feeling faint.. all the time

I'm newer to Lyme, as I have been very ill with it for about 5 months - and started treatment 2 months ago. We have tracked the initial infection to a few years ago when I had this rash I just thought was a spider bite.

My biggest issue is that I can't stand hardly at all. I feel faint, and actually one of my first sign of being sick was fainting. My doctor has tried hydrocortisone which seems to maybe help a tiny bit, but not enough for me to comfortably walk a couple of blocks. I have brain fog 24/7. Can't even go to stores because I can't stand that long and the lighting bothers me. My other symptoms are neurological, and my blood pressure is usually around 90/60 or less.

I've tried to get my blood pressure up with eating salt, but I just can't seem to get enough salt to matter.

Does anyone else have this issue?

Have you been tested for POTS or dysautonomia? That might be key? Also, fludrocortisone is probably better than Prednisone.

Margaret

Thanks for the thoughts, actually I am waiting the results of my autonomic (including tilt table) tests that I had one month ago. My results keep getting lost or something since it came from another hospital, total nightmare. I'm learning I can't be patient like I am normally and have to be proactive to get my results quicker - which is hard when I am so tired. All I know is the lab told me my results are 10 pages, and they can only let my doctor give them to me. Hopefully that will have some answers but I am getting to the point where I am going to mentally lose it from the lack of urgency. I've learned if I am not bleeding the urgency is low (especially learned this from the ER). I will see what I can find out about fludrocortisone.

Aren't you not supposed to take hydrocortisone when you have Lyme?

It is okay under 30mg (hydrocortisone) which would be a physiological replacement if you are deficient. Fludrocortisone is similar. It works for people with low aldosterone to help you retain salt and fluids and maintain BP.

I did a 30 day heart monitor and it showed a lot of benign arrhythmia's. I also did an echo (normal). A tilt table test wasn't required for me. I documented my fainting and tracked my BP when it occurred.

I has the same problems and I got diagnosed with Orthostatic Hypotension/POTS from a cardiologist. He put me on adderall for it and it helped tons. Adderall is now an approved treatment for it. I realize its speed, but I don't care. It has given me some of my life back. So if your doctor doesn't prescribe it, find another cardiologist who does and try it out. I knew within 2 days that it was helping. I take 10 mg twice a day. Be careful with azithromycin if you have this though. My cardiologist said it is not ok for is to take it. It gave me an arrhythmia. Also combined with diflucan or itraconazole it is even worse. I recommend checking all your meds on rxlist.com for reactions prior to taking them.