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Suggest Treatment For Severe Acid Reflux, Migraine And Hypertension

Posted on Wed, 1 Mar 2017

Question: Hi Dr. Sheppe,
Thank you for asking how I'm doing since we last spoke. I'm having a number of physical reactions to severe stress. Extreme hair loss, chronic high blood pressure, migraines, acid reflux and crying/laughing attacks. I suffer from PTSD but recently have been stuck in a "flight or fight" mode over marital problems. My Dr is running all kinds of lab work and my immune system is under attack as well. I have a sinus infection going on a month now not abating despite antibiotics. I'm still not sleeping for days and my mind races at night. I just feel on edge all the time. I just don't feel like myself and I feel out of control of my life.

Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Private Consultation

Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks so much for reaching out!

Listen, I am glad your doctor is doing a medical workup for all these physical symptoms -- addressing any physical problems is very important. However, it is clear that you are suffering significantly from PTSD. Fight or flight mode, labile mood, mind racing, lack of sleep, feeling on edge -- these are all significant symptoms of PTSD. This can be treated! PTSD is not treated effectively with medications, but rather with prolonged exposure therapy. I strongly recommend seeking out a therapist in your area who can perform exposure therapy with you to, over time, make these symptoms go away.

Dr. Sheppe

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (15 hours later)

Thank you Dr. Sheppe. I appreciate your time, expert advise and concern. I will ask my Dr to find me a therapist very soon after the physical tests are finished. I hope to find they are all within normal limits. As frustrating as it is to find no physical cause if that's the case because then you have a plan of treatment, I'm still going to seek therapy. What did you mean by exposure therapy and does this type of therapy require a psychiatrist, such as yourself or a psychologist? Please explain. Thank you most sincerely,
XXXXXXX S. XXXXXXX
Email: YYYY@YYYY or:
YYYY@YYYY

Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Followup

Detailed Answer:
Exposure therapy is a manualized therapy used to treat PTSD. It can be done with a social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist. It has to be done in-person. Here is a web address to read more about it. I think it will be very helpful for you.

http://www.pYYY.va.gYYY/puYYYYYc/tYYYYYYnt/therapy-med/prolonged-exposure-therapy.asp

Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.

In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private web address below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private web address: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (44 hours later)

Hi Dr. Sheppe, I have 1 more question for you. For awhile now whenever my husband comes home and I try to talk to him about anything important or serious I find myself starting to laugh and it's not funny but I can't stop it. Even when I see him getting angry because he thinks I'm making light of our problems, I just laugh harder and I can't stop til I'm crying and trying to explain that I do take it seriously I have no control over it. It's wreaking havoc on our 22 yr marriage. Can you tell me if I'm having some sort of mental break? I'm also shaking inside the whole time. Thank you, XXXXXXX S. XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Followup

Detailed Answer:
This is not a mental break. It is a psychological defense to behave in a happy way when discussing a sad subject, to avoid really feeling the depth of the negative emotion. Therapy will help address this over time.

Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.

In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private web address below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private web address: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D