Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1053250

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Lyme disease: root of my depression?

Posted by former poster on October 28, 2013, at 15:38:27

Is it possible that my depression and anxiety are the result of undiagnosed Lyme disease? My cognitive decline has made it difficult to find the many posts I have seen on Babble over the years on this subject. After Googling all day for the symptoms of Lyme the consensus seems to be that I have "chronic Lyme disease".
Having these symptoms:

Depression
Anxiety, panic attacks(derealisation, social anxiety,)
Chronic fatigue
Severe chronic pain mostly in the knees.
Memory problems
Attention problems
tinnitus
hearing loss
vision problems, some loss
tremor
numbness
tingling

I was bitten by a deer tick in the 1990's, got a red spot (no bullseye). Got the 3 week doxycycline treatment

For years, I have been feeling twitchy, clumsy.. I stumble and fall often. I have seen GP for these symptoms alone. Have been tested for Lyme, resulting negative.

Phillipa.. As I recall you are a retired nurse with Lyme disease. What do you think of this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxxpyGSZ4rU

My feet look *exactly* like the ones in the video.

Coincidentally, my left foot is more severely infected and left knee more severely damaged meniscus. Is there a connection?

Are the tests for Lyme / chronic Lyme disease more accurate now? Should I get tested again?

 

Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression?

Posted by Phil on October 28, 2013, at 16:40:20

In reply to Lyme disease: root of my depression?, posted by former poster on October 28, 2013, at 15:38:27

Get a referral from your GP to an infectious disease specialist.

 

Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » Phil

Posted by former poster on October 28, 2013, at 19:59:57

In reply to Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression?, posted by Phil on October 28, 2013, at 16:40:20

Then he will say, "no we tested you already".

Seriously, I think my chart has "hypochondriac" stamped on it. Another thing: I've learned to be very careful saying the word "pain". Instantly they think "narcotic addiction", their focus is diverted from the patient well being to their being scrutinized or disciplined for prescribing narcotics. "I don't take pain pills only NSAID's" -This is how I greet my physician. If I start the conversation about "pain", things won't go well.

I'm really alarmed at my hearing loss. My daughter sitting 10 ft away and just now I had to ask her to repeat a word 5 times. At this rate I will be deaf at 70.

 

Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression?

Posted by sigismund on October 28, 2013, at 21:28:10

In reply to Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » Phil, posted by former poster on October 28, 2013, at 19:59:57

>I've learned to be very careful saying the word "pain". Instantly they think "narcotic addiction"

Yeah. When I went to hospital I was asked
'Are you a user of recreational drugs?'
NO
How many alcoholic drinks do you have a day?
More than 4

That way, I hoped, they might get the message and treat me as if I were one of them.

 

Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » former poster

Posted by Phillipa on October 28, 2013, at 21:47:43

In reply to Lyme disease: root of my depression?, posted by former poster on October 28, 2013, at 15:38:27

Your description and video are nothing like the chronic lymes I am familiar with. Europe may be different but seriously never heard of all this skin stuff. My skin has been fine over the years. Had two MRI's brain showed no MS which can be mistaken for lymes here. Spinal tap showed no lymes present either. My Western Blot & ANA at the time were very high. But after having a pic line and rocephin IV for about a week and then switching the biaxin xl for two years. I feel I have no chronic side effects at all from the lymes. If I do it's what caused the initial hypothyroidism which lead to high anxiety and really not depression.

As for the testing. A false Positive is common. So I would concur to ease you mind see infection control doc. Most lymes here transmitted by the deer tick not dogs. Ticks on dogs and even yourself are easily seen when they bite as latch on and they suck the blood until they become large. They say if you get a tick Pull carefully with tweezers, Put in alcohol and deliver to health department where the tick can be tested to see if it contains the virus. Most usually severe arthritis is present in knees even in kids that get bitten and left untreated. But early on doxycycline works very well. Phillipa

 

Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » sigismund

Posted by former poster on October 29, 2013, at 2:13:56

In reply to Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression?, posted by sigismund on October 28, 2013, at 21:28:10

"That way, I hoped, they might get the message and treat me as if I were one of them."

I love it.. LOL

 

Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » Phillipa

Posted by former poster on October 29, 2013, at 2:25:42

In reply to Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » former poster, posted by Phillipa on October 28, 2013, at 21:47:43

Oh well... I guess I'm screwed. Over the years I have pulled maybe 1,000 ticks off that were crawling on me, 100 ticks removed that were embedded but they were wood ticks safe from Lyme disease. I only found 1 deer tick embedded. Wonder how many went un-noticed? I don't think the Dr. will be happy tomorrow when i complain about pain again. Maybe when I tell him I'm waiting for aortic replacement surgery he might pay attention?

 

Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » former poster

Posted by Phillipa on October 29, 2013, at 21:22:50

In reply to Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » Phillipa, posted by former poster on October 29, 2013, at 2:25:42

That is serious. Somehow I don't feel it's lyme related though. I don't know what to say to you but how it all goes well. Phillipa

 

Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » former poster

Posted by sigismund on October 30, 2013, at 13:28:14

In reply to Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » sigismund, posted by former poster on October 29, 2013, at 2:13:56

I was asking my doctor for metformin, early stage cancer, to keep the horse in the paddock and said 'If the horse gets out I'm not going to engage in any bizarre first world rituals to prove I love life. I will report to the palliative care unit', and then wondered if I should have said it.

 

Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » former poster

Posted by SLS on October 30, 2013, at 13:45:21

In reply to Lyme disease: root of my depression?, posted by former poster on October 28, 2013, at 15:38:27

You've probably seen this already, but just in case...

http://www.columbia-lyme.org/

Let me know what you think.


- Scott

 

Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » former poster

Posted by former poster on October 30, 2013, at 14:11:43

In reply to Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » Phillipa, posted by former poster on October 29, 2013, at 2:25:42

>>"pulled maybe 1,000 ticks off"<<

Started getting into a rant. Exaggerated a bit. The honest number of ticks should be about 1/2. I apologize for that, and not keeping on the subject of medication.

Got a lot of anxiety about going into aortic replacement surgery with un-diagnosed disease.

Neighbour 1/2 mile from me, mother, father, child all tested positive for Lyme disease. Seems the father had for decades but came out negative with many tests until finally went to the right clinic. I can't get advice from them because they have since moved.

Contacting my GP today and insist he send me to a infectious disease specialist as you suggested Phil.

 

Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » former poster

Posted by Phillipa on October 30, 2013, at 21:20:14

In reply to Re: Lyme disease: root of my depression? » former poster, posted by former poster on October 30, 2013, at 14:11:43

Definitely infection control specialist and a good one as some blow it off. I found rheumatologists blow it off also. I was lucky I found a gem of one. Good luck. Phillipa


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