[25F] Experiencing paranoia, hallucinations, and physical symptoms

Patient Description

A 25-year-old female has been experiencing feelings of paranoia for almost a year, particularly feeling like her boyfriend is monitoring her and lying to her. She has not found anything that helps ease these feelings and has not spoken to a mental health professional about them. She has experienced hallucinations, such as seeing things out of the corner of her eye and hearing noises, words, or distant screaming and crying. She has difficulty sleeping, feeling exhausted but becoming restless when she goes to bed. Her wrists, hands, and ankles hurt, but she sleeps very deeply once she falls asleep. She has noticed an increase in appetite recently but no weight gain. She has not had thoughts of harming herself or others. She experiences significant mood swings and has not used any substances or medications that were not prescribed to her. She is unsure about any family history of psychiatric illnesses and has not been diagnosed with any mental health conditions in the past. Her menstrual periods are irregular, and she does not keep track of them. She has experienced significant life changes and stressful events, including an ATV accident that caused severe facial injuries, past substance abuse, imprisonment, and an abusive relationship. She has not used drugs since 2020 and is not currently taking any medications. She has difficulty with memory, understanding, and social interactions since her accident in 2018 or 2019. She is allergic to penicillin. She has been experiencing yellowing of her eyes for several months, which is a dark yellow starting at the inner corners of both eyes. Her hands go numb when she lays down, causing her to wake up and cry, and the numbness only stops if she sits up. She also experiences sharp pain under her ribs, in her head, and in her eyes. She has been losing feeling in her hands, they are very weak, and they never stop shaking. This has been affecting her for almost 2 years, and she drops things frequently and has trouble gripping objects.

Arora's Assessment

What might be happening

It is likely that your symptoms are related to multiple issues, including existing diagnoses. If you have more questions, we can continue chatting.

Causes of your paranoia, hallucinations, and mood swings:

Schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder: These conditions can cause paranoia, hallucinations, and significant mood swings. They often require a comprehensive evaluation by a mental health professional.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Given your history of significant trauma, PTSD could be contributing to your paranoia, mood swings, and hallucinations. PTSD can also cause sleep disturbances and feelings of hopelessness.

Causes of your yellowing eyes and sharp pain under your ribs:

Liver dysfunction: Yellowing of the eyes (jaundice) can be a sign of liver issues, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis. The sharp pain under your ribs could also be related to liver or gallbladder problems. Liver function tests and imaging studies are typically used to diagnose these conditions.

Causes of your hand weakness, numbness, and shaking:

Peripheral neuropathy: This condition can cause numbness, weakness, and pain in your hands and feet. It can be due to various causes, including diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, or nerve damage.
Carpal tunnel syndrome: This condition can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hands, especially at night. It is often diagnosed with nerve conduction studies and physical examination.

Causes of your memory issues, difficulty understanding, and social anxiety:

Cognitive impairment: This could be related to your past traumatic brain injury from the ATV accident. Cognitive impairment can affect memory, understanding, and social interactions.
Anxiety and depression: These conditions can also contribute to memory issues, difficulty understanding, and social anxiety.

What you can do

Paranoia, hallucinations, and mood swings:

Seek immediate help from a mental health professional: These symptoms are concerning and need to be evaluated by a psychiatrist or psychologist. They can provide a formal diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment, which may include therapy and medication.
Document your symptoms: Use MDandMe to journal your symptoms, track progress, and share your notes with your healthcare provider.

Yellowing eyes and sharp pain under your ribs:

See a doctor as soon as possible: These symptoms could indicate a serious liver condition that needs prompt evaluation. Your doctor will likely order blood tests and imaging studies to assess your liver function.
Avoid alcohol and hepatotoxic substances: Since you already avoid alcohol, continue to do so and avoid any substances that could harm your liver.

Hand weakness, numbness, and shaking:

Consult a neurologist: A specialist can evaluate your symptoms and may recommend nerve conduction studies or other tests to diagnose the cause of your hand issues.
Ergonomic adjustments: Make sure your workspace is ergonomically friendly to reduce strain on your hands and wrists. Consider using wrist splints at night.
Physical therapy: A physical therapist can provide exercises to strengthen your hands and improve function.

Memory issues, difficulty understanding, and social anxiety:

Cognitive evaluation: A neuropsychologist can assess your cognitive function and recommend strategies to improve memory and understanding.
Therapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help address social anxiety and improve coping strategies.
Healthy lifestyle: Ensure you are getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and engaging in regular physical activity to support overall brain health.

What you should look out for

Given the severity of your symptoms and the possibility of life-threatening causes, you should seek medical care as soon as you can. Reasons to seek care even more urgently include:

Worsening jaundice: If the yellowing of your eyes spreads or you develop yellowing of your skin.
Severe abdominal pain: If the pain under your ribs becomes severe or is accompanied by fever, vomiting, or changes in stool color.
Severe mental health symptoms: If you experience thoughts of harming yourself or others, or if your hallucinations and paranoia worsen.
Severe weakness or numbness: If you experience sudden or severe weakness or numbness in your hands or other parts of your body.

Remember, while I can provide information and suggestions, it is crucial to seek care from real health professionals to receive a formal diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

1

Hugs

0

Comments

Save

4 mo ago

Guest