Definition OCD is shaped by a specific personality structure—often characterized by an obsessive temperament—alongside repetitive, intrusive thoughts and actions. These feel completely forced upon the individual, making them nearly impossible to resist. While development often begins in childhood, most people see it manifest between the ages of 20 and 30.
At its core, OCD is driven by a personality type marked by intense self-control, over-scrupulousness, suspicion, rigidity, and perfectionism. This often manifests as emotional distance, a lack of imagination, a low tolerance for risk, and a struggle with creativity.
Where does it come from? From a psychoanalytic perspective, when individuals face challenges in realizing their own impulses during psychophysical development—specifically regarding fixations at the anal-sadistic stage—they can fall into conflict-driven situations that trigger deep-seated fear. To neutralize that anxiety, the person may resort to regressive behaviors. Eventually, psychological mechanisms transform that fear into compulsive symptoms.
It might sound strange, but very few of us actually have total control over our own thoughts. Most people have had that moment where they *know* they did something—like locking the front door or turning off the stove—yet they still find themselves wondering if they actually did it. Sometimes, you just have to check one more time just so you can move on with your day and focus on something else.
Given how often people dealing with anxiety and depression lose control over negative thought patterns, it isn’t really surprising that some experience a loss of control over other types of mental content.
Many of us have little rituals, often as a way to ensure we don't forget things. But sometimes, these take on a life of their own—like always locking the door in a specific sequence or serving food in a certain way. For some, these rituals spin out of control, and life becomes dominated by constant worry over trivialities and an endless need to perform ritualistic acts.
What are the symptoms? The most frequent compulsions involve checking and counting. People might constantly double-check their actions or count repeatedly until they reach a certain "magic number." It helps to view obsessions and compulsions separately. In terms of obsession, symptoms include intrusive and disruptive
-words -ideas -indecisiveness -images -doubts.
A person recognizes that these thoughts are coming from their own mind and desperately wants to stop them, but they simply can't. Obsessions can be quite dark in nature—sexual, violent, or blasphemous—and often clash violently with the person's actual moral standards.
Compulsions are typically the actions taken as a result of an obsession; they are one of the few ways a person tries to react to those intrusive thoughts.
Failing to complete a compulsion often triggers intense anxiety or panic, while living strictly by these rituals frequently leads to depression. Many people live for years with these struggles without ever seeking help. Common types of compulsions include:
-Ritualistic actions—performing tasks in a specific order or a set number of times. -Cleaning. -Checking completed tasks or actions. -Arranging or organizing items, such as furniture, in a very specific way.
Compulsions can take many shapes, and the examples above are just the most common ones.
How common is it? In any given year, about 2 in 1,000 people will experience episodes of OCD. Over a lifetime, roughly 2 to 3 in 100 people will encounter this disorder.
How can we help ourselves? Since this disorder is rooted in thought patterns, and those thoughts are what drive the anxiety, the best place to start looking for solutions is within the thoughts themselves. Monitoring your thoughts and practicing relaxation can be an effective way to tackle obsessions and compulsions. Developing specific relaxation techniques and learning to identify when—and under what circumstances—problematic thoughts arise, along with how intense they feel, can serve as a solid starting point for "desensitization."
To start, try visualizing situations where you don't engage in compulsive behavior. Rate the level of anxiety you feel and attempt to manage it using relaxation techniques. Keep practicing this until you feel your anxiety is under control while simply imagining yourself refraining from those compulsive actions.
The next step is to replicate this in real-life scenarios—perhaps by performing your ritual one fewer time, or waiting 30 seconds before acting on a compulsion. Again, lean on those relaxation techniques to help handle the rising anxiety. For many people, this gradual approach eventually leads to overcoming the issue entirely.
Before attempting a program like this on your own, I’d suggest consulting a psychiatrist for advice or looking for helpful literature that might support your efforts in managing the condition.
If it turns out that you aren't able to handle things solo and find you can't help yourself, please know you aren't alone—though it's true that professionals sometimes face significant challenges in helping too.
So, what kind of professional help is actually available? Over the last decade, the prognosis for individuals living with OCD has improved significantly.
There are two primary approaches to treating this disorder, and they are frequently used in tandem. The first is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (the exercises mentioned above are drawn from this method). Some may still need to seek out a psychiatrist for extra support, guidance, and encouragement. They might also require treatment for anxiety or depression, which can often surface if the obsessive disorder isn't successfully managed.
The second approach involves medication, often in the form of antidepressants that influence chemical reactions in the brain, specifically involving serotonin. It is believed that this connection, involving what we call neurotransmitters, plays a role in obsessive disorders, compulsions, and depression alike.
Definitions Phobias involve the neurotic creation of fear symptoms at various levels—ranging from mild anxiety and apprehension to full-blown panic. These are usually tied to specific objects or situations that often lack a real basis or actual trigger. While phobias can occasionally pop up in healthy individuals, in neurotic cases, they manifest as an overwhelming compulsion, almost always triggered by a specific scenario: enclosed spaces, open areas, fear of blushing, and so on.
Panic (a panic state) is a form of intense fear regarding sudden danger; it frequently triggers physical movements designed to help you escape a hazardous situation.
Panic is essentially part of our "fight or flight" response—a vital component of our defense system. In everyday conversation, we sometimes use "panicking" in a different, more dismissive sense, implying someone is just being excessively fearful or cowardly.
Most of us will feel a surge of panic in a situation that is uncomfortable but actually warrants it. Imagine a pedestrian walking across the street when the light is green, only to have a car speed toward them without braking. In that moment, panic is the appropriate response—it makes your legs move faster to get you out of harm's way. But what happens when a harmless, mundane situation triggers that same response? Or worse, what if we experience panic for no discernible reason and without any warning? While some people enjoy the thrill of being terrified—which explains why anyone would watch horror movies—it’s a completely different story when you don't know why you feel so frightened, why you're terrified, or when the feeling will finally end.
Common Phobias You can technically have a phobia of anything, but the most frequent ones include: -Visiting the dentist -Flying -Blood -Social phobias -Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) -Claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces) -Fear of blushing (erythrophobia) -Fear of fears (phobophobia)
When someone living with a phobia comes into contact with—or even anticipates contact with—the things or situations they fear, they develop acute physical symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety can present itself through a wide variety of symptoms, and everyone reacts differently. For many, this is enough to cause them to start avoiding certain things entirely—which can lead to a life structured around dodging specific objects or situations. However, sometimes those situations are unavoidable. Avoiding the dentist for years can lead to serious dental issues requiring emergency surgery, or there are social encounters you simply can't skip. When a person with a phobic disorder is forced into such a situation, fear sets in, which is often followed by a panic attack. The word "often" is key here—panic isn't inevitable, and it doesn't always happen in these scenarios. Many people with phobias will surprise themselves by pushing through a situation, even if it feels incredibly unpleasant.
Symptoms of a panic attack include: -Rapid, pounding heartbeat -Shortness of breath -Chest pain -Flushing and sweating -Nausea/feeling ill -Trembling in the hands or the whole body -Feeling sick -Confusion -Dry mouth -Urgent need to use the restroom -Feelings of weakness. The experience can be so distressing and intense that patients often believe they are having an acute heart attack. Some people find their bodily reactions so extreme and uncontrollable that they feel like mere spectators to their own situation. While they might not describe it as an "out-of-body" experience, they do describe a sensation of being detached from what is happening—as if the entire situation has become unreal. This phenomenon is known as "depersonalization." Although it might seem like a relief or a way to distance oneself from the panic attack, depersonalization actually makes the experience much worse.
There is another group of patients who experience panic attacks out of the blue, spontaneously. This can often be attributed to a general sense of anxiety—characterized by the constant repetition of the symptoms that eventually peak during a panic attack. But panic attacks can also strike purely out of nowhere. When this happens, a fear of experiencing the same attack again arises, which can lead to the development of both phobias and generalized anxiety. As is often the case, the anxiety begins to feed itself, creating a vicious cycle.
How common is this disorder? Some phobias show up more often than others. For instance, up to 10% of people experience phobias related to flying, visiting the dentist, or seeing blood annually. These are generally categorized as simple phobias. Social phobias are less frequent, affecting about 25 out of every 1,000 people each year. Agoraphobia affects roughly 30 out of 1,000 people, and it’s actually twice as common in women. Panic attacks occur in about 10 to 30 out of 1,000 people per year, also appearing about twice as often in women.
What can I do to help myself? Relaxation The first step in tackling phobias and panic is breaking that vicious cycle. Learning relaxation techniques can be incredibly helpful. Desensitization Try using your imagination to visualize a situation that triggers your anxiety, and then rate how intense that feeling is. Next, attempt to lower that anxiety level by applying those relaxation methods. It isn't easy—it takes persistence, willpower, and a lot of practice. Most people will likely need professional help or guidance too.
Sometimes self-help and psychotherapy aren't enough on their own. In those cases, a primary care physician or a psychiatrist might need to prescribe medication, usually sedatives or tranquilizers for short-term use.
I know we can all find much better information online in just about any language, but I've noticed some people just don't like digging through the web. So, I’m sharing what I think is most useful.
:The data provided on these pages cannot, and is not intended to, serve as a substitute for a medical examination. Intermed is not and cannot be held responsible for any provisional diagnoses or treatments based on the information available here. Always entrust your healthcare to your personal physician.
Anxiety
Definition A state characterized by feelings of tension, dread, fear—extending all the way to panic—accompanied by psychomotor tension, internal restlessness, and a sensation as if one might "explode." Anxiety is most often unmotivated and isn't tied to a specific object or person.
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. In fact, being unable to feel anxiety at all could actually be a sign of a serious issue. We live in a world full of risks, and anxiety is just one way our body helps the mind recognize danger. As with most mental health conditions, the mere appearance of a symptom or psychological state isn't the problem; the problem lies in its intensity—specifically, how much it interferes with your normal life.
What are the symptoms? Psychiatrists generally categorize anxiety into three main types: generalized anxiety, phobias, and Panic Disorder. If there is an especially difficult or problematic situation at work or home, the stress resulting from that situation can spill over into other parts of life, thereby creating anxiety. Similarly, someone who has gone through a very terrifying experience might carry that fear into their daily life. This is known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While it's little comfort for what the person is going through, it at least allows them to identify the cause of those unpleasant emotions.
It seems that emotional struggles rooted in anxiety tend to follow their own logic. Some psychiatrists refer to this as "free-floating anxiety."
Unlike phobias or panic, with generalized anxiety, the person doesn't always have a clear reason for why they feel anxious—they simply feel it all the time. When there is no identifiable cause, people often become anxious simply because they are *always* anxious! That’s how anxiety begins to feed itself, creating a vicious cycle.
People suffering from anxiety may frequently experience the following symptoms: -low patience levels -difficulty concentrating -expecting the worst possible outcome in any situation -constantly ruminating on the worst-case scenario -trouble sleeping -becoming depressed -becoming preoccupied or obsessive about certain things
These psychological symptoms can lead to, or be accompanied by, physical symptoms: -increased thirst -nervous stomach -flatulence -frequent urination -inability to respond to sexual stimulation -chest tightness -periods of heart palpitations -muscle aches -headaches -confusion -tremors -missed or extremely painful periods in women
The link between physical and psychological symptoms can create a feedback loop where any one symptom can trigger another.
In a panic attack, anxiety progresses rapidly into a crisis. With generalized anxiety, patients often manage to keep things under control, even as the cycle continues. The effort required to maintain that control is incredibly stressful in itself—which essentially adds fuel to the fire. This is one way people start feeling anxious about being anxious, further intensifying the problem.
How likely am I to have this disorder? Nearly 100% of people experience anxiety at some point. Over the course of a year, about 5% will deal with generalized anxiety severe enough to disrupt their daily lives. Most of those individuals won't even reach out for professional help.
What can I do to help myself? The first step is trying to understand how anxiety actually works. It’s essentially a mix of physical and psychological symptoms—part of a biological response psychologists call "fight or flight." When the body senses a threat, it instinctively prepares to either fight back, defend itself, or simply run from the danger.
Relaxation To tackle anxiety, you first have to break the cycle. One way to do this is by dampening those physical sensations through various relaxation techniques. Just a heads-up: relaxation isn't an instant fix. It's a skill you have to learn, and like any other skill, it only improves with steady, persistent practice.
Physical Exercise Another strategy to ease the physical symptoms within that cycle is "aerobic" exercise. I'm talking about walking, running, or basically any activity that gets your heart rate up just a little bit. Strengthening your heart muscle can make it more resilient, which may help reduce those sudden, uncomfortable bouts of palpitations. Exercise also helps release built-up tension in the body, which can otherwise fuel your anxiety.
Diet Caffeine shows up in many refreshing drinks, not just coffee and tea. It’s a good idea to avoid caffeinated beverages as much as possible, as they can easily trigger that anxiety cycle. Caffeine affects the heart, speeds it up, and acts as a diuretic—both of which mimic the signs of generalized anxiety. It can also mess with your sleep, which is another anxiety trigger. If you're exhausted, your emotions become harder to manage, making you more susceptible to anxiety. Trying to fix fatigue with caffeine usually just makes things worse.
Learn to say "no"! This might actually be the best therapy there is. We often take on too many responsibilities without considering how difficult they'll be to handle. You might find yourself realizing you've overcommitted. Usually, it's not just one single thing causing the anxiety. But as we pile obligations onto our lives, we get more and more anxious with every new task. Anxiety can build up until you feel like you're hitting a breaking point. It's just as draining to feel a little anxious about everything as it is to feel intense anxiety over one specific thing.
Monitor your thoughts and feelings Sometimes it helps to think about anxiety the same way someone with asthma thinks about their breathing. Everyone breathes, just as everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their lives. Just as an asthmatic monitors their lung function, it’s useful to check in on your anxiety levels regularly. You can use specific techniques to spot problems before they escalate into something unmanageable.
Professional Help For some, developing the tools to face and solve these issues is only possible with professional guidance. Your first point of contact should be your primary care physician or family doctor. Many people find they can manage this disorder quite well if they utilize medication early on. A common group used is benzodiazepines; they are very effective, but they carry a risk of dependency. They shouldn't be taken for more than a month. The window of relief they provide is often enough to help a person stabilize and start tackling the underlying issue.
If the problem persists, you might need to see a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist. At that stage, antidepressant treatment might be necessary, along with looking at the bigger picture of the person's life—things like friendships, romantic relationships, family dynamics, self-esteem, and overall life expectations.
So far, computer development has always played in favor of both doctors and patients. But will the future belong solely to the patients?
We might reach a point in technological evolution where we wonder why doctors even exist—aside from perhaps babysitting machines every now and then? Or maybe just to act as psychiatrists.
Medicine is largely an exact science. Illness requires a diagnosis, and that diagnosis dictates the appropriate treatment. Even today, a good portion of diagnoses are confirmed by drawing more or less obvious conclusions provided by machines. They analyze our bodily fluids, take increasingly detailed scans, and ultimately, they are incredibly helpful.
Computers and their software are evolving at breakneck speed. In fact, there is already experimentation happening with programs designed to assist doctors by generating precise diagnoses from relevant data. It’s not that they’ve taken the world by storm just yet, but... The computer revolution is only just getting started.
What will a doctor look like in about 30 years? They’ll likely input relevant patient data into a screen and watch as the computer suggests the most accurate diagnosis.
And in 50 years? Will users simply buy even more advanced software and type in their symptoms at home? Much like how people use pregnancy tests now. Surgery? That’ll be left to robots. A human hand is too unsteady and poses too much risk to the patient. However, 70% of all doctors are psychiatrists. The World Health Organization says that mental illnesses will flourish in the 21st century, becoming our greatest challenge. It doesn't matter. By the 23rd century, even robots will have their own psychiatrists.
Casey Palmer5 said:You can say whatever you want, as long as you aren't hurting anyone and it stays within the realm of health topics.
That being said, get ready for a wide range of reactions to this post of yours—you might get anything. Some people probably won't like what they read.
Thanks, I know we’re all different. My goal here is simply to outline what mental illnesses actually look like and how to spot them. In this day and age, about one in four people deals with something, though some of us, like myself, are stuck dealing with it for life.
From the Emails I receive, it's clear there are plenty of people interested in this.
P2- For the past year, Mr. Kovacic has been primarily preoccupied with his back pain. As you’re aware, he has been receiving care at the Mayo Clinic Pain Unit. Unfortunately, they haven't been able to provide much relief, so he is currently using Pain medication. He seems to have a high sensitivity to various analgesics, which can trigger bouts of aggression. Pain medication tolerance suggests that Panadeine Forte is the one he handles best.
As you likely know, he was deeply shaken by his previous GP, who implied he was addicted to his analgesics and Clonazepam. This sent Mr. Kovacic into a panic regarding his prescriptions. True to his meticulous nature, he decided to do a deep dive into every medication he was taking. After his research, he concluded that his current regimen is actually quite reasonable. This experience also prompted him to switch general practitioners.
To summarize, I believe his Major Depressive Disorder is fairly well managed with Paroxetine 40mgs a day. His anxiety is somewhat stabilized by Clonazepam 2 mgs bd. Right now, his main struggle remains his back pain. Both Mr. and Mrs. have dealt with immense stress over the last few years, which has taken a toll on their health. Hopefully, things will begin to stabilize for them soon. Mr. Kovacic, specifically, is still struggling to adjust to life in retirement. Even though Mr. Kovacic has Obsessional personality traits and can be quite particular, I’ve always found him very reasonable to work with, provided you are straightforward and honest with him. He is also someone who needs plenty of clear information regarding his condition and treatment plan.
I’ll continue seeing Mr. and Mrs. every six weeks and will keep you updated on how he’s doing.
Thanks for your letter regarding Mr. Kovacic. He mentioned to me that he’s switched primary care physicians and is working with you now.
I’ve been treating Mr. Kovacic since March 1992. Back then, he was living in a smaller industrial town and had been managing a Workplace injury claim with an energy company for a while. He was originally under the care of Dr. Norman James, who had started his Depressive disorder treatment. However, since Dr. James moved to Victoria, Mr. Kovacic was referred over to my practice. When I saw Mr. Kovacic, I made a Major Depressive Disorder diagnosis, along with Panic Disorder, featuring Agoraphobia and Obsessional personality traits. We tried several different antidepressants early on, but nothing seemed to stick. Over the years, I've found that Antidepressant treatment consisting of Paroxetine 40 mgs a day and Clonazepam 2 mgs bd for his anxiety works best. While this keeps his depression relatively stable, his anxiety still flares up quite intensely, especially when things get stressful.
A lot has shifted in his life since we first met. He left his job with the energy company and relocated from his previous city to Adelaide. More recently, they have moved from their house in Adelaide to a unit in a retirement village. Beyond these big shifts in their own lives, changes involving their two sons have also added to the pressure. It's definitely taken its toll on them.
While Mr. and Mrs. Kovacic feel certain they made the right choices, adjusting to life in a small retirement community hasn't been easy. Lately, they've been focused on planning trips to Europe, which has turned out to be another significant source of stress. Another heavy blow this year was the "Asbestosis" diagnosis.
He's understandably worried about it, which was a huge factor in his decision to travel back to Europe to visit family.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Kovacic deal with various other medical issues as well. They tend to dwell on these health concerns. Currently, Mrs. Kovacic is struggling with severe diarrhea that looks like irritable bowel. We tried immipramine, but it didn't help, so she’s back on moclobemide at 300mgs a day. Around the same time, Mr. Kovacic decided to test if a different antidepressant could better manage his anxiety. That choice resulted in two months of total chaos. Ultimately, he realized Paroxetine was his best option, and he's just starting to find his footing again on it.
Having lived with psychosomatic illnesses for a long time, I wanted to share what I've learned with everyone else here. Over the last two years browsing various forums, I’ve stayed active, asking for advice, sharing my own experiences, or just looking for a bit of support.
The most recent suggestion I received was to try starting a dedicated thread here in the HEALTH section. Specifically, a space focused on providing support and discussing the nuances of our individual struggles.
First off, I’d like to ask the moderators, David and Casey Palmer5, for their support in managing a topic like this, and for any guidance or help they can provide when needed.
To start, I’ll post my medical report—unfortunately, it's in English—just so you all know you're talking to someone with genuine, long-term experience in this area.
I also think it might be useful to have a specific section for medical documentation, similar to this thread, where we can post clinical information. Then, we could have a separate second thread for support, discussion, and updates. Looking through the Health section, I notice the same questions popping up constantly. In my opinion, the best way to handle this would be to keep the diagnoses and symptoms in one organized post... while keeping the actual conversation going in another.
Casey Palmer5 and David, please let me know what you think or if you have a better idea!
Casey Palmer5 said:I am truly sorry. I can only imagine the level of pain you're dealing with right now.
Thanks for understanding, it really means a lot.
On a side note, I decided to get a little clever and play the part of the smart Secretary.
I put on my best "foreigner" accent when I called to request an appointment, even telling them I’d pay for the entire surgery in cash!
They didn't bat an eye—just said, "No problem, sir, we'll see you on August 22, 2003, at 4:30 PM."
It hasn't been four months since they last told me, so while I'm not getting my hopes up for wildly different results, I have to give this every possible chance.
Once this is all over, I'll post a full report here to let everyone know how it went.
Casey Palmer5 said:I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. Have you thought about an artificial disc?
Or maybe even coming to America for the procedure? We have some incredible specialists here who handle spinal issues, and it might actually end up being more cost-effective.
Casey Palmer5, thanks so much for checking in. It’s a pretty messy situation. I'm dealing with spinal damage and disc protrusions at L4-5 and L3-4. I've also got nerve canal stenosis, complications from my first surgery, and a recent chronic inflammation of the nerve's middle protective layer—arachnoiditis.
I've attached the doctor's reports in English. I've spent 12 months visiting the Mayo Clinic just to get a better handle on everything, as I'm managing quite a few different issues.
RE: MR. William Kovacic received 11/11/41
MR LUMBOSACRAL SPINE
•CLINICAL HISTORY: Worsening leg symptoms, suspected worsening stenosis at L4-5 since the last scan.
REPORT: Current films were compared with the MR of 10 December 01. No changes noted in bone marrow signal or alignment.
At L4-5, the broad-based shallow disc bulge shows a slight reduction in midline size, though a persistent lateral recess and foraminal bulge remains. This is more noticeable on the right side, extending into the foramen, though it stays below the slightly thickened right L4 nerve root.
The L3-4 level remains unchanged with disc bulging.
T2-weighted sagittal images through the entire lumbosacral canal show multiple small filling defects within the bright CSF. I suspect these are early venous collaterals typically linked to "significant canal stenosis." These are clearer on today's imaging. The upper lumbar and lower thoracic regions appear normal.
CONCLUSION: Persistent stenosis in the lower lumbar spine, with a slight regression of the shallow midline disk protrusion at L4-5. Fine nodularity in the CSF likely indicates venous collateral disease.
I reviewed this patient again on April 1, 2003. I am enclosing a copy of his MRI report. There is some disc bulging at the L4-5 and L3-4 levels, likely due to scarring. I suspect this is the site of his previous surgery.
While there is moderate stenosis at this level, I would advise caution regarding surgery given his other health concerns, specifically his major depressive disorder. Additionally, his physical symptoms include several issues that a Laminectomy wouldn't necessarily resolve (for instance, groin, testicular, low abdominal, and back pain would likely remain unaffected by the procedure).
The only symptom that might be alleviated by surgery would be his calf pain during walking.
I've suggested he look into pain management clinics and alternative treatment options. If his symptoms progress over the next year, I'd be happy to revisit the surgical option.
I saw this patient again on May 29, 2003. Over the past two months, his condition has deteriorated, with increased tingling, pain, and numbness in his thighs, especially while walking. He mentioned that even a short walk to the garage triggers severe symptoms.
There are clearly some notable abnormalities at the L4-5 level. While some of this might be attributed to arachnoiditis, there’s likely enough going on here to justify a decompression at this level.
I've sat down with him and walked through everything very thoroughly. I made sure he understands that surgery won't touch his back or abdominal pain; the only potential benefit is relief for his leg symptoms. I also let him know we're looking at roughly a 50% chance of any real improvement. He’s okay with those odds, so I've added his name to the waiting list at Mayo Clinic.
Best regards,
William Kovacic
P.S. I actually called off the surgery. My wife was so worried about me ending up in worse shape than I am now that I just couldn't go through with it—even after the neurosurgeon gave me the green light.
I write a lot about Australia, and honestly, my family and I haven't had much luck with our health. It feels like we’ve been cursed with constant medical issues.
The old folks always say, "Health is wealth,"! And they aren't wrong, even if it's just my experience.
A fair number of you have been reading my piece, *The Truth About Australia 1969*... I haven't finished it yet...but I wanted to add here that I actually love where I live. I’m not so nostalgic for Washington, D.C., that I’d move back—even if my finances were better.
I really enjoy life in Australia. I get it; it's up to us to pull ourselves together and live how we want. A lot of people expect too much from others.>
Personally, I’m content living just above the poverty line. A weekly trip to the movies and a little relaxation keeps me happy enough.
BUT I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE MEDICAL SYSTEM!
I've said it before: between my pension, my wife's, and what little we've saved, we simply cannot afford Mayo Clinic.
What happened next completely destroyed my respect for doctors.
I was out yesterday buying a rolling walker because I can't walk very far anymore. The reason is that I need spinal surgery, though the odds are slim—maybe 50% at most, and even then, it might only be a partial success since a previous Laminectomy back in 1972 didn't go well.
The shopkeeper selling me the walker told me he had a similar surgery and everything worked out fine for him. I've already seen three different neurologists, and while my condition keeps worsening, everyone's situation is different. All I know is that the man is a Pharmacist, so he knows his stuff.
He gave me the name of the professor who operated on him. I’d actually read up on him already; he patented an artificial spinal disc and is considered a leader in Spinal surgery. I called the office today, and this was the conversation:
Me: Is Professor Fraser a spinal surgeon? Secretary: Yes, how can I help you? Me: I’d like to make an appointment for a consultation. Secretary: The waiting list is four months long. Me: That’s a long wait, but please put me on the list. Secretary: The professor only sees patients with private insurance. Me: I can pay for the visit in cash; I don't have private insurance. Secretary: No, he won't see you. If you eventually need surgery, he'd just be wasting his time since you don't have private coverage.
Me: Isn't it hypocritical for a doctor to only treat the wealthy and turn away those who aren't—even though I certainly don't consider myself rich?
Secretary: Unfortunately, that is simply how this surgeon operates.
Me: What if I pay the difference in cash? Usually, standard insurance covers about 65% to 75% of the bill.
Secretary: Oh, the professor charges closer to 125%.
Me: I understand you have to pay for expertise, but roughly how much would it cost? Specifically for spinal canal stenosis, a damaged disc, and bone cleaning—given the diagnosis requires a Laminectomy?
Secretary: I wouldn't know. We've never had a case where someone without private insurance wanted to pay cash. But I'd guess somewhere between $5,000 and $25,000.
Me: Fine, I want to make the appointment.
Secretary: I don't think the professor will want to deal with the complication of billing. Besides, there's no guarantee you won't change your mind about the surgery after the visit.
Me: Every patient, regardless of their insurance, has the right to weigh their options and consider their chances.
Secretary: Look, sir, it would probably be best to get on the waiting list at the local public hospital, though the wait there is between four and nine months... and that's for other neurosurgeons, not the professor.
Me: Thank you. Please remind the professor of the oath he took as a young doctor: to treat everyone equally, regardless of their money.
I just can't settle down after that. It completely soured my view of them. Most likely, the professor can't do anything for me anyway.BUT I WANT TO BE CERTAIN.
I still love Australia, but I can't stand people who lack common sense.
I wish everyone good health, because it matters more than money, though it seems like you can actually buy better health and feel better if you're wealthy.
mellowbadger8 said:Well, that’s interesting. I haven't really taken anything for my allergies lately, but honestly, I've reached my breaking point. I'm irritable, exhausted, and after using Afrin spray for a few nights in a row, my nasal passages are just too sensitive to handle any more. So, I've been on Claritin for three days now, though I'm not exactly thrilled about it either. Benadryl works okay, but I can't stand that fluorescent pink color, and I have to take quite a lot before I actually feel anything. Plus, they make me so drowsy I can barely function during the day. Since I spend a lot of time in Washington, D.C., I think it would be more cost-effective to just pick up what I need there, because things are outrageously expensive here. Unfortunately, nobody has told me how much they cost in the US yet.😢
In Australia, voluntary organ donation has been the standard for quite some time. The current system is fully computerized to ensure all donors are registered, which allows for organs to be transferred as quickly as possible when needed. If someone consents, they can even have "DONOR" printed right on their driver's license.
Meanwhile, in some Asian countries, people actually sell their kidneys, and plenty of well-off individuals travel there specifically to undergo those procedures.
People tend to talk too much and watch way too many movies about organ theft. Take the billionaire Kerry Packer, for example—he was worth billions at age 61. He underwent several kidney transplants, the last one being from a close friend who gave him one of his two kidneys. It just goes to show that things don't always happen the scary way people imagine. 🙂 😉 😎
I’m already well aware of how this works. I only mentioned it to show others that it isn't a solution—don't waste your money on it. You have to endure thirty-three years of pain first. I've dealt with Narcotics and I've tried everything under the sun; there really isn't much left to attempt in certain cases. It's incredibly rare for surgery to actually be successful in the long run.
Thanks for the advice on exercising. I've worked three different jobs while dealing with this pain, so I know exactly what you can do and how much a person can actually take. I was in a position where I had to work, or I simply wouldn't have any money.
I agree with you—like I said, exercise and a healthy lifestyle are essential for everyone.
Casey Palmer5 said:Don't let people like that get to you. I haven't seen the ad myself, but my gut feeling is that it looks bad. Stick with a true professional. I have respect for alternative practitioners, but leave the manipulation to doctors and physical therapists. Unfortunately, I don't have anyone specific to recommend, though someone on this forum might have had good experiences.
I’ve lived in Australia for about 25 years now, where "alternative medicine" has been part of the culture forever. You see everything from a Chiropractor and Naturopath to Chinese massage, Sietsu, Bowin, Acupuncture, and who knows what else.
Like anything else, if you have a minor issue, these things might help. Just remember that the body usually needs about 4 to 6 weeks to heal itself if the injury is small enough to fix on its own.
As a 32-year chronic patient who had a Laminectomy at L5/S1 over 31 years ago, I can tell you personally that I've wasted a mountain of money on nothing. I tried all those "specialists," along with all the gadgets—massagers, ultrasound, TENS units, magnetism, Copper, and even asking God for help.
Now I'm 62 and facing another surgery on the L4 / L5, a Laminectomy, but the neurologist won't operate... I can't walk properly anymore, so it looks like something has to be done.
Because of that, I wouldn't recommend any kind of manipulation to anyone dealing with serious injuries. Just make sure you stay mobile and try to 3.1 miles walk around daily; it's the simplest exercise and the healthiest thing you can do.
Keeping your muscles healthy and active is vital, especially as you hit middle age, let alone when you're older.
Sadly, with how we live today, we move less and less while eating worse and becoming increasingly unhealthy and overweight.