Ptsd And Effect On The Immune System

[Digz]

Just wondering if anyone else has a poor immune system, caused by the stress of PTSD constantly depleting the body's resources?
I have a pretty poor immunity. I do eventually kick things, but just continually catch illnesses and it's quite common for them to turn into something requiring antibiotics. I have a three year old son whose immunity is actually better than mine!!
I now know that if I am going through a highly stressed or triggered time, I am bound to, at some point, get sick. Most therapists tell me this is because of the strain on my body, caused by the high levels of stress.
Does anybody else find this? I have to say, it is so annoying!

 

[Changing4Best]

I have Lyme Disease and PTSD and my immune system is not to bad now, though it used to be a lot worse. I had a lot of antibiotics in order to heal and have a stronger immune system. It could be that you have some kind of underlying condition that is causing your immune system to be this way. Have you seen your Medical Doctor about this trouble? If not, I would suggest that you be checked over completely and get blood tests too.

 

[Fadeaway]

Well given I am having on of the worst illnesses since childhood right now, I would say PTSD really messes with you immune system.

No the real question is what effect does the illness have on the ptsd?

 

[Digz]

Thanks @SheilaKathy. Have been thoroughly checked and tested for just about everything, but general medical consensus seems to be a crappy immune system, depleted by stress.
I agree @Fadeaway . I find PTSD so much harder to deal with when I'm ill. I think the mental resources used to deal with it require a lot of energy and when sick, it makes it much harder to care for yourself mentally and use the strategies you learn. Being physically ill certainly always has an affect on my mental health - and vice versa. Makes it hard to feel healthy in any way, some days.

 

[Saria]

I have leukopenia (low white cell count), and can definitely relate! It's extremely annoying and exhausting to constantly have some sort of infection or illness. The doctors haven't found any cause, and assume that it's related to PTSD and/or chronic stress. I guess the relation between PTSD and the immune system are rather complex though. I don't know that much about it, but I've read that high cortisol levels are associated with immunosuppression, while low levels are associated with inflammation and autoimmune disorders. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone and has been shown to be altered in people with PTSD, so I don't doubt that PTSD can affect the immune system and/or vice versa.

And i agree with @Digz that being physically ill in addition to having PTSD can be quite exhausting!

 

[garden]

I'm pretty sure that the added chronic stress of CPTSD does contribute to other health issues. In the past I've had hair loss (alopecia areata) that I'm told is indicative of an autoimmune issue. The hair always grows back when I start self care and reduce my stress.

I don't have any health problems other than CPTSD, however, I have not been able to regain my former robust demeanor since this last descent into hell. I don't have the energy to engage in the kind of exercise that I'm used to, and have not had that kind of energy since early January. I'm starting to become concerned, and want to bring it up to my doctor, but of course I'm reluctant.

 

[holdenmonty]

I'm thinking it must have some effect on it. I have noticed that since I have started addressing/accepting my ptsd it seems like everytime I turn around I'm coughing or have a runny noise and all that.

 

[Changing4Best]

@Lewa One of my therapists told me that hair loss is from stress. I am having that issue right now too. Stress can be from physical or mental problems and when both are present, I imagine that the stress is a double whammy.

 

[QueenPhina]

I agree with @Digz about difficulty using the mental resources needed to deal with PTSD when ill. It's like there's no energy left to use it towards that struggle.

I have always noticed I tend to be more sensitive, or rather prone to triggers, when I am ill. I have not read any medical background on this topic though. I'd be interested if anyone had any reading material to suggest.

 

[worthymisfit]

@Digz I have Reynauds disease and Celiac Disease, both auto-immune disorders which my doctor believes were triggered by PTSD related stress. You might consider havng your doc check your adrenal function (cortisol and DHEA levels). It is a simple spit test. There are studies coming out that when one is put under prolonged stress, especially during early development stages of life, your adrenal glands learn to work the wrong way. When they don't work right, it compromises your immune system, hormone balances, etc.

Typically when your adrenal glands aren't functioning properly or are under stress, you have low cortisol and low DHEA or high cortisol and low DHEA. I was actually diagnosed with PTSD formally when my doc did an adrenal stress test and found out I had low cortisol and high DHEA which shouldn't really happen. There is an article on livestrong "What Makes DHEA Levels High". If you google the article title with livestrong it'll show up (the forum won't let me post a link).

For me it was life changing for the good. My doc has put me on an adrenal support regimen that has helped me significantly. Its just a reminder that sometimes anxiety and the things we feel are actually too much or too little of a chemical in our body and there are things you can do to improve it. Doesn't mean the mental aspect isn't real, it just means you can sometimes improve how it makes you feel and how your body responds to stress.

 

[Saria]

You might consider havng your doc check your adrenal function (cortisol and DHEA levels). It is a simple spit test. There are studies coming out that when one is put under prolonged stress, especially during early development stages of life, your adrenal glands learn to work the wrong way. When they don't work right, it compromises your immune system, hormone balances, etc.

This is interesting! Do you know if this is something most doctors would do, or if it's considered a bit "alternative"? Like, if it's related to "adrenal fatigue", and not really a medical diagnosis (yet)? It makes sense though, so I'm not doubting the effects you're describing. It made me kind of curious, what sort of adrenal support regimen did your doc recommend?

 

[worthymisfit]

@Saria My doctor is an MD, ND which means she is licensed as a medical doctor as well as a doctor in naturopathic medicine. I chose her because I have trust issues with traditional docs. She takes a whole body approach and figures out how all of your health problems are related using standard medical tests, etc. I went to her for my Celiac Disease initially because I was having all kinds of digestive issues and other side effects from it that were getting worse, and she diagnosed the adrenal fatigue by doing a lab test that measures your cortisol and DHEA levels throughout the day. You spit in a tube 4 times during the day and they test the hormones in your saliva at a lab.

I'm healthier now physically than I've ever been, but she's got me on Adrenal Complex by Integrative Therapeutics I'm pretty sure you can buy online, but I get it from my doctor. I was stage 3 adrenal fatigue eight months ago which is the worst and last stage before adrenal failure, and my last re-test showed I'm at stage 2 which means my adrenal glands are healing. From what she has told me and the medial studies I have read, it takes about 24 months for someone at stage 3 to get to normal function with supplement therapy. Patience...

The test is something you can have your regular doc do, but it probably depends on how open-minded your doc is. I have had a terrible history with traditional docs. It took me 5 years to get diagnosed with celiac disease and a few of the doctors I went to see told me I was flat out crazy and they couldn't find anything wrong with me, which isn't good for someone with PTSD.

For me, to see on paper what my childhood trauma has done to my body really was validating. All those years that I questioned whether what happened was really that bad... It was. Took me awhile to process those test results.

Not sure if that helps.