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Suggest Remedies For Brain Fog And Fatigue Caused By Anxiety

Posted on Fri, 24 Mar 2017

Question: I have a 46 year old son who complains of having brain fog, crawling skin, hot feet, generally not feeling well. He was generally in good health before. His blood work came back OK. His CT of the brain came back OK. He was tested for 34 allergies and only found he was allergic to cats, dogs and some kind of pollen. He is not around animals and it is winter here in MT. A natural doctor said he has 3 types of molds and he has been on supplements for a month. He cannot wear his clothes over, so he buys new clothes. They have moved out of their home and have been in, first a hotel for 3 weeks , then an apartment. He is eating carb free and taking supplements.

Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Consultation

Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.

This may be caused by an anxiety disorder, which frequently causes somatic symptoms such as brain fog, skin crawling, feeling hot, and malaise, all with normal lab tests and a normal CT scan. He should consider a trial treatment with an SSRI medication such as escitalopram or sertraline. This might help him.

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In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private web address below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private web address: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (5 hours later)

I am pretty sure it is not psychological. It began suddenly when he not working out in the open. He had been exposed to mold when he was cleaning out his shop. He was digging out a drainage ditch around the shop because it always floods in the spring and sprayed the inside of the shop with bleach and used ozone. That was this summer and the symptoms did not start till after he was inside more this winter. I think it is the mold, he feels it is something more. I do not think it is imaginary.Do you have any other suggestions? He works with concrete. He got concrete in his thumb through a cut earlier this summer and it was swollen for awhile. Anything that might have caused?I have not seen a follow up. Do you not search further?

Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (2 days later)

Brief Answer:
I also do not think these symptoms are imaginary

Detailed Answer:
I also do not think these symptoms are imaginary -- I believe he really feels these symptoms, but I think the cause is related to anxiety rather than mold or other things, as mold or bleach does not cause this constellation of symptoms. Anxiety causes real physical symptoms identical to those you describe. I strongly recommend he try a medication to treat anxiety, such as escitalopram.

Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.

In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private web address below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private web address: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D