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How to know you are thinking about Lyme way too much

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Posted 8/26/2016 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
How do you turn your brain off from Lyme? It is all I think about. I wakeup in the night and my mind goes to the Lyme. I don't want to be this way. I dreamt that I pulled my white sofa out and there was an infestation of black baby rats, then I felt weird in my body and looked down and there were long, black worms on my chest.

Anyone else have lyme nightmares?

-Signed going lyme crazy
Posted 8/26/2016 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
I had screaming nightmares but I think it was one of the herbs I was taking. And, I never could pinpoint it. But they were horrendous nightmares and I would scream and cry out. Scared the heck out of my husband.
Posted 8/26/2016 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Try finding a hobby of some sort to take your mind off of things. Try a "fun" trip out of the house once in a while - not long enough to really tire you out too much, just a change in scenery - even just a short drive with a friend can really help.

But you're not alone. I went through stuff like that as well, although now I wake up thinking of some paper or article I've read and who it will help. LOL! I actually like not dreaming right now though, as many of my dreams were not pleasant.

No matter what you try, it will be a process to get your mind to stop working like that - just like healing from these infections, so be patient with yourself and find ways to get this off your mind. I hate saying this, but maybe even a break from the forum will be necessary.
Posted 8/26/2016 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
It's just a process. There is no escaping your scenario, just playing with it. I think about lyme a lot but i use it to fuel my personal scientific interests. Or my interest in healing on a broad scale. Ie focusing on the positive life changes i've been needing to make since way before lyme. I consider lyme rock bottom. The sort of get motivated and climb or disappear into the abyss kind of experience. You can't just turn it off but you can learn to move with it and turn back towards the light. Some days i feel good enough that i watch stupid tv shows and play guitar and things that have nothing to do with lyme. Other days all i can do is pace in circles and acknowledge the fact that i'm stuck in a lyme rut. It's just about being present. Taking note of what brings you to those good moments and visa versa. In other words living with lyme is a hands on learning process. You'll feel frustrated mostly at first but as time goes on you'll learn to build a life around it and hopefully one day beyond it.
Posted 8/26/2016 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Peteza,

Oh gosh that is much worse - which herb was it? I hope you stopped it. I have been keeping a log of symptoms and of all the crazy dreams I have had since Lyme. Some really spiritual ones too. I do not tolerate antibiotics, didn't know anything about Lyme, everyone I knew who had it is now fine (I'm convinced they never had it- in upstate if you find a tick on you they put you on abx for six weeks), and I was trying to decide whether or not to take the abx. vs. herbs. Well that night I dreamt that my guardian angel came to talk to me. It was a 'he' and he had massive bright blue wings. The exact color of the Doxcy. pills. He told me to take the medicine like communion, that it would help heal me. I took it the next morning. So some lyme dreams may be helpful. I wish he would tell me what to do next.
Posted 8/26/2016 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
It's weird, I usually have very lucid dreams that are just strange (the other night, Derek Jeter came to my house to teach my 11 year old brother how to play baseball. My brother is 40! In the dream he was 11.) or they are nightmarish and I wake up in sweats. I don't mind the lucid dreams, they are kinda fun. The other night, though, I woke up and I was holding my left leg in the air; no idea why.

There are times, like last night, where I can't remember if I slept. I know I was in bed but no recollection of sleeping or dreaming or being awake. That ever happen to you?
Posted 8/26/2016 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Tav and Psil,

Trav I do have hobbies - I read most of the day, I cook, I walk my dog and I try to go out once a day. I also have been meditating each day which really helps. I'm probably more focused on lyme now because Sunday I stop the abx and am to try herbs. I am very nervous about symptoms returning or getting worse.

Psil, love what you wrote about rock bottom. So true. I'm trying to be present and positive. Some days I view it as a vacation where I get to read all the books I always wanted to time to read. Those are good days. I also like to imagine that I will heal fully and feel better than before I knew I had Lyme (since LLMD thinks I had it and this was refinfection) so who knows.

Thanks for the pep talks.
Posted 8/26/2016 4:45 PM (GMT 0)

pmm73 said...
It's weird, I usually have very lucid dreams that are just strange (the other night, Derek Jeter came to my house to teach my 11 year old brother how to play baseball. My brother is 40! In the dream he was 11.) or they are nightmarish and I wake up in sweats. I don't mind the lucid dreams, they are kinda fun. The other night, though, I woke up and I was holding my left leg in the air; no idea why.

There are times, like last night, where I can't remember if I slept. I know I was in bed but no recollection of sleeping or dreaming or being awake. That ever happen to you?

Yep, I used to experience this as well - and I'm sure I'm not the only one here besides you that has. All we can do is get through these times.
Posted 8/26/2016 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
PMM,

I like your dream. Derek Jeter and your brother. Don't even know how to analyze that. Youth - running, hopeful, favorite past times? Holding your leg in the air is a new one. Hopefully you were dancing or diving! I bet you slept. I think you would know by how you feel if you didn't sleep.

What would Jung say about our Lyme dreams.
Posted 8/26/2016 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Huddie for me the herbs were so much more gentle than the abx. But we are all different.

Just drink lots of water so you can flush out the bad stuff. I don't think most people drink enough water.

I switch up the temperature of the water if I start getting bored with it. Just plain warm water, or full of ice cube water.
Posted 8/26/2016 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Does this fall under neuro symptoms? Just curious.
Posted 8/26/2016 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
That made me laugh. I think it falls under abx. for me but not sure.

Peteza, I drink non stop water. I have always been a water drinker.
Posted 8/26/2016 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
I had a dream last night that I met Dr. Horowitz! Lol. He gave me a special potion to drink that would cure me if it was lyme but I kept saying "but my fingers are still numb!"
Posted 8/26/2016 5:25 PM (GMT 0)

Huddie said...
That made me laugh. I think it falls under abx. for me but not sure.

Peteza, I drink non stop water. I have always been a water drinker.

Me too!!
Posted 8/26/2016 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
KO7,

Your dreams wins the Lyme Dream/nightmare contest! That made me laugh so hard. I hope you are sharing the kool-aid with the rest of us.
Posted 8/26/2016 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Huddie, when I first found out I had Lyme, I was obsessed with research and everything Lyme. It was all I thought about, all I talked about and all I did. I probably drove my family and friends nuts.

Now I have gotten back to normal. It is a new normal but I am content. I have come to a point of acceptance. I think because of this forum and being able to share and know that others are going through this too.

There was a time a few months ago when I had to stay off the computer. No forum and no research because I had to focus on something else. You will eventually get there too!

I wish you the best in this journey!
Posted 8/26/2016 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
When you can only sit around its hard not to think about it. Do whatever you can to keep your mind busy. For me its, Hobbies and more hobbies. Just have to figure out what you can still do.

That said, as a DIY selfer, with mad skills and a nice shop, sometimes just getting of the couch hurt to much to do anything...then a good comedy worked out well.

Post Edited (astroman) : 8/26/2016 12:03:31 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/26/2016 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Denikeef,

Hi. Thanks so much. I think I will do a forum detox this weekend. Although I am starting a new herb so doubtful. Lyme has made me needy! I can't really talk about at home. My husband thinks you take abx. when they are done you are fine, son thinks same thing. They don't get it at all but they don't need to. My in-laws live in upstate NY and we go there every weekend. Everyone has had Lyme. As I have mentioned before on here I don't think they really had it. I think they found a tick on themselves that perhaps wasn't infected, and they just took abx for six weeks. I don't remember any of them being sick. So they don't get it.

Very happy to hear you are in a good place now and one of acceptance. I want that now.

Feel good!
Posted 8/26/2016 5:55 PM (GMT 0)

Huddie said...
Denikeef,

My husband thinks you take abx. when they are done you are fine, son thinks same thing. They don't get it at all but they don't need to.

I know what you mean...one of my closest friend's husband was just diagnosed even though he was bit a few years back. She sent him to an ID, he got a month of abx and she says he's "fine." She's a nurse and she's ok with that treatment even though I tried to tell her it's not that simple. To her, it is. So I guess I seem like a drama queen or whatever.

But then I have a small group of people who have either had it bad or know someone who did and really struggled. They have been a blessing with their support and understanding.
Posted 8/26/2016 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Ok. PMM and k07, I am lmbo at your dreams. That leg holding is crazy. I can't stop laughing...... I have tears now😂😂😂😂😂😂
Posted 8/26/2016 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
I'm guilty of this too. I think about it at all moments. But it's because it consumes your life. Even when you're asleep. Just this afternoon I dreamt that I was severely ill and hooked up to all of these IV's in the hospital. But...my doctor was extremely cute, and he fell in love with me. It was a great story. So great that I got a 2.5 hour nap out of it. Haha.

I wish I had some better advice for not thinking about it. I try reading, but I'm reminded of it because of my low functioning brain. I try watching tv, but the stimulation is too much some days. I try editing pictures, but my heart just isn't in it anymore. Good luck. Maybe one day the cycle will be broken.
Posted 8/26/2016 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
I think about it too much too.
I find I have to restrain myself when I'm around other people because it's all I want to talk about haha.
Posted 8/27/2016 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
For me I write things down. keep a Journal. This way, once you sort it out and write it down it's out of your brain and you don't have to dwell on it. Have a plan, in writing

Set a dedicated time to study lyme. One hour a day? read a book. but when you are done, know that you have done your part and that the solution will take time. purposedly resting or relaxing is part of de-stressing which is part of curing Lyme.

I know it's hard when symptoms are nagging you every second of the day, but being flustered about them eats you up even more. don't give it that opportunity.

I had to accept and move one from feeling sick all the time, and that I could possibly feel that way the rest of my life. once I did that, I started dwelling less on the symptoms and built determination to heal, even if I have years ahead.
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