Psychosomatic Symptoms From The Ptsd Or ??

[anthony]

Been exactly where you're at, about a year after my final deployment I decided to give up smoking and then fell apart. Depression added the weight, everything was unusual to me. It honestly takes a lot of slow work to get healthy again... both mentally and physically. I was about the same age when I fell apart, and am also now 40, much healthier mentally and physically as a result of all those years working on myself.

I still have to moderate my exposure to life, though I can participate within it in doses, which is better than where I also was, as you outlined, pretty much resigned to home limits or else someone risked being at the end of my anger and violence.

Don't beat yourself up... being a veteran myself I was engrained with bulletproof... then PTSD knocked me on my arse, and I can't even see it. It takes a lot of mental rehandling to shape a brain, let alone a military one.

 

[PTSD sufferer]

I don´t understand, I'm light-headed, tired and have restless heart (extra beats and so on) I have a 24/7 anxiety of falling down dead, and no doctors or psychologists can help me more.

Have you tried Yoga and physiotherapy? It would require going out, or you can get a yoga video and try it at home. I had tension in my neck with caused light headedness and tiredness. I also have auto immune problems (CFS) which is hard for a standard test to diagnose as you need to monitor t-cell and antibodies over a period of time.

Yoga and aqua aerobics helped me. The heat and support of the pool helped to loosen the muscles and regular yoga (stretching) also helped. Combine this with physio therapy to see if you can get some relief from the light headedness. Yoga with 50% training in meditation can help you to learn to regulate your breathing and that regulates blood flow around the body when done well. Circulation and blood pressure is important. I take a small piece of bead dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar when I feel light headed and that balances my blood pressure (which is particularly bad of a morning).

I don't think extra heart beats are something to ignore. An EGK is worth having to find out more about this symptom, so make sure it is not a panic attack. I wonder if you are also susceptible to ischemia. Ischema and Angina can occur in 40s. Don't worry it is manageable. I just think if you haven't had an EKG and your GP hasn't specifically checked your heart, it is worth pushing them to do this.

Neurologically, we need to treat the physical symptom even if it is psychosomatic. Its like a 'ghost limb', you many not have an arm, but you feel the pain of the arm because the brain's signals are telling you there is an arm there and it hurts.

[DLMURL]http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/vilayanur_ramachandran_on_your_mind.html[/DLMURL] at about 9.30 minutes he talks about ghost limbs, which I think is an interesting explanation of the neurology of psychosomatic symptoms. But it is worth watching the while talk for context and interest.

Let us know if you try some of these things and what works. But, I think you need to find a way to treat the physical symptoms through other means and push for a specialist to do some specialised testing of your heart, if you haven't yet, because that is something we should never ignore.

 

[Toria]

I'm finding this thread fascinating - as a Supporter the vast array of possibilities can be quite confusing. My Husband has recently started to have pain akin to kidney stones - but only when I am working late. He has had tests and all is fine, he has a further test with a specialist on Wednesday so he is having his symptoms checked out. But the possibility that it could be PTSD-related is looking more and more likely. Thank you guys for all your honest words x

 

[Omnia vincit amor]

This is a very interesting topic as I have not thought about potential related somatic problems until my T mentioned that my gr 1 heart block needs to be followed up. It turned out that I have regular extrasystoles (irregular heart beat), that certainly did not have earlier.

On th other hand the cardiologist simply said that my collapses are not heart related and there is nothing to do just regularly control.

What I mean is that this territory somehow not covered. T sent me to tha cardiologist and that one plus my GP sent me back to my T.

 

[PTSD sufferer]

It turned out that I have regular extrasystoles (irregular heart beat), that certainly did not have earlier.

If the cardologist has given you the all clear, have you tried treating this as a psychosomatic symptom?Just an idea based on the talk of ghost limbs, but maybe if you feel your heart double beating, you can ask a trusted supporter to put their hand on your chest, you put yours on theirs, eyes closed and feel their heart beat. Your hearts should start to regulate and beat in tune. It can be comforting to do this and could help to 'train your brain' to regulate? We have to be inventive sometimes.

He has had tests and all is fine, he has a further test with a specialist on Wednesday so he is having his symptoms checked out. But the possibility that it could be PTSD-related is looking more and more likely.

Hi Tora, its good that he is seeing a specialist. If he gets the all clear from the specialist, then it is worth looking at posture along with dealing with the anxiety....

Food fr though. If hubby has a belly and confidence is making him hunch, he could be putting unwanted pressure on the lower back. Physio and yoga might help if this is the case. So, consider muscles tightness as a possibility. Even if it is psychosomatic, you still need to treat the perceived physical pain (delusion) along with the mental pain (anxiety), by training the brain signals to day there is no pain there.

All theories and conjecture mind you, but hope it helps somewhat.

 

[jeeps for now]

My experience has been that the pain from all old wounds, whether physical or psychological, can resurface when one is highly stressed or traumatized. When pains from the past emerge, it is easy to call them psychosomatic when, in fact they may actually be very real.

What I have found to help is juicing, particularly vegetable juicing. Also, cut way down on sugars, salt, and anything too acid-producing.

 

[Toria]

Thank you PTSD Sufferer - he does have quite regular back pain, he apparently holds himself at a slight angle to stop this and the muscles on one side of his back are stronger than the other as a result - so you are quite right!

Jeeps for Now - I think we need to be more healthy in general and all round... :eek:

Now to find the solution - thank you x

 

[Whitneys story]

But a specific symptom forum / thread would have been nice .. one who only focused on physical symptoms.

I believe once you have reached a level of posts you will be able to start a thread with your question. I am sure it would be beneficial for a lot of members!
Hugs Whitney

 

[Whitneys story]

I'm finding this thread fascinating - as a Supporter the vast array of possibilities can be quite confusing. My Husband has recently started to have pain akin to kidney stones - but only when I am working late. He has had tests and all is fine, he has a further test with a specialist on Wednesday so he is having his symptoms checked out. But the possibility that it could be PTSD-related is looking more and more likely. Thank you guys for all your honest words x

Has his gall bladder been checked! Symptoms can be similar just a thought. Hugs Whitney

 

[Toria]

Hi Whitney - no, it hasn't. But I will certainly mention it to him - I looked up the symptoms and they do look similar so thank you v much for the suggestion.

He saw the specialist last week who is running further tests and he has to go back in three months time. I'm hoping that the three months is a good sign (eg not urgent) and not just the state of the NHS!!!

 

[PTSD sufferer]

The NHS are pretty awful. I was complaining about my back and hip for a year and they sent me for a chest x-ray :eek:. Anyway, I just saw a new specialist who ran a heap of tests and they found a couple of problems on one of the three tests...but are still unsure of the cause.

At least they will do some minor surgery now to try to relieve the pain, and if that doesn't work then more minor surgery and more tests. It is nice to have progress, but I did have to fight the NHS for my physical well being.

It is a good sign that your hubby's problems are not urgent, and I hope your hubby can get some relief from that thought. But if it continues or gets worse, then it is worth pushing the NHS. It is not fun to have physical pain as well as mental pain - and having neither would be a blessing!

 

[Springer80]

thanks for all your answers. :)

My body has been out of balance for the last 6 years, and all tests say it works fine!

I don´t understand, I'm light-headed, tired and have restless heart (extra beats and so on) I have a 24/7 anxiety of falling down dead, and no doctors or psychologists can help me more. I can not work, I can not be alone, I can not leave the house, further than city limits.

I am only 40 years old, I was 34 when I got PTSD, so I'm wasting my life :-(

Hi Have you looked into adrenal fatigue syndrome?