surge of adrenaline and the slowing down of other basic functions provide us with the instant energy we need to run from a predator or battle an attacker.

This survival response comes with side effects though. Over time, that extra energy and alertness comes with altered hormone levels, heightened blood sugar, depleted nutrients and lowered neurotransmitters.

Over time, our bodies adapt to invoke that same response with smaller and smaller triggers.

Learning to deal with stress can help you while healing your lyme or when you are healed. Balance is the word you want to get to.

That is not to say you won't get stressed. Daily life is FULL of stress that you have no control over -- someone swerves into your lane -- super stress. You immediately feel that adrenaline pulse through your body. Now, how you react to that surge is what is important. A huge deep breath and you let it go? Or do you curse and swear and pound your fist, ranting and raving?

Choices determine how much you let stress affect you.

I do agree with julymorning in telling people about lyme. I don't think I have ever talked anyone into anything. I have given information, but people end up doing what they want to do. In reviewing my life, that is how I roll too. I picked my own path. We need to allow others to pick theirs. When they want our help, they will ask.

bluelyme said...
Stress is more cortisol =more inflammation

Exactly.

Also if cortisol levels are too high it's a significant immuno-suppressant.

It's not the stress directly but it's what it does to the body chemically. A domino affect of reactions.

It's where the saying "the mind affects the body" comes from.

You can either produce good chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, etc. and it can make one healthier or you can really be stressed out and these healthy chemicals are not produced and rather a high level of cortisol is produce. The problem comes in when stress is prolonged and therefore high cortisol levels are prolonged.

It's not a coincidence when humans are stressed out and not getting proper rest that soon after they feel ill. It seems like you always catch a cold or the flu after this. Well there is not a "cure" for viruses, including the flu or the common cold. So in these instances, you don't really always "catch" a brand new cold, sometimes it's the virus being opportunistic when your immune system is down because of high level of prolonged stress.