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Somatic symptom disorder (SSD): How to address it?

Posted by jacque6977 @jacque6977, Dec 5, 2017

My wife is suffering from chronic nausea for which, after numerous testing, there is no identifiable physical cause. She has reached the point where she meets the definition of SSD detailed on the Mayo Clinic website which states "Somatic symptom disorder involves having a significant focus on physical symptoms, even though there is no obvious physical or medical cause for the symptoms, to the point that it causes major emotional distress and problems functioning. Has anyone else been thought to have SSD, and what if anything was done to address the condition?

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Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Oct 18, 2018

Hi, @jacque6977 - first, I wanted to apologize about the very delayed response - somehow this post escaped my notice.

You mentioned your wife's chronic nausea with no identifiable cause after numerous tests and that she'd met the definition of somatic symptom disorder (SSD). How are things going with her?

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jacque6977 | @jacque6977 | Oct 19, 2018

It had been agreed by a number of doctors that she did have SSD. Symptoms surprisingly only occurred when she was at home. She has since moved into assisted living and her SSD nausea disappeared. It appears her symptoms were location related, a mystery solved by changing her location. The mystery as to why she only suffered when at home has not been solved.

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Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Oct 19, 2018

Thanks for the update on your wife and her somatic symptom disorder (SSD), @jacque6977.

I thought that @traveling would like to hear about this current news, and I also wanted you to meet @peabody88 and @legallyred, who have talked about psychosomatic illness. I'd also like you to meet @IndianaScott, who is the volunteer mentor for the Caregivers group on Mayo Clinic Connect, as well as @hopeful33250, who is also a volunteer mentor.

How are things going for your wife, now that she is in assisted living?

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jacque6977 | @jacque6977 | Oct 19, 2018
In reply to @lisalucier "Thanks for the update on your wife and her somatic symptom disorder (SSD), @jacque6977. I thought..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator @lisalucier

Thanks for the update on your wife and her somatic symptom disorder (SSD), @jacque6977.

I thought that @traveling would like to hear about this current news, and I also wanted you to meet @peabody88 and @legallyred, who have talked about psychosomatic illness. I'd also like you to meet @IndianaScott, who is the volunteer mentor for the Caregivers group on Mayo Clinic Connect, as well as @hopeful33250, who is also a volunteer mentor.

How are things going for your wife, now that she is in assisted living?

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She has been there two months with no debilitation nausea. Her GI doctor presented her case at a symposium in Baltimore and they came up with a SSD diagnosis. The enviromental change cure is a mystery. By the way, the home enviroment had been checked for mold and every other possible cause with negative results.

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kaitlynottum | @kaitlynottum | Jan 15, 2023

I'm 29 almost 30 and recently have been experiencing so many more anxiety issues and was told I was diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder because of my multiple ER room visits for chest pain and heart palpitations even though all tests have come back clear and have been good but I just keep getting this feeling in my mind that there's something wrong, that the doctors missed something because this chest pain doesn't ever really go away and changes sometimes. Most of the ER doctors I've seen have told me I'm just a lost cause for treatment and for getting any better, which has led me to believe I don't deserve to try to get better.My own PCP has told me her hands are tied and my therapist I feel has tried her hardest to help but I feel like nothings going to help me. I am so scared of my symptoms but I get this feeling that doctors are brushing me off because of this new diagnosis and I'm afraid that one day I'm gonna go to bed and not wake up because of the pain. I have a stress test coming up in February but all the blood work (when they do it) and EKG's always come back normal, with no signs of anything going on with the heart.Am I insane? I've never felt so alone in my entire life.

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5 replies
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jeannelenhart | @jeannelenhart | Jan 15, 2023
In reply to @kaitlynottum "I'm 29 almost 30 and recently have been experiencing so many more anxiety issues and was..." + (show)
Profile picture for kaitlynottum @kaitlynottum

I'm 29 almost 30 and recently have been experiencing so many more anxiety issues and was told I was diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder because of my multiple ER room visits for chest pain and heart palpitations even though all tests have come back clear and have been good but I just keep getting this feeling in my mind that there's something wrong, that the doctors missed something because this chest pain doesn't ever really go away and changes sometimes. Most of the ER doctors I've seen have told me I'm just a lost cause for treatment and for getting any better, which has led me to believe I don't deserve to try to get better.My own PCP has told me her hands are tied and my therapist I feel has tried her hardest to help but I feel like nothings going to help me. I am so scared of my symptoms but I get this feeling that doctors are brushing me off because of this new diagnosis and I'm afraid that one day I'm gonna go to bed and not wake up because of the pain. I have a stress test coming up in February but all the blood work (when they do it) and EKG's always come back normal, with no signs of anything going on with the heart.Am I insane? I've never felt so alone in my entire life.

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I too do not get any answers. My cardiologist says my heart is fine. I don’t have the pain that you have but I feel really weird heart beats. I do have the tremors and bad fatigue. I have looked into EBOO. The Covid virus has effected our central nervous system. You are not alone. Jeanne

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 15, 2023
In reply to @kaitlynottum "I'm 29 almost 30 and recently have been experiencing so many more anxiety issues and was..." + (show)
Profile picture for kaitlynottum @kaitlynottum

I'm 29 almost 30 and recently have been experiencing so many more anxiety issues and was told I was diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder because of my multiple ER room visits for chest pain and heart palpitations even though all tests have come back clear and have been good but I just keep getting this feeling in my mind that there's something wrong, that the doctors missed something because this chest pain doesn't ever really go away and changes sometimes. Most of the ER doctors I've seen have told me I'm just a lost cause for treatment and for getting any better, which has led me to believe I don't deserve to try to get better.My own PCP has told me her hands are tied and my therapist I feel has tried her hardest to help but I feel like nothings going to help me. I am so scared of my symptoms but I get this feeling that doctors are brushing me off because of this new diagnosis and I'm afraid that one day I'm gonna go to bed and not wake up because of the pain. I have a stress test coming up in February but all the blood work (when they do it) and EKG's always come back normal, with no signs of anything going on with the heart.Am I insane? I've never felt so alone in my entire life.

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@kaitlynottum, I hope you saw the kind message from @jeannelenhart.

I'm sorry to read that things have not changed much since you started this discussion a couple of years ago:
- Feeling Alone w/ Anxiety, Depression + Unexplained Chest Pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/feeling-alone/

Kait, I want you to know that you deserve to be healthy and you deserve to be cared for. And being cared for starts with you caring for yourself. I wonder if it would help you to read the posts you made in the discussion I linked, assess the things that are in your control and that you have the power to change. And to make of the list of the things you need help with and from whom. Not all of the things on your list need to be medical. What is one thing you can do today to be kind to yourself?

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TSB | @terrirussell | Jan 16, 2023
In reply to @kaitlynottum "I'm 29 almost 30 and recently have been experiencing so many more anxiety issues and was..." + (show)
Profile picture for kaitlynottum @kaitlynottum

I'm 29 almost 30 and recently have been experiencing so many more anxiety issues and was told I was diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder because of my multiple ER room visits for chest pain and heart palpitations even though all tests have come back clear and have been good but I just keep getting this feeling in my mind that there's something wrong, that the doctors missed something because this chest pain doesn't ever really go away and changes sometimes. Most of the ER doctors I've seen have told me I'm just a lost cause for treatment and for getting any better, which has led me to believe I don't deserve to try to get better.My own PCP has told me her hands are tied and my therapist I feel has tried her hardest to help but I feel like nothings going to help me. I am so scared of my symptoms but I get this feeling that doctors are brushing me off because of this new diagnosis and I'm afraid that one day I'm gonna go to bed and not wake up because of the pain. I have a stress test coming up in February but all the blood work (when they do it) and EKG's always come back normal, with no signs of anything going on with the heart.Am I insane? I've never felt so alone in my entire life.

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Take a look at POTS.
I take Tenormin for speeding heart…tachycardia
And I take Effexor for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
These are comorbid conditions for me, having Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which you should also look at!

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1 reply
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lgumerman | @lgumerman | Jan 16, 2023
In reply to @kaitlynottum "I'm 29 almost 30 and recently have been experiencing so many more anxiety issues and was..." + (show)
Profile picture for kaitlynottum @kaitlynottum

I'm 29 almost 30 and recently have been experiencing so many more anxiety issues and was told I was diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder because of my multiple ER room visits for chest pain and heart palpitations even though all tests have come back clear and have been good but I just keep getting this feeling in my mind that there's something wrong, that the doctors missed something because this chest pain doesn't ever really go away and changes sometimes. Most of the ER doctors I've seen have told me I'm just a lost cause for treatment and for getting any better, which has led me to believe I don't deserve to try to get better.My own PCP has told me her hands are tied and my therapist I feel has tried her hardest to help but I feel like nothings going to help me. I am so scared of my symptoms but I get this feeling that doctors are brushing me off because of this new diagnosis and I'm afraid that one day I'm gonna go to bed and not wake up because of the pain. I have a stress test coming up in February but all the blood work (when they do it) and EKG's always come back normal, with no signs of anything going on with the heart.Am I insane? I've never felt so alone in my entire life.

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I am so sorry about your anxiety and feeling like no one is helping you. Can u find a new doctor? Don’t believe you are a lost cause. That was totally unprofessional and rude. I am on lorazepam for anxiety because of pain and it helps a lot. A psychiatrist might be a big help in managing your symptoms. I found mine extremely helpful in medication and psychological help. I agree that making a list of your problems and who could help is a good start to take control back from your PCP. Keep on looking for new ways/people to help you. There are better doctors out there. Good luck and keep letting us know how you are doing.

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birdiemomma | @birdiemomma | Jan 21, 2023
In reply to @kaitlynottum "I'm 29 almost 30 and recently have been experiencing so many more anxiety issues and was..." + (show)
Profile picture for kaitlynottum @kaitlynottum

I'm 29 almost 30 and recently have been experiencing so many more anxiety issues and was told I was diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder because of my multiple ER room visits for chest pain and heart palpitations even though all tests have come back clear and have been good but I just keep getting this feeling in my mind that there's something wrong, that the doctors missed something because this chest pain doesn't ever really go away and changes sometimes. Most of the ER doctors I've seen have told me I'm just a lost cause for treatment and for getting any better, which has led me to believe I don't deserve to try to get better.My own PCP has told me her hands are tied and my therapist I feel has tried her hardest to help but I feel like nothings going to help me. I am so scared of my symptoms but I get this feeling that doctors are brushing me off because of this new diagnosis and I'm afraid that one day I'm gonna go to bed and not wake up because of the pain. I have a stress test coming up in February but all the blood work (when they do it) and EKG's always come back normal, with no signs of anything going on with the heart.Am I insane? I've never felt so alone in my entire life.

Jump to this post

Do you feel like you are in constant fight or flight mode?

I went to the ER with chest pain that got worse as time went on and the pain went down my left arm. All of my tests came back normal. They even kept me overnight for observation.

It was finally determined that I was having panic attacks! I couldn't believe it! Evidently, panic attacks can manifest in many ways. I was constantly in fight or flight mode, my chest and neck turned red and/or felt hot, and I had quite a bit of chest pain. They gave me Xanax to take as soon as I felt something was wrong (it really helped), and I found a therapist to deal with my panic attacks, specifically. Depression and anxiety aside, panic attacks are a whole different animal. They need to be treated accordingly.

I hope you find the answers you seek. If there is nothing wrong with your heart, then maybe you should look in a totally different angle.

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