Posted by Jennifer on June 6, 2000, at 3:00:59
In reply to Re: OK... am I mad or ill???, posted by linda on June 5, 2000, at 14:19:15
Nikki, Here's another one to consider: hypercortisolism. Increased cortisol can be caused by stress/panik attacks (don't we know it), a pituitary tumor(in the brain) or adrenal tumor (on the kidneys), or cancer. OK, I know your first thought is cancer with those lumps, but give it up, it's extremely rare! Let me give you the signs of hypercortisol:
irregular periods, mood swings, panic attacks, depression, rapid weight gain (weight is specifically in the abdomen, upper back and face - called moon face), legs/ankles & wrists usually stay thin looking, purple lines on your abdomen, breasts, arms, etc (stretch marks are caused by hormones, not stretching), acne, hair loss, brittle bones (you often don't know you have this), vision changes sometimes, tired, alterations in sleep, etc. I don't know if this is your picture, but regardless, is there any chance that you can see an endocrinologist? If not, see if your pdoc will order FSH, LH, and Testosterone to rule out PCOS and a 24 hr urine cortisol to rule out hypercortisolism. Once those results are in, any abnormatilities validates your complaints, and heads you off to a specialist (endocrinologist). As for thyroid, my pdoc did rx some to me at a low dose to try, but it didn't help. Maybe he will for you. Can't hurt as long as your thyroid stays in range, and you feel better. The big thing that helped me out was taking in photos of myself over a two year period. Doctors forget...I reminded them who I was, and that I may be crazy, but something else was wrong too! I get to see the wonderful endocrinologist specialist on Mon 6/12 and I started begging for help last fall. Good luck! Oh, and add on anti-thyroid antibodies as a last ditch blood test to test out those thyroids! Jennifer
> > I've been doing some reading up on ALL my symptoms (not just the depression alone).. shall I list??;
> >
> > Extreme tiredness, but unable to sleep
> > Regular physical exhaustion
> > Light headeness on excersizing
> > EXTREME weight gain (3 1/2 stone in 18 months - but 2 stone of that is in last 4 months, and eating less)
> > Panic Attacks (sweating, fainting, hyper ventillation)
> > Mood swings - suicidal and cutting myself, to laughing an dlaughing for NO reason, to hating anyone that comes near me.
> > Heavy prolonged, painful periods, with killer pmt
> > Painful lumps in my arm pits (every couple of weeks)
> > Stomach pains, always put it down to ibs.
> > Pale blotchy skin...
> >
> > OK, I'll stop there. I haven't really responded to any meds (other than getting worse at times), but, having read around, I have this feeling it could all be hormonal. I read an article on Poly Cystsic Ovaries, and I seem to match most of the symptoms. But, when ever I have mentioned to a doctor I think my problem has an underlying medical reason, they just dismiss and say "It's understandable you're trying to deny your psychiatric illness". So, they won't send me for further tests.
> >
> > I am FED UP of being so damned fat (photos taken at week showed me quite how fat I've got), and I know when I see friends I haven't seen for months they're thinking "god, she's put on alot of weight".
> >
> > Firstly.. do you think I might just be trying to deny any psychiatric illness...
> >
> > or, if not, how on earth can I get some help to find the cause. The NHS in England is in a terrible state, and my own doctors surgery has a 4 weeks waiting list!!! From reports I've had, doctors won't investigate polycystic ovaries until a woman can't conceive.. I don't want to wait another 3/4 years, till I find out I can't have kids...
> >
> > Grrrrrrrrrrr..
> >
> > rant over, and thanks for reading (if you have!!)
> >
> > Nikki the fatty blob!!!
>
> I never experienced my depression symptoms until I started trying to get pregnant. My Dr. never mentioned depression all he tried to do was find something medically wrong with me or my husband. It was very hard on me. It almost caused my husband to divorce me. I did finally get pregnant and suffered from depression symptoms the entire pregnancy. It was not until my child was 4 months old and I went to theropy for my marriage that I found out I had major depression and anxiety disorder. I child is three years old now and I have been on meds for almost three years. I went back to the dr because again we are unable to get pregnant. He has finally decided to do surgery on me in 6 months (I am not real sure exactly what he is looking for but it has something to do with my ovaries). What I am trying to say is that I too struggle with am I mad or ill. I do think alot of mine is hormonal. I will be 31 YOA in a couple of months and my Dr is concerned about the depression and my age and he even confessed that it could be something physical and not just emotional. He has even went as far as telling me that after the surgery I might just want to have invetro and then after the birth get a total hysterecomy. This might not be much help but I do know where you are coming from. Just keep an open mind and see another dr if you have to.
poster:Jennifer
thread:36086
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000603/msgs/36259.html