Posted by g_g_g_unit on August 14, 2010, at 6:47:44
In reply to Re: 'worried sick' - depression + sickness symptoms » g_g_g_unit, posted by violette on August 12, 2010, at 9:55:14
thanks again for your thoughtful reply :)
> Yes, I remember your medical fears. :)
>
> If by small chance (lol) you missed celiac disease-Here's an article for you. The thing about celiac is-the older you get, the more prounced your symptoms are likely to become. I learn more from the comments of people who post in response to these articles than I do from the articles themselves. Maybe you could read through the comments and find people with similar problems?
>
> http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/celiac-disease-becoming-more-common/i was in fact tested for celiac again recently (about a month ago) when my new doctor did a comprehensive blood test and i turned up negative
>
> As for treating your depression, I'm not sure how I would approach it right now if I were you. I think though, you could rule things out in terms of medical problems which would increase your chances of getting better overall. Aside from the anxiety, maybe you feel like sh*t more from your medical problems than from depression itself (depression being the side effect)?
>
> And rather than feel guilty about using medical services-why not accept it for now? How about starting with a celiac test-maybe allergists do them...if no conclusions are reached, then go to and get that neuropsych test done. Schedule both at once might be even better. Really, there are neurological infections that can cause many of your symptoms-simple blood tests can find them. And you don't have to go through the full neurological work up afterwards if you don't want to. i think you'd be very intested in the neuro psych test results-and the people who do them are very good at determining possible medical cuases, such as heavy medals, bipolar, schitzophrenia, etc., they really are an asset to any psychiatrist and I am surprised more psychitrists do not prescribe those tests. No guilt!!
i did go over this with myself. unfortunately because i am not earning much at the moment (and every penny i do get is going towards psychotherapy) i decided to nix the neuropsych testing. i *was* also diagnosed with ADD by my therapist, so i figured it might be better to try and treat the ADD/depression and see if the cognitive issues persist, before turning to testing.also regarding feeling worn out (versus depressed): i wish i could truly believe that were the case, but i do sometimes think that all this hypochondria stuff is a convenient distraction from my OCD. the truth is my OCD has reached painful, completely debilitating heights and just getting out of bed/trying to engage in basis tasks has become extremely difficult. so i may very well be sick!! but there's no doubt that the OCD and related stress is contributing. so i think i'll try treating the OCD/depression first, just to give me room to breathe, and then start investigating other possibilities!!
i have however organized an appointment with my GP to have a throat swab done, so that's a start ..
>
> I understand about the medical fears, really, I do. And they can get out of hand. But how about allowing yourself 2 tests-celiac/allergy and the neuropsych testing - without feeling guilty about it! And write to Dr. Adams, whose forum I linked. And coordinate everything with your internist/primary care doctor-bring everything; call and ask for a double appointment. Bring a list of your symptoms, dates, medications you've taken, and all the tests you've had done.
>
> And you know me-I always say to try a psychodynamic therapist who is also a psychiatrist. There are more versed in psychosomatic symptoms than conventional psychiatrist. I think some of my symptoms are psychosomatic, some of yours may or not be. But psychosomatic symptoms are real illnesses-it's not the same thing as hypochondrias.
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> Here's a doctor-Dr. Adams-who specializes in psychosomatic illnesses (and hypocondrias). If you write on that forum, he normally answers right away. There's a lot of good research conclusions he posts all the time as well. Take a look:
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> http://www.psychological.com/forums/forum.php
>
> There are a lot of mystery inflammatory problems going on with people. Sometimes people end up with diagnoses of chronic fatigue syndrom or fibromylagia. Doctors generally do not like to give those dx as they are mostly unsure what causes them; if your care is coordinated and you are proactive in getting the tests/exams done, despite your feelings about it, it could lead to a better outcome. Those are places to start-what do you think?
>
> Here's the article about Celiac, followed by comments if you go to the link I posted above:
>
> Celiac Disease Becoming More Common
> By TARA PARKER-POPE
> Celiac disease, a serious immune system reaction to the protein in wheat and other grains, is far more common today than it was 50 years ago, a new study shows.
>
> People who have celiac disease cant tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye or barley. Life with celiac is difficult because gluten is found in many medications and processed foods. When gluten is consumed, the bodys immune system damages the small intestine and nutrients cant be absorbed.
>
> While its been known that the incidence of celiac is on the rise, it hasnt been clear whether doctors are simply looking for it more often, and therefore finding more cases. But new research from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., suggests that the disease is four times more common today than it was in the 1950s, and not just because doctors are more likely to test for it.
>
> The study, published in the journal Gastroenterology, analyzed blood samples collected from 9,133 healthy adults collected at Warren Air Force Base between 1948 and 1954. Another 12,768 gender-matched subjects from a study in Olmsted County, Minn., were also analyzed for signs of celiac disease.
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> Of the blood samples collected 50 years ago, only 0.2 percent had celiac disease. In the more recent blood samples, the incidence of celiac disease was more than four times greater. Today, its estimated that about one in 100 people have celiac disease.
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> Doctors dont know why celiac is on the rise. It may be due to changes in the way wheat is grown and processed, or the ubiquity of gluten in medications and processed foods. Symptoms of celiac disease include diarrhea, abdominal pain and weight loss. Nutritional problems are also common, and anemia, loss of teeth and premature bone loss can occur.
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> The trend is concerning because celiac disease is often misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome or another condition. Its been estimated that for every person diagnosed with celiac disease, another 30 people have it but havent been diagnosed. Once diagnosed, the disease can be managed by eating a gluten-free diet. But when people dont know they have the problem and continue to eat gluten-containing products, the intestines become severely damaged, leading to long-term health problems and a higher risk of dying compared to people who dont have celiac.
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poster:g_g_g_unit
thread:958327
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100811/msgs/958548.html