"Hypofunctioning of the sympathetic nervous system is an etiologic factor for a wide variety of chronic treatment-refractory pathologic disorders which all respond to therapy with sympathomimetic amines." The hypothesis set forth is that the basis for a great many chronic debilitating conditions, in almost all of the physiological systems of the body, may have as the underlying cause between them, i.e., Hypofunctioning of the sympathetic nervous system. The hypothesis of the main functions of the sympathetic nervous system is to diminish cellular permeability. Sympathetic hypofunctioning may lead to absorption of chemicals and toxins into the tissues that may be impervious leading to inflammation and other adverse consequences which then cause symptoms." Dr. Check, Cohen R, Katsoff B, Check D. (Article History: accepted July 11, 2011 by the University of medicine and dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson medical school at Camden, Cooper Hospital, University Medical Center, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, division of reproductive endocrinology and fertility, Camden, New Jersey, USA.
Do you have swelling of the abdomen, perhaps fluid under the eyes and possibly in your legs as well? Has no conventional medication or treatments been able to alleviate these problems? Do you have chronic constipation, sluggish digestion, pelvic pain or skin issues? You may have a genetic disorder which is common but VERY UNDERDIAGNOSED. Traditionally doctors will treat edema from unknown (idiopathic) causes with diuretics which may actually cause a rebound effect and worsen the condition. The diuretics work on the Loop of Henle, and the fluid is lost before that spilling from the intracellular space of your cells to the extravascular space. With this disorder, the fluid in the cells only behave normally when lying down. In a sitting or standing position, the fluid spills into the extravascular space causing swelling and release to toxins into the extracellular space.
You may experience itching with no apparent cause, hives and other problems with easy bruising or other vasomotor changes in the skin. You may be more intolerant of the cold and see your fingers or toes become white or very red with the heat. It may appear that you seem to have developed Raynaud's and may have been diagnosed with this. The only symptoms you may have may be the edema or perhaps you may have some of the other symptoms in varying degrees.
Since this disorder affects the Sympathetic Nervous System, there may be an array of symptoms that seem not to go together but actually are part of this disorder. You may experience gastrointestinal problems such as constipation even when you are eating the "right foods." Your intestines may feel as if they stop working and you may experience nausea at times especially when the disorder is more severe and not controlled. Some people, including myself have been hospitalized for a possible intestinal obstruction. This ruled out, a dose of Reglan will increase the contractions of the upper stomach and these symptoms again disappear.
Your doctor may have told you that you were "fat" and just need to lose some weight. With hormonal changes and perhaps even crazy hormonal levels if tested, the doctor unable to find any cause for this may suggest a psychiatrist or some sort of counseling. All of this is infuriating when you know your own body and know that something physical is going on in your body that they are not able to find. Since these symptoms at first do not appear to go together, physicians often see the individual as hypochondriacs or having psychological issues. I was told I had a brain tumor several years ago and although the doctor was quite grim in his findings, I went to Dr. Jerome Check and even before the tests he assured me that this seemed erroneous. It was.
Dr. Jerome Check in Philadelphia is an endocrinologist (and Invitro fertilization specialist) who researched this disorder as his daughter in-law has this condition of "idiopathic edema." He treated it with various medications which were only mildly effective. Then he prescribed Adderal (or Dexedrine may be used) and the medication helped rid the excess edema. This medication is used "off label" and was successful in treating this disorder. His research is published and is ongoing with his associate Dr. Rachel Cohen. The research and articles are sent to Robertwood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey.