What to do Next?

I don't understand why your doc will not give you something for anxiety? When lyme is chronic, treatment must be ongoing, whether abx or naturals. You need to keep going and sometimes, that means extra help in the form of anti-anxiety or antidepressant meds to get you through the difficult periods. I would push your doc hard for something to calm you down so you can continue treating.

Even though it's hard to imagine what MORE some patients need to be experiencing to get the medications they need (and seem so readily available to others), it's a liability that many doctors just aren't willing to take on. I could recommend a few different options:

1) Approach your doctor by letting him know that you're absolutely at your peak of desperation with anxiety and CANNOT function with it any longer. Let him know that you're on the verge of failing to complete your education, that you "need help" (I've found these two words to be extremely effective - I think it give the doctor the authority he wants, but also a challenge for him to solve), and that you don't know what to do. Ask him, "what do I do?" This is a very important question, too, because it puts him in the position of having to provide an answer and/or several options if requested by you...

2) Write your doctor a letter. You seem very articulate in the way you wrote you post. Sometimes it's beneficial to write (instead of talk) because it allows you to relay ALL of your thoughts and concerns, with no interruption, which the doctor must consider before giving an answer.

3) Ask your doctor if there's someone else you can see who may be able to help you (medically) with the anxiety. Be COMPLETELY honest with the fact that you need an IMMEDIATE solution, as you have responsibilities that are only adding to the anxiety...and the fact that you wish to try to treat this medically (versus psychotherapy). There's nothing wrong with this - I've always been very pro-medication/quick fix if it's an option! By basically saying, "if you can't help me, can you refer me to someone who CAN?" may encourage HIM to be the one to step up and give it a try...

4) If all else fails, consider seeing another doctor. I changed my primary care physician three or four times out of desperation for someone to help... It ended up being a matter of one phone call to my insurance company each time I wanted to change it (far from complicated!).

5) There are also some pretty effective herbal remedies for anxiety.

Like I said in a previous post, I don't know any other "cure" for the sweating other than Botox therapy, which most people (with conditions that cause excessive sweating) have had excellent results from. It can also be a great remedy for migraines if you suffer from that as well...

Good luck - keep pressing on that you are in an emergency situation and your education is on the line... I have been through everything you've described and I know how awful it is - there are no words. I, too, Herxed hard from every antibiotic I took (some causing an "allergic reaction" which put me in the hospital, which wasn't actually an allergy but more Herxing).

Rachel

I am not sure why your doc is hesitant...in the last few years it seems doctors have become less ....anxious about prescribing an antianxiety med.
Perhaps cite how anxiety is a well-known symptom of Lyme, and people have been helped by anxiolytics. Perhaps even cite what medications. Perhaps tell your doc you have been on such meds before, and had no issues with dependence on it, and it has helped you function better. Then, maybe if he/she sees a precedence for use of benzos with Lyme, they will feel they are not doing anything other docs have not done in Lyme.

But sometimes it does mean a switch of docs--if not permanently, then just for this purpose--or even try a psychiatrist. With my history of alcohol abuse, some docs would never prescribe me an anything that can be addictive. I found one who was not so leery, and it has helped when I give examples in the past when the meds have helped me, and when I tell them I never had a problem of feeling urges to take more than prescribed.....I also have pre-empted their concerns by saying I have some concerns about becoming addicted, and want to use it only as needed when the anxiety is reallly bad.

Other things that help me--though not to the same degree: valerian root extract helps me keep calm and slows my heart rate.

If that does not work, maybe just confront them-ask why they won't prescribe. But also consider a psychiatrist. There are antidepressant medications that have antianxiety properties, such as zoloft. Since they are not addictive, many docs are more comfortable going that route. But a psychiatrist would overall be a better guide for you with the psychological symptoms.
Hope that helps!

Stress, brought on by anxiety will most likely make the symptoms you are already having worse & may even bring on more symptoms.

Yes, we each are different in our reaction to meds...I, too,happened to like klonopin better than Xanax.

well, looks i'm not seeing that doc on friday. apparently they lost my appointment and my mother has had the last of it since my doctor is actually 2 hours away from where i live. I guess I will need to find a new doctor asap since I need a doctor who can prescribe NeuroRepletes (i've been on them for a year, otherwise i'm pretty depressed without them) and one who can help manage my lyme.

I live in richmond, va. I have tricare standard medical insurance. Does anyone know of a good doctor in this area or how to find a one? Maybe one that takes my insurance?

finally seein my doctor in about an hour and a half...phone appt. hopefully i can convince him to give me something for the panic symptoms....i stupidly ate gluten a couple hours ago and now my heart is racing and i feel my herx symptoms coming back.

any suggestions to convince him i really need something? he has always denied me in the past. if not i have an appt with a different doctor on nov. 19th.

guess i'll let you guys know what happens in a half hour

Do the anti-microbials you refer to treat all of the potential coinfections? Some are not bacteria, they are protozoa, parasites, and some are viruses. Are you talking about a natural remedy that addresses all pathogens and parasites? I don't know much about natural remedies, but with the coinfections I have, meds are different than for Lyme, so it was important to know what they are.

I'm glad to hear you were able to get a phone appointment, and that you are now getting some meds to help with anxiety. I took Paxil for awhile. It really helped with anxiety, but I did not like weaning off of it - lots of physical side effects from that. I hope the clonazepam works well for you.

I doodle, too, to quell anxiety. In my experience, teachers take a dim view of that. I tried the ipod discretely in one ear with relaxing music; I was listening with the other ear, but that didn't fly either. Finally, to get me through classes when I needed something, I brought a tactile object to discretely manipulate while I was listening and taking notes. That seemed to cause no problems, or attention, and gave me something to do.

Rose

LOL - I could not focus if I wasn't keeping the restless part of me busy doing something else! I have those anti-single-tasking days, too. Those are good days to be a pampered person lounging in a detox bath with an aromatherapy candle going and soft music in the background. In my case, usually, punctuated by barking poodles, but nothing is perfect!

Rose