The physical side effects of ptsd…

[Calm in the chaos]

welcome to the thread of the less discussed physical aspects of ptsd

You are ever so kind hearted, thank you. It’s nice to know doctors are discovering that trauma can really f*ck you up physically. From what I learnt from figuring out why I can’t walk, the brain is ever so powerful and really bites me in the ass when I go against its core beliefs.

 

[Freddyt]

Thought of another…grinding in my sleep, much more severe when my ptsd is flaring

Made more fun when your trauma includes restricted breathing and you can't wear night guards or anything like that.

 

[KathK]

Made more fun when your trauma includes restricted breathing and you can't wear night guards or anything like that.

Yikes…tricky one. My restricted breathing trauma wasn’t the mouth, though it did still take some getting used to as a little heightened initially when I started with the mouth guard.
I actually had to explain to a few clinicians that I couldn’t do the prep and colonoscopy because of trauma reactions, they hadn’t considered that side of things. We think there’s some issues and possible light but regular bleeding in intestines, and this and other suspected issues could all be treated or resolved if we can confirm, but trauma reaction stopping test being done. Or treatment triggers trauma reaction, and exposure and desensitisation are hard work, though can be worth it. Modified approaches are hard to come by, but some clinicians think outside the box

 

[Freddyt]

I took endless stick from not wearing a night guard from my dentist........until we found out about the PTSD thing. At which point he said "that also explains why you have fillings popping out too"

It also limits activities where breathing is restricted like swimming and even made taking a shower difficult.

When it comes to medical stuff - doctors, lab work, hospital etc. I should come with a warning poster. Long story short, flu where symptoms came on really suddenly, guy who needs to medicate so his body has stuff to fight and blood pressure, Passed out in the kitchen, wife rushes home, ambulance attendant didn't want to take me at first panicking by the time we get to the hospital because BP went from 100 over to 80 over in 10 min, Severe headache, opiates, begin a week of sending any nurse near me when I wake up screaming (literally screaming) away from me.

Took a few years but now we know why.......

 

[DharmaGirl]

my hands instantly go numb and lock up into painful positions. I can't even type properly.

Oh, hey, me too! All of this stuff. I'm a retired RN too and used to researching things. I worked in emergency services too. I have all the sleep problems, pain problems, nausea etc. I wish I didn't.

 

[Maggie Sennish]

@Charbella I diagnosed myself with fibromyalgia because my doctor at the time was clueless. Part of my degree involves research, so I did a deep dive into all my symptoms. My daughter was in medical school at the time, so I had her look at all my info, she agreed, and got me more data. Then I went to my doctor armed with a super thick folder filled with my findings. I'd barely said a thing and he told me I knew more about it than he did and immediately made me an appointment with a rheumatologist for a diagnosis. After her diagnosis she kept telling me how sorry she was because she'd never seen such a bad case. I have long list of other disorders now, too, like everyone else here does. Chronic pain seems to come with PTSD.

Part of the issue is that despite war veterans, as Stephanie Foo points out in her research study reviews, there are MORE female C-PTSD sufferers in the US than male. Think domestic violence, rape culture, income inequality, no childcare/single parenting etc. And guess what? ANY female related health issue (despite our being over 50% of the population) is UNDER funded. So drs know way way less about illnesses and conditions that effect women- cuz the medical community has a “why bother” approach. This is infuriating! I’m a C PTSD survivor and therapist writing a book on all of this… !!!! GRRRRRRRR!!!

 

[hotmess]

Part of the issue is that despite war veterans, as Stephanie Foo points out in her research study reviews, there are MORE female C-PTSD sufferers in the US than male. Think domestic violence, rape culture, income inequality, no childcare/single parenting etc. And guess what? ANY female related health issue (despite our being over 50% of the population) is UNDER funded. So drs know way way less about illnesses and conditions that effect women- cuz the medical community has a “why bother” approach. This is infuriating! I’m a C PTSD survivor and therapist writing a book on all of this… !!!! GRRRRRRRR!!!

I agree with you completely. The ignorance surrounding cptsd disgusts me. There's absolutely no reason that people can't be more informed. I've had horrible experiences with drs that have no idea how to deal with this condition. Medical school can't be teaching them anything about dealing with the whole person instead of a bunch of body parts. I have a psychiatrist and she obviously understands and treats me . But my internist, surgeon ..... They're clueless. I second your grrrr!!!

 

[Freddyt]

Oh yeah! There’s a a thread for Fibro sufferers here somewhere because it’s so prolific in the trauma community.

....when in fact the research has been done that says MOST chronic illnesses are a result of trauma. But the medical community at large? no clue.

Matter of fact my doc told me that my "eye pain" thing "must have a physical cause", well wrong wrong wrong. That and that person held in their hand all the medical evidence that said "you should see a psychiatrist".

.....and I started the process to get diagnosed myself in the end.

On the other end - leave the C out of CPTSD. You will be lucky if they know what PTSD is. And CPTSD is for use around mental health professionals, because they are the only ones who understand it.

 

[Starfish]

sometimes even to have a drink during those more acute heightened episodes.

I have started drinking wine lately after quite a few years of sobriety...the panic is just too much.

 

[Freddyt]

I have started drinking wine lately after quite a few years of sobriety...the panic is just too much.

I have learned that the secret to accountability with substance problems for me is tracking and limits. Tracking especially......I used cannabis for a few years regularly and tracking kept my usage from spiralling upward.
The problem always is - just one, just two, three won't hurt, and next thing you know, you have a problem again.

It's why I can't touch opiates any more....

 

[hotmess]

I have learned that the secret to accountability with substance problems for me is tracking and limits. Tracking especially......I used cannabis for a few years regularly and tracking kept my usage from spiralling upward.
The problem always is - just one, just two, three won't hurt, and next thing you know, you have a problem again.

It's why I can't touch opiates any more....

I do the same. Gotta be careful not to deceive myself though. It's easy to justify using too much.

 

[LME42]

Saw a neurologist and ENT about the vertigo. They did expensive tests and said they can't find the cause.

Saw a cardiologist about the palpitations. He did expensive tests and said he can't find a cause.

Saw a gastro doctor about the digestion problems. More expensive tests, said he can't find a cause.

Saw multiple specialists for issues with my lady parts. Expensive tests, expensive drugs, and they couldn't find a cause.

Told my PCP my hands were going numb. She said it could be anything and told me not to worry about it.

On and on.

Exactly.
Been stuck in this vicious cycle: physical symptoms (Heart Arrhythmia, immune system deficiency, fibromyalgia…), physicians/urgent care, then tests, then being referred to psych/counseling, and then back to physicians/urgent care…and then repeat.