I've been a bit of a hypochondriac as far
back as I can remember. I suffer from
irritable bowel syndrome, but I'm
otherwise extremely healthy.
About three years ago I made the mistake
of misinterpreting a raised heart rate
(from a hot shower no less! )
and it turned into a huge issue where I
thought something was wrong with my heart.
I went through my family doctor, a
cardiologist, and the emergency room due
to the panic attacks that resulted. That
lasted just over a year, and I still check
my pulse occasionally even though I'm
convinced that my heart is perfectly
fine.
About five months after the heart scare
(which is supremely embarrassing because I
totally overreacted for no reason) I got a
prostate infection. I'm confident that it
really was a prostate infection and that
it was cured fairly quickly, but the
stress from that continues to give me
pelvic pain. It's like a tension headache
in my pelvis, and relaxation helps, so I'm
sure it's anxiety related. I'm sure
because I've been through pretty much
every medical test that explains the pain
and passed them all.
It's almost as if I *have* to be worried
about something because I usually find
something wrong with me that ends up being
completely mental related after multiple
visits to the doctor.
Right now I'm worried about a globus
sensation in my throat that I'm pretty
sure is caused by the stress of the pelvic
pain. At first it scared me so much that I
thought I would die of asphyxiation. It's
since gotten better after I made the
mistake of researching the feeling online
and talked to my doctor (who said it was
probably stress). However, it's present
enough for me to think about my mouth and
throat...
As such, I've developed a worry about what
my doctor says is postnasal drip and a
sore throat. I've also managed to get a
sore (or two) on the roof of my mouth that
bleeds when I spit, which is extremely
worrying because any mysterious bleeding
drives me nuts.
I'm taking medication for the latter
problems even though it doesn't affect the
globus sensation. It's getting to the
point where it angers me off that I worry
so much about my health even though it's
obvious that I'm in great health. I've
been somewhat depressed recently and lost
interest in my usual pass-times (which
gives me more time to think about my
health... ).
I've also started worrying that I'm losing
weight. I was at the lower end of the
"healthy" spectrum and because I've
basically been the same weight for ten
years, I'm trying to convince myself that
it's due to diet changes or the stress
rather than some horrible disease. I
really haven't been weighed much until
recently, so it's a reasonable excuse. But
deep down I keep feeling "I'm gonna die of
something terrible".
I used to work as a system administrator.
Actually, I *was* the IT department in a
company that should have had an IT
department staff of about five people. It
was a very stressful job, and I've since
moved to a job as a software developer,
which is only slightly less stressful, but
it's something I really enjoy.
Anyway, that's where I stand right now,
and I just needed to let it out a bit.
Thanks for your patience.
|
Georgia59
Moderator
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5321 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 62
Thanked:28
Posted: 11-05-07 11:14am
Are you getting therapy at all or just
trying to tough it out on your own?
At least you're at a job you like more,
that can make such a huge difference.
Welcome to the forum, you are welcome to
come vent whenever you want.
|
Marikallees
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 8
Posted: 11-05-07 12:45pm
>Are you getting therapy at all or just
trying to tough it out on your own?
I'm toughing it out on my own. I'm also a
bit antisocial in that I spend most of my
free time alone.
|
Georgia59
Moderator
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5321 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 62
Thanked:28
Posted: 11-05-07 13:08pm
There's nothing wrong with being an
introvert.
However, I would suggest seeing a
psychologist.. they really can be helpful.
|
Marikallees
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 8
Posted: 11-05-07 14:32pm
>However, I would suggest seeing a
psychologist.. they really can be
helpful.
That's likely to be my next step, but
while I have no problem seeing a doctor
about physical symptoms, I'm strangely
hesitant to go to a psychologist. I guess
I'm in denial or subconsciously think I
can lick the problem on my own.
|
Georgia59
Moderator
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5321 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 62
Thanked:28
Posted: 11-05-07 17:57pm
A lot of people think that. But sometimes
you just have to get to the point where
you think, "I didn't cause this, I don't
deserve it, and I need help to fix it." It
helps if you think of it as more like a
physical problem.
And maybe you can lick it on your own, but
a psychologist would give you better tools
to do it.
|
CarolDiane
Moderator
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2221 Location: Finally a picture to a name,
Thanks: 87
Thanked:125
Posted: 11-05-07 18:54pm
Georgia59
wrote:
A lot of people think that.
But sometimes you just have to get to the
point where you think, "I didn't cause
this, I don't deserve it, and I need help
to fix it." It helps if you think of it as
more like a physical problem.
And maybe you can lick it on your own, but
a psychologist would give you better tools
to do it.
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Schizophreniahealth
This page was last updated on June 11, 2008
)
and it turned into a huge issue where I
thought something was wrong with my heart.
I went through my family doctor, a
cardiologist, and the emergency room due
to the panic attacks that resulted. That
lasted just over a year, and I still check
my pulse occasionally even though I'm
convinced that my heart is perfectly
fine.
).
