Dr. wants a stool sample from me....

[cnote]

26 male. Suffers from anxiety from time to time. I am a worrier.

I went to the Dr. today for a check up, he had me on 10mg of Paxil for about 4 or 5 weeks.

I told him I'm still having stomach pains... lower left abdominal pain.... and on and off diarrhea.

I told him my stool changes have been going on for about 2 months now.

At first he thought it was just IBS from anxiety... but now he wants to do a stool sample.

What do they look for in stool samples?

I asked him if he thought I had cancer... and he said "NO."

He did say I could have colitis or a number of things... but he said a stool sample is a good place to start... and they can tell a lot from a stool sample.

So what are your thoughts? I'm a little anxious.

What will they look for? What kind of things can they find out just from a stool sample?

Thanks guys!

[umadam]

I just want TO CLARIFY that saying death better than this situation is NOT MEANT TO BE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS but it just to pass you info that fearing illness is fearing death right? so when i was really feeling bad I wasn't scared from death and saw it as relief from pain..
SO since that my whole thinking has been changed and am not fearing any sickness any more .. lol! so for what to plug our self into these awful thoughts if it will not help to prevent any thing from destiney anyway!

Enjoying the BEING HEALTHY time before getting really ill and regret NOT TO ENJOY IT BEFORE!

[umadam]

Hi there!
I have to tell you one think and it might help you to get over the fear of illness..

I use to be the same like you, any symptom would drive me crazy but I never had any panic attacks or anxiety disorder and never was treated for this issue..

last year I had many troubles after I deliver my son (postpartum issues) and had anxiety and stoped eating and felt weak and drained all the time that it made me say to myself TO DIE IS BETTER THAN THIS FEELING! being sick and make everyone worry around you is not fun!

Since I said "death better than this"..I stoped worrying about any symptoms ..I even now have sometimes some heart beat issues and I don't care and said to myself what has to be it will be AND NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN CHANGE IT.. destiney man..believe in it then you will find all worries are useless!

[cnote]

**update**

Feeling awesome! Had such a great weekend!!! I have kicked anxiety in the but.t.

Coming off the paxil so far is no issue.

Coming off the Ativan is no issue.

I'm just feeling great and hanging on to it.

[birdie0907]

Next time you have a test, think about the reality of living (it is supposed to be enjoyment, by the way) with your life instead of worrying about some nightmare possibilities that don't exist in reality for you.

Someone I know did not even get out of the lab waiting room before her doc was called about the bad results, so if you go a day or so without news you are likely safe. Next time stop wondering what terrible thing can be happening to you while waiting.

Your life is short, so why spend the youthful part of it thinking that you are old?

[RubyWitch]

I attempted a taper from my Xanax this year and was under the supervision of a Psychiatric Medication Manager, which, in MY humble opinion, is the only way to go. Most GP's know squat about tapering and their usual advice is to simply "chuck 'em." A PMM does NOTHING but work with you on your taper and they play by YOUR rules. But what I wanted to say was that I also decided, since I knew I was going to be going through hell, I might as well ditch the cigarettes at the same time, ya know, kill two birds with one stone. How very wrong. My PMM said that with all the stress in my life, this was the very worst time to attempt to quit. I took his advice, which was a smart move. As both nursegirl AND my PMM have stated........"one thing at a time!" No better advice out there.
Greenlydia    

[nursegirl6572]

I think the whole idea of the doc recommending that cnote not quit smoking all together is to lessen the stressors he has, which of course only increases anxiety.  Basically, "one thing at a time".  The doc said he would help cnote quit while he helps him get a hold of the anxiety.

I couldn't agree more.