Hypochondria Support Group
Hypochondria refers to excessive worry about having a serious illness. Hypochondria is often characterized by fears that minor bodily symptoms may indicate a serious illness, constant self-examination and self-diagnosis, and a preoccupation with one's body. Many individuals with hypochondriasis express doubt and disbelief in the doctors' diagnosis.
Well, today is the day of the physical that I scheduled. For many reasons- for one, just to get a generalized affirmation that I am not gravely ill, for another; to tell the doctor that my hypochondria is OUT of control and hindering wiht my daily life/function, and 3rd- ... To tell him that my nexium hasn't worked to remedy my upper GI symptoms, and that I fear (as a physically fit, 26 y/o female with no history of major illness) that I have beaten the statistical odds- and developed Esophageal or gastric cancer.
I am sitting here at my work desk, feeling like I am going to throw up just from the anxiety in anticipating what today will bring. It is so hard not to just call and cancel the appointment, for fear that I will just be told my very worst fear. I am so tired of this. I am so scared all of the time. I'm so scared of death that I cannot live :(
I hope you get good news - news that helps to at least a little assure you that you aren't dying soon. And that you get something that will control those GI symptoms. That are damn scary. They make me think it's my heart most of the time. And when my GI doc sent me for an EKG to rule that out - I freaked! As if like 12 seconds of monitoring my heart would alleviate MY fear? Ha. Right.
Are you on GAD meds? My doctor told me to go BACk on my Lexapro. Sight unseen. He doesn't think he needs to see me. It was apparently working. I stopped because I felt good. And I blamed it for my weight gain. I should probably have blamed my shit diet...
ANYway. Hoping you're OK and feeling better... :-)
I hope so too. And I have actually never been on any anxiety meds. So maybe that will be the right next step for me?
The whole fear/need dichotomy that we have with doctors is so bizarre (and dysfunctional). My biggest fear is presenting myself to be so hysterical and irrational (so... basically the truth) that a doctor will overlook or dismiss any real sign for concern in the future. I have been going over and over in my head what to say to him when I see him . How to word things, the order in which I say them, etc. It's exhausting. Ugh..