Fear Of Being Labled A Hypochondriac.

[Fadeaway]

Hypochondria, that is a word that has haunted me my whole life. I wasn't unusually unhealthy as a kid nor was I the picture of perfection when it came to health. I would say my health was average for a kid. Like the average kid, I got my fair share of sniffles and tummy bugs. How dare I ever say anything! If I mentioned an ear ache or anything else, it was "Quit your belly aching! All you do is complain you little hypochondriac"

Not matter what, I was making it up, according to her. As be came an adult I have had Dr.s make me feel like I was making things up. and being a hypochondriac. And auto immune disorder diagnosis does tend to change things and they start to take you more serious.

I am far from there now, and have a medical situation that I have zero answers for. He did a blood test to test for the most obvious illness given my symptoms, and that came out negative. My husband went with me and we punched for more in depth testing. Still nothing so the Dr.s is dropping it.

I still have the symptoms, the problem is that I am afraid to keep pressing for answers. I care how this Dr. sees me, especially since he prescribes my PTSD meds. I am so afraid that if I push for more testing or even bring up new symptoms it will change the way he sees me. These symptoms are annoying but not life threatening

How can I get my dr to do more testing with out coming across a chronic complainer?

.

 

[Friday]

Can you see a different doctor?

 

[Fadeaway]

I could, there is a dr that I see for female issues and my anual, but this doesn't fall under that. The are part of the same practice just different building, so I don't know how well my records are communicated between the two.

 

[MT Johnny]

You certainly have a right to second opinions. You also have a right to a copy of your medical records if necessary, although you can be charged a fee for copying them.

I've dealt with a lot of doctors of various specialties - there is a wide range of knowledge, competence, ability, and opinion out there. If you feel that your symptoms are real definitely seek a second opinion.

I've learned that the Internet is my friend when seeking out doctors - the patient review sites are a great way to get the scoop on a doctor - if he/she has a great rating and a lot of positive reviews you should be in good hands.

 

[ms spock]

Have you worked through the issues surrounding the lack of care needs and the invalidation of your childhood needs, and also the "you are selfish for being sick and putting me out as a parent" type issues? Because maybe when you do that it won't be so fraught when you ask for testing from your doctor? Perhaps the two are overlapping?

I somatised a lot due to the abuse stopping or winding down when I was sick. The whole thing of being a terribly selfish child who was a child that had needs - was something I was never forgiven for, and for getting sick on top of that? Egads I was not so good.

Anyway just a thought I can't explain this stuff very well at all, so please ignore if it is not helpful.

Anxiety that you won't get your needs met or that you will be accused of being a hypochondriac might be a form of transference from an abusive childhood?

It is hard to deal with these issues and I don't know what to say about it. But I thought I would offer a few comments.

 

[Friday]

I could, there is a dr that I see for female issues and my anual, but this doesn't fall under that. The...

1)

My primary care doc is amazing... There are some things though, that I like to keep separate, Gyn/OB is a good example, I use an entirely different network for that (there's a 7 hospital system in my city, a couple 4 hospital systems, a few stand alone hospitals, & then heaven only knows how many unaffiliated private practice clinics & offices). My PCP is with the 7 hospital system. My GynOB is with the 4 hospital system. There is absolutely no transfer of records between hospital-groups unless you sign a waiver & jump through a lot of hoops. Neither doc really needs the other doc's records, though. They each re verify any info found in them, anyway.

Because my primary care provider is so awesome, I usually hit him up for referrals. (Great docs are friends with other great docs).

But in addition to my Gyn/OB, while a few of my providers are elsewhere just because I found them before I found him... a few others I deliberately keep distance between, because I don't want them in my "everything else" records. Psych is an example, there.

As long as I'm not being prescribed meds for the same condition by 2 docs? There's absolutely no legal or moral reason not to have more than 1 provider. Especially if it's a specialist who is affiliated with a different hospital group. ((My doc will cheerfully break hospital policy and refer me to a great doc in a different network, but many are both required -and follow hospital policy- to keep referrals in house.)) Or even just to fly under the radar with a 2nd opinion. I have too many docs/nurses in my family. The *worst* (most notorious) people for getting 2nd (3rd-11th opinions!) are other doctors! No good doc I've ever met cares when their patients do the same thing. In fact, a lot are clearly baffled why a patient wouldn't get a second opinion if they're in doubt.

2) I'd lay money @Ms Spock is right.

 

[jaccat]

I get this. I was called a hypochondriac just for playing with the medicine box when I was young. Nowadays I hate going to the doctor. I always feel like they are judging me and finding me wanting. It got so bad that a few years ago I actually moved to a different practice for a fresh start, because the previous practice was the one I'd been with since birth. I knew that most of all I was doing it for myself, not because of any failings on their part (although there were failings- like how they'd ignored the signs of neglect, but anyway...).

I still struggle whenever I see a doctor. Just a few weeks ago I went and it was the most awkward coversation, like I was wasting her time and she was patronising me. But I knew that 98% of that feeling was coming from me, not her. I guess in reality they see lots of people who struggle communicating to them. And lots of people with mystery complaints too. I've been there also, though on that occasion they were great and sent me to the hospital for a barrage of tests. That time I couldn't understand why they were putting up with me...

 

[Leah Morgan]

I would either keep pushing hon or get a second opinion. I had tummy pain for two years and took exploratory surgery to detect that my ovaries had become fused by adhesions to my intestines. I got told by my doctor it was all in my head I cried my husband shouted and they sent me to appease my husband for exploratory surgery. As you can see some doctors need a shove. Some are however amazing. Good luck with what ever you decide

 

[falling_wave]

I get scared of that too. Ive been treated at least perceived to be as if I was making things up. Not a good feeling. I finally just started saying I'm sure it's stress or I'm exhausted but can we just rule it out so I can not worry about it or put it behind me. I feel like they take me a lot more seriously than thinking it might actually be serious and they will do the tests. I guess it was just acceptece that my mind has a lot of influence over my body.

 

[Fadeaway]

@Ms Spock You are very correct. While I could see another Dr. my fear would be the same. I haven't worked through it at all, It never came up with previous therapists, although I just started seeing a new therapist after being out of therapy for almost a year. I guess I should probably ask her to address this sooner or later.

I do know over the last year I have been turned away from the local hospital or just been given an anti-anxiety pill when i have been in crisis and I think that has also contributed to to the issue. I get super self conscious as it is.

Also, google is not my friend. I have typed my symptoms in to google and the only thing that comes up is what the Dr. tested me for. Since the blood test came out negative for that and my symptoms don't seem to fit any thing else, it adds to my worry.

 

[ms spock]

It is very hard @Fadeaway.

 

[ms spock]

@Fadeaway - did you have a pretty horrendous childhood? A lot of people who have these issues had a rugged childhood where their needs were never met or they met the needs of their parents or abusers. It is a really complex one to tease out.

Never being met or held on that needs level is a complex one to resolve.

I had so much abuse and so much neglect and being tortured so much emotionally that much stuff came out in my body in other ways.

If you have never had enough in that sense and never where heard - the anxiety of not being heard, which is life threatening as a child comes up in a really strong way for me as an adult.

This might not be relevant to what is going on for you. Just a few thoughts.