hypervigilent or anxiety

Hi,
I have been suffering with Lyme disease, for many years. Also EBV, CMV. Been treated with antibiotics, antivirals and natural supplements for a long time.I feel like an exposed nerve! Loud sounds, violent TV, crowed places, too much exhaust smells or certain scents give headaches. I have always been like that, but less at times and able to cope well. I go in and out of this anxiety/fear feeling. I'm seeing neurologist. The ID doctor I went to poo pooed the whole Lyme and confections diagnosis even though I have been positive in the past. He said I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome if he was to diagnose me and told me to exercise and eat better. I have a fairly good diet and try to exercise here and there. I am so exhausted all the time. I just had a death in the family and been stressed and now feel like I am consumed with anxiety and don't know why. It's 24/7. Had it now for 7-9 months where it gets better then worse depending on stress. My hands tremor. I am just wondering if anybody else feels this way with CFS/ ME or anything else.

There are times in my life where I feel none of this ... and can usually get by with taking care of myself. I am on an antidepressant and vitamins and supplements and see therapist and psych doc and integrative dr. too. I'm just worn down. Any sharing on anxiety and hyperviligence would be helpful. I also go through depression with this but feel the anxiety leads to that. Anxious about being anxious and loosing my cognitive ability like thinking clearly, short term memory, word retrieval, no concentration making conversation, dizziness, organizing my thoughts, and making decisions. I'm 61 and the older I get I think the harder it is to bounce back. I know these are signs of depression and generalized anxiety, but feel there is more to this with all the viral load I have, and history of Lyme and infections. I feel like I am going crazy and main stream medicine can't help anymore. I am not working which makes it worse but grateful I am supported by my husband and can stay home but difficult because I don't feel productive. Anybody in the same boat and how do you cope?

emotions, yes a lot of your symptoms are ME/CFS. One of my main problems is my cognitive problems, I used to be able to retain much of what I would learn & read but now my brain is a leaky vessel. I too have a problem with making decisions. Brain fog seems to be one of the main symptom most of people with CFS complain about. I had to mourn the loss of my intelligence, it was hard. I was working when this illness first came on & I was starting to forget what I was doing often, couldn't remember basic things. My daughter will help me quite a bit when I tell her I can't remember something, she is very patient with me.

Fatigue/exhaustion is a huge problem & where they came up with the horrendous name of CFS. It is way more then fatigue. I too take an anti depressant, & I dealt with anxiety when I first became ill in 2001. I think my anti depressant has helped that. I am 66 and was on SS disability until this year when it switched to SS retirement due to my age. Disability may be something you would want to look into but be ready for a long struggle. I applied online.

Do you have sleep issues? I have horrible insomnia, I take two meds to help me sleep. Getting some type of refreshing sleep is key to maintaining a level of health, I mean not crashing which is called PEM (post exertional malaise). This is a symptom which is only found in CFS, the flaring of all of your symptoms & more due to exertion. You will have down days & days with a measure of energy but never like you used to have. I am happy when I can do dishes, something I couldn't do for a long time. Anyway, work with your Dr to find ways to sleep, without meds I can't sleep longer then 3 hours & that is not deep sleep, I wake up exhausted & foggy.

Well, if you have anymore questions feel free to ask me & I will see if I can help you, hugs, Denise

Yes, almost medfree, it did go up about $150.00 over what I was receiving before. I had been receiving SSD & SS from my husband who died 9 years ago. I was really worried that it was going to go down but was pleasantly surprised. When are you turning 66?