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Posted 5/30/2018 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. It's been a long time since I posted, I have had too much mental and physical set backs to be useful here but today I would love some conversation about something I don't remember reading much about.

Yesterday I started having the unprovoked severe panic attacks. Panic attacks and anxiety attacks have plagued me off and on for a long time. I had so much success with taking Avena Sativa (Milky oat tops tincture) that I've been free of the anxiety since mid-Winter and stopped the herb.

Yesterday I began having severe panic attacks, unprovoked as far as I can tell, but they did begin to feel like they were being triggered, though I don't know by what.

At first I feel like I am free falling very rapidly, with all of the usual physical symptoms you'd expect if that were happening. It winds down within maybe 20 minutes but I'm left with almost overwhelming nausea.

This weekend I had a Lyme test at the local hospital, ticks on me here have been bad. I haven't heard the results yet, and I'm not holding my breath they will be accurate. However it came to me in spite of the fact that I'm noticing huge memory loss during and coming out of these attacks, that my very first panic/anxiety attacks happened after becoming infected back in 1984. I never was specifically diagnosed correctly or treated adequately(You'd think) until 2 CDC positive results came back for RMSF, a few years ago. Sorry the year is a piece of information I have mentally lost, but I've documented it in this group somewhere.....


Anyway, I'm trying to do some research on the link between the two, actually to see if there is a link. I realize panic attacks can be different for everyone.

I'm having some success finding articles, and would love to hear any one here's personal experiences with this and how you handled it. Right now all I can do is ride it out. I got a 'script at the e.r. over the weekend for Doxy for supposed Lyme, (new infection). I am mentally sneering at the puny amount of 20 pills, but we'll see. I don't have the financial resources to purchase a lot of herbs, so don't really want to go into that here, just want to compare notes on this sheer panic thing and tick infections. smilewinkgrin

/r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Az_6wiPgBg9blgsA6AcPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByb2lvbXVuBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1527740257/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpubmed%
2f15990495%2F/RK=2/RS=nAlNh0Ros84Oaq13t_9ael0r_g0-
Posted 5/30/2018 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry the link may not be working. I'll try to get something that does.

It was a short enough article, I'll just copy and paste: "Panic attacks may reveal previously unsuspected chronic disseminated lyme disease.

Sherr VT.
Abstract
The author describes the histories of three patients with panic-like episodes that turned out to be related to underlying, previously unsuspected tick-borne diseases. Each woman experienced symptoms that are not usual in panic disorder but are typical of neurological Lyme disease, including exquisite sensitivity to light, touch, and sounds, joint pain often in combination with cognitive changes including mental fogginess and loss of recent memory, and some degree of bizarre, shifting, and often excruciating neurological pain. Because these symptoms are atypical of primary panic disorder, they were very helpful in alerting the clinician to suspect an underlying physical illness. In each case, the results of testing revealed positive hallmarks of disseminated Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, including Lyme borreliosis caused by the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis. Since beginning treatment with intensive doses of appropriate antimicrobial medications for their tick-borne infections, all three patients have become free of panic attacks. Treatment of their infections by a specialist in Lyme disease allowed one of the women to discontinue anti-anxiety medication completely and another to reduce the dose of medication to occasional use only. The third patient is no longer anxious but her depression is resolving more slowly despite the ongoing use of an antidepressant. Two of the patients have also needed ongoing medication for pain and other symptoms of late-stage, neurological Lyme disease."

Post Edited (julymorning) : 5/30/2018 3:46:10 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/30/2018 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
This is a relatively new video, 2 years on youtube, and I think that the information is very important to all of us. I encourage you to watch and comment if you do.

I think the definite answers I was looking for, to relate the possibly of a connection between my new extreme panic attacks to a new infection.

/youtu.be/82I9Z9NOU9g
Posted 5/30/2018 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry to hear you are dealing with this. While I don't have much insight on how best to deal, I myself have panic attacks from time to time. They are horrible and I never know if I will faint or if that's just the feelings induced. The days I've had them I've definitely been off the entire rest of the day. So far the only thing that's helped me personally is rest, make sure I'm in a quiet space, laying down either reading, sleeping or watching a show.
I hope you find some answers from the tests run and you feel better soon!
Posted 5/30/2018 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi julymorning,

I'm sorry to hear you're having panic attacks. It's a horrible thing to go through.

about 2 years ago I had some bad panic attacks related to frozen shoulder that I had at the time. I wasn't able to be in a small car and had to get out. I felt too restricted and panicked and started shaking. I have since read online that frozen shoulder can also be from lyme. I've had frozen shoulder in both my shoulders about 7 years apart. I had other panic attacks in earlier years from other things since I've had lyme.

I had mild shoulder pain in both shoulders before I began my current treatment, and mild anxiety from worrying about both shoulders going bad. Since taking the Jernigan remedies, and I believe my diet plays an important part in this too, I don't have anxiety over my shoulders and very seldom do I even notice them. Possibly Dr. Jernigan's remedies could help you, too. I'm starting my 3rd week of taking them.
Posted 5/30/2018 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you both for your input. My full empathy for what you have had to deal with.

The video I shared brings out that the panic attack feeling is the brain's response to being attacked by the stealth microbes of whatever Lyme related pathogen is there.

She begins to loose me with her more technical talk, I sort of glaze over, lol. I'm sure others may too.

She also seems to concentrate on the idea that the neurological aspect is related to chronic Lyme related infections. Note that this is all tick borne disease possibilities. So these re-newed ramped up symptoms could more likely be related to my initial infections.

Which is frightening when I consider all of the various half-cocked treatments I've had over the decades. I'm terrible about being a consistent or heavy handed self-medicator. Will I be able to stop this? (sorry, self directed question).

Post Edited (julymorning) : 5/30/2018 5:02:01 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/30/2018 11:28 PM (GMT 0)

julymorning said...
Thank you both for your input. My full empathy for what you have had to deal with.

The video I shared brings out that the panic attack feeling is the brain's response to being attacked by the stealth microbes of whatever Lyme related pathogen is there.

She begins to loose me with her more technical talk, I sort of glaze over, lol. I'm sure others may too.

She also seems to concentrate on the idea that the neurological aspect is related to chronic Lyme related infections. Note that this is all tick borne disease possibilities. So these re-newed ramped up symptoms could more likely be related to my initial infections.

Which is frightening when I consider all of the various half-cocked treatments I've had over the decades. I'm terrible about being a consistent or heavy handed self-medicator. Will I be able to stop this? (sorry, self directed question).

Hi Julymorning,

I found out I had Lyme disease after having a massive panic attack while driving on the highway. Felt like I was having a heart attack, called 911 and all. After about 2-3 weeks of my body going haywire (super anxiety, hot flushes in my head, severe insomnia, nausea, weight loss, brain fog) I finally convinced my doctor to test for a physical reason (he kept insisting I had anxiety- I have never had anxiety or panic or anything like it in my life) because I knew something was very wrong; I went from perfect health one minute to off the cliff the next.

I have found several articles that link lyme to anxiety, suicidal thoughts (which I also experience) and panic attacks. I have been on abx since Oct 2017. I am also on buspar for anxiety. I was given antidepressant as well but didnt do well on those.
Posted 5/30/2018 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lovemy3! Welcome to the group! Other than the weight loss, I experienced the same along with diagnosis of Pleurisy and Shingles (with no rash according to medical report) in 1084! So I did get some abx(antibiotics) for the Pleurisy. and it might have helped a little but not enough.

Everything that you speak of in your second paragraph is mentioned towards the end of the youtube video I attached, PLUS she gives a list of treatments that sound pretty good to me if you can get them all. I stopped the video to try to copy what was on screen, but I'll have to write it all out long hand. Copying isn't possible.

She also advocates use of the IgeneX labs for diagnosis.

I hope you are getting treatment now, or have access to someone who will treat you the right way. My best to you!
Posted 5/31/2018 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi julymorning - sorry that you’re having the horrible panic attacks.

Hope the Avena Sativa works for you again.


You mentioned testing for Lyme - Im thinking it was an Elisa and/or Western Blot?
Unfortunately if it’s positive - you won’t know if it’s from a new infection or the previous one.
And a negative doesnt rule out LD.

I had panic attacks early on with my infections - definitely caused by Lyme or coinfections
Posted 5/31/2018 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
It's going to be the Elisa, and I'm only hoping on it to get adequate help again now that I know what I need to really hit it good. I'm still taking Japanese Knotweed.

These attacks are different that what the Avena was helping me for. I'm afraid it's more than it can handle.

They come on fast and hard, I described it as if someone just with no warning pushed you out of an airplane with no parachute and you are free falling at 90 miles an hour. They take about 15 minutes to wind down, and then I discover I have some chunks of memory missing. Like recent memory and now I am finding typing skills/ word recall/spelling memory gone completely. Typing all this has been long an difficult.
Posted 5/31/2018 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
The memory part is disconcerting - that’s not something I experienced with my panic attacks - I do have memory issues but not connected to the panic episodes.

Hope you get a positive test result (sounds odd to say that!) - since that may help you to get a few months of abx.
Posted 5/31/2018 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
I'm with you on that hope for the very same reason. I used the word "alarming" just now with Pam. I still have an arsenal of good stuff I'm going to add to the knotweed I recently reordered, plus I'm going to order a sample pak of hemp oil when my check comes in.

I just sent out the rest of my cash for something to help with my COPD which has gotten also alarmingly worse and is my only hope in that area.
Posted 5/31/2018 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
- The patients in the study had Lyme, babesia, and ehrlichia.

- You're having panic attacks and severe cognitive symptoms.

- COPD has gotten alarmingly worse.

I hope you have some babesia treatments in your arsenal of stuff, because that sure is what it sounds like to me.

Keep us posted.
Posted 5/31/2018 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
I had attacks of crazy high heartrate, dizziness, near fainting that sent me to the ER numerous times within two weeks. My labs were really off, and this was shortly before I found out I had lyme. By my 3rd ER visit, drs tried to tell me these were panic attacks. I guess they sound similar, but I would call mine lyme, not panic attacks.

Anyway, during the 6 weeks after my ER visits before my diagnosis where I was trying to figure out what was wrong w me and simultaneously convince drs I wasn't having panic attacks, I did have an ELISA test, which was negative. I never got to see the test, just saw that my number was negative. If yours is too, get tested by Igenex just in case. I wasn't put off by the negative test cuz my mom's neighbor in WI had the same thing happen to him.
Posted 5/31/2018 8:31 PM (GMT 0)

WalkingbyFaith said...
- The patients in the study had Lyme, babesia, and ehrlichia.

- You're having panic attacks and severe cognitive symptoms.

- COPD has gotten alarmingly worse.

I hope you have some babesia treatments in your arsenal of stuff, because that sure is what it sounds like to me.

Keep us posted.

I don't. I actually haven't directly addressed it, and my arsenal such as it is, is geared towards Lyme. I haven't been actively treating since Winter. This breathing thing has really put me in a hopeless frame of mind. I have an order out for stuff I'm hoping will help reverse my breathing problems....we'll see.

Plus, My primary Doc has been very uncooperative now that I'm 3 years down the road from the abx he ordered for me. He wouldn't even order further the full labs I'd been getting every 4 months, when I saw him in April.

BUT, I appreciate your idea and will take it seriously. Maybe it's the direction to switch to for awhile! Thank you for your post!
Posted 5/31/2018 8:42 PM (GMT 0)

PDXtransplant said...
I had attacks of crazy high heartrate, dizziness, near fainting that sent me to the ER numerous times within two weeks. My labs were really off, and this was shortly before I found out I had lyme. By my 3rd ER visit, drs tried to tell me these were panic attacks. I guess they sound similar, but I would call mine lyme, not panic attacks.

Anyway, during the 6 weeks after my ER visits before my diagnosis where I was trying to figure out what was wrong w me and simultaneously convince drs I wasn't having panic attacks, I did have an ELISA test, which was negative. I never got to see the test, just saw that my number was negative. If yours is too, get tested by Igenex just in case. I wasn't put off by the negative test cuz my mom's neighbor in WI had the same thing happen to him.


I was doing the same thing back in the mid 80's! Between the e.r. and my GP, I was going at least 3 times a week. To give you an idea how nutz everything was, my GP put me on tranquilizers. I was a zombie for a couple of weeks. What a freaking mess these infections put you in!

UPDATE on the panic(?) attacks. Which I want to say again were different than I'd ever had in fast hitting, and short duration, as well as the confusion and memory chunks loss as they left. I have not had one at all since mid-night of last night. I think they are gone!! Just like that.

If it weren't for the strong initial feeling of rapidly falling through air, I'd almost think they were little TIA's.
At any rate it's assured I lost brain cells so I'm glad they've stopped. My friend and I were genuinely concerned I was going to loose a great deal more than I could function without.
Posted 6/1/2018 1:00 PM (GMT 0)

julymorning said...
If it weren't for the strong initial feeling of rapidly falling through air, I'd almost think they were little TIA's.
At any rate it's assured I lost brain cells so I'm glad they've stopped. My friend and I were genuinely concerned I was going to loose a great deal more than I could function without.

How do you know for sure it wasn't a TIA or a stroke? Were you checked out in the ER?
Posted 6/1/2018 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
I have had a lot of anxiety and recently was admitted to the hospital and was told I was most likely depressed. I was ready to try anything and so the doctors recommended ECT and I did seven treatments that has helped me.
I know that is extreme and ECT is not suppose to help much on anxiety but again I was going for anything. I still don't sleep and tried everything.
Posted 6/7/2018 5:39 AM (GMT 0)
Julymorning,l see you're just using herbs,is that under your llmd or using Buhner book? I have horrendous anxiety,the falling out of a plane is accurate
I can't sleep or rather l jerk awake with this and feel breathless and then the burning feet kick in plus panic in waves for hours
Will try that avena sativa and maybe hemp oil too
Sorry to everyone else having this,it's grim!
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