Aa
Hypochondriasis or OCD
Hi, for the last few years i have been suffering with fatigue, chronic daily headaches, migraine and more recently upper abominal cramps. The headaches have been diagnosed as tension headaches and/or migraines and the stomach pain as GERD and Gastritis. I was refered to a psychiatrist for anxiety.
However i have been unable to resolve the headaches, fatigue and stomach cramps as of yet. These days i find myself worrying that i could have a more serious illness and have been compulsively researching possible illnesses on the internet (ie stomach cancer, diabeties, chronic fatigue etc). When i say compulsively i mean compulsively for hours a day.
I did initially worry the headaches were a brain tumour but a CT scan came back negative and was normal so i ruled that out. Other tests i have had were routine blood tests when the headaches first started and all was normal except for a slightly elevated white cell count. I was never retested after that but when the symptoms didnt go away the drs said that it must be anxiety related and sent me to the psychiatrist. In regards to the stomach cramps in my upper left abdominal area i only started having those around 7 months ago. They are intermittent, and come and go every few weeks or so. I saw the gp about a month ago (i thought maybe they would go away if they were anxiety related over time so i waited before seeing my gp) and the dr did a brief physical examination and said it was GERD and gastritis. No blood tests or other types of tests were done.
Anyway it has not resolved and as i said i have been researching possible causes compulsively for the last few days.
It could be anxiety related but my general anxiety levels are quite low (ie im not worried about everyday stuff). I do get social anxiety but as i dont feel well enough to go out at the moment that is not an issue. I am however prone to bouts of OCD, one of my main obsession being a fear of death, suddenly dying or dying young. Im terrified for example that when i get aura symptoms of a migraine that i am having a stroke and will suddenly drop down dead and that my son will come home from school find me and then i see images of him standing there weeping over my dead body and its just yack, horrible and makes me feel sick to my stomache.
At the moment though i thought my ocd was being quite quiet, as unless i have a funny turn or aura it doesnt pester me. I dont have many other compulsions at the moment other than researching health related issues on the net looking for a cause of my headaches, fatigue and stomach pain. I mean i have been getting them for a logn time now and it is starting to wear me down.
I just want a definate cause so i can find the cure and feel healthy and well again.
So what is it? Is it hypochondriasis, my OCD trying to rear up again or GAD? Or depression or what?
I dont rush off to the drs at every little ache and pain and i wont have an excessive amount of tests performed on me due to contamination fears etc. I will only take certain medications because of my fear that i will take a med im not familiar with, that it will have an adverse effect on me and i will become ill or die because of it. So its not testing im after or medications (i only take my anti depressants and occassional pain releif if the headaches/stomach pain are very bad). I just want these daily headaches resolved so i can live my life fully again.
Am i worrying about it too much?
I know that lately ive been worring about HIV again even though i was tested for it after my last relationship and the test was negative. It was taken 3 months after we split up but then i read that you shoudl get tested 6 months after as well, and i didnt so now im worried "what if the test was wrong?" Plus i used the bathroom at the clinic at the time and i was terribly worried that i may have contracted something from using it. Its unlikely but my brain always chucks the "you never know" or "what if" thing back at me, and i did use the loo at a std clinic (and now i wish i hadnt cause it worried me aftewards).
I have not only had health and contamination fear with my OCD i have also worried about burglary, fire, religion, harming myself or others etc. It morphs over time, sometimes one obsession/compulsion can lie dormant whilst another takes over until an old obsession/compulsion surfaces again or a new one forms.
So am i OCDing? Am i just fed up to the back teeth with always feeling ill? I dont feel as though ive had thorough tests taken given that relaxation etc has failed to help with the headaches, but still, on saying thatt i dont really want to have to have a barrage of tests done or medicaton chucked down my throat anyway. The compulsive researching is doing my head in now, its driving me potty and i want to go do something else cause i know fixating on the issue will just make things worse, but yet here i am still researching.
It didnt help when i was woken out of my sleep this morning by stomach pain, and i do mean pain, not an ache. It was bad enough to wake me up out of a deep sleep.
Anyway, someone please make the madness stop. What the hell is wrong with me?
(ps if you have the magic cure for daily headaches and fatigue please send it to me, id like to feel well again, thankyou).
However i have been unable to resolve the headaches, fatigue and stomach cramps as of yet. These days i find myself worrying that i could have a more serious illness and have been compulsively researching possible illnesses on the internet (ie stomach cancer, diabeties, chronic fatigue etc). When i say compulsively i mean compulsively for hours a day.
I did initially worry the headaches were a brain tumour but a CT scan came back negative and was normal so i ruled that out. Other tests i have had were routine blood tests when the headaches first started and all was normal except for a slightly elevated white cell count. I was never retested after that but when the symptoms didnt go away the drs said that it must be anxiety related and sent me to the psychiatrist. In regards to the stomach cramps in my upper left abdominal area i only started having those around 7 months ago. They are intermittent, and come and go every few weeks or so. I saw the gp about a month ago (i thought maybe they would go away if they were anxiety related over time so i waited before seeing my gp) and the dr did a brief physical examination and said it was GERD and gastritis. No blood tests or other types of tests were done.
Anyway it has not resolved and as i said i have been researching possible causes compulsively for the last few days.
It could be anxiety related but my general anxiety levels are quite low (ie im not worried about everyday stuff). I do get social anxiety but as i dont feel well enough to go out at the moment that is not an issue. I am however prone to bouts of OCD, one of my main obsession being a fear of death, suddenly dying or dying young. Im terrified for example that when i get aura symptoms of a migraine that i am having a stroke and will suddenly drop down dead and that my son will come home from school find me and then i see images of him standing there weeping over my dead body and its just yack, horrible and makes me feel sick to my stomache.
At the moment though i thought my ocd was being quite quiet, as unless i have a funny turn or aura it doesnt pester me. I dont have many other compulsions at the moment other than researching health related issues on the net looking for a cause of my headaches, fatigue and stomach pain. I mean i have been getting them for a logn time now and it is starting to wear me down.
I just want a definate cause so i can find the cure and feel healthy and well again.
So what is it? Is it hypochondriasis, my OCD trying to rear up again or GAD? Or depression or what?
I dont rush off to the drs at every little ache and pain and i wont have an excessive amount of tests performed on me due to contamination fears etc. I will only take certain medications because of my fear that i will take a med im not familiar with, that it will have an adverse effect on me and i will become ill or die because of it. So its not testing im after or medications (i only take my anti depressants and occassional pain releif if the headaches/stomach pain are very bad). I just want these daily headaches resolved so i can live my life fully again.
Am i worrying about it too much?
I know that lately ive been worring about HIV again even though i was tested for it after my last relationship and the test was negative. It was taken 3 months after we split up but then i read that you shoudl get tested 6 months after as well, and i didnt so now im worried "what if the test was wrong?" Plus i used the bathroom at the clinic at the time and i was terribly worried that i may have contracted something from using it. Its unlikely but my brain always chucks the "you never know" or "what if" thing back at me, and i did use the loo at a std clinic (and now i wish i hadnt cause it worried me aftewards).
I have not only had health and contamination fear with my OCD i have also worried about burglary, fire, religion, harming myself or others etc. It morphs over time, sometimes one obsession/compulsion can lie dormant whilst another takes over until an old obsession/compulsion surfaces again or a new one forms.
So am i OCDing? Am i just fed up to the back teeth with always feeling ill? I dont feel as though ive had thorough tests taken given that relaxation etc has failed to help with the headaches, but still, on saying thatt i dont really want to have to have a barrage of tests done or medicaton chucked down my throat anyway. The compulsive researching is doing my head in now, its driving me potty and i want to go do something else cause i know fixating on the issue will just make things worse, but yet here i am still researching.
It didnt help when i was woken out of my sleep this morning by stomach pain, and i do mean pain, not an ache. It was bad enough to wake me up out of a deep sleep.
Anyway, someone please make the madness stop. What the hell is wrong with me?
(ps if you have the magic cure for daily headaches and fatigue please send it to me, id like to feel well again, thankyou).
E-Talks on “the cure to social phobia, OCD and depression”
Purpose: To help those who have been suffering from social phobia, OCD and depression, gain better understanding about themselves and the situation they’ve been through, as well as the forum to be more informative and diversified.
Speaker: Mr.Hei Xi, the founder of Hei Xi Psychological Counseling Center in Shang Hai, who has graduated from psychological department of Chinese Medical University , as well as suffered from social phobia, OCD and depression himself for more than 10 years .
Highlights:
Mr. Hei Xi makes use of oriental philosophy therapy, such as Buddhism, Taoism, Zen, Morita Therapy. By going through those philosophy, he realized that such self-low-esteem complex can never be removed forcibly. “But when we fully accept it, just let it be, it will disappear magically”. (Counter Therapy)
Based on Mr. Hei Xi’s more than 10 years’ research findings and experiences gained from the treatment process, he came up with his own so-called Easten or Natural Therapy. For instance, the treatment of Social Phobia, which includes 2 principles:
“ Principle 1:
The correction of low self-esteem (inferiority complex), and the build-up of self-confidence, namely “total acceptance of yourself”, In Eastern Philosophy Therapy, it is called “Original Form” or “to do nothing”, it is the root-removing principle.
Principle 2:
Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Desensitization Therapy and NLP etc. A large amount of social practice can quickly remove the symptoms. It is symptom-removing principle.”
“The difference between eastern therapy and western therapy is like the difference between Chinese medication and western medication.”
Time: GMT 12:00-2:00 PM, December 10th, 2007 (Monday)
Platform: This forum will be held through a software called Team Speak, which is a quality, scalable application which enables people to speak with one another over the Internet.
Go to http://www.goteamspeak.com/, download the free client software, and connect to server’s address at: ts1.teamspeak.com.cn:8770
If you’re interested to participate, or for further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at:
MSN: heixi_madeline @ hotmail.com
Skype: zaraliu
try to cut avk on the smoking.I went and got hypnosis to quit mysellf and it is working great.I am in day 4 of no cigs.I was getting bronchitis alot and I got pneumonia back in July. so I was very motivated to quit too.
Love Venora
Love Venora
I was starting to feel a little better a few months back but than i had a bout of bronchitis that knocked me back again :(
I feel like a hamster on a wheel right now.
I feel like a hamster on a wheel right now.
HI pam, glad you managed to get some control on your OCD, its can be vile when its right in your face day in and day out. No rest from it, it just keeps on and on.
I have been tested for diabeties, and the test was normal. That was one and a half years ago, ive not been tested since but i assume as it was normal then it will be normal now. The only anomally was a slightly elevated white cell count.
To pam im waiting for CBT but the waiting list is fairly long (6 month wait) so for teh moment im just on meds and seeing a psychiatrist. Exercising is difficult because it makes the headaches and fatigue worse. The last time i did aerobics i felt so ill the day after i had to go to bed for the best part of a week to recover. And the same the time before that. They were low impact beginners aerobics but all the same i get breathless whilst im doing them (even walking around make me breathless but i smoke so i put it down to that and im trying to cut it down or quit) and feel ill for a good few days afterwards.
I used to do 3 sessions of aerobics and 3 sessions of yoga a week but ive been unable to do them since these headaches adn fatigue set in. Im a bit gutted because my depression etc was better when i could get regular exercise. Ive tried more than a few times to put them back but have failed.
A lot of the time the houswork isnt even getting done because again it makes the headaches and fatigue worse or i feel to ill or fatigued to do it in the first place. Im am feeling really frustrated because of these headaches and fatigue now, and im at my wits end with them.
My dr just keeps telling me to spend more time relaxing and spend the best part of my day sitting down cross stitching (because i find it relaxing) when im not obsessing and compulsively researching my health and still i feel no better.
I dunno what to try now.
My diet does need some improving but its feeling well enough to cook. Its hard to cook when the room is spinning, you stomach is hurting (its a deep intense knawing pain just under my left ribcage) and your head hurts so i end up snacking on junk which i think makes it worse.
My blepahritis is back this morning as well, my eyes were stuck together with gunk this morning, like i need that on top of my headaches and stomach pain.
Damn i really do feel rough, OCD and anxiety or not.
I have been tested for diabeties, and the test was normal. That was one and a half years ago, ive not been tested since but i assume as it was normal then it will be normal now. The only anomally was a slightly elevated white cell count.
To pam im waiting for CBT but the waiting list is fairly long (6 month wait) so for teh moment im just on meds and seeing a psychiatrist. Exercising is difficult because it makes the headaches and fatigue worse. The last time i did aerobics i felt so ill the day after i had to go to bed for the best part of a week to recover. And the same the time before that. They were low impact beginners aerobics but all the same i get breathless whilst im doing them (even walking around make me breathless but i smoke so i put it down to that and im trying to cut it down or quit) and feel ill for a good few days afterwards.
I used to do 3 sessions of aerobics and 3 sessions of yoga a week but ive been unable to do them since these headaches adn fatigue set in. Im a bit gutted because my depression etc was better when i could get regular exercise. Ive tried more than a few times to put them back but have failed.
A lot of the time the houswork isnt even getting done because again it makes the headaches and fatigue worse or i feel to ill or fatigued to do it in the first place. Im am feeling really frustrated because of these headaches and fatigue now, and im at my wits end with them.
My dr just keeps telling me to spend more time relaxing and spend the best part of my day sitting down cross stitching (because i find it relaxing) when im not obsessing and compulsively researching my health and still i feel no better.
I dunno what to try now.
My diet does need some improving but its feeling well enough to cook. Its hard to cook when the room is spinning, you stomach is hurting (its a deep intense knawing pain just under my left ribcage) and your head hurts so i end up snacking on junk which i think makes it worse.
My blepahritis is back this morning as well, my eyes were stuck together with gunk this morning, like i need that on top of my headaches and stomach pain.
Damn i really do feel rough, OCD and anxiety or not.
Pam this is your ocd is trying to run your life again. are you seeing a therapist as well as meds or are you trying to go it alone. you dont have to go it alone and the therapy will be worth it( know I am bi polar with ocd its the germ thkjng for me and I can tget my house clean enough without my meds.)My eds and therapy have been wonderful forme
enigmatic it is so important you are exercising and eating healthy. are you seeinga therapist as well . It helps sooooo much to be in therapy.
both of you let meknow how you are.
Love Venora
enigmatic it is so important you are exercising and eating healthy. are you seeinga therapist as well . It helps sooooo much to be in therapy.
both of you let meknow how you are.
Love Venora
I know that my headaches often are directly connected to my anxiety, and the same for minor stomach upset. Having said that....you know the old saying "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not all out to get you"? Yes, your obsessing and I can speak freely, since I'm going through the same exact thing right now, (except for me its asthma instead of the stomach, and herpes instead of HIV) but if you have physical pain, there's something not working correctly.
One thing I've been paying attention to is my sugar intake. I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia 2 years ago, and totally ignored my doctor's instructions. I've been reading this past weekend, and I realized that all of our symptoms are associated with hypoglycemia (headaches, fatigue, digestive problems, anxiety, and allergies and asthma).
I'm not saying you neccessarily have a low blood sugar problem, but you might want to consider having a glucose tolerance test. Who knows? It might actually be the cure you're looking for!
That's for the headaches and lack of energy. The HIV fear is a whole other matter. You can't contract HIV from a toilet, even one at an STD clinic, and your test came back negative. Is there a reason you suspect your ex had HIV to begin with? Try to focus on it less. Every time you refuse to cooperate with that OCD voice in your head you weaken it's power (I used to have very severe OCD symptoms, and I've managed to be nearly symptom free - even during stressful times).
Hope I've helped :)
One thing I've been paying attention to is my sugar intake. I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia 2 years ago, and totally ignored my doctor's instructions. I've been reading this past weekend, and I realized that all of our symptoms are associated with hypoglycemia (headaches, fatigue, digestive problems, anxiety, and allergies and asthma).
I'm not saying you neccessarily have a low blood sugar problem, but you might want to consider having a glucose tolerance test. Who knows? It might actually be the cure you're looking for!
That's for the headaches and lack of energy. The HIV fear is a whole other matter. You can't contract HIV from a toilet, even one at an STD clinic, and your test came back negative. Is there a reason you suspect your ex had HIV to begin with? Try to focus on it less. Every time you refuse to cooperate with that OCD voice in your head you weaken it's power (I used to have very severe OCD symptoms, and I've managed to be nearly symptom free - even during stressful times).
Hope I've helped :)
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