Wondoring if a Somatic dosorder may explain severe deteriation of sight!

Dear Sir,

My father is in mid fifties, has been a commercial pilot for 15 years now. And was diagnosed 15 years ago with Leukemia.
All was relatively well until about 2 months ago.

His vision began to deteriate day by day until he was no longer able to work, then until he could not even read. His vision seems to jump around constantly, he does not have the abilty to control his focus.

He was admitted to hospital, one set of MRI tests saw perhaps some unusual activity at the back of the brain but other than that normal, CT scans, a PET scan, normal brain activity. MRV showed fine oxygenated blood flow around the brain and in particular where the brain processes vision. He underwent many lumber puncture tests all are fine, and his blood seems to be in excellent order(many tests, lost count), even his white cell  count (due to Leukemia) is great (53). Tests for the JC virus and other exotic viruss have all come back negative.

He has no other physical symptoms, and is physically in really good shape. But I have to contend :he has a strong personality, self willed and very rational. His many years with Leukemia must have psychological pressure, and the fact he and his wife kept this to them selves to this day, (I and some physicians know) must have created much anxiety with little chance for release.

This is where I am wondering something of the sort such as Conversion disorder or some form of psychological disorder may be involved. I am trying to get him to at least talk with some form of therapist, other than a family member, someone who has skills to tackle anxiety and perhaps even diagnose such disorders.

Somedays his eyes settle a little, and I believe it may have to do with his suger/alcohol/caffeine intake reduction and relaxation tapes. When he goes the opposite way (on weekends, and people are around) his eyes seem to become more erratic the following day or so.  This is only a casual observance not in any way tested. Might this be relevant?

He is now also becoming, I believe depressed, I mostly think because for so long he has been "the Dad" who takes care of everything. And I believe he really needs to talk to someone.
I am surprised the doctors have not even mentioned this avenue.
They have discharged him as an out patient, he sees them once every 2 weeks, but have not had anything to say in the last 2 visits. Thats kind of it as far as they are concerned.(Strange!)

Is his symtom commensurate with sensory deficit type Conversion disorder, or am I on the wrong track, completely.


Yours Sincerly

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Rather than attempt a long distance diagnosis, instead let me just remind you of the obvious.  When a person has a chronic physical illness that is deteriorating, there is always a depression, and sometimes the symptoms are exaggerated by anxiety or conversion just because so much observational attention is devoted to them that they de-automate. That's a long way of saying tell your dad to start talking to a therapist about his condition and his fears, not just his obvious symptoms. It will do him a world of good.

[pryan]

Thank you for your support.

I will renew my efforts for him to initiate therapy. There does seem to be such a stigma which is quite powerful. I am dissappointed that no effort from his consulting physicians for him to pursue this.

Yours,