My doctor thinks all my physical symptoms are somatic

Posted , 4 users are following.

Three months ago, I had to go to the ER for sudden, unexplained shortness of breath.

It was diagnosed as GAD, I was given some Xanax, and sent home. But the difficulty breathing never resolved, worsened, and I started to notice swelling in the right side of my body as the weeks went by.

My doctor told me to get a psychiatric evaluation, but when I went back for a check-in and saw a different doctor, he looked at the swelling, recognized it was there, and thought it might be a circulatory issue. Had an ultrasound done to make sure it wasn't my liver or kidneys, but it came out normal.

I saw my regular doctor again yesterday and he did a brief visual examination, but called me into his office after to say that he didn't see much and that I needed to get psychiatric care. He did give me a steroid cream for the swelling, but never explained why or what he thought might be causing it, which makes me nervous because I don't know how it'll interact with whatever is wrong with me.

I know I'm not imagining it. The fingers on my right hand are noticeably larger than the fingers of my left hand, and my nails are slightly convex. My feet barely fit into my shoes. The bras I just bought a few weeks before this happened fit oddly now. So to have my doctor get me naked, do a rough exam, and then say he didn't really see it was absolutely humiliating.

My insurance doesn't cover psychiatric visits, so I'm screwed until I can pay for one. But I can't live like this: just walking my dog at night makes me wheeze like I've run a marathon, and looking at my weird, lopsided body in the mirror stresses me out a lot. My quality of life is significantly impacted because I just can't do anything anymore.

This can't be anxiety, can it? I've had PTSD and depression for years and it's never done anything like this to me before.

2 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    I would honestly say that I think you have anxiety,which can cause so many physical problems .I know it’s hard for anyone to believe that something so physical can be caused by our brains .wishing you good luck
  • Posted

    I am wondering why you were given a benzodiazepine.
    • Posted

      They were under the impression I was having an anxiety attack.
    • Posted

      How are you now? Have u taken these previously? Have u read the Ashton Manual? Take care.
    • Posted

      Unfortunately the issue hasn't abated at all.

      Honestly, I'd really gladly rather be on a benzo regimen than constantly feeling like I'm drowning.

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