Yeast and panic?
I wonder if the probiotics were displacing yeast in the people in the study. I understand they can clear up yeast in those with a mild problem. My yeast problem requires a lot more than just probiotics, but this study was on basically normal people, was it not?
The reason I ask that, is because Diflucan takes away my panic disorder completely. My doctor refuses to give it to me unless I've had cortisone, which I am forced to do when I get stung by members of the hymenoptera family. I get stung a lot here in the land of flowers and bugs (Florida) and the cortisone really sets me back. It is anathema in Lyme patients, but I have no choice. Some Lymies take one tablet of Diflucan per week for maintenance, since systemic yeast overgrowth is a constant problem in Lyme. I wish I could do that.
I've taken probiotics longer than I've been ill. In fact, they were the only supplement I took before becoming ill. I've been taking them constantly since 1983 to prevent vaginal yeast. Now I take tons of supplements.
I now take a very strong probiotic with 15 strains and 35 billion live organisms, and I culture one capsule from each batch when I get it, since I live in such a hot place and feel the need to make sure shipping has not killed all the organisms. This has had NO effect on lessening my panic at all.
Like several of you mentioned, we are all different. I recently read a study saying that people with panic disorder all have low urine PH, about 5.5. People without panic averaged a 7. My urine PH runs between 7 and 8.5 yet I start to have panic attacks every single time I wake up at night and any time I am in a crowded or noisy place or am startled or have to multi-task and rush or get angry. Maybe I am the exception that proves the rule, but....
I read another study several years ago which said 90% of panic attacks occur during the day, and if you are having them in your sleep, which is where 90% of mine occur, it is 100% certain you have sleep apnea and a CPAP will cure your attacks. It turned out I did have apnea, got a CPAP and had it tested several times to make sure it was working. I have a very low level of apnea now, only .8 per hour, which is normal. Yet, after 2.5 yrs. of faithfully using it, the machine has had zero effect on the number of panic attacks I have. Very disappointing.
The only thing that has helped the anxiety attacks has been large doses of L-tryptophan. I take 1.5 grams at bedtime and another 1.5 grams when I wake up at 3 am to take my next set of meds. This has reduced the number of full blown attacks substantially, and reduced the severity of the attacks as well. (I cannot take the stronger 5-HTP because of my heart damage from Lyme and high blood pressure....it is too potent a vasoconstrictor and caused serious problems for me).
Recently, I read that L-tryptophan is probably causing dangerous levels of quinolinic acid in my brain and increasing my already substantial amount of verified brain damage. You can't win!
Since my panic attacks often evolve into Paroxysmal Supraventricular tachycardia attacks, which are so awful, I can't even find words to describe them, I will continue to choose possible brain damage over more of those, with their 30% risk of blackout and 3% risk of cardiac arrest. Helluva choice.
Sometimes it seems everything with these diseases is a Catch-22. Anyway, I would be interested to know how many of you with panic have ever taken a course of Diflucan for yeast, and if it helped you as much as it helped me.
klutzo