Ptsd Vs. Other Medical Conditions. How To Tell What's Causing What...

[Mim28]

Has anyone has a problem with their doctor assuming all physical symptoms are linked to your PTSD/Anxiety/Depression?

I've been complaining for 2 years about not feeling right. I've pointed out some specific issues and indicated I needed specialist follow up. Blood tests are normal, so no further action. I pushed through, and had an incident that lead to my PTSD diagnosis. I was out of work for a short time and was able to return; get the job done. I worked very hard; as did everyone, and we put in long hours and days and were successful.

We changed some medical meds and then things just started to go down hill until I crashed. I didn't feel right, slept for weeks, and had to take a leave from work. All Lab work came back fine but I am not improving.

It's hard for me to even distinguish some days which is mental and which is physical, but the doctors kept telling me I was fine. I'm not better. If anything, I think I am worse.

I saw my doctor for my annual physical and he started by saying my psych meds are not working and they need to be changed. I really was so ready to give up. Maybe I'm done. Maybe I just can't function anymore. I quietly told him that I've fought really hard to overcome everything and I've been good at it. I told him that I'm often reminded of how he would tell me, "You need to figure this out" or "You're going to lose your job!"

We reviewed my current complaints and my medical history for the past 2 years. He agreed that and Endo and Neuro are necessary; possible other specialists were mentioned. Then he did my EKG and I now have to see a Cardiologist in 2 days. Something is wrong. I also had to have blood work done.

Right now, I am exhausted having been up since 3 am worrying about the appointment. I don't even know how to feel anymore. I have to get better and I have so much to live for.

But I know one thing, it wasn't all in my head.

 

[Muttly]

Oh Mim :hug: I am so sorry you are dealing with that and were not heard. I've heard so many stories like that. And not just with PTSD, also with women who weren't taken seriously by doctors. It is so wrong and unfair. I haven't experienced much of that directly but mostly because until recently I didn't trust doctors and didn't really communicate with them in any useful way.

I really, really hope you get the care you need. Please be gentle with yourself. I know the appointment is scary, but it should mean you start getting adequate medical care

 

[Mim28]

Thank you Muttly. I'm just so tired. I have so little energy and now a lot of doctor appointments. But things will get better and I will be better than ever. I have to keep telling myself that.

 

[Burnt-toast]

I think we know in ourselves when something isn't right, and as a health professional (Emergency Nurse) I see too often, Doctors who see a mental health history and automatically jump to "this is a psycho-somatic issue" (I'm embarrassed to say that this happens far more often than I'd care to admit). I also experienced this first hand... unexplained fainting, palpitations and pauses like my heart was skipping beats, and also episodes of chest pain. I was so conscious of the fact that other doctors had told me that it was "just an anxiety thing" that I gave up and became embarrassed to mention it, until I eventually had such a bad collapse that I split my head open and refused to take that for an answer. I know my body, and I know when something isn't right. Turns out I have a couple of cardiac issues and my heart literally was having little pauses which was causing those episodes!

In saying all of that, I have also seen the other side of that where it is quite obvious that the issues are psycho-somatic- the key to that though? Always assume the worst and exhaust other avenues- there needs to be grounds for making that diagnosis, and that can't be concluded if basic (and some not so basic) tests haven't been completed. Sounds like your doctor is willing to go down that path to rule out anything more sinister, which is great!

I hope you can find some answers to get you back to good health!

Kind regards,

BT :)

 

[Friday]

PTSD has dragged me to completely nonfunctional... A few times, now.

The first go, I didn't know it was PTSD. Although looking back, it's like <rueful> Yep. That's exactly what it was. But I just figured it was me. So I did what I do, and did what I could, when I could, until I was doing well, again. This time around, knowing it's PTSD doesn't really help me. I'm still f*cked up. I'm still not functional, most of the time. I've come close a few times, but life decided to snicker at me and say "Nope! Try again!" :shifty: Life. ((As an example, last spring I'd just rented a place for the first time in a few years, was working on getting a real job, etc... And landed in the ICU for a few weeks, and hooked up to machines for the next few months. Acute respiratory failure. Well, there goes that shot. Lost the apartment, lost my shot at rebuilding. Well. Try again. And again. And again. Keep trying and sooner or later I'll find traction. Or not.)) Whatchagonnado, ya know? Just gotta keep standing up, stubborn up, and trying again. Once more into the breach.

If it's physical, on top of PTSD, I hope you find it soon.

 

[Mim28]

Thank you, Burnt-toast. Your insight is very helpful. As a non-clinician, I have also been guilty of writing off other peoples illnesses. It's only taken 2 years and this time, 3 months, but he's finally willing to listen. He said he will make sure we do this together.

 

[Burnt-toast]

Also, I should add... don't be afraid to get a second, or third... or a fourth opinion. It can be incredibly hard to find a good GP, but once you do, they are seriously worth their weight in gold! Your Doctor should be open to having any and all discussions about physical and mental health... you should also not have to worry about them making judgements or putting additional pressures on you as seems the case with your comment about "Figuring this out"- it should be an alliance- If you're anything like me, I'm sure you put enough pressure on yourself without having to worry about your doctor adding to that!

 

[Mim28]

Thank you Friday. I'm so sorry that happened to you! Your words of wisdom remind me of who I was just a few months ago. I need to keep on being stubborn instead of giving up. It will all work out in the end. I am going to do my best to be healthy. What that means for the rest of the things in my life is yet to be determined.
I hope things get better for you real soon. You deserve the best.

 

[Mim28]

Yes, you are right. No one is harder on me than me. But now I need to get real about my health too. There are some things I need to change.
I've already started the process of changing my Gyn. I will give him a shot this time, but we will see where we go after all this is over.

 

[sunandstars]

Really hope your appointment goes well for you and that you get some answers.

I have been very sick in hospital many many times thankfully my blood results and scans etc always gave the doctors an answer straight away thank goodness so they could help make me better.I'd feel very scared if I knew there was something wrong with me and no one believed me that would be very scary.I hope that never happens now that Ill have ptsd in my medical history now too.

My sister had depression it was very bad,well she's still on medication for it,her eyesight went all funny during the year there were a couple of other things too everyone thought it was in her head but eventually her gp booked an mri and she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 21 and is taking medication for that now too.The very strange thing is that she is definitely coming out of the depression but her last mri showed that a couple of the lesions in her brain are getting smaller/disappearing.

Wishing you the very best :)

 

[Mim28]

@sunandstars, her lesions are getting smaller? That is great news! What do they attribute that to?

 

[sunandstars]

@Mim28 the consultant said it can happen but its unusual that's all she got out of him.I guess maybe the medication is working shes taking gilenya or maybe her brain is healing itself I really dont have a clue really all I know is that lesions are disappearing and she's coming out of depression so our family are very happy about that.Imagine if they eventually all go away.I wonder if she had never had depression would she have never found out about the MS.I don't know.Or maybe it's good well not good but that she got the depression so that the ms was discovered early so it can be slowed down.I guess everything happens for a reason even though some times it's hard to understand it all.:)