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Very Sudden OCD (extreme exercise)

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Posted 4/14/2012 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
This week I have been under a ton of stress. It started early in the week when my liver enzymes went up and I was trying to get them down in a very short amount of time. To lower them, I took 2 pills of NAC, tons of Milk thistle, 4 ALA's, and about 10 cups of liver detox tea on Tuesday.

In a typical week for the past several months, I am exhausted. I don't feel like walking or doing anything other than going to work and lying down when I come home. I used to run 5-10 miles per day pre-Lyme but that was about a year ago. The only time I have been able to walk for a long distance or slowly jog is immediately after a glutathione/vitamin IV which I get once per week. The rest of the week, I can't run or walk long distances.

This Thursday and Friday I started to get a ton of OCD-like behavior only regarding exercise. For example, on Thursday I felt like I needed to go for a walk. So I briskly walked 5 miles with someone on fairly hilly terrain. I came home, and within 30 minutes I had an extreme urge to go running. So I went back out and ran full-force another 4 miles. Yesterday I went on a 5 mile strenuous hike up a mountain. A few hours later (in the middle of the night) I had an extreme compulsion to go running again. I didn't go because it was night, but the anxiety I had about NOT going was kind of worrisome.

This sudden increase in exercise isn't due to any type of treatment progress. I have been off everything for a while and having severe symptoms. Even while I'm running, I'm having a lot of pain, exhaustion, heart palps, etc. I don't feel well at all, I just feel like I HAVE to go running or exhaust myself somehow. This morning, I was feeling terribly weak, but now the anxiety/OCD is starting to come back on again even though I know my body can't handle any more exercise.

What could this be caused by? It can't be from my liver enzymes being up again could it? Could it be from going OFF antibiotics? The supplements I overdid it on?

I know this whole post probably sounds ridiculous. I would normally be happy that I have regained the desire to exercise. It's something that I LOVE doing and I've missed it a lot. However, something doesn't feel right. I'm not running and hiking because I feel well. It's definitely more of an obsessive type thing that came on very suddenly. It's not even something that I'm able to rationalize in my mind. It's like I can't control myself.
Posted 4/15/2012 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
OK, this is only a theory, but you did a lot of detoxing. With detoxing you'll get stuff out into your cells that your body has stored away. I suspect that you've stirred up some old toxins and they aren't all out yet. It's great that you're aware that this isn't a healthy thing, awareness is really important.

You probably need to do something to get the stuff fully out without taxing your liver. Maybe some epsom salts and peroxide baths? Or foot soaks with mustard powder, cayenne and ginger. I'm thinking you need to draw it out from a pathway other then your liver.

This is just a guess, I hope you feel better soon.
Posted 4/15/2012 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
I experienced extreme exercise before my diagnosis. For the year prior to being diagnosed I lived on a trail or in a gym. I worked out 2-3 times a day...I could not walk enough. 16+ miles and I wanted more. When something prevented me from working out or hiking my anxiety was through the roof! Now I am being treated for Lyme and my OCD about exercise has disappeared but I miss it. Lately, I have been so fatigued breathing is extreme exercise for me at times. I guess all those miles are finally catching up with me. It is very interesting...
Posted 4/15/2012 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Have you tried doing a more relaxing form of exercise, such as yoga or tai chi? That way, you get the best of both worlds - you can still fulfill the need you feel to exercise, but you can also relax as well, which definitely sounds like it would be beneficial considering your concerns.

I've had similar experiences - I'm actually sort of in the same boat right now. I go through periods where just moving back and forth in the house is all the exercise I can take - my herxing tends to last for a while - and then when I actually can exercise, I go a little overboard. For me, it's definitely a control thing - it's the one thing about my health that I feel I have direct control over, and, well, it feels good! Exercising gives you endorphins and usually you won't feel any ill effects of exercising until well after the fact, so it makes sense that you'd want to just keep it going and going and going - we feel bad enough! Who wouldn't want to hold onto feeling something good for a change?

While it's not uncommon to have changes in mood, cognition, even personality with lyme, if it's something that's sticking around and causing you extra stress, it couldn't hurt to see a counselor of some sort. Sometimes it's hard to weed out what's a direct cause of the lyme and what's an emotional component to it, but IMO it always helps to get a little extra help when you can!
Posted 4/15/2012 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
Well I think it was more from the supplements I took or a reaction to something. It's not a long-term thing for me and it wasn't a healthy feeling energy. My body felt the same as always, very painful and sick feeling. My mind was hyperactive and telling me I needed to go running. This just appeared this week after I went overboard trying to lower my liver enzymes in a very short amount of time.

The OCD is not new. I've had that for years with something else but I have been able to suppress that lately. The exercise and hyperactivity just started and is definitely related to stress I had this week along with the supplements I think. I'm most worried about the ALA. I have heard that this supplement can cause a manic-type state which I think is what happened. I stopped taking everything and I'm starting to calm down a little bit today. I didn't go for a walk or running although it's after midnight here and I am still very hyperactive and anxious because I DIDN'T run today.

I'm hoping this goes away by tomorrow.
Posted 4/15/2012 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
I am VERY OCD! I had been obsessing about going to the city for weeks. I knew I wasn't well enough to do it, but I wanted to get it out of my system. We went, did too much..my feet are swollen, my hips, shins, and everywhere is hurting. I am very compulsive and obsessive. It's awful. I know what you're saying and it's a terrible feeling. I can't stop my compulsiveness either. :(
Posted 4/15/2012 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks SleeplessNJ. I hope your trip to the city went well. I used to be have pretty bad OCD over germs for many years. I was able to stop myself somewhat about 8-9 months ago. I'm not sure how, I just got over it suddenly without really doing anything to stop it. The exercise OCD is fading now so I think it was definitely related to those supplements I took. That's what I get for trying to take things into my own hands LOL.
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