I’ve had an FND diagnosis since April of last year and completely accepted the diagnosis because I knew it was essential for recovery. I’ve ended up not being in a wheelchair due to leg weakness and tremors.
2 weeks ago I got a pretty nasty infection (I also have functional vomiting and am fed via a PEG-J tube) in my PEG site, and I’ve been on a 3 week course of antibiotics to try to sort it.
Since being on the antibiotics I’ve been able to stand and take a few steps - something I haven’t been able to do since my legs properly deteriorated.
Now I have two theories. Either the infection increased the stress of my nervous system, and then the antibiotics brought that stress down, and so the FND symptoms have been getting better as a result. Or there is something else going on entirely.
What is everyone’s experience with antibiotics? Could this be FND? Could this have been something else entirely?
Personally I stay far away from antibiotics. From what I understand when you have FND, all your systems are down circulation, nervous system, immune system, the whole bag so it makes sense that your body isn't equip to deal with infection. Then load the body with a bunch of antibiotics wipes it out even further. So yeh I agree with your assumption. but you can rebuilt your gut health with the right foods/supplements.
So true the last time I had them 1997 nearly did me in now no I have autism adhd the cause for fnd
Medical Medium does great protocols, I did the seizure protocol as I was struggling to get well. I had got to about 80% better but that protocol took me across the line. amazing results.
I am also long suffering with gastroparesis and various neurological symptoms that have been incredibly disabling (tics, dystonia, loss of cognition)- gradually appeared after being ill with covid, and have had doctors tell me that it's essentially just a condition of stress and that the "mind and body are linked". What they don't seem to get is how my symptoms have also disappeared with antibiotics.
FND is unfortunately a diagnosis that doctors seem to push when they don't know what's going on. Antibiotics don't decrease stress, they treat infections and sometimes have an anti inflammatory effect depending on the antibiotic itself. You can find a handful of people here saying their symptoms get better after a course of antibiotics or steroids. I would look into autoimmune encephalitis, PANS/PANDAS, hydrogen sulfide SIBO is also a strong concern with your gastroparesis due to its ability to paralyze the gut nerves, absorb toxins into the brain itself, and impair absorption of nutrients (Vitamin B1).
Good luck
This has been super helpful - thank you!
I improved with antibiotics before because they addressed infections that trigger my autoimmune diseases, which were the triggers/cause for my FND. I had a nasty strep infection I didn't know I had for months and immediately improved when it was cured.
If your improvement after antibiotics was drastic, I suggest reporting this to your doctor (to rule out other neurological illnesses or to better understand your FND triggers).
Any time my body fights illness, my find symptoms lessen. It’s like there’s only so much brain power to go around, and since my body is busy doing something g else, FND takes a break.
Yes Dr taulbaum lists this in his book and it used to happen to me but now 8 have flu but fnd pain is bad
I’m so sorry you’re having a hard time! I hope you get relief soon. 🫶🏻
I have surgery to get peg j Jan 8th
So to preface I have chronic Lyme ontop of FND anytime I am on antibiotics I get really bad fast then once they are done I feel so much better. The antibiotics make the Lyme angry dut to them fighting it but it also reduces the Lyme in my body making me feel better after.
When I have an infection even before I know I’m ill, my FND symptoms are exacerbated- eg I will drag my leg around, then days later I come down with physical symptoms. So I know that’s my queue to slow down and something is going on.
If I do get antibiotics, because the infection is being addressed, therefore less stress on the body, my FND symptoms become less intense and less frequent again.
I think the body and brain get overwhelmed with everything going on so once the infection is being fought either through time, or antibiotics, then the body relaxes a bit again, fighting infections is hard work on the body so it makes sense that FND is worse.