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Posted 9/16/2016 6:34 PM (GMT -5)
Hi, possible Lyme victim located in Olympia, Washington. After a few months of battling paralysis and other crazy neurological symptoms I'm fairly sure what I have is lyme. distinctly horrible concentration, abnormal gait, odd blood pressure, sporadic headaches, depression. I am currently looking around the Olympia Washington area for an LLMD that is somewhat affordable, I have no cash however which is problematic. I am wondering how you wait for one to make an appointment (have to wait over the week and just developed new symptoms) and deal with the depression? Sometimes it has me feeling so hopeless I'm suicidal, and I can rarely just sleep it off. Not to mention I'm so anxious about passing out and things like that. Also, if you could give any referrals for LLMDs around here that are somewhat affordable for a college student, I would greatly appreciate it.
Posted 9/16/2016 6:55 PM (GMT -5)
And what can I do about the depression in the meantime of waiting for an LLMD? It's so debilitating. I want to live but parts of me just wants to die to get the pain over with.
Posted 9/16/2016 7:07 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Michael Love - welcome to our community!

I'm sorry you are suffering with the depression.

Because it can take several weeks to months to get into see a LLMD - you may have to see your PCP about help with your depression...or get a referral from him.
The other option is to try to treat the depression with herbals.

To find a LLMD, start a new thread titled: "Looking for LLMD in /near Olympia, Washington" And then enable your email option so members can send you names privately.

Is Olympia near Seattle? If so, you can email me and I will give you a name.

Since you are new here, it would be helpful for you to take a look through the 'New to Lyme?..Start Here!" thread at the top of the page.
Posted 9/16/2016 7:14 PM (GMT -5)
Would it be beneficial to get on anti-depressants with the Lyme? I can feel the Lyme literally making me depressed not as a secondary depression (because of its effects) but primary (it is taking the joy away from everything)
Posted 9/16/2016 7:31 PM (GMT -5)
Some people do find anti-depressants work when it's a symptom of lyme.
i was lucky, my bouts of depression resolved for the most part even prior to treatment.

Various body systems malfunction because of lyme...and we do need to support them until the treatment can help resolve those symptoms.

For instance, if our adrenals are suffering...even if it's due to lyme- it's best to support our adrenals. Otherwise, our body doesn't have the resources to fight the lyme. It will be working too hard to prop up the adrenals.

Personally, I would try herbal treatments for depression first.

You can do a search on this forum: (top right blue bar) Type in "Lyme - depression - natural treatment/herbs"

or something like that.
Posted 9/16/2016 7:42 PM (GMT -5)
take L-tryptophan.

It is needed for serotonin production, and in large doses it's has anti-inflammatory properties.

Buhner recommends 4.5g day. I'm taking 1.5g x 3d
Posted 9/16/2016 7:52 PM (GMT -5)
I will look into it, thanks. Would zoloft be worth a try? At least until I can see an MD?
Posted 9/16/2016 8:48 PM (GMT -5)
Welcome to the community! You would need to see a Dr. in order to get a prescription for an anti-depressant.

articles re: depression and lyme that are helpful
https://www.lymedisease.org/jen-crystal-all-in-your-head-2/
http://www.publichealthalert.org/the-difference-between-depression-and-lyme-depression.html

For immediate relief - I've gotten benefit from tapping!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDxLLgiTsjE

For my depressed episodes I manage it with medical marijuana.

Been down the anti-depressant route.

Also - light therapy was a big help.

Good luck!
Posted 9/16/2016 9:06 PM (GMT -5)
I feel like I'm going to die. Is this normal? It's just this feeling of total dread. I imagine I've had Lyme for about 2 years now.
Posted 9/16/2016 9:10 PM (GMT -5)
I've had the total dread many, many times...it's horrible. Just a sense that I might not make it out alive...
It's usually when my physical symptoms are at their worst...
I used to wake up a few times during the night in a panic...gasping for air. It got to the point where I didn't want to go to bed at night.

I have that feeling less and less now...and my sleep is much better.

Don't worry...you will get there, too. It's all so overwhelming in the beginning (and even later on sometimes)
Posted 9/16/2016 9:51 PM (GMT -5)
Look at buhner's books on lyme and bartonella. He recommends pretty affordable herbs for depression. He also i think explains why lyme and co infections cause depression better than anyone.

Also if you are less than 26 years of age apply for a lymelight grant for treatment!
Posted 9/16/2016 9:53 PM (GMT -5)
Just remind yourself that youll get through this and that lyme treatment will take these weird aymptoms away even the depression and dread. If u read buhners books ull be amazed at how many things are going awry in your brain with these infections :/
Posted 9/16/2016 11:18 PM (GMT -5)
how the hell do you fall asleep with neuro lyme? just entered this stage. feels like i rolled in poison ivy and beat my head against a fence post 100 times.
Posted 9/17/2016 11:56 AM (GMT -5)
So sorry you are going through this. Many have been there or are still experiencing similar. Yes the sadness/depression can be awful. Lyme, viruses, bacteria, fungi can all affect your neurotransmitter levels. I'm quite certain that your neurotransmitters are out of whack as this is typical. B vitamins are required to adequately synthesize the amino acids that up-regulate serotonin. Other things that you can try that may/may not have been mentioned are vitamin D, 5-htp, curcumin/tumeric, fish oil, St. John's wart.

I would recommend that you check all benefits, contraindications, and side effects of all recommendations. And also remember that what may work for someone else may not necessarily work for you.

When you do meet with your LLMD, I would hope that they check your vitamin levels also. Vitamin D is very important as well with regard to mood and most people are low in Vitamin D.
Posted 9/17/2016 1:34 PM (GMT -5)
thank you very much. is there a lyme support chat anybody knows of? like, a real-time chat? I like the option of being able to vent about my depressive and anxious tendencies as they come along with others going through the same thing.
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