A number of symptoms..

[Gmathan]

Hello, I'm quite new to this board and seeking help on the internet for a number of symptoms that were for a time excused as anxiety.

I'm an 18 year old female of average weight and height with a history of depression and severe anxiety in my childhood. I was placed on anti-depressants for four years, all throughout High School. I decided my doctor and I would work to take me off of the medication about halfway through my first semester at college, and I seemed fine after a short period of withdrawals.

A good while after I stopped the medication I began to notice that at random times I shake and tremble, almost as if I'm shivering. There is seemingly nothing to set it off.

Along with this I have developed an extreme sensitivity to the cold. If it is chilly out, I'll shiver uncontrollably and at times my lips will grow very pale, even bluish. Along with these I have an "allergy" to UV rays that no one has been able to crack thus far.

Also, my libido is completely non-existent it would seem. I assumed it was the medications I was put on, but after having been off them for quite some time, it has not yet returned. My menstrual cycle is also irregular.

I am also unable to control my irritability or emotions. Mood swings plague my relationships, family and others. Spats of extreme anger are common as of late.

Along with these symptoms I have are weight loss, extreme vaginal itchiness, palpitations, drinking more water than usual, frequent urination.


If anyone has any ideas please let me know..it's something I'd like to find answers to or the right questions to ask my doctor.

 

[RAYSTER]

Hi...a couple of questions....do you get any kind of fever with the shivering? Chills and shivering are the body's way of raising the temperature and I'm wondering if you are running a fever during any of this.

And what do you mean you have an allergy to UV light? What happens to you when you are outside? Are you sure it's UV light an how do you know that?

It's hard to figure out how emotions figure into any illness so if you stick with the "quantifiable" symptoms...those that have real tangible symptoms like chills and shivering and some kind of allergic reaction, then you are more likely to figure it out. and going odd a medication usually doesn't do anything but it can sometimes stop masking something that was there already.

As for some of the other symptoms, you are drinking more and urinating more....they go together. Itching...probably a local problem. How much weight have you lost?

I'll be back.................Jenny

 

[carve the canyon]

No fever or anything of the sort. It lasts anywhere from a minute to perhaps ten or fifteen.

The sunlight condition has been here my whole life. In the hotter temperatures, if I am exposed to the sun for more than a few minutes, then later I will begin to have a chronic itch anywhere that was exposed. Nothing topical has helped, prescription or OTC. If I scratch for long sometimes my skin will get hot to the touch and tight. It lasts a good 24 hours. I'm seeing the best dermatologist in the state sometime in June after countless others. I've just settled on calling it an allergy, though it's more of a sensitivity.

 

[The Jabbawock]

My son has the same thing and will even break out in hives from the sun...that is why I asked. You might want to see an allergist and not a dermatologist. My son uses steroids to stop it.

Shivering without a rise in temperature is usually from stress and stress can explain at lot of the other problems as well. Did you know that severe enough stress can cause paralysis? It's amazing what stress and anxiety can do to us. Our brain gets overloaded and it does all sorts of things to yell for help including causing temporary paralysis, temporary blindness and all sorts of symptoms...including all the ones you described.

Aside from the sunlight allergy, you might want to go back on the meds or try a another one, perhaps an anti-anxiety med instead of an anti-depressant. Did you know that anti-depressants can have all sorts of sexual side effects and they can last for quite a while. And they can dry up secretions and that can bring on the itching. And not only can they mess with your cycle, they can make you produce milk. Lots of side effects!

I think between the side effects that obviously haven't gone away completely and new anxiety and stress, you are probably experiencing the combination of side effects and new anxiety and it's really hard to figure out which is which.

I've been on tons of these drugs over the years and seen all the different stress reactions I mentioned(the paralysis and blindness) and I know from having my own kids go through these tough years that stress seems to be the leading problem at your age. It's almost normal to be stressed out and depressed as a teen these days.

Consider getting some counseling at school and maybe trying an anti-anxiety drug for the shivering. The good news is that you will grow up and it will get better. I don't envy anyone in college these days....it's tough. I'm so glad my kids finally graduated and got jobs and got into the workforce...made all the difference in the world.....and you will be there soon.

In the meantime, watch your sun exposure. Try steroid creams if you start to itch. My son has ended up in the ER 3 times his reaction was so intense. Now he keeps steroid pills available and he knows how to take them if it starts again. You aren't alone in that reaction,....it's more common that you know or your doctors know. I'm surprised they haven't figured that one out.

good luck.....................Jenny