Emotions

[Lupy]

Weird question, does anyone else find their symptoms are aggravated by strong, negative emotions? I just had a rough emotional week and at its peak I started to get really full on face pain (like i haven't had before) and my tinnitus increased 2 fold. It could be coincidence but it still strikes me as ...odd. I see the doctor today and I imagine he will put me back on some form of steroid and try and get the opertation moved forward, I am not booked in till some time in June eek! But yeah, just wondering if anyone else had experienced a correlation between emotions and symptoms - good or bad?

[Lilan]

Definitely. My face twitch now appears ONLY on days I have doctor's appointments. (And it's only on my affected side, so it's a combo symptom/stress). I also feel like if I have a "rush" of stress--like a brief, passing thought about a stressful task at work--I feel a corresponding "head rush" dizzy spell.

I'm a very even-keel kind of person, so these are subtle, but very noticeable to me!

Then I am reminded that we have what might have been called back in the day a "nerve condition"! Don't fray our nerves! 

[Keri]

Yes, I believe stress can make you so tense that it just makes the symptoms worse. Mine sometimes  are more prominenet at the end of the day when I'm tired (this is both pre and post op).
Are you ok with steroids? They made me stressed and I couldn't sleep (this was when i was on a high dose; other lower doses previously hadn't bothered me).

keri

[Lupy]

Oh I am glad I am not alone! I definatley notice my symptoms more at night - but maybe thats just when I slow down and focus more on them. I have just been put back on steroids so I am not sure what will happen now! I haven't had bad reactions to steroids just a bit energized is all, even at the high doses but this is a new kind I am on now so we will see! But if it saves my face I will be happy. However, I hope it doesnt lead to any more stress or negative emotions, I think I have had enough of those for now!!!!!

[moe]

You bet, stress  increases symptoms, in my case the tinnitus in the deaf ear is a killer at the end of the day.
That's why we call it a journey! I get to go down this road forever, but I am determined to have fun along the way!
Right now, it's kids in college and teen at home, so it's not really fun . I work part time as  a home health nurse, so that works for my tinnitus.
Maureen

[Sam Rush]

Stress can make any illness worse, not just AN

[Jim Scott]

Lupy ~

Doctor (Sam) Rush is right about stress exacerbating just about any illness, including AN symptoms.  The good news is that we can control stress or at least learn how to avoid or minimize it.  Granted, that may not always be possible for everyone in every situation, but generally, stress is manageable.  Gaining emotional control in stressful situations beats taking medicine (with it's inevitable side-affects).

Jim   (not a doctor)   

[leapyrtwins]

Stress can make any illness worse, not just AN

Absolutely - thanks for pointing that out Dr. Sam.

Good to "see" you 

Jan

[bpham]

Yes, stress can make the AN side tense and feel like you have the AN all over again...but it should not last for more than a few hours after the stress is gone.  That is my experience.  Also, it makes me more dizzy too.

[Lupy]

Thanks Dr Sam end everyone else. I always knew stress was an antagonist of illness (being a psych) but this has just become so accutely obvious now with AN. I just wanted to hear other peoples experiences. Its just such a shame the meds they put us on to treat AN (dexamethasone) causes stress!!!!!!! I am developing more and more ways of managing stress i.e., meditation, diet, etc exercise. Like you said, its a journey and I will just have to progress slowly and positively towards a more stress free life. Not that easy when you work two jobs, your partner is overseas, and am doing a PhD and renovating a house, but you know, we each have our challenges! haha!

[moe]

Sounds like you don't have kids, so that's a blessing! Wow that'll add stress.
(Do you have kids?) If not, then you have more control over what you do, when, etc...... Maybe slow down on the house renovations?
Is your husband coming back soon, and also hopefully you have 2 jobs that you like That helps!
Hang in there........
Maureen