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Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
 | 
do i have a conversion disorder
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
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.

do i have a conversion disorder

by moon brain, Oct 28, 2005 12:00AM
I wondered if you can help me. Ive been diagnosed with joint hypermobility syndrome and postural orthostatic tachycardia sydnrome (POTS). I'm Having new symptoms lately they are;
pain in legs - shooting
twitching in arms and legs
numbness in right cheek and right hand
exhaustion,
right hand keeps curling up into a claw shape.
problems picking things up as its like my brain just stops working.
weakness
neck swells up
I fallover because my legs give way.
Problems with speech
Balance problems- i walk like im drunk and veer to the right.
blurry vision and pain in right eye.
problems with concentration and memory.
Ive been having these symptoms on and off for about a year but just lately have got so much worse. The doctor says ive got major problems with cooordination and balance.
Mri normal,eeg shows slowing and all other tests are negative.
history of depression and stress.as all my tests are negative could i have a conversion disorder.These problems worry me but if all tests are neg then i guess i shouldnt worry.I just  need some answers so i can get on with my life.I'm being sent for more tests but the doc says they wont show anything and i have to see a neuropychiratrist which i dont mind if its gona sort me out.Ive nowhere else to turn now.
thankyou


by Roger Gould, M.D., Oct 28, 2005 12:00AM
The answer is "probably" because with that many symptoms the physical exam and lab tests would show up something if it were organic.  Seeing a psychiatrist is the right thing to do.  
Anxiety can mimick almost any neurological disease, so digging into your emotional life is the right thing to do.
Member Comments (3)

by nosol, Nov 08, 2005 12:00AM
To: moon brain
Hello,

Along with seeing a psychiatrist, I think you should have another evaluation by a good neurologist.  Make sure your examination is complete and if there are some abnormalities found -- you have to look for a cause.  Did you do an MRI w/ contrast?   Did they do a spinal tap?  

Your EEG shows slowing which is abnormal and that should be pursued further.
If you do, in fact, have an abnormal exam -- you have not been evaluated properly.  A good neurologist should be able to pick up whether your symptoms are physiologic or non-physiologic.  With objective evidence of abnormal EEG, I think you need to do more testing to get to the bottom of this.  You may have a slowly progressive condition which needs close monitoring.  

Good luck.

by moon brain, Nov 11, 2005 12:00AM
thankyou for replying.
My neurologic examination showed that i have bad coordination and balance.Ive just found out that my doc thinks my problems are down to my joint hypermobility syndrome and im having a scan of my neck because the doc says it is swollen.My moods can also be part of this condition.
thankyou

by moon brain, Nov 11, 2005 12:00AM
I have not had an mri w/contrast or a spinal tap.

by mountaineer, Nov 16, 2005 12:00AM
I have right-sided weakness, feelings of drunkenness when walking, very drunken gait, frequent falls, muscle spasms, tremor, doubly incontinent. Have spent most of the last 2 years in a wheelchair- then took 30mg of baclofen on a night-time and next day could walk normally all day but then the next day was very weak (though this is improving). Generally my symptoms are slight in the morning but before baclofen after 30mins on my feet I was virtually unable to walk my right side was so exhausted.

I have had every test known to man- spinal tap, mri, all negative.

I saw a chief consultant psychologist who said my condition was post-viral as I first fell ill following bad flu. The neurologist however disagrees and thinks I have a conversion disorder. No history of depression, everyone always remarks what a cheerful person I am, was on holiday in between flu and neurological symptoms, had a nice time so no obvious stressor. Wasn't abused as a child, happy at work, hobby used to be mountaineering.

Any ideas??
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