News SGB PTSD Treatment Article

[anthony]

Look forward to your feedback acudoc.

Can you tell me though, what was your trauma, what level of symptoms do you suffer and how constant / present are your symptoms, who diagnosed you with PTSD?

 

[acudoc]

Well I had the block from Dr Lipov this afternoon. I took the sedation option so I don't remember anything about the shot itself. Dr Lipov and the entire staff were great, friendly, kind, and competent. My neck is a little sore and I felt woosy for a few hours, I think because of the sedation. I have long standing PTSD. My symptoms were the usual flashbacks, anxiety, insomnia etc. I was diagnosed by several medical professionals. While I was in the recovery room I experienced a mild dream/flashback and it dissipated quickly, like when your having a dream and you wake and just can't quite remember it. I told that to the nurse and she said that was common. It happened again when I was sleeping back at the hotel but this time the dream was about when I was a younger age then the first. It also dissipated quickly and I can't quite remember it. Dr Lipov told me he was having about an 80% success rate and long term PTSD was responding the same as shorter term PTSD. I did have the droopy eye and other signs of a successful block which are reversing like they said they would. Hope this helps anyone considering the block. And I'll let you know how things are going as time goes by.

 

[trixie48]

I had the procedure performed yesterday, with sedation. I did experience the Horner's syndrome, as well as what I'm calling a headache - but it's really just behind the right eye and is still present this morning although slightly diminished, and right side nasal discomfort. My right jaw and teeth were aching yesterday too, but gone this morning. I was just wondering if anyone had all these symptoms with the drooping eye. Anyway, I do feel like I've shifted into a much lower gear, but haven't had any "triggers", so not sure.

I feel better this morning upon waking than I have in as long as I can remember. Just a little concerned about this eye-aching. The drooping is gone, and I have another procedure today for the neck injuries from an assault. It is a bilateral steroidal block at C7. I will ask the doc about the eye aching.

There is no very profound change or revelation since the shot yesterday. I feel calmer, kind of like I can breathe easier, less tense, and just more "OK". So, with a slight bit of optimism, I will know more about how this is affecting me as time goes on. Will post as I know more.

If anyone else experienced this soreness behind the eye, please let me know. Thanks!

 

[acudoc]

Hi Trixie48. I had some soreness in my eye and it has gone away. Overall I am feeling much better. This is day 2 after SGB. I have had much more energy, have slept with no meds ( even benadryl!), and have a much happier relaxed outlook. Last night I did get into a stressful situtation, one that could have triggered me. It did trigger me but it was to a much less degree and passed sooner, much sooner. I still slept last night even with the trigger.

 

[trixie48]

As I am getting ready to go for the next procedure in a few minutes, I wanted to report that the soreness in the eye socket area has diminished alot this morning. I'll be interested to see how the next couple of days goes. Thanks for your response acudoc. Glad you got some sleep!

 

[acudoc]

Hope it goes well for you!

 

[anthony]

Great feedback Trixie... look forward to reading further from you on how you find this over the coming weeks / months.

 

[trixie48]

Wow, just to report in, I had what for me would normally have been over the top stress this weekend. It was very hectic and I threw a big shower at a resort for my niece. I know that this is "good" stress, but definately functioned better than usual. The night before the event, while I was very very busy getting ready, I had what would normally be a "triggering" event that would have left me incredibly upset, shaking, crying and obsessing for days. (This is all from family of origin - and the event was another horrible deed done to someone that I love) - I talked to her for a couple of hours while doing my things, never getting any physical reaction to the issues. I did intellectually know that I was angry and upset with the events, but it didn't ruin my night, and I seriously don't feel "connected" or "reactive" to the offenders actions. That is a first. And I thought about recent "triggers" that are more personal to me (very recent and very reactive) and I'm ok with them too. It's very weird. So, while I'm still not ready to say this is a result of the block, I find it interesting and coincidental at this point. And a very pleasant response to what I know (and have always) known, is predictable behavior by really abusive people. Will keep you all posted.

 

[anthony]

I think you're finding what I believe this will be exceptional with Trixie... being not as a cure, but as a way to relieve a lot of daily basic functioning issues, allowing people to get stuck into healing their past rapidly, without all the aftermath each time, thus as the block wears off, you just continue on with life, not needing further ones.

Its the same as all behavioural studies to date... patterns form based on behaviour, and if SGB can block the behaviour near instantly, then suddenly you have enough time to quickly adapt to a new behaviour, so even once the block wears off, you now know a new behaviour, not existing.

That alone is a massive leap forward for PTSD treatment IMO.

 

[ikop]

I am sorry but i can't understand it
people here talking about trigers , moments , stres time , to know your trigers , to know have good or bad days
it seems we have different ptsd i dont have trigers , all my existence is trigger , i am living in a world that evrey movement is a danger , i am at phisical pain 24/7 at all my body , my anxiety is 24/7 i cannot tolerate people near me more than half meter , i jump out of my skin 30 times dayli , i do not sleep more than 2 hours continuousy , i see colors brighter and hear sounds stronger after i got the ptsd . my memory is gone , my attention is gone ,
it's like i had brain injury , but i did not! just had traumatic stress.......
it's so strange.......like i my case is so strange.....

 

[Girl3]

You did have a brain injury albeit a neurochemical/biological one. I have undergone both fMRI and PET scanning and my brain is VERY different than normal brains - the hippocampus gets smaller, as does the habenula, and CB1 receptors light up like Times Square at Christmas. There are experimental studies looking at ways to change the brain back to normal using both cognitive therapy and novel medications. I have lived decades with startle reflexes, insomnia, body pain, reexperiencing daily - but you need to get appropriate help, the right combination of meds and psychotherapy. Unfortunately, many people get wrong diagnoses, wrong treatments. Medications alone won't fix everything - you need a supportive therapist in addition to meds.

 

[anthony]

More importantly, YOU must be extremely dedicated and active in changing yourself. No therapist or medication, or miracle treatment, can do a thing for you unless YOU participate beyond just the best of your ability. We are our own worst enemy when it comes to healing. Motivation, determination and strength you must find and maybe didn't know you have, all need to be brought upwards and used... and with it all combined correctly by trusting yourself, you can heal PTSD.