For the past 6 years, I have been plagued with the constant fear of illness and death. I find a symptom, research it on the internet, and completely convince myself that I have some sort of disease, usually cancer. I have been on and off of Zoloft several times, and it always seems to help. Right now, I am preoccupied by the fact that I think that brown spot on my knee may be caused by cancer, when in my mind I know that it is caused by PCOS. However, I read online that these can be caused by cancer, so now I believe that is the case for me. Does anyone else know where I'm coming from!? I'd love to speak to someone who understands.
I guess I don't do it much but I do freak out if I start researching something wrong with me online. At one point I had elevated prolactin and started researching it along with pitutary tumors (which I have) and found all this stuff that scared the hell out of me but didn't apply at all. I get really freaked out about health issues and am kind of scared of doctors so if I start thinking about something being wrong with me I get all nervous.
__________________ not TTC
I was meant to be a mommy to dogs.
Lauren- I am certifiably crazy! I am such a hypochondriac it's ridiculous. I have been like this since I hit puberty. I owned a blood pressure cuff at 13! I too look up everything on the web and in medical books. In fact, I have a spot on my toe that I'm convinced is melanoma. The dermatologist said he's pretty sure it's not but to have it removed anyway. Well, I'm convinced I'm dying anyway. I couldn't begin to name all of the diseases I thought I had over the years. When I was 14 I had bronchitis and I told the doctor I thought it was TB. Some of it is funny now but I still think like that with every symptom.
__________________ Me-34
DH-34
Momma to lots of fur babies!
Proud Aunt to Hunter (10) and Evan (3)
Jaxanne- YES! You sound exactly like me! Over the years I've "had" colon cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, bladder cancer, lymphoma, and God, I can't even remember what else...it's usually some kind of cancer, though. I'm so glad I've found someone who shares my neurotic tendencies! I took Zoloft for awhile and that helped me to control my hypochondria a bit, and I did well for awhile, but now I'm starting to drive myself insane again. Have you taken any medication for this? I look forward to sharing my craziness with you and others like us!
i'm like that too- i look everything up online or in med books. every drug i take has to pass inspection of the PDR, and i always find some correlations between drugs/side effects/symptoms. anyway hypochondria is not people "making up" illnesses and being paraniod. people with "hypochondria" are more aware of changes taking place within their body. they feel real symptoms, as anyone might, but just over emphasize and over think their symptoms. my mom always called me a "hypochondriac like my father", but heres 2 stories. #1:5 yrs ago i had spinal meningitis, my mom kept telling me it was just the flu, i KNEW it was more. she refused to take me to the hospital...on sept.11 i called my cousin- a nurse- and told her i was dying. she came over and took me to the hospital where they knew right away what it was. #2: my father was having "indigestion pains" and told my stepmother to take him to the hospital. while talking to the nurse his heart stopped. he had a major heart attack. if he didn't go to the hospital he would have died at home. SO bottom line is i think it's good to be in tune with your body...thats my story and i'm stickin to it!
I, too, look every drug up in the PDR and am convinced I will experience the side effects. It is true we are more in tune with our bodies, but I just wish I wasn't. I feel like I am constantly searching for something not right. When I get out of bed, I make sure I'm not light-headed. Most people would never even think about that. If I have a headache I'll check my eyes to make sure my pupils are equal and react to light. I am truly a nut case!
__________________ Me-34
DH-34
Momma to lots of fur babies!
Proud Aunt to Hunter (10) and Evan (3)
its probably untreated anxiety. anxiety makes you think the worst is happening to us. symptoms and signs of anxiety can mask MANY medical problems.
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PCOS:Metformin 1500mgs daily(Oct/03). Rapid Cycling Bi-Polar Type II: Effexor 225 mgs, .5mgs clonazapam, and 900mgs Lithium daily. litebook therapy(Dec/04). Meniere's Disease: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 16mgs Serc and 10-20mgs Metoclop
I really do feel for you, sweetie. I have the exact same problem. I constantly think about death and illness although I'm relatively healthy. Every symptom I get, I automatically think it is cancer. I've never told anyone else this (face to face at least), for fear that I will be ridiculed. My hypochondria triggers panic attacks too. When I'm in the moment, it's hard to be logical about things. I know it's not normal, but I don't want drugs to cope either.
Anyone else a hypochondriac? 
