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LEFT CHEST DISCOMFORT LYME + ANXIETY

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Posted 5/6/2017 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! I am 25 year old Lyme patient. I was diagnosed several years ago but responded to medicine and was in a 7 year remission. Recently it appears I have relapsed and I cannot get into a Lyme doctor until January so I am self-treating with oil of oregano and cats claw. I have lost my job and had to move home with my mother.

I wanted to ask if anyone else has this very annoying chest discomfort on the left side. Sometimes it feels a bit painful (nothing excruciating) like my heart skips a beat. The pain is sometimes on the right side of the left breast bone, it is sometimes an inch or so above the nipple, and sometimes I feel it even in my armpit and back. It's driving me crazy! I have had several trips to the ER. I have a cardiologist who did every test and diagnosed me with probable mitral valve prolapse (didn't see it on echo-but thinks he hears the clicking). Started me a on a beta blocker that I took for a few days but stopped because I didn't feel any difference. I also wanted to add that I am also experiencing severe anxiety with this. Mostly with driving. I'm fine at home but once I'm behind the wheel of a car or in the passenger seat I am in full panic mood.

Please help! Does this discomfort ever go away? Any recommendations what to do for discomfort and anxiety?
Posted 5/6/2017 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi KM!
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us.

If you haven't yet, please do read through our "new to Lyme" thread as it's packed with helpful information.

I am quite concerned about your heart - did you tell the LLMD's office about that? If not, please do call back and explain it to them. It's better if you are seen sooner rather than later with heart issues.

Until then, Buhner suggests that Hawthorne is protective of the heart. He states that it is tremendously safe, and that the main problem with the use of hawthorn is that it can lower the blood pressure - so if you are taking blood pressure medications, caution is needed, as it may enhance the action of digoxin.

He also states that hawthorn is 'additive' in it's effects with Japanese knotweed and motherwort. He states: "Just take care if you are mixing the herb. Don't stand up suddenly as you might experience light headedness."

The dose is 120 - 900 mgs daily, or 1/4 - 1/2 tsp of the ticture (in a 1:5) 3 times daily. Always start every herb off very low (1 - 2 drops) and very carefully watch for any responses. Discontinue if you start to have more issues with your heart though.

As you tolerate the low dose, you start to raise your dose, carefully, slowly. Usually we suggest adding in no more than 1 drop or 2 per week on the killing herbs, but I would still encourage you to take it very slowly as you increase any herbs or medications.

As for anxiety, I have found avena sativa to be very helpful, but I'm not sure how far into herbs you wish to venture. Personally, since January is so far off, I would encourage you to look at full herbal protocols to use until that time.
Posted 5/6/2017 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have had chest pain throughout this Lyme process and also had cardiac tests and blood work to rule out heart problems. Everything was negative. I no longer worry about it. As a matter of fact, I haven't had chest pain or pressure in awhile.

January is a long way off to start treatment. Are there any other LLMD's that you can see? I agree with Traveler as far as using some herbs until you see your doctor.

Welcome to the forum.

Patty
Posted 5/6/2017 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Traveler- if my cardiologist and the ER has ruled out anything wrong my heart - should I still be concerned?


I completely agree with that being way off. However my mom has Lyme and an appointment next month. I am going to accompany her and hopefully the doctor has mercy and treats me as well.
Posted 5/6/2017 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
If they heard clicking in my heart, I'd still be concerned until I had a good LLMD check me out. Most other doc's really don't understand a lot of what can happen with a tick-borne infection. Especially if we should happen to mention it while we are there. Then their ears just close for whatever reason.

Oh good!!! I'm so glad you will be able to get in to see a LLMD sooner! I do hope that they will treat you as well - an so sorry to hear that your Mom has Lyme as well!!

There are herbal options if you wish to explore them as well.
Posted 5/6/2017 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Well I thought clicking in the heart meant mitral valve prolapse? What else Lyme related could it be? Especially with normal EKG, echo, and stress test?
Posted 5/6/2017 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know all the heart symptoms and what they may indicate, sorry, I did not mean to scare you in any way (if I did!). Heart issues do scare me, for both me and others, as I know that these infections can lead to different heart issues for some people.

Did you have these heart issues with your previous infections?
Posted 5/6/2017 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Nope! Literally all I had was horrible anxiety that went away after a few weeks of Bactrim and Zoloft. I went four years in college without needing either. I was re-prescribed Zoloft and had the adverse effect. Now I take .5 xanax as needed.


I also wanted to note that this discomfort in my chest also feels burny sometimes as well. I'm not really concerned it's anything serious - but just would have so much comfort that someone else experienced this.
Posted 5/6/2017 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
I've had chest pain, heart palpitations, and anxiety with Babesia, but no abnormal tests. Do you know if you have coinfections?
Posted 5/6/2017 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
I know that I definitely had babesia...
Posted 5/6/2017 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
I also haven't had any abnormal test either. My cardiologist said he didn't even see mitral valve prolapse on my echo that he just thinks he's hearing the clicking. He said if beta doesn't work he assured me nothing was wrong with my heart.
Posted 5/6/2017 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Also one more thing which is weird. Sometimes when I first wake up I don't feel it but after I move around a bit and like scroll on my phone then I feel it. Almost like it wakes up after I do? I know that makes me sound nuts but I've noticed that.
Posted 5/7/2017 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
KM1992:

Welcome to the suck. Abnormal heart rhythm accompanied by chest pain - NOT cardiac pain- is not unusual. Scary, yes. Irritating as hell, yes. The combination of Babs and borrelia will produce muscle reactions all over your body, but at least for me chest and arm pains have been the most common. First thought -"heart attack!". Even breathing deeply and slowly can ameliorate them. But notice exactly where the pains are. It might even be in the pulmonary area beneath the heart. Add a little air hunger while you are trying to figure it out and the cardiologists will call you crazy, tell you it's a panic attack and recommend the wrong meds. I've never had a cardiac event (don't want one, thankyewverymuch) but while the Lyme&co events I've had seen similar, they aren't quite the same. There are a number of sounds that might be heard through a stethoscope, but if the ultrasound shows everything okay I'd blame the critters. Of course I blame them for everything anyway.
Posted 5/7/2017 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Oldsalty I am so relieved to hear you have experienced this too. The pain/discomfort also goes to my left arm too. I've called two ambulances for this exact reason! They found nothing. What did you use to treat this?
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