Conversion Disorder

[Cindy]

Can you tell me if it is possible for conversion disorder to cause the following symptoms:  right sided weakness, loss of balance and coordination, sensory problems diminished reflexes rt side, clonus, terrible fatigue, fibromyalgia, extreme racing heart rate upon exersion and at rest, chronic anemia (8.8).  There are times when symptoms are worse and times when better, but never gone away completely.  I have been on prozac for 1 year, seen one psychiatrist said it was  panick attacks, seen another psychiatrist he felt it was neurological not manifested itself as of yet.  Please give me some kind of straight answer if you can.  
Thank you for your time.

[HFHS MD - RG]

Conversion disorder is characterized by one or more neurological symtpoms associated with psychological conflict or need, not physical, neurological, or substance-related disorder. The symptoms are produced unconsciously.

Diagnosis of conversion disorder is a diagnosis of exclusion. Meaning after all physical or nerological tests are done and tests show no abnormal results, only at this point that conversion disorder may be entertained.

This is a difficult diagnosis to make at it presents very similarly with a true physical diagnosis.

I recommend that both your neurologist and psychiatrist work closely together instead of being sent back and forth convincing the other that the diagnosis is either psychiatric or neurological or vice versa.

If this truly a conversion disorder, medications like the SSRI and benzodiazepines may help. Therapy may also add value to the treatment process.

[barbara to pain and lortab]

Chronic anemia can cause all sorts of physical ailments.

You may want to consider high doses of B-12 and Folic Acid vitamins as well as a good daily multi vitamin and see if alot of that goes away. B-12 and Folic Acid help your body absorb iron and if you are low on any of those vitamins you will develop anemia and become sick.

A doctors prescription for high dose Folic Acid is available. B-12 in high dose is available at most super markets.

I hope this helps.

[Silent all these years]

Have you seen a medical doctor or maybe a neurologist. You have to beware of the 'Gilda Radner Syndrome'. The doctors tried to convince her that she had chronic fatigue syndrome when in reality she was growing an ovarian tumor. Women especially are frequently told that genuine physical symptoms are all in their head. I doubt you could generate a conversion sydrome so well that your reflexes are diminished on one side. Reflexes are just that: Reflexive. When you put a quick stretch on a muscle it snaps back rapidly if it is inervated (run by a functioning nerve).  This is what we call a reflex. I think you need to see your primary physician for a referal to a Neurologist.

[MryRose]

Symptoms such as you describe can in fact be caused by a number of things.  Two years ago I suddenly couldn't use the left side of my body and I had numbness on the exact left side of my face , even only the left side of my tongue. I was reduced to using a walker and my speech was slurred and I was confused a great part opf the time. My primary care physician knew me well and was quite concerned.  I saw 2 Neurologists in town and then was sent to UCSF and spent a day being evaluated by a team of Neurologists.  When the neuro's could not figure out what the problem was, they sent me to a neuropsychiatrist who diagnosed me with a Conversion disorder.  

First I would see a good neurologist.  I had to under extensive testing including spinal taps.  Rule out any physiological problems and then go from there.

I have relapses, but am much better than I was.  I also was not diagnosed as Bipolar yet at that time.  Only a few months later did I sink into "the pit".

Hang in there... I hope it gets better for you.

[heather]

MryRose,

I too have been diagnosed with Conversion/Somatization disorder.  Please tell me what your symptoms were-it is so hard to find information on this.  I have had my symptoms for 8 months now and am working with my doctor weekly.  We have run through all the tests. He said that my symptoms are now physiological with their beginnings rooted in stress.  Please tell me what meds you are taking and your progress.  It is SO NICE to read about someone else with this.

Thanks!
Heather

[Tim]

After 2 years of living in missery and raking up over 1500 in medical bills I finally was diagnosed with conversion syndrome today.
The thing of it is that it comes in cycles somedays im just fine somedays i just cant move.Ive experianced effects like i could just be standing there and next thing i know im on the ground other days i cant hardly move or i could just feel fine and just lose my balance and fall to the ground again for the longest time we thought i had a pinch nerve in my back and after several visits to a chiropractor i still felt the same.And all of my test from the neuroligist were normal and no one could figure out whats wrong with me till about 4 months ago i was at a friends house and i was drinking very heavily and no reason at all i got up and walked to the bathroom and got halfway to the bathroom and realized that i had no walking tools with me thats when i started seeing a phycoligist and explained it to him in detail and i found out today that it is a fact conversion syndrome is whats been so called ruining my life since this so called disorder has done nothing but ruin my life

[Kristy]

MY MOTHER COLLAPSED AND BLACKED OUT ON 16JUL00.  SHE WAS BASICLY PARALYSED FOR ABOUT 6-8 HOURS. HER WHOLE BODY SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY.  HER PERIPHEL VISION WAS MESSED UP FOR A WHILE. THE NEUROLOGIST INITIALLY THOUGHT SHE HAD HAD A STROKE, BUT AFTER CATSCANS AND MRI'S THEY FOUND NOTHING.  SINCE THEN SHE HAD TO LEARN TO WALK AGAIN.  WHENEVER SHE IS STARTLED OR UPSET SHE BEGINS SHE SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY.  SHE HAS WEEKNESS PRODOMINALTY ON HER LEFT SIDE.  SHE IS TAKING CLONZIPEN AND ZOLOFT WHICH IS HELPING.  SHE IS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING PYSICALLY STRESSFULL.  NO ONE CAN SEEM TO HELP. THE NUEROLOGIST SAYS ITS STRESS AND THE PYHCHTRIST SAYS ITS NOT. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT CONVERSION DISORDER.  DOES THIS SOUND POSSIBLE?

[regina]

Wow,

I thought I was the only one out here living with such terrible symptoms and very little relief from the medical community.  I too started with left sided paralyis of the face and tongue-was told I had bell's palsy.  Within two weeks I was fully paralysised and unable to speak.  That was in May 2000, Now Oct 2000, I still have "bad" days, where my speech is severely slurred and my gait extremely offsided.

I could not get any testing except pyschological which showed no abnormal results.  

How long do your doctors say the symptoms will last, I am still off work due to inability to drive.  I would also like to know if any of you underwent physical therapy to regain muscle control.  I have now been told I may need a walker, It seems that a nonphysical cause could not possibly last this long or continue to impact my ability to function normally, my daughter recently told me she no longer remembers what my "normal" voice sounds like, on good day I sound like I am just learning the english language.  Please respond, any insight would be appreciated!!!

[regina]

Wow,

I thought I was the only one out here living with such terrible symptoms and very little relief from the medical community.  I too started with left sided paralyis of the face and tongue-was told I had bell's palsy.  Within two weeks I was fully paralysised and unable to speak.  That was in May 2000, Now Oct 2000, I still have "bad" days, where my speech is severely slurred and my gait extremely offsided.

I could not get any testing except pyschological which showed no abnormal results.  

How long do your doctors say the symptoms will last, I am still off work due to inability to drive.  I would also like to know if any of you underwent physical therapy to regain muscle control.  I have now been told I may need a walker, It seems that a nonphysical cause could not possibly last this long or continue to impact my ability to function normally, my daughter recently told me she no longer remembers what my "normal" voice sounds like, on good day I sound like I am just learning the english language.  Please respond, any insight would be appreciated!!!

[stephanie wagner]

I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. IM IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WE ARE DOING THIS BIG PROJECT,AND I NEED SOME INFORMATION ABOUT BEING A PHYCOLIGIST IF YOU COULD BE SO VERY KIND TO SEND ME SOME INFORMATION IT WOULD HELP ME OUT ALOT THANKYOU

                                             SINCERISLEY
                                                STEPHANIE
                                                   WAGNER