Dysphoria and Chronic Conditions? <POSSIBLE TRIGGER>

[LizK]

This post is not really about me and my condition but more a general discussion if you are suffering with a chronic illness or pain condition.

I know with my condition one of the things that will trigger an attack is stress. So I got to thinking about how much stress my Dysphoria gives me and its plenty. So if I take this to the next point then if I was "emotionally available" for myself I may be able to deal with the condition much better than before. One of the things that is hard to predict with my condition is when it will be set off and there have been many times where it has been set off and I can find no reason...but if we get rid of the denial then I wouldn't mind betting a fair number of these were caused by the stress from the Dysphoria.

I had an appointment with my specialist whom I have been seeing for the last 14 years. I told him what was going on with me and explained my theory about the Dysphoria, firstly he knew what it was understood the treatment and agreed with me about there being some room for improvement as things stood. He is not the expert he says and has referred me to the Pain Units Psychiatrist who worked with the Hospitals SRS patients for some years and has a real interest in pain and Gender Dysphoria.
He told me that from what the Psychiatrist had said he had,had some remarkable results. Girls completing transition and having far better control and ability to deal with their pain. He felt what I had to say had definite merits. I reiterated that the physical damage was always going to give me grief (don't want him getting the wrong end of the stick...transition will cure everything!!) but that if I can get the other stuff under control I may well be able to reduce the amount going through my pump. With all the bonuses that will bring.

He was great and never batted and eyelid when I told him I getting treatment for Dysphoria and in the end thanked me for my honesty.

So here are my questions and purely for the sake of information sharing and gleaning a little more insight into ur conditions.

1) If you have had or suffer from a chronic condition,  have you seen an improvement while transitioning or post transitioning.

2) Has dealing with your Dysphoria had any positive benefits towards your condition?   



Thanks

Sarah T

[Lady Smith]

I live with chronic illness Sarah and I have pain issues which I often need to control with medication.  I've noticed that when I'm happy and generally Ok with myself I do tolerate my pain better and I don't need to use my meds as much.  Stress in general does impact on how severe my symptoms are from day to day, though I can't really comment on dysphoria as a trigger as after all these years I very rarely have any problems with it.

[LizK]

It kinda makes sense really doesn't it...Stress does awful things to people

[sam1234]

Sarah,
I understand where you are coming from. I have a chronic pain condition, intractable migraines, and it makes everything worse. The worst of my condition began well after I transitioned, but I don't think transitioning has anything to do with it. If anything, being in the right body removes on giant stress.

We carry a lot of baggage by the time we are ready to transition. The jokes, not belonging to any groups and having neither the males or females accepting you. Gender dysphoria is still being researched, but is probably still way off as to why that happened to us. It took me years to stop cringing when I passed a group and they started laughing about something that didn't have anything to do with me. Scars can take a long time to heal.

I doubt your condition will be cured by transtitioning, but it may cut back on triggers.

sam1234

[FTMax]

I have fibromylagia and I have seen a lot of improvement while transitioning, at least physically. Pre-everything I struggled with fatigue and having enough energy to do anything. I was in pain a good portion of the time.

After starting HRT, my energy levels got a lot better. I got more active. When I decided I was going to pursue bottom surgery, I changed my diet and started really exercising again. My pain levels are significantly lower, though I still have flares every now and then (usually when I'm stressed out).

I do still get stressed out more easily than most people, but it's definitely less often now. And it's occurring less and less due to social activities.

[LizK]

...I doubt your condition will be cured by transtitioning, but it may cut back on triggers.

sam1234

There is no cure for my chronic condition, too much physical damage to the Pancreas and it doesn't repair itself. But what I do hear each and everyone saying is that you have had better control of some description which has led to better pain control or maybe even better tolerance. I know for me that stress will trigger a pain episode and I am not sure how much more stressful things could be if you are already dealing with Dysphoria but would imagine it is responsible in my case for a number recent events.

Ftmax it sounds like you and I also have similar reactions to stress and it only makes sense that if you remove the stressor then you can remove the stress.

Thanks for Sharing

Sarah T

[Jacqueline]

No where near as severe as what many of you are describing.

I have chronic dermetitis(dry skin that can peel and shift to eczema). I would periodically have this show up and I would need to apply steroids to get those areas so they would heal and go back to normal skin. In the summer with the heat and extreme humidity, it is usually much worse. I only just realized last week(August in Northern Hemisphere), I have not experienced it since starting counseling and self admission of who I am(this includes under dressing and shaving most of my body). This has been six months or more. The underwear I am now wearing would cut across one of the areas that are hugely problematic.

It has not helped my allergies but that is a big thing for me. I know it is not medically dangerous but it makes life so much easier.

Smiling,
Joanna

[CarlyMcx]

Before I came out to myself and started dressing female around the house, my BP ran 130-140 over 90, on beta blockers.  After, it dropped to 110 over 70, never higher than 120 over 80, and I was able to take a lot less beta blockers.

I have also been fighting anxiety and panic attacks for years, and those all but went away.

I also have TMJ syndrome and reflux disorder.  Those have not directly benefited, but since I want a better body I stopped drinking soda and started doing 45 minutes on the treadmill every morning, which has helped with the reflux, caused me to lose 10 lbs, and the TMJ flare ups do not come as often.

I am also sleeping better at night.

[LizK]

Thanks Joanna and Carly for joining in, another two examples of improvements in health by simply being you!!

It tells us that we can impact our own lives in dramatic ways if we are prepared to be honest and listen to ourselves.

I have noticed an improvement over the last 2 months myself and the main difference........coming out to myself.

[Mariah]

Sarah, I have 2 Chronic conditions. Cystinuria which is a rare kideny disorder that result in my forming Cystine stones. The second one is Chronic Kidney disease caused by those kideny stones and high blood pressure which not dealing with the dysphoria for years played a role.

1. I have seen improvement in both. The increased fluid intake required for spiro has actually helped in sure the kidney stone they were expecting to need to remove from my kidney was just a pile of gravel and even needing laser to break up as a result. Facing my dysphoria head on and transiting fixed the blood pressure issues that were a large portion of reason why I have CKD. Now by improving my blood preasure and facing the dysphoria head on , I lessened the stress on my kidney's. As a result my kidney function increased.

2. The lessening of stress on my body by dealing with my dysphoria really benefited the kideny's. It helped enough that I was able to be put on Spiro when doctors thought it wasn't possible when I first stated HRT.

I hope that helps. Hugs
Mariah

So here are my questions and purely for the sake of information sharing and gleaning a little more insight into ur conditions.

1) If you have had or suffer from a chronic condition,  have you seen an improvement while transitioning or post transitioning.

2) Has dealing with your Dysphoria had any positive benefits towards your condition?   

[LizK]

Mariah that's wonderful that you have had such a positive result and I can see as more and more people post that this dammed thing we call Dysphoria is responsible for exacerbating a number of conditions and I am sure would be behind a few of the more stress related type illness that members here have. 

When you look at the results in just the few posts here it just adds another reason to deal with your Dysphoria. As I have said I don't know why but I have never associated my Dysphoria with my condition. Weird huh?

Sarah T