does anyone use SAMe? am I bipolar?

I started SAMe, as prescribed by my LLND, for depression. Ive been experiencing quite strange feelings in my head ie, pressure, a churning of forehead muscles, lightheadedness that comes and goes, quickly, and extreme anxiety as if I just badly need to squeeze and tighten all my muscles. My estrogen is below range so I already deal with crying spells, but now these extreme moods from anger to sadness...Uhg, its got to stop.

Spouse thinks Im bipolar, but he knows Im a 'Lymie'. I've been on doxy since mid-August, for Ehrliciosis. Spirochete OSPa(outer surface protein)and OSPb dna test is negative, but positive flagellan which means late stage, chronic Lyme.

Anyway, question 1-has anyone with Lyme been diagnosex bipolar and 2-has anyone had any success or adverse reactions to SAMe?

Thanks

Mcspike, first, welcome to this forum, I know you will get a great deal of support and helpful information here.

I may go out on a limb here, by saying my first guess is you are NOT bi-polar. These symptoms you bring up are quite common with Lyme infected folks, particularly if it gets into our brains, but not always necessarily so because so many other areas of our bodies control how we feel emotionally. Hormones can get really wonky.

ETA: I know of someone that was diagnoses bi-polar at age 18, but it turns out the person had Lyme, so between those two factors, age and Lyme, it had that affect on them.


As part of our welcome, I encourage you to go to the top of our topics and start reading our welcome, new to Lyme section. It's our Lyme 101 basically and has so much good info and links to answer about any question you could have.

I am not familiar with SAMe,, but others here may be, and will chime in.


Hah, Girlie, once again we post at the same time!

Well, it just goes to show how important our "Introduction" at the top is!

Post Edited (julymorning) : 11/4/2016 10:58:35 PM (GMT-6)

The amino acid, Sam-e is thought of as a natural anti-depressant. Not so simple though.

Its individual effects depend on your genetic make up (the make -up of your brain methataion pathways).

It is part of the methalation pathways in the brain. So some need it, some dont. Like some aminos, it builds up in time. Day 1 will be different than day 7. My Dr said give it two weeks unless obviously do not feel good from it.

/nccih.nih.gov/health/supplements/SAMe

SAMe may not be safe for people with bipolar disorder.

Its also for liver dysfunction- I trialed it for that, but my brain did not like/need it. Dr looked at a methalation "map" and showed me why based on my results (smart gene Dr).

My brain does like 5-htp though, I use it in low light winter. So I take other stuff now for my genetic liver issues.

If this does not work well for your mood, try other things then, there are many to choose.

Hi,
1st of all, thanks for your replies. I should say, Im not new to Lyme. I was 1st diagnosed and began all herbal abx and supplements in summer of 2014. In January of this year I started seeing a new Dr, who suspected re-infection from traipsing in thewoods during a trip I took to Maryland(im a west coaster). In July 2015 I had a pale rash w/a ring 3" in diameter,with a very small bug bite in its center...my Dr. during that summer said that Id be fine because I was already on herbal ABX. So between June 2014 and July 2015, Id done the following...

* Lyme herbal tincture(s)
*Heavy metals I.V. chelation
*U.V.B.I= ultra violet blood irradiation to bring down my high viral load of several human herpes viruses that were reactivated.
* Nac to deal w/the respiratory illness caused by mycobacterium
* babesia tincture for 2 months last fall
* supplements for reducing inflammtion, and restoring lost minerals that resulted from the chelation.

My 'new' doc has focused on getting my digestive tract to optimal functioning using chinese herbs, and GSE(grapefruit seed extract), probiotics etc; which has worked wonders! After G.I. was good, THEN we started the doxy to treat the ehrliciosis, which wasnt confirmed or diagnosed until a Dna Lyme test this past July!

Oh RE: the thyroid-YES, im on levothyronine. That was my main diagnosis back in 2010, by an MD who said I didnt have Lyme because the Elisa AND Igenix both were 'negative' (by CDC standards anyway).

RE: emotional health...
With Lyme, came early menopause. I'd always been a severe p.m.s.-er, and welcomed menopause, but this past year Its been very very tough, no, more like impossible to control my emotions. Im so sensitive= feelings hurt very easily. I have anger from dwelling on 'why me' thoughts-THAT i should be able to get control over. Anger because my MD treated me horribly back in 2010 when I insisted I had Lyme, but she basically said I just needed antidepressants. Can you BELIEVE she had the nerve to put in my permenent file that I have severe depressive disorder w/paranoia?!!! Oh and anger from the fact that EVERYONE who knows me accuse me of being a hypochondriac. They wont acknowledge my Lyme, OR when they do, they say, "Shouldnt you be getting better by now"?

But my severe mood swings are more like some outside force has literally TAKEN OVER! The 'episodes' are quite similar to bipolar ups and downs. The horrible thing is that I cannot take antidepressents, due to adverse reactions. I need a psych therapist, I guess. But I'd gone to counseling last year and was NOT impressed w/the psychiatrist, at all!!!

My current ND focused her schooling on microbiology, and is working under the Dr who owns the clinic that is very well known in my area as being 'the best', and 'only' Lyme literate doctor in a 60 mile radius. Theyre great, BUT not helpful in directing me to a Lyme literate therapist...

Thats WHAT I NEED!!!