i'd like to post something here. first of all, it's very hard to understand (i don't claim to understand most of it) but it explains what a lot of people with PTSD experience as far as physiological responses to this mental disorder related to immune system disorders, which in turn result in other physical problems. these studies are mostly being done in the military at this point. this is unfortunate, because a few studies show that these reactions are more common in women.

i apologize for it's complexity, but it's the nature of the beast to understand what is happening to the immune systems of a lot of people with PTSD. a friend of mine suffers terribly with most of these physical symptoms, which prompted my research into it. the words in italic are not consecutive, they are excerpts from this site.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/0...ystem_052010w/

This “suggests a biologic model of PTSD etiology in which an externally experienced traumatic event induces downstream alterations in immune function by reducing methylation levels of immune-related genes,” the study stated.....

The researchers said that may be because a person’s most necessary systems respond to danger, while everything else slows. Usually, when the danger is gone, everything goes back to normal. But some people stay at some level of that hyper-alert state.....

In addition to the lack of activation of immune system genes, the researchers looked at levels of antibodies to a normally latent herpes virus — cytomegalovirus — that usually remains symptom-less. But in those with a weakened immune system, it can cause anything from flu-like symptoms to visual impairment, inflammation of the brain, pneumonia, diarrhea and hepatitis.

places that are studying this:
Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City
Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Departments of Society, Human Development, and Health and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115
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again, this is all very new. most of the research is being done in Michigan. but for people with PTSD who are suffering from a weakened immune system, resulting in OTHER physical problems, just the existence of this research hopefully will offer a solution some day.

p.s. just as a personal side note, staying at "some level of a hyper-alert state" is constant. i CANNOT go without a benzodiazepine (mine is valium). i have had to fight for it over the years, but i have a doctor now who understands this is a part of my being able to cope with the effects of my past abuse. when i'm so tensed up i can hardly breathe, and my "nerves" are at a breaking point, it's critical to have something to help. so i totally understand unhappyguy. i wish you well, and to find an understanding doctor.