Posted by JenStar on July 16, 2004, at 1:30:45
In reply to Re: Fellow Hypochondriacs - HELP! one more thing!, posted by captain on July 15, 2004, at 10:17:56
hey guys,
I'm going to give a different advice-path from Racer's (sorry, Racer!) I agree that the best course of action would be to skip the MRI and deal with the fears through psychotherapy.However, that might not be possible yet for you. It sounds to me like you're in the midst of a full-blown serious can't-do-anything-else-but-worry hypochondria attack.
Sometimes, unfortunately, the quickest way to work out of these is to GET some of those tell-all tests done, get the peace of mind to turn off that positive feedback loop in the brain that has run amok.
Although I'm sure that on a rational level you know that you don't have a brain tumor, some part of your brain is convinced that you do, or might, and it's REALLY hard to turn off that "channel" once the signal has become so strong. My doctor likened it to a form of OCD -- you're not compulsive about washing your hands, but you're (I'm!) obsessive about a health worry, and once you start obsessing it just gets worse and worse until you can somehow break the cycle.
I think one way to "cure" serious hypochondriacs -- the only way to get peace of mind -- is to see the MRI and know that there is no tumor in there. (Really, not even a tiny little invisible one that is hidden cleverly amidst the regular brain "stuff"...)
THEN -- once you get your negative test results -- you can start serious therapy with a good person and work on how to avoid future health worry melt-downs.
You don't want to have to get an MRI each time something happens, becuase it's so stressful on your mind and body and life. Maybe this can be the turning point for you. Get these tests, see that all is OK, and THEN work with some good people on how to avoid this in the future. Make this your last MRI!
OR -- meet with a doctor who is familiar with brain tumor symptoms and talk about other ways, apart from MRI, to determine once and for all that you don't have a tumor.
It truly sounds to me like all the symptoms that you have and keep getting these past few days are the results of ever-increasing anxiety. Anxiety can do nasty things to a person. I think you're going to be OK once you get on top of the anxiety.Whatever path you take, know that we are rooting for you & thinking of you!
JenStar, the MRI Master, who went through this and hopefully had HER last MRI (smile)
> i have also had some ringing in my ears the past two days so now i am just convinced it is a tumor. i am not going to read anything else online cause that just makes my heart pound. What should i do??
poster:JenStar
thread:366441
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040714/msgs/366747.html