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Postpartum depression or lyme or both

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Lyme Disease
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Posted 3/30/2013 9:02 PM (GMT -5)
After the birth of my fourth child, ten months ago, I have experienced panic (with hour long shaking episodes), anxiety, and depression. It comes in waves. A lot of it stems from the fact my head feels funny at times. I feel pressure in my head and find it difficult to concentrate. Sometimes, it feels like I have had an alcoholic drink when I haven't. Overall, I just don't feel so great- low energy and lethargic. I never had anything like this before.
I decided to have the western blot done since I live in major deer tick country and my dogs are always getting lyme. The first test was through lab corp and I was one band short of being positive on both the Igg and the Igm. My doctor didn't like that too much so she urged me to retest in a month with the i genex western blot. Now, I have a CDC positive igm and an igenex positive Igg. I went to a llmd who said I am definitely positive and he believes I have a current active case. He thinks I will do just fine on abx because I am not that sick. He said lyme can totally screw with my head and cause my anxiety.
I think the lyme is making me crazy and doubt everything I hear. I just need to know that I am on the right track- especially since I have to take antibiotics while breastfeeding.
Posted 3/31/2013 7:58 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Jitzoo, so sorry to hear you are feeling so horrible.  Been there done that.  Yes you are certainly on the right track.  Lyme causes horrible anxiety and on top of just having a baby, your hormones are probably going crazy.  In addition, childbirth puts such stress on the body that your immune system was probably struggling to start with.  If you don't remember a bite, there will be no way to know if you have an "early" case or not because your symptoms could have set in after the childbirth.  Many many people first get symptoms after a very stressful event but have had the disease for years. 

I wish you all the luck in the world with your new baby and lyme.  This forum will be your lyme helpline, or at least it was for me. 

Posted 3/31/2013 9:11 AM (GMT -5)
Jitzoo,

You and I have very similar symptoms. I really do feel like I know exactly how you are feeling--so don't feel alone.  I have the pressure-like headaches and I cannot concentrate for the life of me.  I often feel really out of it--almost like a "buzzed" feeling, which I know can feel so scary. I have felt this way for many, many years (15+) but was always told that it was in my head.  After the birth of my daughter the symptoms got much, much worse and after a long journey I found out that I have Lyme.  I have just finished my first week of antibx and I'm herxing so at least I know it's working.  I'm really glad that you figured it out.  You are definitely on the right track.  Hang in there and best of luck with to you and your baby.

Katie

Posted 3/31/2013 9:59 AM (GMT -5)
www.thehumansideoflyme.net/articlelist.php?mid=4

I had so many panic attacks after the birth of my first child, which is when I believe my lyme was reactivated. I went to weekly therapy which helped but had air hunger.. my therapist never mentioned that other things could be the cause of my anxiety and although talk therapy helped, I so wish I would have known about lyme then. I lost all of my first child's baby hood to it.. and the first two years of my second child's.

I had to wean my second at 14 months (considering I nursed my first for over 2 years, this was big to me) to start a herbal cleanse. It was hard to wrap my mind around that but I was so glad I was able to nurse her to the point where she could eat solids.

Put on your oxygen mask now, mama, with no anxiety or regrets.
Posted 4/1/2013 4:00 PM (GMT -5)
Yes, definitely sounds like you are on the right track.

During the end of my second pregnancy I started to get ill and then 2 days after delivery I became extremely ill. I had anxiety and depression along with a myriad of other systemic symptoms, but because I was postpartum, most doctors said it was PPD.

I knew something was seriously wrong so I continued to search for answers. I found out a year later (7 months ago) that I have lyme disease as well as Bartonella and Babesia. The co-infection symptoms can be as bad, if not worse, than the lyme disease itself sometimes.

You are on the right track! It will be a long, slow recovery process, but you are already "ahead of the game" just by knowing why you're sick.
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