Am I a hypochondriac?

[WorriedOne84]

As I've mention before, I have social anxiety disorder. I've always been terrified of going to doctors as in the back of my mind I would think that something was seriously wrong with me. Even going over say strep throat and I would still be nervous. I don't feel like I explain symptoms well and I feel dumb talking to a doctor.

Never had I had any real medical problems. Last year, I went on sort of a low-fat diet. I thought I was losing weight the right way but evidently my gallbladder didn't agree. I developed gallstones and for the first time in my life had to have surgery. I was 25 years old and had never even had blood drawn in my entire life. Prior to last year I hadn't been to a doctor in 6 years.

After the surgery I was still having problems and an upper endoscopy showed irritation to my esophagus from acid reflux. At one point I was convinced that something was seriously wrong with me so I was having a ton of anxiety. It was during that time that I started speaking with a counselor for the first time ever as well as started taking anxiety meds.

Currently I'm having trouble with my ears, sinuses, and facial pain. I've been to the doctor probably 6 or 7 seven times since May. I feel like I'm not being taken seriously because of the anxiety. I'm starting to question whether this is all in my head although I've been told several times that I had fluid building up behind my eardrum and sinus inflammation. Antibiotics, nasal spray and steroids haven't helped. They are referring me to an ENT but I don't think I'm going to go. Even though they haven't said it outright I don't think they believe me or I could just be paranoid.

I don't trust my judgment.  Even though I know the aches/pains are real I still question myself. I'm worried everyone will think I'm a hypochondriac.  What if they find nothing wrong?  Maybe it's just something I'm going to have to learn to live with for the rest of my life.I 'm tired of this!  Am I a hypochondriac? What should I do?

[Jaquta]

And the reassurance will help relieve some of your anxiety.

[Peter Forster]

I agree with Jaquta because although I don't think you need to worry about your lower blood pressure there might be something that can be done to improve or minimize your postural hypotension.

[Jaquta]

The best thing to do would be to have a discussion with your doctor about it.
(I'm not sure what, if any part, illness and antibiotics play.)
In the meantime you could perhaps try and manage it by standing up slowly.

Talk to your doctor.  Most really aren't all that scary and are actually quite approachable.

[WorriedOne84]

Thanks for the information regarding blood pressure.  So, really, I shouldn't be concerned with it given that it may just be normal for me?  I guess I fall within that 5 percent then.  Last night by BP was 88/48.  My blood pressure didn't always use to be this low, it just over the past 5 months or so that it's consistently started running in the 90-95/45-50 range.  Every once in a while when I stand up quickly I'll feel a bit woozy for a few seconds.  Guess I just need to quit worrying about it.  Thanks!

[Peter Forster]

With regard to your blood pressure, it seems to me that your blood pressure was below the "normal" range pretty consistently. I am assuming that you were not taking your blood pressure standing or after making sudden changes in position (see the description of orthostatic hypotension below). And now that you have stopped checking your blood pressure it sounds as though you don't have symptoms suggesting that your blood pressure is inadequate. I think that you probably have a "normal" low blood pressure. Most normal blood pressures fall in the range of 90/60 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) to 130/80 mm Hg, however this is a definition based on statistics and about 5% of people have a "normal" blood pressure that is lower than 90/60 and that is perfect for them.

It sounds as though you also had some orthostatic hypotension symptoms - those are pretty common in young people - I had it when I was young - and generally benign.
* Orthostatic hypotension, also called "postural hypotension", is a common form of low blood pressure. It occurs after a change in body position, typically when a person stands up from either a seated or lying position.

[Jaquta]

The doctor's comment reminded that I was going to mention hyperventilating and blood pressure changes here.
What's the word.  Orthostatic hypotension.  ??  Check with your doctor if you're on meds because it could be due to that.  When I had this I was advised to stand up slowly and add salt to my meals.

I'm getting confused but a doctor should be able to sort out what is going on.

[Jaquta]

There are usually many reasons why they don't call.  It would probably be less stressful overall if you were able to make that phone call and follow-up about the appointment.

Another thought.  Have you been to your dentist?  From a very lay perspective it sounds like it could be a good thing to exclude.

I remember the old doctor on the mental health expert forum, Dr Gould, answering a question concerning anxiety and blood pressure.  He spoke about the specific numbers but I can't recall the specifics now.

Black spots in the visual field could be an eye problem or ?metabolic problem.  I'm not really sure about all this stuff.  I sometimes would get heaps of black spots or floaters when I was stressed or at other times when my blood sugar levels were low.  I think this has been a topic on the exercise and fitness community forum.  ??

I can relate to some of what you talk about and know how stressful it can be.  I had breast cancer treatment a year ago which was difficult as I don't like people touching me (and I haven't followed up with my regular oncology appointments due to stress and anxiety although I did go for screening today).
When I first started therapy I would have a hard time making a phone call.  I would lift the phone up, put it back down.  After doing that for a while I would then toss a coin to decide whether I should follow through or not and then that would be extended to an ever increasing amount of coin tosses.  Some of how we cope with anxiety isn't very constructive and leads to us feeling more stressed.

I would strongly encourage you to keep your appointment.  Maybe even consider the dental option.  Maybe even pose the question to the expert on the dental health expert forum.  I'm sure dental issues could potentially cause some of those symptoms.

If you leave something sometimes it can get worse and sometimes it can't be reversed.
One therapist said it was a bit like having a cat in the basement and over time that number increasing till you get a whole basement of cats.  (Obviously you need more than one cat but hopefully you get the gist of it.)

The doctor here said that first remember.  It may be helpful to re-read his comment.

Many of us probably have some very interesting stories about how anxiety or mental health issues have affected us.  Everybody has self-doubts.  Some of us are just less forgiving than others.  Be kind to yourself.  Do what you need to do to feel better -both physically and emotionally.  Don't let others perceptions (and yours) of mental illness affect your ability to access appropriate treatment.

I hope you have a great day too.  I hope you are able to make that phone call and to attend an appointment.

Good luck!

[WorriedOne84]

Yeah, I most definitely have issues with anxiety.  I feel like the doctor and nurse practitioner aren't listening to me based on the anxiety.  In fact, I'm even more paranoid because they were supposed to call me Thursday after they scheduled the appointment with the ENT.  Still, I heard nothing from then Thursday or Friday and I am not going to call.  Yeah, even making phone calls to the doctor's office stresses me out.  In my mind they obviously don't take me seriously because they didn't even bother to follow through on calling the ENT.

Right now I'm on antibiotics again -- 4th time since May -- and it's not doing anything.  Yeah, I've had bloodwork to test for the things that you mentioned.  My psychiatrist ordered tests after my first appointment with him at the end of June.  Also, I had bloodwork done in April by my primary care physician.

Anyone know of any medical conditions that could cause anxiety and lower than normal BP readings that wouldn't have been tested for?  My blood pressured has been running about 95/45 or right around there for the last several months.  The lowest reading was 87/42.  For a couple weeks I was having my black spots in my vision and a couple times everything went black for a few seconds when getting up from sitting or laying down for a while.  At the time I was checking my blood pressure a ton and worrying about it so, at the advice of my counselor I stopped taking my blood pressure so frequently and it seemed to stop -- although sometimes I feel a bit woozy when standing up.  My readings have been a bit higher than they were when I was having the black spots so I wonder if it was BP related or anxiety causing it.

Jaquta - I really appreciate you taking time to respond.  This is stressing me out and it's nice to have someone offer support and advice.  I especially am thankful that you don't think I'm crazy -- haha!  Right now though, I honestly don't know whether I'll follow through with the ENT.  Today, my symptoms are bothering me more so maybe I'll end up having to.  I'm afraid of letting this go to a point where it turns in to something bad.  I wish I could just trust my judgment like you said I should do.  No one should have as much self-doubt and be as pathetic as me.  Hope you have a nice day!  Take care!

[Jaquta]

I think that you have issues with anxiety.  I think that you should follow up with the ENT.

Sometimes it can be difficult to discern the cause and effect, especially when anxiety is a significant part of your presentation.

I had considerable symptoms last year and put them down to anxiety.  That was also something that my doctor had done.  I blamed everything on radiation and/ or anxiety.
Long story short, it turned out that I had a physical problem that needed medical treatment.
My doctor often says that common things are common.  They are always a good place to start.

I would follow up with the ENT and your doctor.  Have you be tested for anemia or iron deficiency?  Low iron can cause one to feel more paranoid about their health.

If you keep an open mind and allow for the possibility of the problem being anxiety-related then you are being rational and should trust your own judgment.

The problem sounds like it could be real so make sure you follow up about it.

Not sure if my post helps but I don't think you're crazy and I definitely don't think that you should put up with stuff as it is -you deserve better than that.

Go to the ENT and take it from there.

[debrazgalaxy]

We are our own worse enemies and critics friend~
OVER production of some of your body chemicals is what CAUSES anxiety symptoms.. THIS mean that the symptom is a SIDE effect OF a phyisical PROBLEM.
   With the extra stress chemicals running through the body, our brain goes into fast mode. A real doctor should be able to tell you this.
  The overproduction can and will cause other physical problems. Such as ACID reflux .


OWN the anxiety as a FEELING...not as WHO YOU are friend.  
  REMEMBER it is A PHYSICAL based problem..there is NOTHING wrong with your mind.
Do NOT drink caffiene...and it may also be caused by a food allergy~ such as chocolate OR excess sugar consumption.
Allergy meds also can have this effect.

Ask your doctor for an over the counter med for your allergies which are challenging your ears, sinuses, and face.  Drink A LOT of water, take a hot bath in order to help your sinuses drain friend.  

[Peter Forster]

Being anxious doesn't protect you from medical problems... Or, to put it another way, you have had a pretty good track record of identifying real problems, so  I would say that you should go to the ENT.
On the other hand, there is no reason to think that whatever this problem is won't be solved, just as your other problems were. So if you can avoid catastrophic thoughts that would be good.