![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by oeps7 on December 5, 2003, at 9:21:41
My anxiety and depression are back full force and I don't understand why. I have ocd - which leans towards my health - hypochondria - I am constantly worrying that there is something wrong with me. True I did have cancer 12 years ago but my problem with this started well before. I get to the point where I obsess and can't function. My latest is I saw some specks in my iris that were probably already there but I have decided that it is iris melanoma - I feel so crazy, I have to constantly look in the mirror at my eye this consumes me. I need to get this under control. I am on 100mg zoloft and 2mg xanax xr a day. Was on fish oil for awhile but kept getting sick on it - "for real". Is there anyone else out there like me, this is ruining my life! Help! Don't laugh because I know It sounds funny but it's no laughing matter. This is why I haven't been on the board for awhile because I am so consumed with this problem.
Mary
Posted by kara lynne on December 5, 2003, at 12:23:37
In reply to I am a mess, posted by oeps7 on December 5, 2003, at 9:21:41
Hi mary,
I'm so sorry to hear you're having a hard time. I think I do understand, though without the same fear that must result from having survived cancer. I have been lying in bed all morning panicked that I haven't been to a doctor all year, and too afraid to make an appointment--thinking of every possible disorder and disease I probably have by now. I have been having some symptoms that are really starting to worry me.Did you say you belonged to an online support group? My mom said she is a member of Sarcoma Alliance and belongs to an on line list through ACOR, the email address is SARCOMA@LISTSERV.ACOR
dot Org. I don't know if that would be helpful to you, or something you've already done. Other than that, are there people you can talk to--make doctors appts. for you and go with you? Maybe it would relieve some of that obsessing, I know how debilitating it can be. Today I woke up to my punk neighbor hacking his brains out as usual, but this morning I was convinced it meant that *I* was going to die. Like it was a sign that I'm not paying enough attention to my health.And it sure would be heaven if these meds worked a little better, don't you think?
Sending you lots of love, wish I could be there to help more.
(((((Mary))))))
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on December 5, 2003, at 12:27:02
In reply to I am a mess, posted by oeps7 on December 5, 2003, at 9:21:41
I am also a hypochondriac and I know how devestating it can be. I was convinced last year that I had MS and it was the most traumatic time in my life.
There is a website though and hypochondriac forum which has really helped me. PLease try it out. You won't be sorry.
www.healthanxiety.com
Let me know what you think. You are not alone in this.
Posted by kara lynne on December 5, 2003, at 13:29:49
In reply to Re: I am a mess, posted by Miss Honeychurch on December 5, 2003, at 12:27:02
Thank you Miss Honeychurch, I will take a look myself.
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on December 5, 2003, at 14:21:26
In reply to I am a mess, posted by oeps7 on December 5, 2003, at 9:21:41
I'm glad I can tell people about this site. It has really helped me deal with my health anxiety and it is wonderful to connect with like minded people.
Posted by oeps7 on December 5, 2003, at 15:09:48
In reply to Re: I am a mess, posted by Miss Honeychurch on December 5, 2003, at 14:21:26
Thanks for answering. It helps to know that people are there for you. Kara don't worry, you are fine. I think anxiety produces lots of strange physical symptoms. You know even before I had the cancer I was the same way. It must be something genetic related to ocd - what do you think. When I feel stressed about something I always go to my health and forget about the other stuff - maybe it's a way of blocking things out.
Kara - How is the neighbor doing?
Miss Honeychurch - I am trying out Healthanxiety thanks for the support both of you.
Posted by oeps7 on December 5, 2003, at 15:13:50
In reply to Re: I am a mess, posted by kara lynne on December 5, 2003, at 12:23:37
> Hi mary,
> I'm so sorry to hear you're having a hard time. I think I do understand, though without the same fear that must result from having survived cancer. I have been lying in bed all morning panicked that I haven't been to a doctor all year, and too afraid to make an appointment--thinking of every possible disorder and disease I probably have by now. I have been having some symptoms that are really starting to worry me.
>
> Did you say you belonged to an online support group? My mom said she is a member of Sarcoma Alliance and belongs to an on line list through ACOR, the email address is SARCOMA@LISTSERV.ACOR
> dot Org. I don't know if that would be helpful to you, or something you've already done. Other than that, are there people you can talk to--make doctors appts. for you and go with you? Maybe it would relieve some of that obsessing, I know how debilitating it can be. Today I woke up to my punk neighbor hacking his brains out as usual, but this morning I was convinced it meant that *I* was going to die. Like it was a sign that I'm not paying enough attention to my health.
>
> And it sure would be heaven if these meds worked a little better, don't you think?
>
> Sending you lots of love, wish I could be there to help more.
>
> (((((Mary))))))
>
>Kara,
Be good to yourself - your neighbor hacking is definitely not a sign about you. A year is not a long time to not have been to the doc. Just set up an appt for a regular physical and you will feel better after you set the appt. I think it's part of our disorder right? Our wacky brains but hey I hear depressed people are very intelligent.
Sending hugs back.
Would you believe we have sooooo much snow!!!!
Posted by 8 Miles on December 6, 2003, at 16:32:42
In reply to I am a mess, posted by oeps7 on December 5, 2003, at 9:21:41
Are you currently seeing a counselor or Pdoc about this? You cannot just keep allowing your anxiety to continuously feed upon itself. I know very well how that can destroy someone, as it has almost pulled me into the pit several times. As a matter of fact, I have been cirling the pit off and on here recently. You have to keep at it. I KNOW it takes a lot of energy, and I KNOW you may not even feel like picking up a telephone. OCD can indeed make you do weird stuff. There is probably some significance to you looking at you eye in the mirror, but I cannot tell you what. I DO know that if you allow yourself to continue in this cycle, it won't get any better. Even if you have to hound your doc or counselor, you need to find the right combo of meds as well as someone to talk to to help you cope with these problems. Hope you find this. Feel free to ask me anything that you would like me to help you with.
8
Posted by sarita0001 on December 6, 2003, at 22:35:32
In reply to I am a mess, posted by oeps7 on December 5, 2003, at 9:21:41
Hi,
I have OCD too and it drives me nuts. Mostly because I only found out I had a few months ago and then my therapist and I realized I have had it my whole life-I got it from my Dad. Anyways, it is a strange coincidence what you said about the spots in your eye. In Dec 2002, I went to the eye doctor because I noticed the same thing, they were non-cancerous.
I tried Prozac but it made me too dizzy- so I am going to try something else next week. I know how hard it is- believe me- and I will be thinking of you and hoping that all is well.
Sara
Posted by oeps7 on December 8, 2003, at 11:17:38
In reply to Re: I am a mess, posted by sarita0001 on December 6, 2003, at 22:35:32
Thanks so much for your support all of you. Right now I know my anxiety acted up because I totally went off effexor this summer after having been on for 7 years was on 300 mg weaned off. Know I am taking 100 mg of zoloft and xanax xr time release and it seems to have started to help. I find I worry about my health when I have other stressful things in my life to forget about the real problems I suppose. But when I am worried it seems so real.
Mary
Posted by oeps7 on December 8, 2003, at 11:19:03
In reply to Re: I am a mess, posted by sarita0001 on December 6, 2003, at 22:35:32
> Hi,
>
> I have OCD too and it drives me nuts. Mostly because I only found out I had a few months ago and then my therapist and I realized I have had it my whole life-I got it from my Dad. Anyways, it is a strange coincidence what you said about the spots in your eye. In Dec 2002, I went to the eye doctor because I noticed the same thing, they were non-cancerous.
>
> I tried Prozac but it made me too dizzy- so I am going to try something else next week. I know how hard it is- believe me- and I will be thinking of you and hoping that all is well.
>
> SaraHi Sara, what did your spots look like and what did they turn out to be?
Posted by sarita0001 on December 8, 2003, at 18:02:20
In reply to Re: I am a mess, posted by oeps7 on December 8, 2003, at 11:19:03
Hi,
I have light brown eyes. In my left eye, I have a black spot right under my pupil and a very small one to the left of the pupil. No one can see them unless I tell them to look really close to my eye. Since they were flat that means they are harmless. I believe they are called iris nevus. Here's a link on it:
http://www.strc.cc/disease_in.shtmlThe doctor said if I was worried I could go to a get a picture taken with an iris camera, but it isn't necessary. Let me know what happens!
Sara
Posted by oeps7 on December 10, 2003, at 16:56:33
In reply to Re: I am a mess, posted by sarita0001 on December 8, 2003, at 18:02:20
Sara,
Thanks for your advice- guess what the doctor said they are iris freckles or nevi like yours and are normal:).
Thanks for the suppport.
Posted by sarita0001 on December 10, 2003, at 19:32:12
In reply to Re: I am a mess, posted by oeps7 on December 10, 2003, at 16:56:33
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.