There seems to be a lot of talk here about groups of hypochondriac patients driving innocent doctors crazy. I am a chronic patient myself: I’ve had asthma since early childhood (about a dozen hospitalizations and just as many ER visits, home visits, etc.—thankfully, it’s been under control for the last few years), and I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in my thirties (again, fortunately, no major flare-ups yet). If you factor in dentists, gynecologists, ophthalmologists, and routine checkups—plus the fact that I’ve recently started psychotherapy because I believe mental health plays a massive role in both my diagnoses—I have certainly spent a significant amount of time seeing various doctors. And I really don't think I can be lumped in with the hypochondriacs.
To start with the asthma, I have to say that all the doctors I saw as a child and as an adult, including those in the ER, were truly commendable. My primary care physician was great too. My psychotherapist has been wonderful as well.
The neurologists, with one notable exception, were also excellent. ("Well, why are you surprised? You already knew you had MS." — No, I didn't know. I don't have a crystal ball. But apparently, having just found out, I'm not supposed to be upset by the news, nor am I supposed to be distressed knowing my mother has been in a wheelchair for years because of this exact same disease.)
As for gynecologists, I’ve dealt with discomfort, neglect, a lack of willingness to explain things, and sheer arrogance. Now, I see specialists privately.
Here are a few instances that I will never forget: An ultrasound technician once acted like I wasn't even there; he was just hovering over me, chatting with his nurse, treating me like I didn't exist on the table. He told HER that I didn't have one ovary (this wasn't my first ultrasound, and I was quite certain I had two). Naturally, he didn't think that such a statement might interest or distress a twenty-year-old woman. When I asked him nervously what that meant, the guy just snapped at me to ask my gynecologist instead and kicked me out. I spent the entire subway ride home crying, imagining how my ovary could have just vanished. I called my boyfriend, and luckily, he knows "someone" over at a clinic in Manhattan; that person saw me at ten at night and—lo and behold—found the "missing" ovary. It turns out it just wasn't visible because of my intestines or something similar. But clearly, it wasn't in that technician's job description to offer even a hint of a possibility, because that might mean he'd be acting like a psychologist or a social worker, as someone else mentioned here. And he isn't paid for that.
The second time was during a routine physical. Another ultrasound. This doctor at a clinic in a major US city also decided that the person lying on his table wasn't worth his attention, and he simply dictated to his nurse that I had a 3-centimeter growth on my liver. My grandfather passed away from liver cancer (not that anyone bothered to ask me about my family history). I don't know, and I shouldn't necessarily have to know, what a hemangioma is. This doctor also didn't think it was necessary to tell me that a 3cm growth doesn't necessarily mean cancer. Or would that be him playing social worker?
So, I think there’s no room for generalizations, regardless of which side you're on. Just because some people get annoyed by hypochondriac patients doesn't give them a reason to lash out at me, ignore my presence in the room, or casually drop a diagnosis while we're "in the hallway."
In my own line of work, I deal with people too. Even though it's not always a matter of life and death, and even though my clients can sometimes be quite colorful in their behavior and comments, I would never, ever allow myself to take my frustrations out on them. We are in the private sector, and our livelihood depends on our clients. Doctors don't have to worry about that: unfortunately, there will always be sick people.
Exactly. Neither Singulair nor Flovent are meant to tackle an acute flare-up; they’re long-term maintenance medications designed for asthma prevention. You take them daily to stay ahead of the curve, but if you experience an actual attack or sudden shortness of breath while on them, you need immediate intervention. Depending on the situation, that might just mean using a rescue inhaler like Albuterol—assuming there isn't an underlying infection. However, if there's also airway inflammation involved, you might need antibiotics. In the most severe cases, we're talking about intravenous corticosteroids.
"Yes, within the Church, masturbation is considered an offense that can rise to the level of a mortal sin.
However, there is a distinction made where it isn't always classified as a mortal sin, because someone engaging in it might not fully grasp the gravity of the act. If they are acting without the intent of committing a sin, it isn't recorded as such."
Yes, he’s already had the stomach exams done, but he really should follow up with a psychiatrist. They can review those test results, have a real conversation, and determine if there are underlying elements of anxiety or panic attacks at play. If that turns out to be the case, there's no need to panic; catching things this early makes them much easier to manage. Since you might not want to deal with scheduling appointments and waiting around—especially with the wedding right around the corner—I’d highly recommend the team at the local Emergency Room. They are fantastic; I actually know someone who went there for similar issues and had a really positive experience.
Well, you didn't mention where it's actually located or which department they're dealing with. It seems a bit strange to me that they would start radiation therapy before performing a biopsy; typically, you get the diagnosis settled before jumping straight into treatment. The idea of undergoing radiation first and then doing a biopsy on the glands sounds more like a standard tumor protocol—are you absolutely certain about everything the doctors are telling you? Are you an adult? Based on the tests you listed, some of them definitely fall under neurology, such as the spinal fluid draw and the MRI of the head and neck.
Jessica Brown7 said:It’s not entirely psychological. I have some personal experience dealing with mental health issues, and this doesn't feel like that. Her hands and mouth are swelling, she's having trouble breathing, she can't walk, and she can't even speak... And they didn't even give her anything for the dizziness. Can you believe that? At this rate, she could end up being royalty! She's heading in for more hormone tests now—not for thyroid issues this time, but something else—so we'll see what happens. Thanks.
But how can you be certain it isn't a panic disorder? Based on those symptoms, it sounds incredibly similar. Having "some experience with mental health issues" doesn't necessarily mean one is qualified to rule out a clinical diagnosis.
Hey, you don't seriously think that every single time you eat something, you have to go to the bathroom within an hour, right? Most people generally go once a day, not immediately after every meal.
It’s just like that thread about private psychiatrists—people making sweeping generalizations based on nothing but their own biases and aiming them at an entire profession. Don't the moderators see anything problematic with this either?
Sean Brown86 said:Of course, my doctor tells me it's just muscle spasms and anxiety... hahaha, and this has been going on for six months already!
The doctor might actually have a point there.
p.s. I've been dealing with the exact same thing for about four months now. We haven't even bothered with diagnostic tests because my doctor and I both agreed it's likely just tension-related. I've been trying to meditate for about 15 minutes a day to unwind, along with a simple yoga routine to loosen up my muscles—and I can definitely tell it's helping, even if I'm not fully back to 100% yet.
Ivanica Pec said:Maybe it wouldn't hurt to go see a neurologist for a quick checkup just to be safe. Better safe than sorry, right?
I actually had a chance to chat about this with some neurologists. They mentioned it isn't anything dangerous, and what Thomas Hernandez86 described is spot on. It’s basically just a glitch where your mind wakes up before your body catches up—since your muscles stay paralyzed during sleep to prevent you from acting out your dreams, there's a momentary lag. Apparently, quite a few people experience this once or twice in their lives, and it doesn't require any medical intervention unless it starts happening every single day.
I did a little more digging online, and honestly, if you aren't aware of what's actually happening, there’s really nothing to worry about. It turns out this is just sleep paralysis—a sleep disorder that falls into the same category as things like night terrors or sleepwalking. It usually kicks in right as you're drifting off or just as you're waking up. It’s basically that same loss of muscle tone we experience during REM sleep, but since we're normally unconscious, we don't notice it. But for you weirdos😬 who are wide awake and fully conscious, it feels like you're completely stuck, unable to move anything except for rolling your eyes or breathing. I couldn't quite find a definitive explanation as to why it happens exactly like that, though.
Exactly. It happened to me when I was around 14 or 15—twice in one single night, and then never again. When I was younger, though, I used to sleepwalk a few times. It’s funny looking back; I woke my parents up immediately, but they ended up recounting the whole thing TO ME the next morning because they assumed I was just dreaming and wouldn't remember it.
But I remember it vividly even now. It is such a sickening feeling—being alive, awake, and totally aware, while your body feels dead and completely paralyzed. You can't even scream or twitch. I was honestly scared to death.
crimsongull20 said:because from my perspective, there isn't a single thing in his posts on this thread that would suggest he's dealing with any kind of significant suppressed psychological issue.
If you say there’s nothing there, then there’s nothing there—not by my count, not by yours, and maybe not by his own either. Perhaps you're right.
However, neither you nor I (nor he) are psychiatric specialists. Even if we were, you have to realize that no psychiatrist or psychotherapist would ever jump to a conclusion like that based solely on a few random posts on an internet forum without seeing someone in person and having a real conversation with them. That kind of work requires studying for double-digit years; it isn't nearly as simple as it might seem. I’m really not trying to imply anything specific here—I’m certainly not qualified to do so. I'm just opening up a window to a different way of looking at things. The truth is, a person doesn't necessarily need to have a specific mental health condition (let alone a formal diagnosis) to experience somatization in response to an event, whether it's happening now or something from their past.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you get this sorted out. By the way, I remember you mentioning earlier that you don't really have any major worries and couldn't see what would trigger anxiety in you. I'm not saying you definitely have it, but one of the hallmark traits of anxiety is that there isn't always a specific, obvious, or visible reason for feeling distressed. If there’s a logical cause, that's just a normal fear response. With anxiety, it's more about the subconscious at work—these seemingly random tensions. What I mean is, if you aren't facing any actual stressors or problems, yet you're still experiencing that tension or physical symptoms like shortness of breath and digestive issues, then it could be anxiety. Or, even when a real issue does exist, the level of fear feels completely disproportionate to the situation. As for the "how" and "why" behind all of this, that's probably a bit too much for me to tackle since I'm certainly no expert. My best advice is to rule everything else out first. Gather all your medical tests and results; if everything comes back clear, then you'll know you're looking at this possibility.
mistyraven said:I'm spiraling over my partner's past.
Look, I get it—the present is what matters, and exes are exes for a reason. But still...
Yesterday, during a conversation, I found out something I really shouldn't have. I know, I know—it’s ancient history, and we’ve been together for three years now. But somehow, this jealousy just flared up out of nowhere. Picturing the person I love doing... certain things with someone else? Yeah, not exactly a great feeling.
We were just talking about our past relationships versus how things are now. Then they dropped something on me that totally floored me. I didn't even want the details, but there it was...
I basically just stood up, grabbed my stuff, and walked out. No words. I know it wasn't the right move, but I don't know why I'm struggling so much to accept that there was a whole life before me.
Now I'm a mess. I can't even bring myself to be physical with them—it's like their past makes me feel physically repulsed.
Is this just being possessive? Or am I looking at some kind of pathological jealousy?
Maybe try talking to your parents. Like you mentioned, they love you and understand you, so they might be able to offer better guidance than anyone else.
Sean Brown86 said:I've completed the following medical checkups...I was thinking about getting a gastroscopy done recently, and I wanted to share some thoughts on the whole process. It can feel a bit daunting when you first hear the word, but if you approach it with a clear plan, it’s much more manageable than people make it out to be. I know some folks find the idea of an endoscopy pretty intimidating, but honestly, once you understand how the medical teams in the US handle these procedures—usually with some light sedation to keep you comfortable—it feels a lot less like a big deal. If you're dealing with things like persistent stomach issues or acid reflux, getting a professional look via a scope is often the most direct way to get answers. Has anyone else here gone through this lately? I’d love to hear about your experiences, especially regarding the prep work or how you felt during the recovery phase. Let's keep the discussion helpful and constructive!It’s just increased stomach acid, that's what they're calling it. There aren't any of those H. pylori bacteria present. Ultrasound imaging is such an incredible tool in modern medicine. It’s fascinating how we can use sound waves to get a clear look inside the body without any invasive procedures. Whether it's for checking on a pregnancy or looking at internal organs, the technology is truly impressive. I've always found it reassuring that doctors have such non-invasive ways to monitor our health so accurately.I’ve been dealing with quite a bit of Aerophagia lately—just a massive amount of trapped gas moving through my digestive system. It’s honestly pretty uncomfortable. I'm trying to figure out the best way to manage it and get some relief. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions on what might help settle things down? A CT scan of both the chest and abdomen—basically covering everything from my torso down to my stomach area.Everything is absolutely fine on my end. Glands, Everything looks great—kidneys, liver, the whole works are perfectly healthy.../ !
That’s exactly my point. When all your medical tests come back perfectly normal, yet you're still struggling with real, physical symptoms, it’s actually a smart move to go see a psychiatrist. It doesn't mean you're "crazy" or mentally unstable; it just means you're being proactive about finding the root cause.