Somatization Disorder?!?

Hi there,

last friday I was diagnosed with "somatization disorder" after an extensive evaluation at a local psychosomatic clinic.

my backround is the following:

I´m struggling with a lot of debilitating symptoms since April this year.

It started with fatigue,exhaustion and heart problems in May and then developed into symptoms of weakness and muscle weakness along with balance and coordination issues since June.Since that it got worse on a constant basis.Pain symptoms involving the bones and joints developed lately.It´s now so bad that I can barely walk,because every bone in my feet hurts when walking.

Generally symptoms are mostly neurological like muscle weakness,muscle twitching,coordination issues,etc...

I´ve consulted countless neurologists and other experts concerning these symptoms.No plausible cause was identified.But it´s still so hard for me to even imagnine that it could be something psychological...

So my question is: Is it really possible to experience such symptoms through a kind of somatoform disorder?? All the symptoms feel so entirely physical and it´s so hard not to think of something organic...

a few things that would support a somatization is that I have a whole lot of unsolved issues concerning my past and personality.I was told that these issues could have been converted into physical symptoms.

still,I´m not sure what to think...

[M4Y0U]

Hello there,

Psychosomatic symptoms can be as real as the real thing. In fact you must remember that even for real ''organic'' pain it is finally the brain that perceive this pain. That being said i guess it is really clear you pain can be perceived as physical.

Issues concerning your past and personality could result in psychosomatic symptoms. I remember this one guy having terrible back pain and after seeing a bunch of doctors they were unable to identify the cause of the pain nor give a diagnosis. It was clear then it was a psychosomatic symptom. The most common psychosomatic symptoms are back pains and neck pains. Pain resolved after a knowledge therapy.

Knowledge therapy, CBT are my best advices. I would start with a self knowledge therapy by reading the book The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders by John E. Sarno, M.D. then engage in a therapy with a qualified therapist to get rid of the past and personality issues. Knowledge is the key to treat TMS ( tension myositis syndrome )

You can send me a message if you want the book in PDF format or more information.

Regarding the neurological issue regarding coordination i think anxiety is bad for coordination and since you ruled out any neurological illness i think it's anxiety but i would need to ask if you are taking any medication that could cause such symptom to be sure.

Best regards,
M4

[jelodi]

     i understand what you're going through...2 years back i've also consulted 2 neurologists and said i may have psychosomatic disorder because all lab tests were normal, this happened after i got viral infection. what i felt was also something physically real. severe headaches, migraine, confusion, joint pains, etc. and i was so afraid and thought i was going to die without a diagnosis..since i didnt have access to the internet that time i became prayerful and engaged myself in meditation. it helped alot.
     i think M4 is right about CBT, we need to heal our mind that sends those pain and other symptoms throughout the body.  i really find your reply M4 very helpful. achilles, we shall overcome.

[Achilles84]

I dont take any for of medication.

the problem I tend to have is that my symptoms resemble neurological issues so closely which scares me to death.On the other hand I have to ask myself,if it´s so obvious neurological why do I always come clean through all the tests...

if I´m negative I just keep saying,"well,its just not bad enough that they notice anything...just wait"

but it´s already terribly bad so there should be at least some evidence...

to make all this worse,I have developed alot of stress,panic and anxiety which leads to an increased awareness for every little change in my status or appearance.And I have big problems to differentiate between what is a normal development and what could be a sign of an illness...

here is an example: I have lost muscle mass during the last 8 months.It´s most noticable on my hands and feet.my muscles are also soft and I feel every bone through.now if you look at only this symptom from an objective perspective one could explain it that way:

constant inactivity of the last 8 months could be a very plausible cause for the loss of muscle mass.when you are in good shape and fit like I was before all this started and then suddenly do nothing but walking a bit through your house on a daily bases then it seems to be only logical that you loose some of your muscle mass due to less activity.and the fact that this can be seen on the hands and feet more clearly is because there are the smallest muscles,so it´s more obvious there...

but although I know that I just keep thinking that my muscles waste away because of some terrible disease...and because I cannot exclude this option for sure I take it 100% for granted no matter what some doctor tells me.

that is one of the tragedies of my whole situation.stuck in a vicious cycle.I cannot heal unless I really believe in a psychosomatic course,but my symptoms and the impossibility to rule other causes out makes it nearly impossible for me to believe...

I dont know

[M4Y0U]

You said it ''constant inactivity of the last 8 months''. This is what causing you to lose muscular mass and this can also have mental issues. Healthy diet and physical activity are crucial in healthy physical and mental well-being. The human being was made by evolution thru natural selection to eat what the earth and other animals is giving and to move.

I know it's hard to believe the symptoms are not caused by a disease and i have been thru this and it took me some time to accept the fact that I'm healthy. I still have increased awareness of any change in my status or appearance and i must keep telling me I'm healthy and it's part of the development process. My healthy diet and physical activity helps me in believing that i am healthy and boost my self-esteem so i recommend you start being active again since it might be part of the problem and it is why you have a lost of muscular mass. Stop trying to find you a disease!

The doctors rules out every diseases possible so what you need to work on from now on is your mind and yes a therapy will help and yes healthy diet and physical activity will help.

Best of luck,
M4

[jelodi]

     i see..i suffered from alot of terrifying symptoms 3years ago. viral infection, peripheral  neuropathy, raynaud's dse, neuralgia (i think), sever migraines, anxiety and panic attacks, malaise, etc..there came a time when i was rushed to the er i didnt know what to tell the doctor what had happened to me. i couldnt look at the computer and seek help from the web cause of the headaches...

    since i had bad reactions with the meds i took because of the side effects, i went to a naturophatic doctror and had alternative treatments. there they suspected me to have induced lupus..so i changed my lifestyle, went on vegan diet...while on treatment, i had lab tests done trying to find an organic underlying cause but tests went fine. at this point it was so frustrating because i didnt know what was happening to me. until i found the doctor who uses EAV diagnostic test.

     it is called electro-accupuncture by voll. it is used to detect the functions of the organs of the body even before they start to manifest. this machine is made in germany. the result was amazing, unlike the conventional test i made that turned out fine, my results from this machine was that almost all my organs were impaired. i remember not mentioning in the interview my endometriosis in highschool but the machine was able to detect i have a problem in my uterus. as well as with my ears and joints.

     i suggest you see a doctor in your country who uses this machine and seek help. it is within your discretion whether to go for alternative and homeopathic treatments or the conventional ones.

     i can also see you may have anxiety because you are anxious about what is happening to you.. have you done ANA test, calcium and magnesium?  i think magnesium would help you with your problems regarding your muscles. you can research about that but go for the chelated magnesium if  ever you want to take the supplement so it wont combine with other minerals that would result in adverse effects.

     and lastly, the first thing you can do for now is to strengthen your immune system.
drink lots of water, take 8hrs of sleep to avoid stress, eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. it would be better is you extract those vegetables and fruits so your blood will absord the vitamis and minerals easily. and exercise those muscles gradually. take 10 mins outside early morning and go under the sun for vit. D. inhale fresh air. avoid too much fat and oily and fried foods, caffeine, alcohol and smoking. taking these steps will help your brain and body fight those free radicals, etc. that's making you feeble. and lots of prayers too.

   i must say im not fully recovered yet but alternative and homeopathic treatment is working for me.

[jelodi]

ps. the thing that you were talking bout your muscles, i experienced it too. only worse.

[jakegorzen]

Ive also heard about that Diagnosis machine, and it does work great.
Have you ever been checked for Lyme disease, from a LLMD?

[Achilles84]

lyme is currently still an issue as I have several antibodies.but it´s unclear...

[M4Y0U]

Igenex tests are the best to see if you have Lyme disease or not. More expensive than the ELISA and Western Blot test but tests from Igenex are extremly precise ( i know someone who been thru this and is living in Canada and he actually needed to go to the U.S.A to get proper treatments and work out a clear diagnosis with Igenex ) a healthy life have no price if you really think you have Lyme. Igenex tests can be done online, they send you every bottles you need to fill with serum and urine etc and then you send it back to them with proper conservation method.