Question:
"Rose Marie Holt" <rmho…@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:rmholt1-3B9D80.10430908102002@news.mindspring.com… > X-No-Archive:yes > In article <uq5nsaram3l…@corp.supernews.com>, > "Wesley C. Martin" <wcmar…@sirinet.net> wrote: > > Let me get this straight: diverticulitis can be directly related to > > psychiatric problems such as Clinical Depression or PTSD? > Diverticulitis is a medical condition, not a psychiatric condition.
I don’t think any of us was trying to say that diverticulitis (or any other medical problem) is a psychiatric problem, Marie. What we (most of us) are more concerned about is how our psychiatric condition can affect our medical state. My question was aimed at learning more about what I suffer from and how I can learn to help myself by not allowing the one to adversely influence the other. Ergo, if my psychiatric condition CAN affect one or more of my medical conditions (of which I have several!), then I need to know this in order to be better prepared should I get one of THOSE days where every little thing in Life goes straight down the tubes. Even at my age I continue to learn, and I can learn more by asking questions. Even dumb ones. > Stress can make medical problems worse, and depression correlates with > increased death rates from some diseases, but I notice that every > disease supposedly caused by psych problems actually has a more > conventional cause.
With your credentials I accept this as a ‘truth’, since I also believe similarly. Yet it’s also true that no one condition of the human body can occur without affecting some other part (or condition) of the same body. In some cases, a medical condition will actually adversely affect one’s psychiatric condition, won’t it? Seems to me it’s a two-way street where everything is connected somehow, thus no matter what goes wrong we can expect for something else to be affected, even minutely, by just one condition, whether medical or psychiatric. Right? > It pisses me off that some people beat themselves up for having a > medical disease because they think their state of mind had something to > do with it. > Best, Marie, MD
Well, you can rest assured, Marie, that I’m not beating myself up for having had (still have?) diverticulitis! It made the 6th major surgery of my life when it happened in 96, and added a whole new set of stitches/staples (which I kept, BTW), but I look upon it as something that happened at a time in my life when I was still working full-time with a good enough health insurance policy that I paid nothing out-of-pocket. Whether my psychiatric condition assisted in worsening the diverticulitis or not is irrelevant to me except for the possibility that I might have been able to do something about it stress-wise beforehand and perhaps have avoided emergency surgery. Had it occurred, say, last year before the VA Disability kicked in, it would have been truly disastrous financially and could probably have driven my psychiatric condition into pure insanity. You sound like an MD who truly cares about your patients, something not often seen these days. Yet getting pissed off because of what people think about the effect of their state of mind upon their medical disease(s) makes it appear that you may not believe in the "whole patient" concept of Osteopathy, wherein the medical professional uses both medical & MENTAL skills to treat the patient instead of just the symptoms. My symptoms may get relief from drugs or therapy, but if only the symptoms are treated there is a good probability that I will still have some problems involved with whatever caused those symptoms because the treatment is limited, rather than encompassing my whole self. For instance, the Prozac & Trazadone work well to keep my PTSD in check – mostly. But the Root Cause is still not being treated, that of my tour in Vietnam, because the VA has yet to set me up in a regular group or one-on-one session series wherein I’m able to explore my own mind trying to discover that Root and begin to uncover it in the hope of finally facing my demons with a view to vanquishing them. This is something I dare not try on my own, for it has caused ‘episodes’ in the past where I lose control of my mind and end up in dire need of a rubber room. Medical studies in the past few years have also shown fairly conclusively that a patient’s state of mind has a direct effect upon the patient’s physical illness/injury and the healing process, and that doctors need to help by doing what they can to keep the patient’s state of mind ‘up’ rather than ‘down’. Please, don’t take offense at the above paragraph. It’s merely my personal observation and in no way should be taken as a denigration of your medical skills. I don’t know you well enough to do that, now do I? Your statement is what caused me to make this observation, that’s all, and I’m the first to admit I’m probably way wrong here. It’s been my experience since 92, though, that most of the medical professionals who have treated me cannot see the whole slew of conditions affecting me. They either look at one set of symptoms, or occasionally at a few sets of symptoms, then treat those symptoms without any in-depth "discovery" of other possible links to those symptoms. While I try to trust the doctors who treat me, it becomes difficult when I find that they either don’t believe in my PTSD or refuse to acknowledge the possible connection between my PTSD and other medical conditions I live with daily. I would not wish my conditions on anyone for I know how much damage they have done to me. But I would like to be able, for instance, to record my level of pain at its worst just one time in order to ‘play-back’ that pain to some of the doctors who don’t believe I hurt as badly as I claim. Or to record the chaotic disorder in my mind during one of my ‘episodes’ (which, thank God, are few & far between now) of PTSD in full control, so that the psychiatrist(s) could live through just one of them to fully understand what it’s like to feel completely insane. Believe me, either scenario would provide irrefutable proof of the severity of my conditions. Regards, Wes…
Response:
I am suffering from PTSD as the result of a medical disaster which resulted in the loss of a child and 1.5 years of antibiotics (oral and IV) and 8 surgeries. I know a bit about the fear a medical facility can instill in you. I am now pregnant and I completely fell apart about 3 months ago. I decided to go to a therapist and was diagnosed with PTSD – never knew I had it. Apparently the pregnancy and the testing acted as a trigger. The only thing that has truly helped me is my therapist, my wonderful husband and anti-depressants (Prozac). Things are better now, but I know I will need much more therapy and a higher dosage of anti-depressants as soon as the baby is born. The therapist told me that the "episodes" will be a life-long occurance, but that they will become more manageable with time. She told me today that you have to learn to put the past where it belongs – in the past. When the thoughts become intrusive or the fear takes over, you have to remember that this situation is different and it will not be a repeat of what happened before – no matter what it feels like. She also said this was MUCH easier said than done. She said it takes alot of work and this is where your faith comes in. For me faith is difficult, though I believe in God, it is hard for me to give up any control over my life… I am sure you can identify with this… the fear makes it VERY difficult to trust and have faith. Forgive me for rambling, and I hope I have helped somewhat… Good luck with all your tests and possible surgery. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Response:
>I also try to treat my psych diagnoses as any other diagnosis –
i do exactly the same-treat everything i have as a chronic disease that needs monitoring but that i’ll live with for the rest of my life. it’s great too if you can find a doctor who takes that view of psych diagnoses. unfortunately those docs are few and far between which simply amazed me all through med school, etc. the people who are supposed to be the ones with the knowledge are the ones who use it rarely.
Response:
Hi Lorne, Congradulations! I’m so glad to hear that you were able to take a pro-active part by taking a little extra medication and a lot of guts and telling the people who would be working for you/with you about your PTSD. I’ve always been the sort to look at the floor also, but having now had wonderful docs for awhile they are very kind with me. Sometimes I have a difficult time emotionally/mentally due to other things besides PTSD and it means a lot to me when others show compassion and caring. I’m so happy for you Lorne, big pat on the back for ya! Z55 Unahomer <unaho…@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns92A1D89C4755Youremailherenet@64.154.60.187… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> To all: Thanks for all of the input, > I know that diverticulitis is definitely a physical problem, but > stress does tend to make it symtoms worse and dealing with it in a > clinical setting is very stressful since exams tend to involve a lot of > personal prodding and poking around. > Actually, I had a fairly good x-ray session yesterday, I did have a > few anxious moments but I took some good advice from my therapist that > helped a lot. First, I took an extra tranquilizer (I take a fairly high > dose of Clonazepam daily). Then I sat down beforehand with the nurse, x- > ray tech, and the doctor and told them about my PTSD, anxiety and other > problems. I particularly stressed the nature of my abuse and possible > reaction to the exam. They seemed genuinely concerned and I think they > took a little extra time with me making sure each step of the way that I > was alright before proceeding. This may not sound like a big deal to some > people but I’m usually the type of person who sits in the corner of the > office waiting to be told what to do. I rarely even look up from the > floor even when talking to a doctor (other than my familiar > psychiatrist). In the past, I would never have told them about my > condition, but I’m really glad I took the time to do it. It felt > empowering and I know it helped make the exam less stressful. > I won’t know the results of the exam until next week but the doc > said from the initial results it looks like surgery to remove a small > part of the colon may be the best way to go. > Again thanks for all of the advice and kind words and I hope anyone > else who can relate to high anxiety in these situations would consider > taking the time to explain things beforehand when having tests or other > procedures. > Lorne > aka UnaHomer > Unahomer <unaho…@yahoo.com> wrote in > news:Xns929EE829989C8Youremailherenet@64.154.60.187: > > Hi everybody, > > In addition to my PTSD and depression problems, I have suffered with > > a > > disease called diverticulitis for several years now and recently have > > developed complications that may require surgery. I have seen some > > good posts in response to others with medical problems & surgery so I > > thought I might ask for some advice. However. I must warn you to > > explain my anxieties may be a trigger if you read on, so please be > > warned– > > I have been dealing with diverticulitis for several years now and > > it > > is an especially difficult disease for me because of the area of the > > body it attacks. Diverticulitis is a colon or lower bowel disease > > that is very painful and is caused by tiny diverticulae, or pockets, > > which form in the colon. The reason this is difficult for me is that > > I was repeatedly sodomized as a young boy. As I was very young and > > those who raped me were older and much bigger the pain was horrible. > > These memories and flashbacks are among the worse with which I have to > > deal. Also, I have had psychotic and disassociative episodes > > surrounding these memories more than any other. > > I grow terribly anxious weeks before routine doctors exams and I > > have > > even refused exams out of sheer paranoia. When I’ve had x-rays and > > MRI’s I had to be highly sedated to even enter the room. > > Unfortunately, in additional to the regular problems the disease > > causes, I have developed secondary symptoms that are probably going to > > require surgery. I have to get a CAT scat next week when I’ll know > > for sure. > > Now that I just told you some of the most intimate details of my > > life > > (am I crazy?), can anybody relate to this or give me some feedback as > > to how to prepare for the surgery? Or how to deal with the painful > > memories in general?
Response:
Everything Lea said………great answer. I had surgery last year after not having slept anyplace but my home for about 20 years. Actually I seldom leave my home for any reason, and never alone, without my husband or one of my daughters. I made sure my doctor understood all this, my fears, anxiety…….etc. He was great, made my hospital stay pretty much stress free by keeping me so doped up I don’t remember anything except the last morning when they were checking me out. I was in from Monday through Friday and slept 95% of the time. Minus the pain and all I’d never felt more rested in my entire life. And being as sedated as I was, I seldom even noticed when anyone came in to examine me or change dressings or anything. Stress to your doctor that you will be very anxious,fearful, emotional…….whatever you want to call it. I had a panic attack in the surgeons office the week before my surgery, so he knew I could flip out big time in the hospital………but I didn’t because I was so sedated. Best wishes to you, I’ll keep positive thoughts for you, td "Lea15" <le…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20021007212419.21833.00005918@mb-de.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >, can anybody relate to this or give me some feedback as to > >how to prepare for the surgery? > i find it very helpful to focus on the end result. i actually did a month of > colorectal surgery and i’ve seen people go from having attacks of > diverticulitis monthly and developing abscesses that have no problems after > having the portion of their colon taken out that is the most diseased. > i would be honest with your surgeon and anesthesiologist about what you > struggle with. get as many details as you can about the surgery and what tubes > you will have in when you come out of it. it’s not unusual for people who have > the type of surgery you are headed towards to come out of surgery with a rectal > tube. i would ask if that is what the surgeon is planning and ask if it can be > avoided if possible. > if it would help, go visit the unit you will be admitted to post-op. talk to > the staff that will be your nurses. be upfront about what you will need in > order to feel safe. have your surgeon write in your chart and also your > admission orders things that you will not tolerate being done. when i was a > med student, there were many instances where people would request (and with > good reason in my opinion!!) that not every single bloody person who walks into > the room with a white coat on do a rectal exam just for learning purposes. > one other thing i would talk to your surgeon about is meds and specifically > psych meds if you are on any. for whatever reason, doctors seem to treat psych > meds as extraneous and not very important. my favorite comment when my > resident would wonder why someone was on an antipsychotic was well let’s not > give it them and find out. i was kidding but the mind set is there. if you > are on meds for anxiety-and when i’m a patient i take ativan more often than > when i’m at home-make sure those get in your chart so that you can get them > when you need them. it’s hard (at least for me) to ask for things when i’m a > patient. you will have to ask for meds that are written as p.r.n. or take as > needed. don’t be shy. the nurses who give you the meds are paid to be there > and give you meds. it’s their job so don’t be afraid to ask them to do it. > good luck. i certainly hope that this surgery will take care of the > diverticulitis so that you won’t have to keep suffering through repeated > attacks.
Response:
"Nancy" <ki…@cox.net> wrote in message
news:1yCo9.92755$IL6.5046176@news2.east.cox.net… > Hi Wes! > > >[snip] > > Let me get this straight: diverticulitis can be directly related to > > psychiatric problems such as Clinical Depression or PTSD? How would one go > > about proving that, Nancy? > Probably by doing a double-blind study.
If one has been done, it shouldn’t be difficult to track it down. I’ll see what I can find, if anything. > As I am not an expert nor a medical professional, my convictions of > susceptibility based upon my observations are nothing more than my > convictions. > I am not saying ‘blame the victim’. I am simply making an observation that > we with PTSD need to be very careful about the messages that our bodies send > to us. > YMMV > Smile and there will be something to smile about! > Nancy
Understood, Nancy. In this case, "all in your head" would mean "all in your abdomen", instead! Since the 92 flashbacks broke my PTSD wide open, I have noticed increased susceptibility to abdominal problems when my stress levels get too high. While both my Dad & Mom also suffered from diverticulitis, only Dad had a severe enough case to warrant the ‘colostomy’, where you have to wear a plastic bag taped to your abdomen before the two-stage surgery can be completed. He made jokes about it, but I remember feeling (I was about 12-13 then) that he really hated that thing. Wes…
Response:
Hi Rose! > It pisses me off that some people beat themselves up for having a > medical disease because they think their state of mind had something to > do with it.
Being the product of 2 generations of Western medicine with my own degrees in chemistry and accounting, I can certainly relate to Western medicine ideas. These are certainly full of cause and effect in a physical sense, with no nonsense about the Mind-Body connection. And, I certainly do not believe that the mind generates medical diseases in and of itself. ‘Tendancies towards’ and the mind using these tendancies, inadvertently perhaps, is a different concept. I have been told that in PRChina, medical establishments now have two equal modes: the Western and the traditional. Some folks go to one side for traditional Eastern treatment, centered around the Mind-Body connection, and others prefer the traditional Western treatment. I have observed in myself a healing of my physical being when my mind beomes clearer. My dentist (one of my abusers was a dentist) has noted that changes in my stress levels can be almost immediately seen in my mouth. This has been consistent over the last 10 years. I have been forced to see that there is some validity in the Mind-Body connection for myself. Studies using Western testing methods by Chopra et al have reinforced the fact that the Mind-Body connection exists in others. Carolyn Myss has shown that this connection can be used in diagnoses by Western doctors. IME ‘being pissed off’ is right up there as an alternative phrase to ‘being fearful’. I, personally, am not afraid that Eastern treatment will overwhelm Western medicine. I think that the two are complementary. YMMV Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
"Nancy" <ki…@cox.net> wrote in message
news:PeWn9.80057$IL6.4404370@news2.east.cox.net… > Hi Homer! > > In addition to my PTSD and depression problems, I have suffered with a > > disease called diverticulitis for several years now and recently have > > developed complications that may require surgery. I have seen some good > > posts in response to others with medical problems & surgery so I thought I > > might ask for some advice. > I have become increasingly convinced that susceptibility to and onsets of > autoimmune diseases, like diverticulitis, Crone’s, arthritis etc. are, at a > minimum, side effects of psychiatric problems. That doesn’t mean that the > symptoms are not real and present in the body, just that the body uses > autoimmune diseases to get our attention.
Let me get this straight: diverticulitis can be directly related to psychiatric problems such as Clinical Depression or PTSD? How would one go about proving that, Nancy? In late 96, 8.5 inches of my Sigmoid colon were removed surgically because of, as the surgeon put it, "one of the worst cases of diverticulitis" he had seen in 17 years of internal surgery. After the surgery, he was amazed that I even lived through the first attack a month before, stating that I fell into a very small percentage of the general populace (less than 1%) regarding the severity of diverticulitis. If you have knowledge of any studies which can verify this, I would appreciate hearing about them. Thanks. Wes…
Response:
There is not a pretty way to say this, but I think that more than any other organ in your body, your bowels seem to be directly targeted by emotions. I work with medical records and docs always mention reducing a patient’s stress levels as a way of dealing with any colon or tummy problem. I know some people get rashes from stress, but not me. My physical symptoms involve extensive bathroom time.
Response:
Hi Wes! > > I have become increasingly convinced that susceptibility to and onsets of > > autoimmune diseases, like diverticulitis, Crone’s, arthritis etc. are, at > a > > minimum, side effects of psychiatric problems. That doesn’t mean that the > > symptoms are not real and present in the body, just that the body uses > > autoimmune diseases to get our attention. > Let me get this straight: diverticulitis can be directly related to > psychiatric problems such as Clinical Depression or PTSD? How would one go > about proving that, Nancy?
Probably by doing a double-blind study. As I am not an expert nor a medical professional, my convictions of susceptibility based upon my observations are nothing more than my convictions. I am not saying ‘blame the victim’. I am simply making an observation that we with PTSD need to be very careful about the messages that our bodies send to us. YMMV Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
To all: Thanks for all of the input, I know that diverticulitis is definitely a physical problem, but stress does tend to make it symtoms worse and dealing with it in a clinical setting is very stressful since exams tend to involve a lot of personal prodding and poking around. Actually, I had a fairly good x-ray session yesterday, I did have a few anxious moments but I took some good advice from my therapist that helped a lot. First, I took an extra tranquilizer (I take a fairly high dose of Clonazepam daily). Then I sat down beforehand with the nurse, x- ray tech, and the doctor and told them about my PTSD, anxiety and other problems. I particularly stressed the nature of my abuse and possible reaction to the exam. They seemed genuinely concerned and I think they took a little extra time with me making sure each step of the way that I was alright before proceeding. This may not sound like a big deal to some people but I’m usually the type of person who sits in the corner of the office waiting to be told what to do. I rarely even look up from the floor even when talking to a doctor (other than my familiar psychiatrist). In the past, I would never have told them about my condition, but I’m really glad I took the time to do it. It felt empowering and I know it helped make the exam less stressful. I won’t know the results of the exam until next week but the doc said from the initial results it looks like surgery to remove a small part of the colon may be the best way to go. Again thanks for all of the advice and kind words and I hope anyone else who can relate to high anxiety in these situations would consider taking the time to explain things beforehand when having tests or other procedures. Lorne aka UnaHomer Unahomer <unaho…@yahoo.com> wrote in news:Xns929EE829989C8Youremailherenet@64.154.60.187: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi everybody, > In addition to my PTSD and depression problems, I have suffered with > a > disease called diverticulitis for several years now and recently have > developed complications that may require surgery. I have seen some > good posts in response to others with medical problems & surgery so I > thought I might ask for some advice. However. I must warn you to > explain my anxieties may be a trigger if you read on, so please be > warned– > I have been dealing with diverticulitis for several years now and > it > is an especially difficult disease for me because of the area of the > body it attacks. Diverticulitis is a colon or lower bowel disease > that is very painful and is caused by tiny diverticulae, or pockets, > which form in the colon. The reason this is difficult for me is that > I was repeatedly sodomized as a young boy. As I was very young and > those who raped me were older and much bigger the pain was horrible. > These memories and flashbacks are among the worse with which I have to > deal. Also, I have had psychotic and disassociative episodes > surrounding these memories more than any other. > I grow terribly anxious weeks before routine doctors exams and I > have > even refused exams out of sheer paranoia. When I’ve had x-rays and > MRI’s I had to be highly sedated to even enter the room. > Unfortunately, in additional to the regular problems the disease > causes, I have developed secondary symptoms that are probably going to > require surgery. I have to get a CAT scat next week when I’ll know > for sure. > Now that I just told you some of the most intimate details of my > life > (am I crazy?), can anybody relate to this or give me some feedback as > to how to prepare for the surgery? Or how to deal with the painful > memories in general?
Response:
>, can anybody relate to this or give me some feedback as to >how to prepare for the surgery?
i find it very helpful to focus on the end result. i actually did a month of colorectal surgery and i’ve seen people go from having attacks of diverticulitis monthly and developing abscesses that have no problems after having the portion of their colon taken out that is the most diseased. i would be honest with your surgeon and anesthesiologist about what you struggle with. get as many details as you can about the surgery and what tubes you will have in when you come out of it. it’s not unusual for people who have the type of surgery you are headed towards to come out of surgery with a rectal tube. i would ask if that is what the surgeon is planning and ask if it can be avoided if possible. if it would help, go visit the unit you will be admitted to post-op. talk to the staff that will be your nurses. be upfront about what you will need in order to feel safe. have your surgeon write in your chart and also your admission orders things that you will not tolerate being done. when i was a med student, there were many instances where people would request (and with good reason in my opinion!!) that not every single bloody person who walks into the room with a white coat on do a rectal exam just for learning purposes. one other thing i would talk to your surgeon about is meds and specifically psych meds if you are on any. for whatever reason, doctors seem to treat psych meds as extraneous and not very important. my favorite comment when my resident would wonder why someone was on an antipsychotic was well let’s not give it them and find out. i was kidding but the mind set is there. if you are on meds for anxiety-and when i’m a patient i take ativan more often than when i’m at home-make sure those get in your chart so that you can get them when you need them. it’s hard (at least for me) to ask for things when i’m a patient. you will have to ask for meds that are written as p.r.n. or take as needed. don’t be shy. the nurses who give you the meds are paid to be there and give you meds. it’s their job so don’t be afraid to ask them to do it. good luck. i certainly hope that this surgery will take care of the diverticulitis so that you won’t have to keep suffering through repeated attacks.
Response:
Hi everybody, In addition to my PTSD and depression problems, I have suffered with a disease called diverticulitis for several years now and recently have developed complications that may require surgery. I have seen some good posts in response to others with medical problems & surgery so I thought I might ask for some advice. However. I must warn you to explain my anxieties may be a trigger if you read on, so please be warned– – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
I have been dealing with diverticulitis for several years now and it is an especially difficult disease for me because of the area of the body it attacks. Diverticulitis is a colon or lower bowel disease that is very painful and is caused by tiny diverticulae, or pockets, which form in the colon. The reason this is difficult for me is that I was repeatedly sodomized as a young boy. As I was very young and those who raped me were older and much bigger the pain was horrible. These memories and flashbacks are among the worse with which I have to deal. Also, I have had psychotic and disassociative episodes surrounding these memories more than any other. I grow terribly anxious weeks before routine doctors exams and I have even refused exams out of sheer paranoia. When I’ve had x-rays and MRI’s I had to be highly sedated to even enter the room. Unfortunately, in additional to the regular problems the disease causes, I have developed secondary symptoms that are probably going to require surgery. I have to get a CAT scat next week when I’ll know for sure. Now that I just told you some of the most intimate details of my life (am I crazy?), can anybody relate to this or give me some feedback as to how to prepare for the surgery? Or how to deal with the painful memories in general?
Response:
Hi Homer! > In addition to my PTSD and depression problems, I have suffered with a > disease called diverticulitis for several years now and recently have > developed complications that may require surgery. I have seen some good > posts in response to others with medical problems & surgery so I thought I > might ask for some advice.
I have become increasingly convinced that susceptibility to and onsets of autoimmune diseases, like diverticulitis, Crone’s, arthritis etc. are, at a minimum, side effects of psychiatric problems. That doesn’t mean that the symptoms are not real and present in the body, just that the body uses autoimmune diseases to get our attention. For example: many rape victims with PTSD have gynecological problems and/or diseases. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which turned out to be a giant ovarian cyst which had grown into my gut and bladder. Removal and repair was ‘a big deal’. Most of the women I have met in PTSD treatment after rape have had similar gynecological problems. That being said, my long-term suggestion is that to keep my body healthy I need to keep my psychiatric treatment current with meds and therapy, even if I do not think that I need them ‘today’. I, too, get meds from my psychiatrist for PTSD symptoms when I am facing terrifying stuff that lasts for more than 30 minutes. For mammograms, I can use breathing techniques to calm myself; even then it takes more than 30 minutes because I need so many ‘time outs’. For longer procedures, like open cat scans, I have meds that calm me to the point of twilight sleep. YMMV Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
Thanks Nancy, Your encouragement is helpful. It seems so unfair that trauma victims have so many problems on top of problems but if its one thing I learned a long time ago, life certainly isn’t fair. I have an x-ray tomorrow so I’m trying to prepare for it tonight by using some relaxion techniques. Thankfully, I’m seeing my therapist in the a.m. before the tests. Thanks again for your kind words. Lorne aka unaHomer "Nancy" <ki…@cox.net> wrote in news:PeWn9.80057$IL6.4404370@news2.east.cox.net: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi Homer! >> In addition to my PTSD and depression problems, I have suffered >> with a >> disease called diverticulitis for several years now and recently have >> developed complications that may require surgery. I have seen some >> good posts in response to others with medical problems & surgery so I >> thought I might ask for some advice. > I have become increasingly convinced that susceptibility to and onsets > of autoimmune diseases, like diverticulitis, Crone’s, arthritis etc. > are, at a minimum, side effects of psychiatric problems. That doesn’t > mean that the symptoms are not real and present in the body, just that > the body uses autoimmune diseases to get our attention. > For example: many rape victims with PTSD have gynecological problems > and/or diseases. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which turned > out to be a giant ovarian cyst which had grown into my gut and > bladder. Removal and repair was ‘a big deal’. Most of the women I > have met in PTSD treatment after rape have had similar gynecological > problems. > That being said, my long-term suggestion is that to keep my body > healthy I need to keep my psychiatric treatment current with meds and > therapy, even if I do not think that I need them ‘today’. > I, too, get meds from my psychiatrist for PTSD symptoms when I am > facing terrifying stuff that lasts for more than 30 minutes. For > mammograms, I can use breathing techniques to calm myself; even then > it takes more than 30 minutes because I need so many ‘time outs’. For > longer procedures, like open cat scans, I have meds that calm me to > the point of twilight sleep. > YMMV > Smile and there will be something to smile about! > Nancy
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