PLEASE read:) Regarding how we've diagnosed ourselves.

[floridaguy65]

Hi All:) There is a topic that has been popping back up recently. The one about what diseases have we diagnosed ourselves with? I was reading the EXTENSIVE lists we have replied with...whew!!:) I've "had" some of them, as well:) But, in the spirit of recovery, as I'm sure we all want to fell "normal" again...can we reply back to this topic with ANY of these diseases that we have ACTAULLY been diagnosed with...EVER?:) I'm certainly not poking fun at our lists...as I said I've been right there with ya' thinking I had this or that:) IMHO, constant reinforcement that we RARELY ever get these disease we fear, simply, has to sink in just a little bit. And in seeking "recovery", I do believe we are looking for a little here and a little there in gaining some solace. And from that we can build upon some positive thinking...instead of the ol' sinister faulty thinking HA bears upon us! Feel Well:)

I'll go first:)

Nope, never have I been officially diagnosed with anything I was scared I had.

[crazygirl1]

Well, I can't say I've been diagnosed YET with any of the things I fear. My fear is ..ca...any kind. That I WILL be dx with it. Most recently and currently it is lung ca. I am certain in the years to come that I will be dx with it.
 

[Nyxienoodles]

The only thing with me is recently, I was having upper right abdominal and back pain and looked it up, asked my family, and it all pointed at gallbladder issues.  So, I diagnosed myself with it before docs actually diagnosed it and had to have my gallbladder removed at the end of October.  Funnily enough, I didn't really freak out about it like I have been about other issues recently.  Don't know why.  Maybe it's because so many people in my family have had their gallbladders removed and they are ok.  Or, maybe my body KNEW something was wrong, as opposed to my brain, so my "flight/fight" didn't kick in.   I've never been diagnosed with anything else I have worried about in the past and presently, haven't been diagnosed with anything I'm currently having freak outs about. 

[CrownofThorns]

I actually was diagnosed with high blood pressure just last week, and it's all because of this anxiety. I was given meds for it, and it's been helping me feel better.

Other than that, the doctor reassured me I'm going to be around for a long time, I don't have some debilitating disease, and set me up an appointment with a psychiatrist end of this month.

[sixpack]

I actually was diagnosed with high blood pressure just last week, and it's all because of this anxiety. I was given meds for it, and it's been helping me feel better.

Other than that, the doctor reassured me I'm going to be around for a long time, I don't have some debilitating disease, and set me up an appointment with a psychiatrist end of this month.

isn't that interesting???  you have high BP not from some heart issue but your anxiety.  Oh anxiety is such a little brat isn't it?  I'm betting you get your anxiety undercontrol there will be no need for bp meds.

[floridaguy65]

Awesome reply Nyxie:)

You said, "Maybe it's because so many people in my family have had their gallbladders removed and they are ok.  Or, maybe my body KNEW something was wrong, as opposed to my brain, so my "flight/fight" didn't kick in.   I've never been diagnosed with anything else I have worried about in the past and presently, haven't been diagnosed with anything I'm currently having freak outs about. 

That is exactly the kind of self-feedback we need to generate in our anxious minds, for sure!:) Feel Well:)

[mbenso]

I hafta say Floridaguy, your posts are very rational and have a calming effect, I'm so glad you're a forum member!!

Now with regards to my diagnosis verses that of a doctor.....Was only right once and that was for PCOS (the signs were all there and so I had a feeling I had it, never panicked about it though!)...

I was wrong about all of the others (HIV, Heart Disease, Neuro-Disease, Thyroid Issues, BP)...I was diagnosed as having Anxiety, never saw that one coming!!

[CrownofThorns]

isn't that interesting???  you have high BP not from some heart issue but your anxiety.  Oh anxiety is such a little brat isn't it?  I'm betting you get your anxiety undercontrol there will be no need for bp meds.

Yep, haha. Bummer, I gave myself something. I've been feeling a bit better, these days.

My friend is studying psychology and we've talked about anxiety and hypochondria (she has GAD that she's on meds for), how it can affect the brain, etc. The mind is a fascinating and complex thing, with more power than we give it credit for.

[Mary41]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when they thought I had IBS.

[floridaguy65]

Yes C-O-T, I certainly agree that the mind is absolutely "mind-boggling":) when it comes to it's power. As studies advance, I hope we can gain much more insight into how our brains facilitate HA:) Our minds are FREAKY strong and the role it plays in HA cannot be underestimated, IMHO. Feel Well:)

Hi Mary41, how are you doing with your Crohn's? When were you diagnosed? Is your HA under control, to an extent, because you were able to identify a physical disorder? Sorry I'm firing off so many questions to you:) Feel Well:)

[Mary41]

FloridaGuy- No my HA is worse than ever. Cant seem to control it. The Crohns scared me. I never feel well!!!!!!

[ashcrash85]

I have always feared my heart. disease or some acute happening. I get PVCs and PACs a lot. I know what brought all this on And I can pinpoint the exact day my symptoms started.

never been diagnosed with anything bad. had an EKG 3 yrs ago after a car accident because my chest was hurting severely, down my left arm, and I couldn't breathe trauma tram told me my EKG was perfect. turns out I was thrown on top of the air bag when it deployed and so I took the full force to my chest.
I have never had the docs mention anything while listening to my heart. I have had 2 CBC tests and its always perfect ( other than low HDL. elevated trigs ). my blood pressure even in the docs office and freaking out is 120/70. I can walk long distances, I have given birth to 3 children. the evidence to the contrary of my belief is insurmountable but the mind is in control.
the fear of heart disease or attack or sudden death keeps me from doing a lot of things i used to love running and playing soccer. I can't bring myself to do it anymore. every time I get up the courage I get palps and I get scared again.

long ramble short is I have never been dx with any kind of heart issue. and its funny the thing I should be worried about is breast CA. I have a strong family history but my mind could care less.

[floridaguy65]

Hey Mary41, I sent you a PM:) Feel Well:)

Hi Scaredcrazee:) Yeah, I can feel your concern with the palps and excercising. Man, I had a bear of a time getting through that stage in my life! But, as I've said before, I will go to my grave (hopefully many years from now:) extolling the virtues of excercise and the ever so positive effects that it has in alleviating overall anxiety:) You've had the tests...you know your ticker is healthy. My goodness, you've had 3 kids, too...how taxing is that on ALL your body systems!:) But, I do know how troubling the "heart issues" can be. My only suggestion would be to try again...knowing that your gonna feel these strange sensations...the heart fluttering a bit...the face / hands getting tingly...your ears maybe burning somewhat...the feeling you can't get enough air in your lungs. Just know that they aren't gonna make you keel over right there on the spot. Have somebody there with you in the beginning, if it makes you feel more comforted. It takes some practice and get back into it gradually, for sure, but you'll eventually feel sooooo much better for it, I PROMISE!:) Feel Well:)

[MJG03]

The only thing I've ever correctly diagnosed myself with is a sinus infection.

[sixpack]

The only thing I've ever correctly diagnosed myself with is a sinus infection.

hahaha.   that's kind of funny.   

[MJG03]

It is funny. Out of the 30 some diseases I've been SURE I have that's the only thing I was right about. Too bad I ended up in the ER anyway cause I was convinced the infection was a result of a weaken immune system due to Leukemia! Oh how I love health anxiety.   

[middlenamehypochondria]

One morning I woke up with a severe pain in my lower back.  I immediately thought kidney stone and I was right. However, I knew something was up, I didn't just think what if it's a kidney stone and I never had the time to google kidney stone!

[Grandma]

I diagnosed myself with a broken rib recently.  I was leaning over the crib to put my tiny great grandson down, but the mattress was in the lowest position for my older great grandaughter.  I thought I could reach so I didn't lower the rail.  I had to lean way over, pressing my ribcage hard against the top of the rail.  I sensed a pop and knew immediately that I had broken a rib. 

Everyone I talked to was highly skeptical that I could have broken a bone with this minimal pressure.  It was confirmed by xray a few days later.  To be fair, I have broken enough bones to be proficient at this diagnosis as I have osterparosis.  I diagnosed two broken ribs after falling on the ice several winters ago, but completely missed the two caused by a serious bout of coughing.  The xray results astonished me - I thought I had just pulled a muscle, but my doctor wanted to be sure.

[mbenso]

Ain't it funny how we don't panick about conditions we do have and yet get all nervous and twitchy about the what ifs!

[Wishingforcalm]

Ain't it funny how we don't panick about conditions we do have and yet get all nervous and twitchy about the what ifs!

That's EXACTLY what I've been thinking since I started that other post that Floridaguy is referring to.  There must be SOMEthing to learn from that!!

[#1 hypochondriac]

I keep looking back to the time I diagnosed myself with a blood clot in my right arm and deep vein thrombosis. I was almost positve I had I clot that was slowly moving up my arm..to my shoulder..to my neck...slowly going toward my lungs then my heart..and I would either have a heart attack or it would move to my brain. It didn't help much that I googled the lump I found in my arm and it said if it was hot or red around the area (which mine happened to be) then it could be a clot.  :sprachlos020:The next symptom as it moved toward my heart was a feeling of something being caught in my throat that I couldn't get out..also that my throat felt swollen which I also read was a symptom of DVT. Then the shortness of breath which I also got...caughing which I also had. Needless to say I wasn't expecting to live past the night...I had to go to the doctor the very next day..and I was up all night pacing the floor (beause I thought I needed to)  and everyone was telling me to get my behind in bed and go to sleep. I finally calmed down enough to and went to the doctor the next day only to find out that my supposed "blood clot" was just the way my muscle was stretched at the time..and my heart attack I was going to have (the feeling in my throat) was just allergies..stiff neck..or a feeling one might get when smoking cigarettes. Imagine my surprise. And it does help to look back on those things that seem so silly now..but then they were as serious as my new "illnesses" are now. :p

[haileyb25]

Ive never really been diagnosed with anything...ever, save a UTI. Ive been wrong abt those, too, though. The one time I tested pos. for it, I didn't know I had one (I kind of knew, but up to that point, didn't know what a UTI was). & word to the wise abt that, self-diagnosing can get you into some deep trouble:

I was convinced I had a UTI, or a kidney infection. Went to the Dr. he tested me, came out neg. He gave me antibiotics anyway, bc sometimes you can get a false neg. Antibiotics had nothing to fight off and my WBC got dangerously low, I got very sick, was in the hospital for 3 days, mimicked leukemia, and bone marrow cancer. Scariest health scare of my life, turned out to be NOTHING, and essentially was caused by my overzealous self-diagnoses.

[sydneymom]

The only thing I was right about was the IBS. And the anxiety. Lol.