Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.
Oh, boy. I'm actually a little hesitant to write this, but ... I think I kind of have to.
We're all here because of this lovely gift we all share -- PTSD or C-PTSD (I've started using "(C)PTSD" to imply ... either PTSD OR C-PTSD. The parentheses mean the "C" part is optional).
And we all know a fair bit about the symptoms of our disorder.
But I think it's *really* important, though, that we recognize that not every physical symptom (psychological, too, but I'm making a different point, here) IS a symptom OF (C)PTSD.
PTSD is a misery, right ? We all know that.
But sometimes, we are ALSO sick, or there is ALSO something ELSE wrong with us.
I've had five (count 'em -- FIVE) sinus surgeries in my lifetime. My sinuses are worse than useless. I have a horrendous sinus infection right now.
And there are times that I think ... I'm just feeling particularly down ... particularly depressed ... particularly tired ... particularly achy, and I have to tell myself ....
Hey ? Maybe you're sick, Smart Guy !!
What I'm getting at, here: as PTSD sufferers, and as a support network for OTHER PTSD sufferers, I think we should remember that.
Sometimes, what you're experiencing is NOT directly because of PTSD.
Sometimes, you should see a physician.
If there's ever a doubt, I (personally) will ALWAYS err toward the side of recommending that somebody see a doctor, and NOT assume that something is yet another symptom of PTSD.
We probably don't all want to spend our lives running back and forth to doctors. We probably don't all wish we were on MORE medications.
But we have to protect the rest of our health, and we should be VERY cautious about taking chances with the health of other members. We should be VERY hesitant to tell somebody -- in effect -- "It's normal. Don't worry about it."
Unless we're *very* sure that the symptom they're describing IS normal.
My wife is a Nurse Practitioner.
A college student came to see her.
He described a few symptoms that were dismissed by another doctor AND by the Emergency Room as stress-related. My wife worked for ten years in the ER. She knew better.
She sent him for a head CT (scan). He had a brain tumor. They operated on it. She saved the kid's life.
Doctors make mistakes. We probably all know that. But we should let them. I think we should be VERY cautious not to make THAT mistake around here.
Just My Humble Opinion (JMHO).
Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV).
Just my $0.02
Thoughts ???
I wish you all peace, HEALTH, and strength :-)
We're all here because of this lovely gift we all share -- PTSD or C-PTSD (I've started using "(C)PTSD" to imply ... either PTSD OR C-PTSD. The parentheses mean the "C" part is optional).
And we all know a fair bit about the symptoms of our disorder.
But I think it's *really* important, though, that we recognize that not every physical symptom (psychological, too, but I'm making a different point, here) IS a symptom OF (C)PTSD.
PTSD is a misery, right ? We all know that.
But sometimes, we are ALSO sick, or there is ALSO something ELSE wrong with us.
I've had five (count 'em -- FIVE) sinus surgeries in my lifetime. My sinuses are worse than useless. I have a horrendous sinus infection right now.
And there are times that I think ... I'm just feeling particularly down ... particularly depressed ... particularly tired ... particularly achy, and I have to tell myself ....
Hey ? Maybe you're sick, Smart Guy !!
What I'm getting at, here: as PTSD sufferers, and as a support network for OTHER PTSD sufferers, I think we should remember that.
Sometimes, what you're experiencing is NOT directly because of PTSD.
Sometimes, you should see a physician.
If there's ever a doubt, I (personally) will ALWAYS err toward the side of recommending that somebody see a doctor, and NOT assume that something is yet another symptom of PTSD.
We probably don't all want to spend our lives running back and forth to doctors. We probably don't all wish we were on MORE medications.
But we have to protect the rest of our health, and we should be VERY cautious about taking chances with the health of other members. We should be VERY hesitant to tell somebody -- in effect -- "It's normal. Don't worry about it."
Unless we're *very* sure that the symptom they're describing IS normal.
My wife is a Nurse Practitioner.
A college student came to see her.
He described a few symptoms that were dismissed by another doctor AND by the Emergency Room as stress-related. My wife worked for ten years in the ER. She knew better.
She sent him for a head CT (scan). He had a brain tumor. They operated on it. She saved the kid's life.
Doctors make mistakes. We probably all know that. But we should let them. I think we should be VERY cautious not to make THAT mistake around here.
Just My Humble Opinion (JMHO).
Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV).
Just my $0.02
Thoughts ???
I wish you all peace, HEALTH, and strength :-)
I think we with (c)pstsd have developed such a high threshold for stuff that we sometimes discount actual physical causes for pain.
I went to the doctor on Tues for some abdominal pain. I had a bunch of tests. More this coming Tues. I literally didn't know ANY of the doctors at my PCP group b/c the last time I was there was in 2012. I only go if I feel something's wrong or I know I have strep and need antibiotics.
I normally just "tough it out" when I'm sick- eat garlic and ginger, get a good sweat at the gym. "Sick?" Bah, that's nothing compared to what I endured.
Is that what you mean?
: D
Sorry, I'll step off my soapbox now. :-)
I wa fortunate that my mom was a very good RN and if we were physically ill? She didn't stand for my dad's BS about "tough it out" (which is why he died at 53, I'll add).... so I learned early that it's better to pay the co-pay and be sure it's not serious or it IS related to an underlying issue---meds, virus, whatever.
Woot to you, David, well said!
*furry applause*
There are other diseases we fight too and I myself always check out additional symptoms. Even if it were suggested by someone that these symptoms are just PTSD, because I know myself well enough. I would not even trust a doctor if he or she would try to tell me that certain symptoms have a certain cause. Nope, I always research first.
Stress though does mess with things like fibro, Diabetes, blood pressure...etc, long list, so I have to be more careful if levels to go out of whack. I have regular monthly appointments and full labs every six months, because of meds.. But if I get sick? I get real sick a cold is pneumonia, flu... the worst to break free of.
I assume most of us are body aware. I am from past and triggering of memory with pain.
So yeah if your have a doubt go to doctor. I kind hold to a 72 hour rule now(except for breaks) If there is no change or it's worse, go.
being (i think) the only one here without c-ptsd, i just kinda' thought physical issues went along with c-ptsd because of the dozens (hundreds?) of posts i've read here that link physical pains with the disease.
Whenever you have a new symptom, it's good to rule out any organic causes before chalking it up to PTSD or C-PTSD.
It can be so hard to tell the organic from the PTSD...
When on the forum, and someone posts some physical symptoms that could mirror something Physical or Psychological, I like to start off with a disclaimer..."I am not a Dr, and it would be good to run this by your PCP and maybe have a quick check up to be on the safe side"
And then share my experience...
So many times we with PTSD doubt our minds and bodies, that we don't think we will be taken seriously by a Dr, or that everything is connected to the PTSD, but any new symptom is always worth getting checked out...PTSD does not make us invulnerable form having health issues like non-PTSDers :)
Great Post, thank you
Anna
B/c iALL PTSD is an anxiety disorder class, and it affects our sympathetic-parasympathetic nervous system responses, it has immediate and subtle effects on our bodies. (BTW, sympathetic-parasymp are just two sides of nervous system responses, not separate or something---we have one nervous system with many fun-filled subtleties.)
If you have PTSD? Fight or flight response is what we're "trained" to "live in"----and this means constant adrenaline surges, followed by crashes, with digestive issues b/c in "fight-or-flight", we are not in a mode that allows rest, healing, recuperation, digestion, and basically, all that daily function stuff---so we suffer fatigue, GI upsets, and aches from muscle tension. PTSD sufferers can even be at higher risk of heart disease or stroke---this applies to ALL PTSD, not just c-PTSD.
The trick is to train our brains out of that reactionary response and into what I'll call "inactionary"---rest, digest, as the medical school saying went. This allows BP to lower, heart rate to lower, muscles to relax, allows for normal digestion and sleep, etc. to occur. A lot of the breathing and meditations we're taught in therapy have that as a goal---sneaking our bodies down to "inaction" instead of constant "reaction". The more we teach our brains and bodies to "live" in that "inaction" (or passive state, if you prefer), the better we rest, etc., and eventually quicker recovery from the "fight-or-flight" responses we're so prone to.
Meds can help, too, obviously.
That said---many of us aren't exactly spring chickens so we're just getting up there (I'm 43) and things go wrong. Or, in my case, we've suffered serious physical trauma and injury. So it does become harder to keep that body awareness Jewells mentioned. Pain blurs a lot. Chronic pain also causes sleep and fatigue issues, so which is it? PTSD? Pain? I run it past my docs, and b/c I journal my symptoms, we can sometimes see a trigger or pattern, etc.
Sorry so long, but I go into nerd lecture mode sometimes.
Remember: Doctors Google, Yahoo and Bing? NEver went to med school. Research if you want but leave the dx to docs. We feel the symptoms, but tehy're trained to find the signs.
(OK, one last note from almost-became-a-doc here--- symptom is subjective sensations, sign is objective and test-able measures like BP, etc.)
Smiles to all, going back to bed now,
Leo
I thought the idea of "the wisdom of crowds" was exceptionally powerful.
This thread has become an example of that: it just got better and better, the more people contributed their thoughts, knowledge, wisdom, and experiences.
So ... in short ... that's *exactly* what I meant :-)
Cheers !
Now that my kidneys were damaged by those higher doses and I'm off all meds, I learned that I could have handled the job fine without more meds since I do well in spite of all now that I'm not allowed any. It was a matter of self confidence, really. I have my anxiety meds on hand in case of a life and death crisis, but day by day DS PTSD helps instead of meds for me now for the most part. In the final analysis, that's been good for me.
Nice to discuss our overall health with PTSD and beyond PTSD, and also to have those posts here reminding us not to be internet docs ourselves. Ha!
Muji wrote:
"I have my anxiety meds on hand in case of a life and death crisis, but day by day DS PTSD helps instead of meds for me now for the most part. "
May it always be so, Muji, or ... at least ... until you truly ARE symptom free, and don't need us anymore :-)
[AMEN !]
And ...
Ten reasons why I think DailyStrenth.org's PTSD group is better than prescription meds:
1) DailyStrength.org is free !
2) There's no clinical evidence of ANY liver or kidney damage from participating on DailyStrength forums;
3) There's very little chance of running OUT of DailyStrength.org, and having to rush out to the drugstore, late at night, during a snowstorm;
4) If you DID "divert" DailyStrength [1] ... nobody really gets hurt or arrested;
5) While some DO experience symptoms of withdraw FROM DailyStrength, the symptoms are usually mild, and relapsing isn't considered a bad thing;
6) DailyStrength doesn't cause lung cancer, COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, or heart disease, NOR does it make your breath and clothes smell like an ash tray, or stain your fingers and teeth;
7) You can usually read or type "one too many" posts, on DailyStrength, and still be okay to drive;
8) You'll almost never have to battle with your insurance coverage to get them to cover DailyStrength;
9) DailyStrength side effects DO NOT include: swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, constipation. diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, intestinal bleeding, nausea, rectal bleeding, stomach bleeding, stomach pain, upset stomach, vomiting, or -- perhaps most importantly [forgive me, all] -- erections lasting more than four hours ... from spending time on DailyStrength [2];
10) Bandwidth -- unlike pills -- isn't really in short supply. No need to bogart or conserve DailyStrength. More people is no problem. There's plenty of DailyStrength to go around :-)
I wish you all peace, HEALTH, and ... DailyStrength !
----
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_diversion
[2] full disclosure: some of us HAVE been triggered by something we read on the site, but ... we can usually walk away and calm ourselves down fairly quickly and easily
"DS side effects may include: feelings of belonging, support, friendship and community, and sore facial muscles from smiling."
:-)