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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by spriggy on July 22, 2006, at 23:26:24
I just read this; thought it was very interesting.
I know my depression/anxiety symptoms began with an infection.Here's the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3540627/site/newsweek/
Forgive me if this has already been shared.
Posted by SLS on July 23, 2006, at 0:49:11
In reply to virus/infection/inflammation cause of mental ill?, posted by spriggy on July 22, 2006, at 23:26:24
> I just read this; thought it was very interesting.
>
> I know my depression/anxiety symptoms began with an infection.
>
> Here's the link:
>
> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3540627/site/newsweek/
>
>
> Forgive me if this has already been shared.
Was it viral or bacterial?I tried taking doxycycline for several months just for the hell of it. In addition to its anti-bacterial actions, it also possesses separate anti-inflammatory properties that I wanted to take advantage of. The thing with doxycycline is that improvements in depression sometimes come in waves, often preceded by temporary worsenings.
Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose. There are several laboratories that perform blood tests, but they are run differently and vary in reliability. As a point of interest, both Lyme and syphilis are produced by spirochetes.
- Scott
Posted by spriggy on July 23, 2006, at 2:01:59
In reply to Re: virus/infection/inflammation cause of mental i, posted by SLS on July 23, 2006, at 0:49:11
I had one doctor suggest I had Lymes but my test came back negative ( he said they aren't reliable). I do know I was bitten by a tic in 1997; not sure if there would be such a delayed reaction or not.
I got sick in december 2004; It was a bacterial infection in the beginning- high white count and strep throat.
Then, turned into Epstein Barr ( which is viral), so I had both.
I never, ever dealt with such horrible depression or anxiety or just general " weirdness" in my mental state until after the sickness.
No doubt for me it was the connection but how to cure it is still the golden question!!
Posted by spriggy on July 23, 2006, at 2:05:10
In reply to Re: virus/infection/inflammation cause of mental i, posted by spriggy on July 23, 2006, at 2:01:59
What is doxycycline?
I've never heard of it. Do you think it would benefit someone with Chronic Epstein Barr and fibromyalgia?
Posted by SLS on July 23, 2006, at 5:54:54
In reply to oh and SLS, posted by spriggy on July 23, 2006, at 2:05:10
> What is doxycycline?
It is an anti-bacterial antibiotic with anti-inflammatory properties. It is sometimes used to treat Lyme Disease.
> I've never heard of it. Do you think it would benefit someone with Chronic Epstein Barr and fibromyalgia?
No. Probably not.
However, there is a possibility that sibutramine would help with the fibromyalgia. It will probably be the next drug I try if Topamax doesn't all of a sudden become a miracle drug for me. It really isn't doing much for me right now at 125mg.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060709/msgs/667446.html
You won't find a heck of a lot on sibutramine regarding its use in treating depression and fibromyalgia, but keep in mind that the drug and its metabolites are triple-reuptake-inhibitors (serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine). It is sort of like a well-balanced Effexor. Effexor has already demonstrated some effectiveness in treating fibromyalgia.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on July 23, 2006, at 11:56:37
In reply to oh and SLS, posted by spriggy on July 23, 2006, at 2:05:10
Spriggy hey girl long time!!!! Remember I have chronic lymes disease? The first antibiotic they tried was doxycycline. It didn't get rid of the lymes as I then was given Rocephin IV then Biaxin LR. According to my last test my Western Blot is still positive and will always be. I subscribe to a lymes newsletter. When I get my next one I'll forward it to you. I usually don't get one on Sunday but get three daily during the week. I still say it was the lymes that started this with me. Love Jan
Posted by cloudydaze on July 24, 2006, at 13:17:48
In reply to Re: oh and SLS » spriggy, posted by Phillipa on July 23, 2006, at 11:56:37
I have always believed there is a mind/body connection...
Learned about the phenomenon in my stress management class. Physical diseases can cause mental problems and mental problems can cause physical illnesses. If you're stressed out, your immune system can be depressed...
It's all very interesting to me, considering I have 2 autoimmune disorders - apparently caused by stress. I've had Vitaligo since I was 12, and I had Alopecia for awhile when I was 17 or 18...actually, the Alopecia cured itself after taking a Stress Management class in junior college....but the Vitaligo has spread and gotten much worse.
For those who don't know - Vitaligo is a disorder of the skin where pigmentation is lost in certain areas. And of course, I have dark enough skin that it contrasts to the Michael Jackson-white patches of skin :) It usually happens wherever there is damage to the skin - if I get a cut, scrape, or even a mosquito bite, it can turn white. All my stretch marks from pregnancy are white patches now.
Alopecia is the loss of hair in patches. People with advanced alopecia have no hair on their bodies at all. Not even eyebrows. Luckily, I only lost hair in one patch, and it grew back white....which is why i keep my hair dyed :) Apparently I'm lucky it grew back at all.
These disorders are basically the body attacking itself due to stress, or some other cause. My mother also has a few autoimmune disorders - but I'm not sure what they are. I think it has a genetic basis.
Although I hate having them, I think they are fascinating.
Posted by spriggy on July 25, 2006, at 3:25:46
In reply to Re: oh and SLS, posted by cloudydaze on July 24, 2006, at 13:17:48
My son (who is autistic) had Alopecia about 5 years ago. He just got this complete bald spot in the back of his head ( he has thick, wavy, beautiful hair).
He was about 5 years old at the time and it lasted for about 9 months.
It grew back and I almost forgot about it until I found a home video a month ago and watched it.
There "it" was on the video; the bald spot!!Interestingly enough, when we had him go through chelation for mercury poisoning, his hair started to grow back!
How weird is that?
Posted by laima on August 1, 2006, at 21:26:49
In reply to virus/infection/inflammation cause of mental ill?, posted by spriggy on July 22, 2006, at 23:26:24
I haven't seen the article, but certaintly can report that my mildish depression got out control several years ago during and after a severe and hellacious flu-like sickness. Feverish, shivery, hallucinations, headaches, vomit- everything. My family had gone away for Thanksgiving, while I opted to stay home because I needed to finish a major project. Big mistake- I suddenly out of the blue found myself so ill that I couldn't even crawl to a phone for help. By the time my family (and friends and neighbors) came back I was physically improved and able to get to the doctor, but she deduced it was too late for effective testing to find out what the mysterious sickness was. But my mood crashed during the experience, and hasn't been the same since. Weird.
This is the end of the thread.
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