The "OMG I'm dying" hypochondria/mental health thread

[BrownEyedGirl26]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

A friend of mine has anemia, and he manages it through his diet. He eats frequently, and turns yellow when he's not taking care of himself.

A good diet and PLENTY OF WATER, bottled of course, at LEAST TWO LITRES A DAY and you will feel a lot better!

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by BrownEyedGirl26

A good diet and PLENTY OF WATER, bottled of course, at LEAST TWO LITRES A DAY and you will feel a lot better!

There is also a lot to be said for the modern western diet. Everything is enriched with iron. Bread, rice, pasta, cereal, etc. I find it hard to believe that people can be anemic in this day and age unless they were on some kind of carb-avoiding diet. That being said, women are particularly susceptible to anemia if they tend to have heavy, prolonged periods, in which case birth control pills may be a good remedy. But the most important factor is diet, not just in terms of direct iron supplementation, but in terms of receiving all of the proper nutrition needed to maintain healthy cell function. I think a consultation with a licensed dietician and strict adherence to a regimen is more likely to produce dividends than going to the doctor and taking pills.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by markolas

I dunno how I would've gotten a UTI. Don't women usually get those? And the Zoloft is ruining my sex life, so I kinda wanted to get off it just b/c of that. Do you think my "cold" was really a UTI? And the constant foggy-headedness? I'm going for another urinalysis this week...I hope it's cleared up, b/c I don't have insurance and can't afford this sh!t.

Part of me thinks it probably is a UTI, but I'm terrified that I have renal or liver cancer, or my kidneys are shutting down. My skin isn't turning yellow, so it can't be liver failure, right?

I haven't tried any other meds for the panic attacks.

Men can get UTIs; it is not too common, but it does happen. The constant foggy-headedness and low energy could be secondary to the body fighting off infection (as evidenced by bacteria in the urine). A simple blood test with cell diff will confirm the presence of infection. UTI's are fairly simply to treat using a very cheap generic antibioic, e.g., trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Just be sure to stay out of the sun while you are taking it.

[Travisevian]

Originally Posted by markolas

And the constant foggy-headedness?

It's commonly referred to as "brain fog". How long has this been going on and have you discussed this with a doctor?

Originally Posted by Silver Springs

It's just a matter of controlling the diet to make sure you ingest enough Iron, exercising and generally looking after yourself. If it does get too severe then a monthly shot in the bottom is very likely. I've been told I'm probably heading towards those because my Ferrous Sulphate supplements have begun to cease working effectively.

Red meat, green vegetables and blackstrap molasses are all good sources of iron.

[Moz]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

There is also a lot to be said for the modern western diet. Everything is enriched with iron. Bread, rice, pasta, cereal, etc. I find it hard to believe that people can be anemic in this day and age unless they were on some kind of carb-avoiding diet. That being said, women are particularly susceptible to anemia if they tend to have heavy, prolonged periods, in which case birth control pills may be a good remedy. But the most important factor is diet, not just in terms of direct iron supplementation, but in terms of receiving all of the proper nutrition needed to maintain healthy cell function. I think a consultation with a licensed dietician and strict adherence to a regimen is more likely to produce dividends than going to the doctor and taking pills.

I've had anemia before and I ate quite well back then. The deficiency came up during a full blood test for a different issue and I am trying to eat more iron-enriched foods (though I do eat quite a bit of bread, pasta, and bran bars with iron), but I've never been a fan of red meat. Now I'm starting to think it might be from my medication, a beta blocker. Side effects? "fatigue, weakness or lack of energy" "low blood pressure (hypotension)" Check!

[markolas]

So, all you nurse types: if the doctor's office won't call you back with test results, that means you have some terrible malady but they don't want to tell you. Is that right?

[sara1998]

I've had a serious pain my right temple for over a month now. It started after a cold with a cough. I wrote it off to stress of coughing, but it's lingered. It hurt only when I would cough, but it got so severe one day I went to the er. They gave me a shot and sent me home. I took 2 rounds of antibiotics and a steroid and it's still there. Only with a cough or bending over. Went to the ent ( dr thought it was a sinus infection) and she did an MRI on my sinuses. They're clear. Now I'm getting worried. Lol. This is when my inner hypochondriac comes out. I had surgery on my shoulder this past Tuesday, so as soon as I can drive again, I'm going back to the dr for this temple pain. I don't get it.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by sara1998

I've had a serious pain my right temple for over a month now. It started after a cold with a cough. I wrote it off to stress of coughing, but it's lingered. It hurt only when I would cough, but it got so severe one day I went to the er. They gave me a shot and sent me home. I took 2 rounds of antibiotics and a steroid and it's still there. Only with a cough or bending over. Went to the ent ( dr thought it was a sinus infection) and she did an MRI on my sinuses. They're clear. Now I'm getting worried. Lol. This is when my inner hypochondriac comes out. I had surgery on my shoulder this past Tuesday, so as soon as I can drive again, I'm going back to the dr for this temple pain. I don't get it.

If possible, ask for an ear-nose-throat specialist. It almost sounds like a sinus infection or fluid buildup in the sinus cavities above the eyebrow.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

There is also a lot to be said for the modern western diet. Everything is enriched with iron. Bread, rice, pasta, cereal, etc. I find it hard to believe that people can be anemic in this day and age unless they were on some kind of carb-avoiding diet. That being said, women are particularly susceptible to anemia if they tend to have heavy, prolonged periods, in which case birth control pills may be a good remedy. But the most important factor is diet, not just in terms of direct iron supplementation, but in terms of receiving all of the proper nutrition needed to maintain healthy cell function. I think a consultation with a licensed dietician and strict adherence to a regimen is more likely to produce dividends than going to the doctor and taking pills.

My thoughts exactly. I'm very anti-meds. It's so common to grab a prescription in America,it's shocking.
There's nothing that a healthy diet & lots of excercise and fresh air can't fix....imo!

[jannieC]

Originally Posted by Bryan

My thoughts exactly. I'm very anti-meds. It's so common to grab a prescription in America,it's shocking.
There's nothing that a healthy diet & lots of excercise and fresh air can't fix....imo!

Nothing?

[SummerlongBoots]

Trust me, I hate taking meds too, especially the crap I'm on. But if I don't suppress my bone marrow production, it will fail.

I have anemia as an extra "bonus" from my blood disorder so I do eat healthy and exercise. I also get plenty of rest, and drink plenty of water, but if that's all I do there's a good chance I will die.

[markolas]

A nurse just called me back. Doctor reviewed my results and says everything is normal, and if it happens again, to come back and see him. How anti-climactic.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by sara1998

I've had a serious pain my right temple for over a month now. It started after a cold with a cough. I wrote it off to stress of coughing, but it's lingered. It hurt only when I would cough, but it got so severe one day I went to the er. They gave me a shot and sent me home. I took 2 rounds of antibiotics and a steroid and it's still there. Only with a cough or bending over. Went to the ent ( dr thought it was a sinus infection) and she did an MRI on my sinuses. They're clear. Now I'm getting worried. Lol. This is when my inner hypochondriac comes out. I had surgery on my shoulder this past Tuesday, so as soon as I can drive again, I'm going back to the dr for this temple pain. I don't get it.

Maria, I've had the same cough, for TWO AND A HALF YEARS(maybe I could replace the cough with Ashton Kutcher- sorry, that a bad 2&1/2 joke). Seriously, though. I went through 3k of testing, with two diagnoses. Allergy doctor says that I'm allergic to mold, which is everywhere(after the floods from 3? years ago, I did have a mold issue in my house). And the ENT says that I have acid reflux. Perhaps I have both, but neither doctor "fixed" me! The allergy doctor said, "you may just have to accept, that this is the ~new you~". So I've just learned to live with the cough. For me, it was really bad, a couple of years ago, because it was greatly affecting my singing voice. But with time, my voice got strong again, and it doesn't really affect my voice now.

I think that both doctors are right, though. I'm known for my LOVE of spicy food, that would make most people spontaneously combust, and I have noticed that after I eat a meal like that, the cough is strong, for a couple of hours following(even though I rarely have heartburn). That said, Thai is on the menu for today....and I'll be ordering 5, on a scale of 5!

[skcin]

Originally Posted by markolas

So, all you nurse types: if the doctor's office won't call you back with test results, that means you have some terrible malady but they don't want to tell you. Is that right?

No, not really. Sometimes just get behind returning calls; or don't want to leave message on a voicemail d/t confidentiality issues.

Originally Posted by markolas

A nurse just called me back. Doctor reviewed my results and says everything is normal, and if it happens again, to come back and see him. How anti-climactic.

See?
And you sound disappointed.

Regarding the cough thing - my husband has had chronic throat-clearing/cough for like 3 or 4 years. Went to an ENT, who shoved the camera tube up/down there & saw no problems. Said it's chronic post-nasal drip probably due to allergies OR reflux. He's tried both allergy and reflux meds without much success. He just lives with it - it's annoying as hell (probably more for me than for him.) it does get worse when he's been drinking beer - an allergy nurse I know said it's possible he has a wheat allergy of some sort.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by skcin

Regarding the cough thing - my husband has had chronic throat-clearing/cough for like 3 or 4 years. Went to an ENT, who shoved the camera tube up/down there & saw no problems. Said it's chronic post-nasal drip probably due to allergies OR reflux. He's tried both allergy and reflux meds without much success. He just lives with it - it's annoying as hell (probably more for me than for him.) it does get worse when he's been drinking beer - an allergy nurse I know said it's possible he has a wheat allergy of some sort.

Paula, it sounds like Mark and I have EXACTLY the same thing. Meds did nothing for it. But I also did 85 allergy tests(injections), and mold was the ONLY thing I reacted to. I suspect the carbonation in the beer is setting off his acid reflux.

And yes, it's more annoying for you. After 2.5 years, I don't even notice that I'm coughing anymore, until someone points it out to me, or I'm in a very quiet social setting.