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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Quintal on February 25, 2007, at 22:10:05
In reply to Re: Resilience » Quintal, posted by laima on February 25, 2007, at 21:59:15
Yes, the level of cortisol is very important. Usually only people who have an infuffuciency would benefit from it. It can be lethal if taken to excess for prolonged periods - as in Phillipa's mother. You'll have heard of adrenal insufficiency? They have poor stress coping abilities due to insufficient cortisol and they need more to be able to function properly. Some people do become depressed and irritable when taking steriods but euphoria is more common. Perhaps and excess of cortisol causes this?
Q
Posted by Phillipa on February 25, 2007, at 22:31:36
In reply to Re: Resilience, posted by Quintal on February 25, 2007, at 22:10:05
Q my sister gets poison ivy yearly and has to take the medrol pack which is cortisone and she dreads it as she get so anxious and aggitated and angry. And my Mother also got osteoporosis from it and was psychotic my childhood was her throwing temper tantrums blaming me for her psoriasis and foaming at the mouth she was so hostile. So it's a powerful med.Love Phillipa
Posted by laima on February 25, 2007, at 22:39:11
In reply to Re: Resilience, posted by Quintal on February 25, 2007, at 22:10:05
I think that must be what happened to this friend of mine. A real tragedy of medical mismanagement. She didn't get any of the euphoria part, either. Very tragic story. In reality- turned out she actually had an undiagnosed brain tumour, and the excess cortisol made it worse.
> Yes, the level of cortisol is very important. Usually only people who have an infuffuciency would benefit from it. It can be lethal if taken to excess for prolonged periods - as in Phillipa's mother. You'll have heard of adrenal insufficiency? They have poor stress coping abilities due to insufficient cortisol and they need more to be able to function properly. Some people do become depressed and irritable when taking steriods but euphoria is more common. Perhaps and excess of cortisol causes this?
>
> Q
Posted by Quintal on February 25, 2007, at 22:44:59
In reply to Re: Resilience » Quintal, posted by Phillipa on February 25, 2007, at 22:31:36
Yes, it is a powerful med Phillipa, but your mother had those problems because she was prescribed too much for too long. Just like a person would become psychotic from taking amphetamines in excess for long periods of time. Some people ebcome agitated and irritable on them too, but most feel euphoria.
Q
Posted by Phillipa on February 26, 2007, at 18:10:40
In reply to Re: Resilience » Quintal, posted by laima on February 25, 2007, at 22:39:11
Laima that's horrible. Did she survive? Love Phillipa
Posted by laima on February 26, 2007, at 18:24:14
In reply to Re: Resilience » laima, posted by Phillipa on February 26, 2007, at 18:10:40
> Laima that's horrible. Did she survive? Love Phillipa
I hope so- her personality changed drastically with the tumour, (she became ferociously angry and was seemingly provoked by any and everything)- and she moved far away. It's not a very comfortable situation, and I think of her with great concern, often. But she won't return calls-angry.
Posted by Phillipa on February 26, 2007, at 20:05:39
In reply to Re: Resilience » Phillipa, posted by laima on February 26, 2007, at 18:24:14
But you didn't do anything to her did you? Love Phillipa
Posted by laima on February 28, 2007, at 9:08:59
In reply to Re: Resilience » laima, posted by Phillipa on February 26, 2007, at 20:05:39
> But you didn't do anything to her did you? Love Phillipa
No, it was "equal opportunity anger"- anyone and everyone and everything for the most surprising and seemingly insignificant reasons. It would flash on suddenly, and was definately biologically induced. Extremely tragic situation, and she didn't ever seem to recognize it. Ethically, the situation was very difficult: don't ever want to avoid a friend in trouble, but it became extremely difficult to be constantly yelled at and to be accused of all kinds of offenses, like saying "hi".
Posted by Squiggles on March 2, 2007, at 8:53:53
In reply to Re: Resilience » Declan, posted by laima on February 25, 2007, at 9:36:17
I think they're sociopaths without
a police record. (hard-wired) :-)Squiggles
Posted by laima on March 2, 2007, at 16:34:21
In reply to Re: Resilience, posted by Squiggles on March 2, 2007, at 8:53:53
But you don't understand! She was a very kind and thoughtful person, until the tumour grew in her brain-that's not her fault. It changed her personality dramatically, and she couldn't even see that. It happened very, very suddenly. So confusing. I guess you're kidding, I see the smile.> I think they're sociopaths without
> a police record. (hard-wired) :-)
>
> Squiggles
Posted by Squiggles on March 2, 2007, at 17:59:35
In reply to Re: Resilience » Squiggles, posted by laima on March 2, 2007, at 16:34:21
>
> But you don't understand! She was a very kind and thoughtful person, until the tumour grew in her brain-that's not her fault. It changed her personality dramatically, and she couldn't even see that. It happened very, very suddenly. So confusing. I guess you're kidding, I see the smile.
>
> > I think they're sociopaths without
> > a police record. (hard-wired) :-)
> >
> > Squiggles
>
>Yup -- sorry, i jumped to conclusions.
Squiggles
Posted by laima on March 2, 2007, at 18:25:14
In reply to Re: Resilience, posted by Squiggles on March 2, 2007, at 17:59:35
That's ok- a lot of people did.A lot of us on this board struggle with mood disorders, what it means to "personality" to be on meds- but geez, we must thank our lucky stars to not have a tumour like that on top of a mood disorder. INTENSE. (I hope no one here does.)
>
>
> Yup -- sorry, i jumped to conclusions.
>
> Squiggles
>
>
Posted by Squiggles on March 2, 2007, at 18:51:18
In reply to Re: Resilience » Squiggles, posted by laima on March 2, 2007, at 18:25:14
>
> That's ok- a lot of people did.
>
> A lot of us on this board struggle with mood disorders, what it means to "personality" to be on meds- but geez, we must thank our lucky stars to not have a tumour like that on top of a mood disorder. INTENSE. (I hope no one here does.)
>
> >You must be a member of the Optimist Club.
Squiggles
Posted by laima on March 2, 2007, at 19:21:02
In reply to Re: Resilience, posted by Squiggles on March 2, 2007, at 18:51:18
Ha! I try, but the "attempt to keep a sense of humour in face of tragedy club" is even better. But this wasn't humorous, just really threw up some tough questions such as, "who IS this person"? Who IS anyone? Same person, new personality? Huh?
Can you get mad at and dismiss someone who is a friend suffering from a personality damaging tumour?> > >
>
> You must be a member of the Optimist Club.
>
> Squiggles
>
Posted by Squiggles on March 2, 2007, at 19:50:19
In reply to Re: Resilience » Squiggles, posted by laima on March 2, 2007, at 19:21:02
No. It must be hard.
Posted by laima on March 2, 2007, at 23:04:38
In reply to Re: Resilience, posted by Squiggles on March 2, 2007, at 19:50:19
Yes, it really is, Thank you. I "lost" a good friend- over something oranic, a sudden and astonishingly severe illness, which utterly confounds me. Truely, it was only a matter of a couple weeks. I wanted to keep being a friend, understanding and sympathetic, and supportive, but there's only so much yelling and conspiracy theories even a saint could stand, let alone a mortal like me. She made other people cry, by accusing them over the most incomprehnsable "incompentencies" and offenses. "Who are we"? "Who is anyone"? We aren't in touch anymore; even "how are you feeling?" was trigger for a barrage of "how the f*ck dare you ask that"? Well, wow. So it has been. I don't know how she is now, though I have best wishes, despite the abuse. I can't get over-that this is an organic disorder, a proven tumour, and it's not her fault. She says it's the government's fault, and has many lawsuits pending on everyone from the government, all her doctors, neighbors- you name it.> No. It must be hard.
>
>
Posted by Squiggles on March 3, 2007, at 11:52:52
In reply to Re: Resilience » Squiggles, posted by laima on March 2, 2007, at 23:04:38
Has your friend been diagnosed by a neurologist?
You say it was "oranic"-- i think you mean 'organic'?; and over two weeks-- hmm, that does sound like food poisoning, or cerebral accident, or hormonal, or something that was developing and not noticed.Any reports from the doctors and how to treat it?
Squiggles
Posted by Phillipa on March 3, 2007, at 17:42:29
In reply to Re: Resilience, posted by Squiggles on March 3, 2007, at 11:52:52
Squiggles good question as when I read the last post it almost sounded like a break from reality like some sort of schizophrenic or something like that break. Wonder what the age? No MRI or did I miss that or forget as my mind doesn't retain info for long. If it was mention my sincerest apologies. Love Phillipa ps just got online and this was where I left off.
Posted by Quintal on March 3, 2007, at 18:10:30
In reply to Re: Resilience » Squiggles, posted by Phillipa on March 3, 2007, at 17:42:29
I thought laima was talking about a brain tumour? In which case I would imagine an MRI or CAT scan would have been performed at some point in order to diagnose it?
Q
Posted by laima on March 3, 2007, at 19:08:27
In reply to Re: Resilience, posted by Squiggles on March 3, 2007, at 11:52:52
Oh- sorry, that was a typo- "organic" was what I meant. She was eventually treated by an oncologist, a brain surgeon, to remove the tumour, but it keeps growing back. By "organic", in this context, I meant an absolutely non-disputable actual biological growth which changed her personality- it did so by spewing out abnormal levels of stress and aggression hormones- no room for any debate about attitude, psychology, or anything else causing the problem. So that had been tough- don't want to abandon someone suffering like that- but again, the severe abuse was awfully hard for people to cope with- and she in fact abandoned most people before they had any chance, anyway. (Because they made her so angry.)
It came on suddenly- started with out-of-proportion anger and complaints about minor annoyances, and before anyone could figure out or comprehend what was happening- people were routinely reduced to tears over "offenses" like blowing their nose too loud, being literally a mere 1-2 minutes late for a coffee date, etc. She started feeling weird enough to go to all kinds of doctors, but she routinely sued most of them for various offenses-such as offering evidence against her own conspiracy theories, offering alternative theories-refering her to specialists whom they felt were more appropriate-- all based per the norms in their fields, current research and beliefs in their fields, etc.
Her belief was that her antidepressent caused it, and that there was a huge govt conspiracy and cover-up surrounding the possibility, denying it. Her doctors said that was very unlikely to be the cause. Worried, I asked my own doctor if antidepressents could cause brain tumours- and he also said the chance was beyond remote. So the cause is unclear. Well, who does know for sure, beyond any doubt, what causes any cancer? But like you suggest, since hormones were involved, perhaps a hormonal abnormality of some sort played a role. Surgery to remove tumour is the treatment for her condition, I understand-it just simply has to be removed, like other aggressive cancer. But I guess it sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. Like I said earlier, I'm cut off, no idea what's going on currently for her, though I keep best wishes..
> Has your friend been diagnosed by a neurologist?
> You say it was "oranic"-- i think you mean 'organic'?; and over two weeks-- hmm, that does sound like food poisoning, or cerebral accident, or hormonal, or something that was developing and not noticed.
>
> Any reports from the doctors and how to treat it?
>
> Squiggles
Posted by laima on March 3, 2007, at 19:12:48
In reply to Re: Resilience » Squiggles, posted by Phillipa on March 3, 2007, at 17:42:29
She was in her 20's- clues that this was not psychosis or just "mental" included bizarre sudden effects like lactation (no pregnancy), hair color change, drastic weight change, severe sudden water retention, other such things. OF COURSE there was an MRI (or whatever the proper type of brain scan is called) before brain surgery! The doctors were suspecting a tumour because of the nature of her symptoms.
> Squiggles good question as when I read the last post it almost sounded like a break from reality like some sort of schizophrenic or something like that break. Wonder what the age? No MRI or did I miss that or forget as my mind doesn't retain info for long. If it was mention my sincerest apologies. Love Phillipa ps just got online and this was where I left off.
Posted by laima on March 3, 2007, at 19:15:33
In reply to Re: Resilience, posted by Quintal on March 3, 2007, at 18:10:30
Yes, thank goodness for no "exploratory brain surgery" being performed, "just to check"! Sounded that there are certain clusters of symptoms which get the doctors suspicious about tumour possibility.
Posted by Squiggles on March 3, 2007, at 19:15:35
In reply to Re: Resilience » Squiggles, posted by laima on March 3, 2007, at 19:08:27
Best wishes to you and your friend. I hope
you have access to good medical care and
a safe place to relax until the treatment.
In the meantime, maybe medications will help
at least the anxiety, that seems to be coming
with paranoid ideas.Caretakers need help too, so I hope you
can get consultation from a doctor.Squiggles
Posted by Quintal on March 3, 2007, at 19:23:33
In reply to Re: Resilience » Quintal, posted by laima on March 3, 2007, at 19:15:33
Interesting about the hair color changes. What color did it change from and to?
Q
Posted by laima on March 3, 2007, at 19:31:19
In reply to Re: Resilience, posted by Squiggles on March 3, 2007, at 19:15:35
Well, thank you, Squiggles. Alas, I've been cut off-for all kinds of gross offenses- like having the gall to like certain kinds of weather, I was in fact one of the people 1-2 minutes late to a coffee shop once..stuff like that she deemed significant offenses, and there was no talking about it-the talking about it was also offensive. While very painful and distressing, I don't take it personally, because basically all of her friends became guilty of similar "crimes". No, don't know what is happening now, as she moved away, even angry at our city, and by extension, at all those who live in it! I do keep best wishes in mind though, even though my calls and letters never were acknowledged, and thank you for your concern of how hard of an experience it has been for me, too.
How utterly incomprehensably bizarre to have someone do a 180 with their personality and temperment, and so suddenly.
For me, raised huge questions and confusions about things like, where is the person, which is the body, the tissue--and where in there is the PERSON? Those Buddhist ideas of self as illusion, or "no-self", kept going through my mind, but I never really understood properly those tough concepts to begin with.After witnessing this- the claims some people make about how taking an antidepressent changes a person's personality, "how do I know who you are if you are on a med", etc, seem drivelish.
She moved away long ago, now. Alas, none of us have heard from her, no one's calls or contact efforts are returned. Occasionally there is a scrap of news, but it feels scant and there is some distance now. There is really nothing I can do.
Thanks again.
> Best wishes to you and your friend. I hope
> you have access to good medical care and
> a safe place to relax until the treatment.
> In the meantime, maybe medications will help
> at least the anxiety, that seems to be coming
> with paranoid ideas.
>
> Caretakers need help too, so I hope you
> can get consultation from a doctor.
>
> Squiggles
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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