Just thought that following on from Kizzie's discussion on psychological reactions to drugs. It might be helpful to me and others to start a discussion about physical reactions
I've always had issues with drugs but as I've got older there are more and more drugs and also some substances that I'm very intolerant to.
Just to give some examples:
Codeine, just 30mg, half what I was told to take had me rushed to A&E in an ambulance with suppressed breathing and lowered heart rate. Told to never touch again not even an over the counter small amount as it's too dangerous.
TARAVID, Ofloxacin, Penecillin, (all antibiotics) left me with skin rash.
Tagamet (cimetidine) for GERD not sure what the US equivalent left me with a swollen liver and needing a full body scan to ensure no permanent damage to other organs.
Anti inflammatory drugs give me a gastric reaction.
Statins left me feeling generally unwell, with dizziness and muscle pain.
Gabapentin led to very fast weight gain, I'm talking 20lbs in 6 weeks! Plus insomnia and feeling nauseous all the time.
Citalopram (and boy did I need that at the time) left me with a gastric reaction as in severe indigestion, bloating and stomach pain
Tramadol - 50mg dropped my oxygen levels so low I passed out for several hours.
Pregabalin - Cold sweat and fainting.
An anaesthetist warned me he believes I'm an ultra-rapid metaboliser. Which means any drug metabolised through the liver can cause me problems or worse may have no effect at all. He diagnosed that from my reaction to Codeine. A normal reaction is to metabolise 20% of codeine to Morphine through the liver. But ultra rapid metabolisers (like me) metabolise 70%+ into a morphine, hence my extreme reaction. It can kill! I have a similar reaction to all painkillers. But the way we metabolise drugs is a genetic issue
But I believe that trauma may have over sensitised my system too.
I also have MS, Epilepsy (as part of MS), osteoarthritis so some of these drugs may have helped. I also have GERD so a very sensitive tummy too.
My osteopath believes that my whole system is ultra sensitive because of the trauma. But especially the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, hence the 'brain' in the tummy is ultra reactive. It's a nightmare negotiating drugs as I get older.
I even 'reacted' to digestive enzymes which are supposed to help your tummy. Plus food sensitivities like lactose etc.
Sorry but it's a long list.
Does anyone else recognise this journey? Is this all down to genetics or can there be a trauma link to physical reactions.
I want to say yes as the ACE study points to physical illness so why not physical reactions? I'd be really interested in others experience with this.
Well this study from 2009 seems to support this link too: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2720843/
"The overwhelming majority of allergies were attributed to antibiotics and analgesics. In the resulting analyses, the total number of allergies was positively correlated with the total number of different traumas indicated"
I certainly have both analgesics and antibiotics in my list of allergies. My ACE score is 7 btw.
And more:
https://www.thoroldtoday.ca/local-news/brock-study-examines-link-between-childhood-trauma-and-allergies-3841496
Thanks Sweetsixty. That's interesting, I had a lot of allergies as a child. Something yo think about.
It would seem from all the non replies, it's just me :bigwink:. Back to the drawing board for any reasons why then.
Best wishes to all you lovely people x
This posted while there were some access issues for many. By the time I got back in, the site did not show new posts for me in the unread topics list so I am just now seeing this! May be the same for others!
Thank you for posting this article.
I have a rare allergy to the cold...in cold temperatures I get hives and very dizzy and tired. If the exposure is more serious like swimming or very cold temperatures where it snows or drinking something cold it can turn into anaphylactic shock and things like swimming can be deadly. I have ignored how awful it is for a long time but I can finally just own that you know what? This allergy sucks so bad. I cannot do water sports with my kids and I cannot do snow sports with them. I have to watch from the sidelines and be a boring mom and I hate it. Not to mention I have to keep my house heated to 68F or I get hives on my feet, ankles, and hands and arms when I wash my hands. My gas bill was almost $600 US last month and I live someplace pretty warm.
Now I never made a connection between trauma and this allergy but when my therapist found out he tried to say it was from trauma. I rolled my eyes and tried to say others in my family have similar types of allergies. Then he asked me when it started. And I had to admit it started when the trauma started around 15 years old. It also started when I was playing outside one evening while at a sleepover with friends at a time in my life when I would have been terrified to be away from my mom because she'd be home alone which was no good and I felt responsible. So, I have to say that I did become more sold on my therapist's theory that the allergy is related to trauma.
Thank you Armee, and apologies for my out burst, it just felt very strange being ignored completely but your explanation does make more sense than my reaction and it helps a lot to know I'm not alone.
Actually that does sound familiar, I've not had the same as you but I do get lots of 'stuff' happening which is always put down to my MS and neurological symptoms. However, when I think back lots of my reactions started after I'd left my trauma situation and should have felt safe?
There was no opportunity to be me, until a few years after the abuse was behind me when I was with my partner whose now been around nearly 40 years. He provided a safe haven and my trauma related physical responses started? It sounds so feasible but is it a step too far?
well sweetsixty,
I never put these things together before... trauma and asthma and allergies
I spent most of my childhood with severe allergies and asthma. TBH I thought it was a symptom of what was done to me physically as opposed to a trauma response.
I was in oxygen tents I remember... as well as allergy shots and shots and shots.
But never even considered the connection.. I appreciate your sharing that article
My allergies and asthma all kind of stopped when I grew up/moved out.
I think it makes a lot of sense that autoimmune would also be linked. They are both immune systems being overactive. Also I'm sorry to hear you have to deal with MS. My uncle had it, before the modern treatments. It would be cruel if that were a result of the traumas you suffered. Just wish the pain stopped when the abuse stopped you know, instead of following us for decades with symptoms.
Hi,
Just spotted this. I too have reactions to drugs. Luckily I am safe with penicillin but there have been several anti-biopics which caused me to vomit repeatedly, and one caused an all over rash after I stopped the course.
In the ER last year, for a fall, and I was given straight codeine, had to be put on a drip to recover my BP dropped so much, but I am OK if the codeine is combined with paracetamol. I have heard that reactions to codeine are common.
I also had a reaction to the AZ Covid 19 vaccine.
No idea why I am so sensitive to stuff, but, when I was supposed to have surgery last year, they gave me a red wrist band to highlight that I was, instead of a normal white one.
Aside from this I have seasonal allergies but those did not appear until after I left my FOO home, the same time that my menstrual cycle became regular.
I am a firm believer that The Body Keeps The Score, but I do not really understand how.
Unfortunately, with drug reactions, the only way you find out is to have the drug, and the reactions can be unpleasant and debilitating.
G
Thanks to all who've now answered this. I guess the links do make sense but they're common in the population anyway so it's hard to know. I just wondered if others suffered with this too. Especially as Kizzie had mentioned psychological responses.
Phil 72: I don't have allergies in the sense you have them but if it is linked that is rotten too. It wouldn't surprise me if your immune system is impacted too.
Armee: Thank you for what you said but I'm one of the lucky ones as it took them 13 years to diagnose my MS and by then I'd coped so long without drugs and had so many reactions to drugs that I refused the strong chemicals they offered. I'm still fairly mobile (albeit with the occasional use of wheelchair) at 67. So I call myself lucky.
Gromit: your history with drugs sounds very much like mine, poor you, it's rubbish as often we need drugs. My reaction to Codeine is extreme but consultant said it could have killed me as my heart rate slowed far too much and my breathing was suppressed too. They took me to A&E on a blue light.
I was asked by my doctor some time ago if I could ask my T to help me with my 'drug phobia' . She wrote back to him to say that I didn't have a drug phobia but a normal fear based on real physical reactions. She advised that if I needed to take any new drugs I should try them in tiny increments and sit in A&E whilst I took the first bits.
When I had a major op the anaesthetist wrote a letter telling staff how to titrate drugs slowly for me. This got thrown out (it was a weekend) and they tried to give me normal amounts and found my oxygen levels dropped so much I passed out for hours and they had to put me on extra oxygen. I refused all drugs after that and did my recovery from knee replacement on just paracetamol and ice!
It's a difficult journey, so good to know you guys are here but horrid that we all have this. :hug:
Hi Sweetsixty,
I'm sorry your doctors did that to you - both writing to your therapist and not listening to you about trying things slowly. I have a long frustration with doctors not listening to me.
I found this article and there is a lot to unpack but it looks like trauma received while young leads to alterations which are harder to reverse over time. It's interesting in that it goes into detail about what's affected in terms of cytokines (inflammation response). I think that inflammation plays a role in how drugs are metabolized as well.
https://gut.bmj.com/content/47/6/861
I had allergies and asthma growing up which I always thought were just genetic but is probably a factor, but could have been activated because of raised stress levels and how the body reacts to stressors with higher inflammation levels present. I have read that cortisol has an impact on the gut microbiome:
https://www.ifm.org/news-insights/gut-stress-changes-gut-function/
I don't have any drug interactions that I know of but do have metabolic/digestive issues. I think that long term stress had led to gut dysbiosis and some of the issues I'm seeing. I also think that viruses can play a role in long term systemic inflammation. Herpes virus has neurological affects as well. I was told by my FMP that autoimmune and viruses usually go hand in hand.
Hope you're able to find something that works for you.
dolly
Hi Dolly,
Thank you for taking the time for a really thoughtful reply. As you can imagine, with a long drawn out diagnosis for MS I had an awful history of not being listened to also. I can see how inflammation could play a part in much of what I struggle with medically today.
I also have some digestive issues and one of the first non-diagnosis I was sent home with was IBS. That was after a gastroscopy when the consultant said to my H "Take her home, there's nothing there, she's just neurotic". Aaaaarrrgghhh .
Now after nearly 30 years of taking a PPI daily my guts are well messed up so maybe that also is an issue with the drugs. I've also seen the cortisol link with digestion too.
Thank you for the articles, I'm going to chase them up especially the one on the gut issues. The worst of my trauma lasted from birth (or before) until 27 when I finally got away, but going on 55 when I finally went NC as the light dawned on me about it. That's quite some time to be traumatised so that truly makes sense.
I didn't realise the link between Herpes and neurological problems. But the MS professor I follow is convinced of an EBV link with MS. So it would make sense if viruses also play a part in all this.
Thanks again for your time, you've given me some real food for thought.
Sweetsixty x
Hi Sweetsixty,
I'm happy to talk to other people about this, so glad you find some of it relevant. I had to spend a lot of time researching and there's a lot of people who have significant conditions that are not listened to by doctors because it doesn't fall within a narrow scope of what they think could be wrong. They talk about how mind influences body, vice versa, and stress but I don't think that it's really explored when diagnosing. I'm sorry you had to go through that again, it sucks. I feel terrible to dismiss people/doctors but I've been through this so long that I know when there is something wrong and what I've tried etc.
IBS is pretty significant and now they are seeing that a lot of patients with IBS have SIBO as well, which when left to it's own devices, can have all sorts of implications on hormones, blood sugar (as I'm finding out with the pancreas), mood, food intolerances (which can then develop into autioimmune conditions etc). PPIs IMO (unmedical opinion) would make any gut bacteria worse as it inhibits the stomach from producing acid which then allows them to flourish and not kill bacteria as the stomach was intended to do. My guess is that they were given because you had GERD or some acidity which was actually the symptom of bad bacteria. I would look up the link between PPIs and gut bacteria.
It is a long time for the body to be stressed but hopefully there are some things you can do to turn it around. I see the body as a circle and there's all these factors that contribute to health. Stress is a big factor and if there are underlying conditions such as EBV or other viruses, it gives them the environment to come out. When you factor in gut dysbiosis, it's another inflammation or stress, that allows them to flourish further. A friend has a rare autoimmune disorder that it very difficult to deal with. She noticed that it came about right around the time she was diagnosed with herpes and now she is starting to experience nerve pain. Over time the herpes virus embeds itself into the myelin sheaths in the nerve causing pain and damage. I can imagine a link to EBV as well with MS. One fmp I saw said he'd never seen a case of autoimmune thyroid disorder without an underlying viral connection. This past week at work someone told me about having a near death experience on a job where a piece of heavy equipment fell where they had been standing and working about 10 minutes before. Shortly after, they experienced an outbreak of shingles (which is the same chicken pox/EBV we have as children that stays dormant in the body).
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/795486#:~:text=Radiculopathy%20caused%20by%20HSV%2D2,leg%20weakness%20may%20be%20observed.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723519/
I know it might not be accessible to everyone but I would recommend seeing a functional medicine practitioner as they actually test and diagnose to try to get to the root of the problem. I saw naturopaths etc, and perhaps I had not so great ones, but the fmps were the ones to help starting to get to the root of the problem. Testing isn't cheap but in the long run it was worth it for me.
Keep us updated and hope that you're able to get some answers.
dolly x
Hi dolly,
Yes, I've been painfully aware for a number of years of the all the links you mention. I've done a lot of research in this area too as you can imagine. Research is my thing as I've already got a PhD albeit not in the medical field!
The link between PPIs and gut dysbiosis is a familiar one and yes I have GERD and Hiatus Hernia. I'm sure that SIBO also plays a part in all of this but seeking help is very difficult. We don't have that many really good functional medicine docs in the UK and most are concentrated in city regions whereas I live miles away from cities. I've spoken to quite a few of them but the cost of all has been just too prohibitive and although you say it's worthwhile that only works if you can afford it.
But you've given me some push to think about following this road again and to see if I can find anything. The last time I spoke to a functional medicine doc they took a look at my diet, supplements and habits and told me I was already doing everything I could for myself and they didn't think they could add anything to warrant me paying out lots of money!
Titration from PPIs after all this time has been discouraged by everyone I've spoken too. Mainstream medics of course think it's a really bad idea. I tried to do it myself too often to count and caused significant damage to my oesophagus. Crazy thing is I'm convinced the PPIs have caused my gut problems. Although I only take a minimum amount.
I'm sorry you've suffered too with this, it all sucks. Thanks for the good wishes and yes I'll keep you posted.
Sweetsixty x
Hi Sweetsixty,
I've found a really good FMP and can DM you her name if you want. She is based in London and Herefordshire but does video consultations. The cost however is still an issue. I put it off for a long time. The GI map she did was really helpful though.
SIBO is a tricky one. I've spent a lot of time on the SIBO reddit forum and it's not medical advice, but people share the things they've tried etc. and what might/might not work if you can get around all the "what does this symptom mean." It's definitely not a one size fits all solution. It's also relatively new in terms of diagnosis. It didn't even come up when I started this journey; at the time it was all "Candida."
https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/2019/04/23/causes-for-refractory-sibo-dr-steven-sandberg-lewis/
The other thing I thought of when you said you were a fast metabolizer was methylation and MTHFR genetic markers. I've read that methylation markers are actually responses to trauma and how trauma is expressed genetically. Maybe if this occurred since you were a baby, it might make sense. I thought because of my reactions to wine that I might have had a methylation issue so I did a 23andme. There were some methylation markers but only had 30% reduced methylation I believe. I haven't done too much research into methylation and digestion but looks like there is a link which is interesting.
https://www.beyondmthfr.com/mthfr-digestion-healing-hiatal-hernia/
https://www.beyondmthfr.com/mthfr-and-the-acid-reflux-paradox-part-i/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00808/full
In the last link it mentions "The FKBP5 gene (which) encodes a heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) cochaperone that modifies the sensitivity of steroid receptor hormones" leading to glucocorticoid resistance.
In here it explains that "the lack of FKBP51 does not appear to have deleterious side effects in mice and its presence causes steroid hormone receptor hypersensitivity." I wonder if this is inducing the effect and anxiety that people are experiencing when taking hormones or perhaps it's referring to another steroid hormone.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4236834/
Hope this isn't intrusive. I've developed a side interest in these things and like looking them up, so please disregard if not relevant.
Good searching!
dolly x
Hi Dolly,
It's all very relevant but an awful lot to digest (excuse the pun lol). I've not even heard of methylation so that's a whole new area for me to research. It may take me some time to to look through all of this. Yes I'd appreciate the DM of the FMP you found especially as Herefordshire is probably the closest to me. Grateful of any info in this area you are happy to share.
Thanks again dolly I'm going to stop giving up and try again. I had thought that at 67 it's just too late for me but you've given me some hope that I can at least have a go.
FYI yes my trauma was from a baby and my story is a long one. You'll find the outline of it amongst the personal stories on this website.
Sweetsixty xx
Absolutely.
I have reactions to most drugs, pharmaceutical or otherwise. I have also researched it a bit. I have always had trouble with anesthesia, and have always told doctors up front, and they seem to shake it off as if I am exaggerating when I say that it doesn't work on me. Well, a few years ago I had to have an upper endoscopy, and I told the doctor that I will be awake but not to worry I'm not squeemish. The doctor was in a panic because as he told my husband who was in the room during the procedure, he had given me enough drugs to knock out everyone in the room and a baby elephant and that he legally could not give me more. Long story short, doctor said afterward that I have something called a paradoxical reaction to anesthesia. That got me on a research kick, and it actually seems to be something not too uncommon with those who have trauma disorders. Interestingly enough, if I were at a party in my youth and took recreational drugs of the relaxing sort, I would never be the one relaxing. I would always be the one cleaning up and getting people drinks.
When it comes to other sorts of reactions, I have allergies to several antibiotics and if there is a rare side effect to anything I will get it. There are also studies showing how trauma effects your developing immune system, and I do have two autoimmume diseases and also autoimmune eczema and figure that has something to do with my body's hyper responsiveness.
Thanks for sharing Bermuda - I wonder if your nervous system is reacting differently because of genetic activation in the TH1 and TH2 nervous system. I don't know much about this, but just speculating.
Sweetsixty - Ha! Yeah there is a lot to consider. Like the article below says, these things are big tangled knots. I had a quick look and apparently methylation is not involved in drug metabolism, but perhaps a genetic mutation would trigger some of the reactions? I get that feeling...I've been putting off some testing and talking to my GP about things because I'm so tired of hearing there's nothing wrong. It's just a reactivation for growing up and not having a voice. Hope you find something in that research xx Have DM'd you.
This is an interesting overview of MTHFR and HLA gene differences and the implication. My FMP was talking about mold and will have to dig out my 23andme and see if I have the HLA mutation. I cut out gluten for about 7 years now and it's helped my overall health a lot. I can seemingly eat it now in small amounts but not 100% sure about that. Apparently there is a link between gluten and autoimmune conditions and have long wondered if I have some obscure undiagnosed autoimmune condition. Testing shows my folate quite low as well (in a functional sense) but could be due to malabsorption with SIBO.
https://www.genesisperformancechiro.com/blog/2020/8/31/a-tangled-mess-addressing-the-knots-of-autoimmune-conditions
https://www.drchelson.com/articles/nutrition-nutrients/leaky-gut-mthfr-and-digestive-enzymes-1
Hi all,
I just logged into my 23andme account and saw that they have a new "Pharmacogenetics Report" which looks at how your body might process certain medications. It's an extra service or £19/year I think though in addition to initial genetic test. I thought it might be relevant to some of you if you're interested though don't know how in depth it goes/what's included.
dolly x
After talking about the genetic link, I was interested in looking more into the info I got three years ago. You can take your raw data from 23andme and upload it into various other genetic apps/programs which sort and categorize it for you. I used Promethase and Genetic Genie.
https://promethease.com/
https://geneticgenie.org/
Promethase is not that user friendly but gives all the breakdowns and Genetic Genie gives you your methylation and detoxification panels. I think I need an intermediate to advanced organic chemistry course here, but am trying to make headway. Also, I think even if you have one gene susceptible to something doesn't mean there's other genetic factors or the right environment for it to be expressed.
I thought I had an issue with methylation and coming back it seems that even though I don't have red, there's a lot of yellow. As I understand, a lot of the methylation process is involved in the manufacturing of neurotransmitters, elimination of hormones etc. Certain bacteria like H Pylori (which I had) can cause "hypermethylation" where it uses up all the folate/methyl donors that your body needs for the methylation cycle, causing detox issues. Low B12 and folate can be a sign of this.
MTHFR C677T is the "big one" that can cause "impaired function of the enzyme can cause or contribute to conditions such as Autism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Miscarriages, IBS, many birth defects, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Bipolar Disorder, blood clots, Stroke, Chemical Sensitivity, and many other conditions." There is also a link between this gene and the development of a major depressive disorder later in life. Apparently, according to the Dr. Axe link, certain antibiotics can also deplete low folate levels and interfere with the methylation cycle further.
https://draxe.com/health/mthfr-mutation/
https://advancedfunctionalmedicine.com.au/b12-deficiency-and-mthfr/
COMT is another interesting one where "This area of the brain is involved with personality, inhibition of behaviors, short-term memory, planning, abstract thinking, and emotion. COMT is also involved with metabolizing estrogens. COMT (-/-) individuals can usually break down these neurotransmitters efficiently, but COMT (+/+) individuals may have trouble breaking these chemicals down from impaired function of the enzyme. With a COMT + status, it has been clinically observed by physicians that people may have trouble with methyl donors. This can lead to irritability, hyperactivity, or abnormal behavior. They may also be more sensitive to pain."
CYP1B1 showed up in my detoxification panel as homozygous (red). Looking into it a bit further, it's responsible for the metabolism of steroids. So, perhaps the strong reaction to steroids could be down to the individual makeup of this gene? I'm not sure as I don't think I've had any steroids since my ventolin inhaler as a child. Homozygous or +/+ is apparently a fast metabolizer although I'm not 100% sure of all the factors influencing this. Some of the supplements in the article below might slow the enzyme activity as well. The Zyflamend seems interesting in reducing overall inflammation.
https://supplements.selfdecode.com/blog/cyp1b1/
This is also a good link between drug interactions and methylation:
https://mthfrgenehealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Drugs-medications-methylation-MTHFR.pdf
Maybe for you Sweetsixty - a link between epilepsy and MTHFR:
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/neu.2011.1982?journalCode=neu
Looking at the links, it does seem like the symptoms are still split between "psychiatric" and "physical." The only research paper I could find linking MTHFR and early childhood trauma was one that showed a connection between trauma, MTHFR C677T and an increased likelyhood of a major depressive disorder. I haven't found anything between trauma, MTHFR and an increased likelihood of physical problems. Although, it was implied in one article.
Interested to hear about others experiences with genetics and physical symptoms.
Hi Dollyvee,
You've obviously done your homework in this area, wow, that's a lot of research. I really don't blame you going down this route as very few medics really get it. If many of these are genetic, can we really change it? I know we can maybe avoid things that may tend to encourage the gene expression but there must be a limit to this. Or at least we may not be in a position to fully understand that yet. Pharmacokinetics is a really interesting area and that's the area I researched for my reaction to pain killers. That's to do with the way the liver metabolises drugs and is also an good area to look at. These are a simple introduction.
https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/pharmacogenetic-testing-and-opioids
https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/2008-07-8624
https://www.genomind.com/360/an-introduction-to-pharmacokinetics-four-steps-of-pharmacokinetics
I really can't find a link here to trauma just to genetics.
I think what I was really trying to establish is if others with a trauma background have the same issues and how they cope with them. My problem is often how to talk to medics about things. In this story I had a great reaction from medics but that isn't always the case.
https://www.outofthestorm.website/guest-bloggers/2018/11/17/trauma-illness-and-medics-my-non-phobia-by-sweet-sixty
MS is regarded as having a familial tendency and it's certainly true that my sister also has it. I've been checked for H. pylori and it's not an issue for me. Also although I've taken a PPI for quite a while I don't have low magnesium, B12, folate, Vit D or anything else anticipated with that.
I'm also lucky that I don't suffer with depression, some anxiety but then who doesn't with a history of trauma.
I've not had steroids either so I don't know how I might react to them. Thank you for the links again, I'm still working my way through the others too. There really is a lot of work in these I really appreciate that.
My epilepsy is connected to my MS as I have lesions in the areas that can produce seizures. Every time I've had a seizure I've also had a relapse with it.
Maybe the link between trauma and physical and psychological issues is as simple as inflammation? It's certainly a link they're seeing more and more related to diet. I cut out gluten a very long time ago but I now eat very few carbs as that has helped with my gut issues and also with my MS. I've also lost 4.5 stone that way and my blood results are always good since swapping out grains, sugar and seed oils.
Thanks again Dollyvee
Sweetsixty.
Quote from: sweetsixty on February 22, 2022, 06:11:37 PM
I think what I was really trying to establish is if others with a trauma background have the same issues and how they cope with them.
Well, how I cope has changed a lot over the years. I'm not sure if this will be helpful at all... I think we live in a world where we're made to believe we are in control of/responsible for our own health. I had to let that go because it can become maddening and simply dangerous. During my lowest health point I was grasping at straws and trying anything, and as sad as it sounds, now I just accept that I am not 100% and that it also can't be explained away like many others' illnesses. I think of health as a spectrum, and I for as long as I can remember have simply been unlucky.
In the past when I spent so much energy trying to explain things to doctors, research possible causes, and speculate... It caused me so much more pain and suffering.
I eat mostly healthfully, don't drink etc., and just try to be mindful of not being too mindful, and allow myself to have days when I simply can't go on as usual. No justification necessary.
Hi Sweetsixty,
The link between childhood trauma and illness shows up in epigenetics tags related to methylation. I read It Doesn't Start With You which talks about generational trauma and how these things are passed down genetically to a degree via non-encoding DNA. So, while it is genetic there is a chance to change it down the line. One of the genes related to methylation, MTHFR C677T had been shown to have a direct link to later onset depression as well as the characteristics I posted before. The link between trauma, methylation and physical health is there, but I don't think there's a paper saying if x happened, you will develop these symptoms. There's a part in the article below that talks about the HPA axis, stress and methylation. It's quite dense but basically goes into how long term stress affects the methylation pathways.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00808/full
If you know that you have the MTHFR mutation, or some of the other detoxification mutations, there might be something you can do to support it perhaps.
Ah I understood it as a new thread where Kizzie wanted you to share your adverse reactions to drugs as she was currently experiencing a reaction to steroids, and explore that as a possible link to childhood trauma. But it is a fascinating area and I'm sorry that you all have to go through that.
That's great about the gluten. It's helped me so much. I'm cautious about "normal" blood tests unless they take functional levels into account. For example, I was told that my iron was fine as the range is something like 15-125. Mine was 17 and the level you need for proper hair growth is 70. But you're already aware of functional medicine so are probably looking at the right ranges. I've just been told so many times that my test results were fine and I knew there was something off.
Thanks for starting the thread - it's actually really helpful for me to go back and look at those results.
Bermuda - that's a really great way to approach it, to take the extra time on yourself when you need and to not be hard on yourself about it.
Thanks Dollyvee,
I know all this research has taken you quite some time. Yes I am looking at the right ranges and I'm very aware of how they're not always what our docs tell us they should be. I am looking into having another go with a functional doctor. As I explained to you the last one I spoke to told me that I shouldn't waste my money as my knowledge and the way I implemented that was the ideal for me.
Yes it's sad that there are so many of us on here. I'm glad the thread I started helped in a small way. I hope it's helped others that have read it too. Especially as you've been so generous sharing your research and your experiences.
Bermuda: I agree that your approach is a great way to go. I try to take an approach whereby I attempt to educate docs by being open about my drug sensitivities and how that has exacerbated my CPTSD, but they don't all react well. Although it is getting better.
The work I did with my T helped lots with that as I was able to drop the toxic shame which stood in the way of me telling others about it.
Great discussion. Thanks
Sweetsixty
Hi Sweetsixty,
Yes, this discussion helped renew a kick in looking into this stuff and think am making headway a bit with what's going on. Also, it could be that it's helping to look at my trauma in a new way.
I don't know if you've come across this but it's been very interesting/in depth looking for getting genetic information and associated conditions:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Genetic-Testing-Defining-Personalized-Health-ebook/dp/B07BVWYXGD/ref=sr_1_4?crid=TH6VBGTWLVQ4&keywords=genetic+testing+defining&qid=1647256310&sprefix=genetic+testing+defining%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-4
Looks like I'm hugely susceptible to inflammation, which creates cytokines and can cross the blood brain barrier. Also, have a couple links for anxiety and inflammation which means a genetic susceptibility to increased anxiety with inflammation. All these make sense as a kid growing up with allergies and asthma, especially as chronic stress is a trigger for these conditions.
Hope your search is going well,
dolly
I posted something about my reactions to medications on a Facebook page and asked if I should have one of those medic alert items, necklace or bracelet, probably a capsule in my case so that I can add to the paper inside and the responders said yes.
However, I feel really odd about it. My mother had one because she could not have penicillin. I feel if I suddenly started wearing something like that it would draw attention to me and I hate attention. I just imagine the responses, 'oh, look at you, flaunting your issues' . I have all the information in my 'phone under emergency medical information but actually wearing something which advertises the fact is something else. I know, last time I went into hospital for a procedure they gave me a red name tab because of the issues I have with certain medications, but that was just for surgery, where it matters.
I mean, I try to tell myself the reaction I had to codeine, whilst I was in ER was really scary, but it is not like I have been unconscious anywhere other than hospitals. I fainted in one last year when I took my son to have his nose set. They did not check my phone or anything they just lay me down and gave me water until my BP was stable.
Please advise, should I get one or not?
G
I can't advise, because I have the same problem Gromit. But maybe if I tell you about mine it'll clarify for you what you should do for yourself?
I have an allergy that can result in anaphylactic shock and death. I sort of self diagnosed and just informed my doctors and never saw an actual allergist.
I finally did see one 25 years after it started, because I wanted advice on truly how much I needed to limit my activities to avoid the allergen (I was seeking permission to do more and trying to convince myself I was just being a baby).
His response was that no I absolutely could not do those things and to get a medical alert bracelet, especially important because emergency surgeries could expose me to the allergen. (Weirdly, the allergen is cold temperstures). That was almost a year ago and I still have not gotten one for exactly the reason you mentioned.
Well actually I am not even sure if it is the attention I am afraid of or looking like I am looking for attention. Both are horrid.
I think I know what both of us should do. They have necklaces and other jewelry that is more discreet but I don't know if medical personnel would recognize it as an alert. But that would probably help.
Quote from: Armee on March 23, 2022, 01:46:06 PM
I can't advise, because I have the same problem Gromit. But maybe if I tell you about mine
Well actually I am not even sure if it is the attention I am afraid of or looking like I am looking for attention. Both are horrid.
I think I know what both of us should do. They have necklaces and other jewelry that is more discreet but I don't know if medical personnel would recognize it as an alert. But that would probably help.
Yes, Armee, it is exactly this, both are horrid and you put it better than I did.
I had a reaction to the AZ vaccine last year, my tongue felt weird, for a couple of days, it was a struggle to talk, but no one at home noticed and I did not seek further assistance, although I did log a Yellow Card. Then, when it came to having the second dose of vaccine I mentioned it to the people there and the doctor was called, and said it might be more dangerous for me to have a second dose than it would be for me to have Covid, so I would have to have a different vaccine, and I was given it in a different room to everyone else, as I had had this reaction. My OH didn't take it seriously, he hadn't noticed the tongue problem, I do not talk a lot, and, because it was difficult, spoke even less. He was more perturbed because I had not said I was going for the vaccine, I really didn't want to have it, partly for the reactions I get to things. Once this stuff is in your system you have to suffer the symptoms until they leave your system, and you do not discover the effect until you have it.
I am glad I am not alone in feeling this,
G
And now I have asked a friend about his wife, she is diabetic, and does not have any medic alert jewellery. She also seems reactive to medications, recently having to spend an overnight stay in hospital, because of a reaction to some medication the doctor gave her, her own doctor. And, normally they also give her a red wrist strap as an inpatient.
?
G