Hello:
My name is Richard, I am 58, married, and live in Littleton, CO. I am orignally from the SO Cal area, but have been in Denver area now 26 years.
For many years, since I was around 20, I have been obsessed with my health, convinced I have some deadly disease. Before the internet I did research at the library (remember those days?)
Depression/OCD/Anxiety disorders run in my family. Mine manifests itself as hypochondria.
As I mentioned earlier, my first dealings with this was when I was around 20, but would only rarely be disruptive to my enjoyment of life. Then starting in 2010 (shortly after having appendicitis) things got much worse. A good friend of mine (about 5 years younger) was diagnosed with colon cancer (btw, 8 years later he is cancer free). I started to have symptoms of what I thought was colon cancer/pancreatic cancer... you name it....I lost weight which scared me more. I got to the point where it was affecting my work and realized I needed help so I went to my doctor. I had a colonoscopy (no polyps). My GP prescribed anti-anxiety meds (Lexapro) which over time worked, I gained my weight back and was doing well. I didn't like some of the sided effects though, and in 2014 I said "hey I'm feeling good, I'm gonna get off the Lexapro" so I did. Well, in May of that year the hypochondria returned..I had chest pains, painful swallowing.. I was certain I had cancer of the esophagus. I went back to my GP, he determined it was costochondritis and had me get back on the anxiety meds. Sure enough, I felt better and for the same reasons quit the Lexapro again late last year. Well, this year has been especially bad with my terrible fear of cancer...whether it's melanoma, oral cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic, sinus..... you name it, I've been certain I have it. I've had some things happen that lead to these fears....mystery bruise on my calf that appeared two weeks apart..skin lesions (all diagnosed as non-cancerous). I've been back to see my doctor and he wanted me to get back on the Lexapro but this time I am not tolerating it....I get bad G.I symptoms from it. I am currently on a low dose of Clonazepam (sp?) which is helping a bit but is not long term I have a prescription filled for Paxil but am scared to take it because fearing same G.I. side effects. I am seeing a counselor now and we are just getting to find out what is causing this. All I know is that it is no fun...not an enjoyable way to live life. I was glad to find this forum to see I am not alone.
My name is Richard, I am 58, married, and live in Littleton, CO. I am orignally from the SO Cal area, but have been in Denver area now 26 years.
For many years, since I was around 20, I have been obsessed with my health, convinced I have some deadly disease. Before the internet I did research at the library (remember those days?)
Depression/OCD/Anxiety disorders run in my family. Mine manifests itself as hypochondria.
As I mentioned earlier, my first dealings with this was when I was around 20, but would only rarely be disruptive to my enjoyment of life. Then starting in 2010 (shortly after having appendicitis) things got much worse. A good friend of mine (about 5 years younger) was diagnosed with colon cancer (btw, 8 years later he is cancer free). I started to have symptoms of what I thought was colon cancer/pancreatic cancer... you name it....I lost weight which scared me more. I got to the point where it was affecting my work and realized I needed help so I went to my doctor. I had a colonoscopy (no polyps). My GP prescribed anti-anxiety meds (Lexapro) which over time worked, I gained my weight back and was doing well. I didn't like some of the sided effects though, and in 2014 I said "hey I'm feeling good, I'm gonna get off the Lexapro" so I did. Well, in May of that year the hypochondria returned..I had chest pains, painful swallowing.. I was certain I had cancer of the esophagus. I went back to my GP, he determined it was costochondritis and had me get back on the anxiety meds. Sure enough, I felt better and for the same reasons quit the Lexapro again late last year. Well, this year has been especially bad with my terrible fear of cancer...whether it's melanoma, oral cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic, sinus..... you name it, I've been certain I have it. I've had some things happen that lead to these fears....mystery bruise on my calf that appeared two weeks apart..skin lesions (all diagnosed as non-cancerous). I've been back to see my doctor and he wanted me to get back on the Lexapro but this time I am not tolerating it....I get bad G.I symptoms from it. I am currently on a low dose of Clonazepam (sp?) which is helping a bit but is not long term I have a prescription filled for Paxil but am scared to take it because fearing same G.I. side effects. I am seeing a counselor now and we are just getting to find out what is causing this. All I know is that it is no fun...not an enjoyable way to live life. I was glad to find this forum to see I am not alone.
