Anyone else a self-diagnosed Hypochondriac?

[CathrynRose]

We used to have this book as I was growing up - you could look up symptoms and diagnose yourself.

I was in it ALL THE TIME! Constantly. One day, I couldnt find it.

No kidding, like 10 years later I was at my Mom's house and saw the book. I said "I thought this was gone!!" She said "I hid it from you, you were becoming fixated - it's not good to worry so much!!!"

Now, who needs a book? I have the internet to look up every twinge, ache, cough, pain, etc.

Im a self diagnosed Hypochondriac - I would love to hear from others on how to get this anxiety under control!

Tomorrow I leave for WDW, (TOMORROW, I get to suprise my son! ) and can you belive Im sitting here, with a twingey pain in my "buttock" that is making my leg ache - and instead of being super psyched about WDW, Im looking up MS symptoms.

And what if I drop-dead in WDW from some strange ailment - who will take Danny home?

Ridiculous thoughts!! RIDICULOUS!!! Thats the problem with it, for me. I know it's not rational to think Im having a stroke at age 33 - the odds are against it, but it's like the devil and the angel on each shoulder.

Angel: You are fine!! Relax! Nothing is wrong!!!

Devil: You've got (insert bad disease/condition)!!! No one believes you, but you have it!! You do!!!

Angel: You are fine!! Relax! Nothing is wrong!!!

Devil: You've got (insert bad disease/condition)!!! No one believes you, but you have it!! You do!!!


HELP!!!

 

[cheerful chickadee]

I am a self admitted hypochondriac also! I wish medical symptoms weren't so easy to look up on the internet. For the symptoms of minor things like headaches could mean a brain aneurysm or meningitis, then I start worrying even more! It's terrible. My dh will ask me to please not go to webmd.com again, it's in my favorites lol

btw your butt/leg pain sounds like sciatica (sp?) http://www.spine-health.com/topics/cd/d_sciatica/sc01.html lol I couldn't resist posting a link, someone help me!

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

Awwwww. My son is a hypochondriac. I wish I knew how to help. I'll just back up your angel... you do not have MS, you're not going to have a stroke, and you will not drop dead in the middle of Disney. And even if you do, what better place for a kid to be stranded for the rest of his life!

That is SO cool that you get to surprise your son. It's beyond me how people can keep it a secret so long.

Get off the MD websites and get psyched about your trip! (That's called tough love. )

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

btw your butt/leg pain sounds like sciatica (sp?) http://www.spine-health.com/topics/cd/d_sciatica/sc01.html lol I couldn't resist posting a link, someone help me!

BAD! That's BAD! (Although I was thinking the same thing... try taking a warm bath and an ibuprofen.)

 

[honeymom]

No, but my grandmother was a real hypochondriac. She once thought she had a brain tumor and kept passing out. Another time she was convinced she was having a heart attack and held her breath until she turned blue. She was always convinced she was dying.

She lived to be 84 and died peacefully (serene looking with a smile on her face) in her sleep.

 

[tiggersmom2]

We used to have this book as I was growing up - you could look up symptoms and diagnose yourself.

Merck's Manual

 

[MsLeFever]

Cathryn...

I'm only that way when we're about to go to Disney. My doctor actually laughed at me when I was in twice in one week - I was sure I had both a pinched nerve AND pinkeye.

I just can't bear thinking I'll be sick at WDW. I also pretty much pack everything from the medicine cabinet!

 

[CathrynRose]

I shoudl have added....

Wanna see hypochondria magnify? Have your Mom die at age 55!!!

This Sunday it will be one year since she passed, and Im telling you - it's made my fears so much worse!!!!

And: cheerful chickadee:


Since you "reasearch" , like I do - do you think that Sciatia could come out of no where though? I mean, I keep trying to tell myself I slept on it funny, but GEEEZ!!

Heck last week, I had a killer sinus infection with a headache from the firey inferno of __________. I think Im doing this all to myself with stress - BLAHHHHH!!!!

Man - if I could have started amuptating body parts as they ached, I'd be left with nothing, by now. Maybe my nose, although it has been a little dry, lately.

 

[Christine]

Yes, I am one. I don't know how to cure it. I've tried curing it myself, going to a therapist, etc. Most of the advice is to get yourself "checked out" by a doctor and then deal with the irrational thoughts. Problem is, everytime I go to get checked out and get the "all clear", I never do. Something always is wrong, or they can't tell me that everything is okay.

For instance, I have had an odd rash on my chest for well over a year. They can't find anything wrong with me, don't know what it is, so I can't get an okay.

My newest fears don't really revolve around cancer (been there, done that), but more of those wacky infections you read about in magazines. Like, a woman cuts herself shaving and ends up getting her leg amputated and almost dies because of MRSA. So, now when I get a cut or scratch, I worry.

 

[CathrynRose]

No, but my grandmother was a real hypochondriac. She once thought she had a brain tumor and kept passing out. Another time she was convinced she was having a heart attack and held her breath until she turned blue. She was always convinced she was dying.

She lived to be 84 and died peacefully (serene looking with a smile on her face) in her sleep.

This is so silly, but hearing this makes me feel better. I dont know why, though....

I need meds!!!

 

[CathrynRose]

My newest fears don't really revolve around cancer (been there, done that), but more of those wacky infections you read about in magazines. Like, a woman cuts herself shaving and ends up getting her leg amputated and almost dies because of MRSA. So, now when I get a cut or scratch, I worry.

Yes - I understand.

I think I should start seeing a therapist. I cant imagine going on my entire life thinking like this. Good lord. Ill eat myself up inside.

I really, really, really feel mine is all due to stress. I need to CHILLLLLL!!

 

[Jennasis]

Hypochondriac here too. I've actually gotten it "fairly" well under control. All of your symptoms are real...the poster with the chest rash, the headaches, the butt pain/leg pain. The pain and stuff IS very very real...the disease you think you have is NOT. The pain, rashes, headaches, limb aches, stomache problems et al are caused by the severe anxiety which left unchecked can lead to quite severe physical symptoms.

Just before DH and I wed in 2005 I developed CDH (chronic daily headaches). Imagine, one day you get a headache...and then it NEVER EVER goes away. It was all day and night EVERY DAY for almost a year. I went to the doctor (oh...it must be migraines, they said) but the medication for migarines didn't work. I would wake in the middle of the night with a pounding headache AND my heart pounding, unable to catch my breath and pain in my chest. So I finally got a doctor (a Phys assist actually) to order an MRI (I was convinced itr was a brain tumor) and and EKG (I was convinced it was a heartattack...I'm only 28!).

The day I waited for the MRI results was just AWFUL. They sent me to a nuerologist to interpret the film after they found "an area of white matter, that shows changes consistent with a history of migraines". The nueor said the spot was negligible but that we would keep trying different meds until something worked, which we did (thank you to the wonderful folks who invented Keppra). As soon as the headaches were under control I developed terrible stomache pains and a burning in my chest. I lost 10lbs in one months and couldn't eat. That same Phys assist ordered an ultrasound (I just KNEW it was pancreatic cancer!). The test showed I was ridiculously healthy.

So the Physician's Assistant (bless her heart) prescribed me some Xanax, asked me to see a therapist and said "You're healthy...please stop torturing yourself".

Now in 2007, at 30 years old, I realize that she is right. The headaches come and go (oddly enough, they seem to dome when i am super stressed out). I still have occassional mid-night chest pain and heart pounding but the Xanax takes care of that.

I was so bad at one point that when my period was a bit late I thought I was pregnant (DH had a vasectomy).

Best advice is to throw away those medical books and stop looking stuff up on line. If you are sick or having pain that is becoming interferring in your life GO TO THE DOCTOR and let them find something wrong with you.

Therapy might work, but it has a historically LOW success rate with treating hypochondria. You sort of need to retrain yourself. I struggle with it all the time. Oh yeah, and I LOVE to try and diagnose others. Also anytime we are watching tv and some character on a show has X disease, I automatically start wondering if I do too..

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

Cathryn, do you have other anxiety problems aside from the hypochondriac thing? Maybe the hypochondria is a symptom of an anxiety disorder, which is easily treatable.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I completely am, although I hate going to the doctor (I guess I'm scared they are going to tell me I do actually have something). Instead, I just worry. I don't watch the news because if I see someone that is sick, I just know I have the same thing. It drives DH crazy.

 

[sugarpie]

I'm definitely not a hypochondriac, but last night I thought for a second that I might have broken a rib from coughing too much! Maybe all these bugs going around are turning me into one.

And I agree, if it's a real problem try talking to somebody (either your MD or a therapist) about your anxiety.

 

[CathrynRose]

Hypochondriac here too. You sort of need to retrain yourself. I struggle with it all the time. Oh yeah, and I LOVE to try and diagnose others. Also anytime we are watching tv and some character on a show has X disease, I automatically start wondering if I do too..

Thank you for your reply.

It feels so good knowing that Im not the only one thinking these ridiculous thoughts and struggling with it. ESPECIALLY when I do have a rational state of mind that is telling me to "knock it off!"

I do need to stop looking, I know that. I need to "hide the book!"

 

[CathrynRose]

Cathryn, do you have other anxiety problems aside from the hypochondriac thing? Maybe the hypochondria is a symptom of an anxiety disorder, which is easily treatable.

This is one of those "chicken and the egg" questions. I dont know if I have anxiety CUZ of my hypochondria, or vice-versa - but frankly the only thing I "worry" about is my health.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

This is one of those "chicken and the egg" questions. I dont know if I have anxiety CUZ of my hypochondria, or vice-versa - but frankly the only thing I "worry" about is my health.

It would probably be worth mentioning to a doctor, MD or otherwise. A prescription for some anxiety meds might help you tremedously. I'm sure you would be much happier without the constant stress that something is wrong with you. That kind of stress could actually lead to real health problems like high blood pressure, tension headaches, and general aches and pains. Being a parent is stress enough!

Have fun on your trip tommorrow!

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

First, I hope ya'll have a great time!

I am not one, but Holly 3, IS a hypochondriac! I am not kidding! So far today she has said she has a headache, a broken leg (she bumped it), a tummy ache, her back hurts (this when I asked her to pick up her toy from the hall), she keeps asking me to feel her forehead..somethings not right with that kid! I mean we've only been up less than 2 hours! Plus NEVER watch discovery health with the girl..she always pays close attention then the next day says she has the illness.

I hope you can work through it! Wish I had advice, but I think I am breeding the next generation so let me know if you find a "cure".

 

[salmoneous]

If someone is a self-diagnosed Hypochondriac, how do you know if they are really a hypocondriac, or if it's all in their mind?