Hypochodriacs. Do you know any?

[Beekissed]

What, Dac?

Nothing to add?

 

[Orchid]

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See, that is an example of why I said it's disturbing, and sad. To go to those lengths and for what? A need for attention? It truly is a mental illness.

 

[Avalon1984]

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I thought your point was valid. There are a lot of people with real diseases that are not being diagnosed. Heck, it took me 2 years to find a back doctor that knew what he was doing. 6 more months and I would have been in a wheelchair. But there are also plenty of hypochindriacs. My mother is one.

 

[serendipity22]

Oh man!! Personal story here:
I got sick and went to the Dr. Dr sent me to the hospital. Surgeon did an appendectomy. I went home and became even sicker. Went to same surgeon. Surgeon essentially told me it was in my head. Transferred to a larger hospital where another surgeon didn't want to do anything with me because the first surgeon put a note in my file stating I was "difficult". FIVE days later: the second surgeon did a test and finally saw that my 'innerds' were really messed up. I had to be opened up and fixed. Second surgeon said he was sorry he had waited so long and hated to fix other surgeons mistakes!!

**I had NEVER been to a hospital before this surgery, yet I was flagged as "difficult".**

 

[Avalon1984]

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Me too. I am just glad they found the problem.

 

[dacjohns]

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Hey Bee. Not at this time. This thread somehow doesn't sit right with me but not enough to report. It has so much potential for flaming on people that might have something wrong yet they are labeled hypochondriacs. It isn't about political correctness, it's about respect and understanding. Just can't quite put it into words. I feel if the thread topic was (pick a religion), do you know any then the thread would get shut down in a hurry. I just don't think it belongs.

With that said, yeah I know I don't have to read it but I want to see where it goes.

dacs

 

[Beekissed]

Well....you are talking about a surgeon.

You know that old joke about a people standing in a line, awaiting their turn to get into the Pearly Gates of Heaven? A man pushes through the crowd and rushes ahead of the others and enters first. When someone asked who that was and who did he think he was pushing in front of others?

The reply? "Oh, that's just God pretending He's a surgeon!"

Anyone who argues with a surgeon will most likely be labelled "difficult"....

 

[kuntrygirl]

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What do you mean you were flagged as "difficult"? Who flagged you?

 

[Beekissed]

Well, Dac, it's a valid problem with families who deal with these types of people. No one is labelling all people with chronic problems as hypochondriacs. Hypochondria is recognized as a real medical diagnosis:

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/hypochondria/overview.html

I know that many categorize, loosely, some of their stories under this label for lack of any other way to describe it, but the symptoms are largely the same and have the same outcome. Dealing with someone like this is one of the more tiring and futile efforts a loved one can do...possibly even more tiring than caring for someone with a real, chronic and even terminal illnesses. At least when someone is dealing with a real illness they can feel like they are supporting their loved ones through actual illness and stress as opposed to imagined illnesses that they are expected to understand and sympathize with.

Insensitive? Maybe....but dealing with someone like that for a long time tends to dull the senses to any real sympathy for their plight. It's called being human and everyone gets tired every once in awhile. One slowly loses respect when they feel like they are constantly being lied to, manipulated and placed in a situation where they are called mean and insensitive when they can no longer drum up the proper amount of sympathy.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Mental Health and Hypochondria
Hypochondria, also called hypochondriasis, is a type of somatoform disorder, a mental illness in which a person has symptoms of a medical illness, but the symptoms cannot be fully explained by an actual physical disorder.

People with hypochondria are very worried about getting a disease or are certain they have a disease, even after medical tests show they do not. Further, these people often misinterpret minor health problems or normal body functions as symptoms of a serious disease. An example is a person who is sure that her headaches are caused by a brain tumor. The symptoms associated with hypochondria are not under the person's voluntary control, and can cause great distress and/or can interfere with a person's normal functioning.

Hypochondria can occur at any time of life, but most often begins in early adulthood. It appears to affect men and women equally.

What Are the Symptoms of Hypochondria?
Most people with hypochondria -- often called hypochondriacs -- are worried about having a physical illness. The symptoms they describe can range from general complaints, such as pain or tiredness, to concerns about normal body functions, such as breathing or stomach noises. People with hypochondria are not faking or lying about their symptoms; they truly believe they are sick.

Warning signs that a person might have hypochondria include:
The person has a history of going to many doctors. He or she may even "shop around" for a doctor who will agree that he or she has a serious illness.
The person recently experienced a loss or stressful event.
The person is overly concerned about a specific organ or body system, such as the heart or the digestive system.
The person's symptoms or area of concern might shift or change.
A doctor's reassurance does not calm the person's fears; they believe the doctor is wrong or made a mistake.
The person's concern about illness interferes with his or her work, family, and social life.
The person may suffer from anxiety, nervousness, and/or depression.


What Causes Hypochondria?
The exact cause of hypochondria is not known. Factors that might be involved in the development of the disorder include:

A history of abuse
A history of having a serious illness as a child
A poor ability to express emotions
A parent or close relative with the disorder. Children might learn this behavior if a parent is overly concerned about disease and/or overreacts to even minor illnesses.
An inherited susceptibility for the disorder

How Is Hypochondria Diagnosed?
Diagnosing hypochondria can be very difficult because people with the disorder are convinced their symptoms are caused by a medical illness.

When symptoms appear, the doctor will begin his or her evaluation with a complete history and physical exam. If the doctor finds no physical reason for the symptoms, he or she might refer the person to a psychiatrist or psychologist, health care professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. The psychiatrist or psychologist makes a diagnosis based on his or her assessment of the person's attitude and behavior, and the fact that physical illness has been ruled out as the cause of the symptoms. The psychiatrist or psychologist may administer a personality assessment to confirm the diagnosis of hypochondria or somatoform disorder.

How Is Hypochondria Treated?
A main goal of hypochondria treatment is to help patients live and function as normally as possible, even if they continue to have symptoms. Treatment also aims to alter the thinking and behavior that leads to the symptoms.

As with other somatoform disorders, hypochondria can be very difficult to treat. This is due, in part, to the fact that people with this disorder refuse to believe their symptoms are the result of mental or emotional rather than physical causes.

Treatment for hypochondria most often includes a combination of the following options:

Supportive care: In most cases, the best course of action is for the person to stay in regular contact with a trusted health care provider. Within this doctor-patient relationship, the doctor can monitor the symptoms and stay alert to any changes that might signal a real medical illness. The doctor's main approach is likely to focus on reassuring and supporting the person, and preventing unnecessary tests and treatments. It might be necessary, however, to treat some of the symptoms, such as severe pain.

Medications: Antidepressant or anti-anxiety drugs are sometimes used if a person with hypochondria also has a mood disorder or anxiety disorder.
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) can be helpful in changing the thinking and behavior that contribute to the symptoms. Therapy also can help the person learn better ways to deal with stress, and improve his or her social and work functioning. Unfortunately, most people with hypochondria deny there are any mental or emotional problems, making them fairly resistant to psychotherapy.

What Complications Are Associated With Hypochondriasis?
A person with hypochondria is at risk for repeated episodes of symptoms. He or she also might suffer from reactions or health problems related to multiple tests, procedures, and treatments. In addition to the pain and frustration this disorder often causes to the person and his or her family, repeated episodes also can lead to unnecessary and risky procedures, as well as high medical bills. Further, genuine medical problems can be missed in a person with a long history of having tests with negative results since doctors may assume their complaint is caused by their disorder not a real illness.

What Is the Outlook for People With Hypochondria?
Hypochondria tends to be a chronic (long-term) condition that can last for years. In many cases, symptoms can recur. Only a small percentage of patients recover completely. For that reason, the focus of treatment is on learning to manage and control symptoms, and on minimizing functional problems associated with the disorder.

Can Hypochondria Be Prevented?
There is no known way to prevent hypochondria. However, providing the person with an understanding and supportive environment might help decrease the severity of the symptoms and help him or her better cope with the disorder.​