IBS Do you suffer extreme physical symptoms besides gastrointestinal, etc?

[indigo~in~0z]

im sorry i really do struggle finding/expressing my words these days, so i just have to write/type as it comes... if i try to make sense of it too much i lose thought -forever- so pleez bare with me

does / has anyone ever had or known others with extreme physical manifestations of ptsd..

extreme memory/recall & cognitive probs
electric shocks/stings/burns/pressure pains [cant even wear bands of clothes etc]
facial myalgia
temporary parylisis

in extreme short... had a possibility of diagnosis of multiple sclerosis last year, but after veeeery long waits & 2 different neurologists, saying to my face, stress can do that to a person, "have seen even worse than that"....
and my pathetic excuse for a gp not divulging anything more than yes to my question 6 months later, did their reports say stress as was spoken to my husband and i....

but know for a fact, ms can go undiagnosed for maaaaany years,
just wondering is it really possible for ptsd to physically manifest this bad??

 

[BassistKara]

Hi Indigo,
After i experienced my trauma, whilst i was still at primary school, i used to get unbareable burning in my fingers to the point i couldnt touch anything, and had to miss out on quite a few sports classes.
In my other post i mentioned the clenching of my teeth, which is caused by stress, which in turn gave me dizziness, which led to me getting severe pressure in my ears and i passed out, and whacked my chin on a steel grate on the ground, and concussed myself!
Im also known to hyperventilate so badly my fingers and arms seize up and i cannot move them and hurt very badly, or use them propely for the next day as they hurt so much.
I am no doctor though, but i have been suffering from major health problems, not ms as far as they know, they even thought it was leukaemia at one point. I have had so many doctors tell me to my face as well its all psychosomatic, but i have never known trauma to mess with my blood count!
I also do have memory and concerntration problems.
I personally think that trauma can play a part in extreme physical symptoms, but i think there also has to be an underlying cause in most cases. Like my grandma, who had been through similar trauma to myself, plus more, was told it was 'all in her head'. 2 years later she found it was bowel cancer, and if they hadn't operated when they did she would have passed away.
I hope things settle down for you soon, its such an unpleasant thing to deal with, on top of ptsd!

 

[Cindy]

I have had many physical symptoms associated with PTSD. All I believe are stress induced. I've learned if I reduce my stress the secondary responses simmer down. It's the unknown stress I carry that gets me into problems sometimes.

The only time I was physically paralized was when I initially remembered my early childhood traumas as an adult. They came flooding back after a trigger. I couldn't move off the couch for three or four hours.

 

[Awakening]

I've had bladder problems severe headaches pelvic pain heaps of tests and eventually told it's psychosomatic. Which I think is a nice way of saying it's all in your head.

 

[Grama-Herc]

Found this today while looking around the forum and can answer your question right now. That answer is "YES" ! The timing of this is ironic to say the least.

I have huge issues with people coming into my home. Don't like and it just does not happen. This is MY safe zone and I do not share.

Last Saturday, a hoard of cousins came to visit Mother. (We live together) Well, I have been flat on my back since. My back is in such painfull spasms I can barely breathe.
Today is the 1st time I've done anything more than go to the bathroom. I am forcing myself to sit in this straight chair. I hurt and it is stress. The stress of knowing they were coming. The huge stress while they were here. And now I have to shake it off. Easier said than done because my muscles have simply frozen in place and relaxing is
only possible on drugs and I don't like that.

Our condition causes all kind of physical illnesses and primary care physicians just don't know how to handle this, let alone diagnos it. That is why they tell us it is all in our head. Stress is a very destructive thing. It can cause so many physical problems
for us. Everyone here has physical troubles due to PTSD Stress

 

[Murphy's Law]

Extreme Phantom Pain and night terrors

First, I have been told by my pain specialist that memory and cognative problems can be caused by PTSD, the meds I have to take, or the extra daily stresses. I have just had to come to terms with the fact that I cant remember a thing and carry a notebook and mini recorder all the time. Happily he also told me when I am off the meds, less stressed, it would probably get better.

I do struggle with phantom pain, and it seems to worsen at night. With that comes alot of sharp pains, burning sensations and pressure pains, even in other parts of my body. I am mostly able to control it to a livable level through working with my T, and meds. I also struggle with knowing what is an acepptable amount of pain. I have had many surgeries and get aches and cramps to an unbearable levels.

I also struggle with night terrors. I wake up drenched in sweat, panting for breath. Heart beating, super confused. And when these happen, of course it triggers pain everywhere. from muscle tension.

I have extreme nausea and other gi things I am sure no one wants to hear. have lost 80 lbs since pre trauma.

One side effect that has terrified me is when my breathing is affected. It has happened twice to me that I stopped breathing. Once from a med, and once after for no apparent reason. started feeling like I was drowning, became very difficult to breath, and when I passed out, my nervous sytem didnt reset. No one has definite answers to that, just that some switch in my brain or spinal cord is now permenently on, causing weird things to happen in my sympathetic nervous system. Have also had my leg jsut go numb, and its not ms. still trying to find answers on this one, if anyone else has seen it?

I think most of my symptoms are significantly higgher when I am coping less well with stress. When I have less control around me, I find the uncontrolable things harder to deal. I know in the good cycles, these symptoms are significantly less. Its just hard to remember what you were doing so right when you are doing every thing so wrong.

 

[Acer]

I have memory problems, retaining what I read or learn in Grad school. That is what sent me to the doc last fall. I used to clench and grind my teeth all night long, but thankfully that ended. I had night terrors at the time too, which kept me from getting much sleep. I don't have those anymore, thankfully. I was also non-orgasmic, which thankfully went away as well.

So the lingering medical stuff? Cognitive issues, and I feel very disconnected from my body, I don't seem to physically feel what others do.

For me the hope lies in the history, that eventually some of these things went away. I am hopeful time (and therapy) will help the others.

 

[Seeking_Nirvana]

I'm always in some type of pain. I was in a car accident and sustained a lot of injuries. Recently, I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux and an under active thyroid plus the amylase in my liver was elevated.

I went to the doctor today for bone pain in my fore arms. I thought it was arthritis but he told me arthritis was only in my joints. (I have pain there too) He gave me Lyrica for nerve pain and I had 7 viles of blood taken to see if I have lupus or some type of auto immune problem. I'm scared to take the Lyrica so I might just wait to see what the blood tests show before I take it.

I was at my wits end today while I was in the doctor's office. I wondered when the pain will stop and when I can quit going to the doctor.

Tammy

 

[jenny72]

I am getting an MRI today because of upper back and neck pain with spasms and loss of range of motion. This was misdiagnosed as scholosis for years! I do have a curve in my lower back but the x-ray shows no curve in the upper spine. Physical therapy wasn't helping. The massages and heating pad did help temporarily. Hopefully I can get to the bottom of this and try to find a solution. I think it may be stress related??

 

[Ice_Fire]

My knee. Yes there is a problem with it...(subluxical displacement? If anyone is able to enlighten me?) but I was pretty much told it CANNOT be as bad as it is. So...does that mean 'it's all in my head'? Scary if it is. It gets swollen and I can't put weight on it. I don't see much point in going back to my GP about it.

 

[jenny72]

Personally, Icefire you may need a new Dr.? If you cannot stand there is something wrong! I pray you find the help you need soon! Take care...

 

[Ice_Fire]

You might be right there :rolleyes: I just kind of keep putting up with it.