Another Merry Go Round

[Sarg]

Who's saying this, the VA? If so, there's a hell of a lot of us PTSD/Apnea have just had our diag. changed. I swear, I'd rather go to a Veterinarian.

Sarg

 

[JarHed]

You see, if you say you can't sleep that is an automatic diagnosis of a manic event, not that you just can't sleep. You must be manic not to be able to sleep.

I don't know who told you that but that's complete bullshit to me. Lots of people have sleep problems and don't fit into the manic area. Now I'M GETTING MAD!!.

I'd say you have to look to the reason that you're not able to sleep. I'd ask this; is there something specific lately that really stressing you out?? Or a major change of meds, or medical condition? Hey, even worrying about not being able to sleep can cause you to not sleep. I had insomnia for years so I can tell you that that's true.

It's hard not to feel like shit when you haven't been sleeping well. Hope it gets better and you can find the cause.

 

[Fargo1]

Viking,
Not sure what you are saying to them or what they are saying to you...

Sleep issues are part of PTSD, however, they are also part of other disorders.
Link Removed
http://ptsd.about.com/od/ptsdandyourhealth/a/SleepPTSD.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18424196

Remember that the person who graduated last in the Medical School class is still called doctor.

Unless it is something like the flu, I always recommend a second opinion...

Hang tough man.

 

[Jimmy1]

Viking, you should get Anthony in on the whole bipolar v PTSD argument. I am pretty sure PTSD trumps bipolar anytime. I will give him a nudge, I think he has writing on it.

 

[anthony]

Bipolar is different to PTSD, in that it used to be a mood disorder, however;, is now a bridged disorder of its own category between depressive disorders and schizophrenia spectrums. Bipolar is often misdiagnosed by physicians in lieu of PTSD, though not normally the other way around, nor normally by people experienced in PTSD.

You can read about latest PTSD dx at: Link Removed

The main difference between bipolar I & II is that for II you have had one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode.

The primary difference between PTSD and Bipolar is whether you have a range of symptoms to meet PTSD, OR, whether your primary issues are all mood based, with or without anxiety.

PTSD is all about anxiety as the primary symptom. Bipolar is all about mood as the primary symptom. PTSD you need a trauma, Bipolar you don't, though one typically exists to create Bipolar.

The two can be very difficult to isolate and it is important to know whether you had Bipolar tendencies prior to trauma, or whether they appeared after trauma. If after, then PTSD is the most likely cause of the symptoms which can reflect Bipolar, though if you had such prior too, then you could actually have Bipolar which is being masked as PTSD, or you could have both.

 

[vikingr12]

I am done all the reading. Probably from knowing the difference and also having been diagnosed previously with fibromyalgia (which also has sleep disturbance) is what causes me such rage.

The difference between sleep disorder in PTSD and bipolar is that PTSD patients want to sleep and bilors don't necessarily. And the next visit will reveal that.

 

[vikingr12]

Well, back to square one. The psych asked me if I had seen guys with PTSD actually want to keep having it. I said I suppose I have seen some who get big fat disability checks who make up things when they visit the shrink every month. But I said I don't know of ANYONE who who wants to really keep this crap if he has it, truly. INCLUDING ME. Who would want to make this shit up?

Sarge, I think I need that vet you were talking about. I would make better progress.

And now the thing is "massage." This psych is going to put me through massage when three other doctors (in recent memory) have said THERE IS NO CURE FOR YOUR LEGS. Pain meds. That's it. Exercise makes the pain worse. Take the meds and do what you can.

(Working myself to an angry fit soon.....Settle down)

As one poor soul said on a train bound for Siberia in Dr. Zhivago: I am the only sane man on this train.

 

[Sarg]

Vike, they're making the shit up. I hate to say it, but I see more and more guys my age, excellent marriage, grown children, full career, very social and out in public and it's "delayed onset". My ass, they're retirement checks aren't as big as they thought and they're trying to supplement their income.

It pisses me off because they are taking resources away from the kids that really need the services.

Sarg

 

[vikingr12]

I understand that and I know they do. But she asked ME as if I was one of them. That frosts my ass. I am not getting any disability other than the munificent 15% of $215 I was given for my leg. Told them to shove it.

 

[JarHed]

Hey Vik

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before but I also suffer with chronic pain. The only thing that I've found that helps is acupuncture. It's not a cure, understand that, but it can help so that you can function a bit better. It's hard to deal with, pain, in the long term. Hope you find something that may help.

And maybe you might get a nice nurse to massage your legs, hell anything to take your mind off it.

 

[Sarg]

The pain causes depression. There are Vets that have prevailed in depression claims due to long term severe pain. I count myself very fortunate that my arthritis pain hasn't reached that level.

Sarg

 

[Sleeping Dragon]

Wait a minute. A therapist actually asked you it you knew veterans who had PTSD, and wanted to keep it, implying you were one of them? Where the hell did she get her degree, and what in the hell is she doing talking to you?????????

The sixth week of CPT therapy was one of the most gutrenching things I've ever been through, and that includes combat. My therapist led me through things I never could have worked out on my own. Man, you can't fake that kind of emotional breakdown.

After six months with the VA I had to go through a two hour session with another shrink outside the VA before I was even considered for any kind of compensation. During that session I had to stop several times to get my shit back together enough to continue.

Does any vet. want to keep PTSD? She's the one that.s crazy.

SD