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I came across this Somatization Disorder while reading up on a test I just completed today. Has anyone heard of Somatization Disorder before? Sounds to me like it is very similar to Fibro...
Individuals with Somatization Disorder suffer from a number of vague physical symptoms, involving at least four different physical functions or parts of the body.
The physical symptoms that characterize somatization disorder cannot be attributed to medical conditions or to the use of drugs, and individuals with somatization disorder often undergo numerous medical tests (with negative results) before the psychological cause of their distress is identified. They often use impressionistic and colorful language to describe their symptoms, describing burning sensations, pains that move from place to place, strange tastes on the tongue, tingling, or tremors. While many symptoms resemble those associated with genuine diseases, some of the symptoms reported by people with somatization disorder are not. The individual usually visits many different physicians, but the information they provide about the patient's symptoms can be inconsistent.
It is important to note that while the physical symptoms of somatization disorder frequently lack medical explanations, they are not intentionally fabricated. The typical person with somatization disorder has suffered from physical pain, discomfort, and dysfunction for an extended period of time and consulted several doctors; they are hopeful that they one can be found who can identify the cause of their illness and provide relief.
Read more: Somatization disorder - causes, DSM, functioning, therapy, drug, examples, person, people http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Somatization-disorder.html#ixzz1YdPYnYVw
Individuals with Somatization Disorder suffer from a number of vague physical symptoms, involving at least four different physical functions or parts of the body.
The physical symptoms that characterize somatization disorder cannot be attributed to medical conditions or to the use of drugs, and individuals with somatization disorder often undergo numerous medical tests (with negative results) before the psychological cause of their distress is identified. They often use impressionistic and colorful language to describe their symptoms, describing burning sensations, pains that move from place to place, strange tastes on the tongue, tingling, or tremors. While many symptoms resemble those associated with genuine diseases, some of the symptoms reported by people with somatization disorder are not. The individual usually visits many different physicians, but the information they provide about the patient's symptoms can be inconsistent.
It is important to note that while the physical symptoms of somatization disorder frequently lack medical explanations, they are not intentionally fabricated. The typical person with somatization disorder has suffered from physical pain, discomfort, and dysfunction for an extended period of time and consulted several doctors; they are hopeful that they one can be found who can identify the cause of their illness and provide relief.
Read more: Somatization disorder - causes, DSM, functioning, therapy, drug, examples, person, people http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Somatization-disorder.html#ixzz1YdPYnYVw
Here are the diagnosis criteria:
Each of the following four criteria must be met.
The individual must report a history of pain affecting at least four different parts or functions of the body. Examples include headaches, back, joint, chest or abdominal pain, or pain during menstruation or sexual intercourse.
A history of at least two gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, or food intolerance must be reported.
There must be a history of at least one sexual or reproductive symptom, such as lack of interest in sex, problems achieving erection or ejaculation, irregular menstrual periods, excessive menstrual bleeding, or vomiting throughout pregnancy.
One symptom must mimic a neurological condition. Examples include weakness, paralysis, problems with balance or coordination, seizures, hallucinations , loss of sensations such as touch, seeing, hearing, tasting, smellingor difficulty swallowing or speaking, or amnesia and loss of consciousness. Pseudo-neurologic symptoms like these are the primary characteristics of another somatoform disorder known as "conversion disorder."
I'll never forget when the doc first checked for tender points on me. First he touched my arm and said that was the amount of pressure he would use when touching the points. Geez! I thought I was going to faint from the pain when he hit the points! There are, I think, 18 tender points on the body, 9 on each side. If you don't have the tender points, I don't think you have fibro. . . .
SD is a psychological disorder that usually manifest with symptoms that have a very sudden on set.They most often manifest as a person with normal sight,suddenly being totally blind.Or a person who ambulates normally,suddenly being unable to walk at all.
The symptoms only sound similar in print,but are as different as day from night when you actually see it in action.This is a very simplistic explanation,but it would take hours to really give a good understanding of this disorder.
A few months ago, I took the MMPI-2 testing. Unfortunately, all the scores were too high to give an accurate analysis. The Dr I saw made it sound as if I was making up everything, exagerating symptoms, and only doing this to get SSDI or something. Then when the leader of my Fibro Support Group told me she usually uses the MCMI-3 testing first, and that this test could be helpful for me, I agreed to take this test also. So I guess when I read the above, I felt like- see... I'm not "intentionally fabricating" anything.
Dr's are so hurtful sometimes. I spent over 20 years, pulling myself up by my bootstraps, because the Dr's told me "There is nothing wrong with you. You are just depressed." Then I finally accepted that I was depressed, and have been seeking treatment meds & counseling for the last 5 years. Now a new set of Dr's are telling me that I'm not depressed, I'm just making it all up. I know I'm not making it up, but have no way of proving it. I am so frustrated and beaten down that I just want to go to bed and cry myself to sleep.
Thanks for listening.
Gotta run.....
"Something IS Wrong" This we Know.
What "IT IS" We Have No Idea yet..
But "Something" Is Wrong ~
Keep Searching..come to Us with Your Ideas and Finds..
Many Dr.s Do Believe this IS a Psychiatric Disorder ~ However, Most Dr.s have NOT Been Trained Specifically in Disorders of the Brain..and I Believe Should NOT be able to Prescribe Brain Chemical Altering Drugs, but they do.
Some People & Dr.s THINK this is The Physical Manifestation of Depression, Anxiety, Even Yeast Overgrowth..I Assure you it is NONE of the Above.
There ARE Physical Symptoms to Each of the Above..they are Distinctly Different from FM. Depression ya Feel Depressed, I Mean Ya Feel Like "Whats the POINT" and Ya Cannot Find a Point. Anxiety is an Intense Feeling of Unease That Exacerbates Any Symptoms ya Have..Yeast will Make its presents KNOWN...Trust me on THAT one..Yeast does NOT Just Stay Inside the Body to be Sure, It Works its way out from Every Orifice You have..Burning, Itching til ur about half Crazed...we ALL Have Yeast within us..Unless you have something Upsetting the Balance in your Guts it stays under Control.
Keep Searching..but Only give Yourself So Much Time a Week on it..If you have a Thought, an Idea...Write it Down, Research it "Later"...
When Life gets Bad, and ya Have NO idea WHAT To Do...Do Nothing...Just Sit & Belly Breath...Clear the Mind...Give Yourself a Real Break..Alot of Answer Won't Come til your Not Looking for them...then all the Sudden they Present themselves Clearly in Your Minds Eye.
Almost 4 Years ago (Already) I Made a Plan..I have Stayed FOCUSED On That Plan..To Feel Good Again one More Time Before I Die..I am about Half way there..a Long Uphill Struggle..but I am Doing It...Knocking Symptoms down One at a Time if Thats the Way I have to Do It.
Any Dr. that Makes you Feel Bad about Feeling BAD..Walk AWAY From..this is a LAZY Arrogant Dr. that Does Not have the Ability to Care about the Fact that you are Suffering Thru Your Days.
Hang in here with us..
I get where you are coming from. I found another definition of Somatization and it does have a way of relating, even the website seems to be relating it to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I appreciate any and all findings that can be shared. I love to delve into it. Thanks!
Here is the link and the article that follows:
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9463
Definition of Somatization
Take the Quiz: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Good, Bad Exercises for Low Back Pain Slideshow
Causes of Fatigue Slideshow
Somatization: The process by which psychologic distress is expressed as physical symptoms. Somatization is an unconscious process.
In somatization, mental experiences or states are "converted" to bodily symptoms. A tension headache is an example: tension is converted to a headache.
Somatization is a normal phenomenon. However, some patients with somatization have psychiatric conditions. A person who is expressing physical symptoms as a result of psychological distress is said to be somatizing.
The word "somatization" comes from the Greek "some" meaning body. Somatization is a part of psychosomatic medicine, the mind-body relationships, the interactions between the mind (the "psyche") and body (the "soma").
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I have had lots of elusive physical problems since I was young, so maybe....
P.S. No doctor offered to get me tested for sleep apnea or even thought of a sleep disorder as a possibility, even though I showed all the signs. I had to put the puzzle pieces together myself and ask for testing. The sleep doctor knew right away that I had suffered with a sleep disorder for years. Finally I had a doctor in my corner!