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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
I don't understand, please help! I think my DOC is CRAZY!
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
I don't understand, please help! I think my DOC is CRAZY!
by Brandi__0, May 18, 1999 12:00AM
Posted by Brandi on May 18, 1999 at 16:11:35
I am a 26 yo female. Last May ('98) my doc told me I had strep in blood and that it was making me sick. He put my an ERY-Tab 500mg 2 x's a day, I have been taking them since. It was suppose to help in 6 months or less. At the same time I had an attack, I thought a heart attack. My shoulder drew up and I had shooting pains down my arm, ect. My sleeping had been awful, I am tired all the time, gained 28lbs since Nov, I had an ECG (echo cardiagram? ) in Dec said my heart was fine , The list goes on and on. Yesterday the doctor said I was doing better with the strep, ect. I went to have my eyes checked and they said my optice nervers are a little swollen? I guess my question is, they say the only cause of swelling is spinal pressure, I wanted to know if stress could do it? I have had 4 major panic attacks this year and countless stress attacks.. I am wondering if dizziness, lack of energy, lack of interest in sex, ringing in the ears, numbness in left side (from shoulder to hand) sudden breaking out in sweats, and then feeling faint, seeing splotches, and all the rest are an infection of some sort, which the doctor says strep could not cause these systems, and that it stress related. Please tell me, can stress cause all these systems? The eye thing is a different twist on it all, Its ok with me if it stress, that is better than thinking I have a spinal infection. Do not know if you can help, but thanks in advance.
Posted by HFHS.MD-AJ on May 21, 1999 at 13:16:03
Brandi,
I can understand your concern and frustration about your health situation. With the information provided, it is unclear if your symptoms are neurological, psychiatric, or a combination of both. Medical and psychiatric illness may occur together.
Visual problems, shooting pains down the arm, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), dizziness, and numbness can be due to neurological and/or medical conditions. Swelling of the optic nerve (papilledema) can be a sign of increased intracranial pressure. I am not aware of any literature that states that stress can cause optic nerve swelling.
Sleep disturbance, lack of energy, weight changes, and loss of interest in sex may be signs of depression. Dizziness, feeling faint, sweating, and numbness may be symptoms of panic attacks.
I recommend that you discuss your symptoms further with your physician, or seek a second opinion, to make sure there are no neurological or medical reasons for your symptoms. You may also find it helpful to follow up with a psychiatrist, for formal evaluation and treatment.
This response is for general information only. Always contact your physician for any health concerns.
Keywords: depression, panic attacks, papilledema.
