Posted by JenStar on July 24, 2004, at 15:40:11
In reply to Re: somatoform - trying to be friend w you!, posted by fires on July 24, 2004, at 13:59:02
I've been taking Lexapro and it helps a bit with the hypochondria and anxiety. What's frustrating, though: Since some people know I'm a hypochondriac, I'm afraid that they'll NEVER believe me anymore when I really get sick. Kind of like the boy who cried wolf!
I agree that hypoch. IS a real disease, and stuff "in the head" is as real, in a sense, as a broken leg. After all, SOMEthing is going on with nerves and neurotransmitters and all that stuff to make someone think they're ill when they're not, right?
It's just that some docs are so condescending about hypochondria. They act as if it's a personal decision to be weak, to be stupid, to be needy - unlike the wonderfully strong and lovely 'rest of the population.' And I hate it when people think that things like allergies or gastric reflux are caused by 'stress' and that if I (or others) were just "stronger" we could "beat it."
My own sister admitted that she used to think all people who complained about heartburn and indigestion were just weak whiners, until she got pregnant and discovered what hearburn really is. Then she apologized for making light of it all these years!
Anyway, I just felt like griping!
How are YOU doing? Tell us a bit about yourself, Fires? What's on your mind these days?
JenStar
> > Fires,
> > I was reading up on somatoform disorder on the web. Reading about it made me mad. Most of the articles seemed to insinuate that any unidentifiable problem a person might suffer MUST be 'all in the head' even if the patient wasn't 'deliberately' causing sypmtoms. It reminded me of how I feel sometimes when I have real symptoms/real problems and the doctor acts kind of patronizing and assumes I'm just exaggerating (b/c of my past history of hypochondria.)
> >
> > You're right - many REAL conditions were thought to be stress-related or all in the head until we learned more, like ulcers caused by bacteria (not stress). I've read articles too that stated some people have much higher pain thresholds than others; folks who complain of chronic pain might NOT be somatoform sufferers, they might have real pain that is just more severe to their body even if a physician can't identify the cause.
> >
> > Bodies are complicated, and although doctors like to think we know everything, we really don't.
> >
> > Anyway, I'm sorry if you're been falsely diagonsed, esp. if they hid the diagnosis from you. That's horrible. I would be so mad and frustrated.
> >
> > How are you feeling these days? Any luck with a new doctor?
> >
> > Also, I really don NOT post under any other names. This is just me, JenStar!
> >
> > JenStar
>
> I have no choice, but to believe that you don't use other names because my evidence was entirely circumstantial.
>
> RE: All in our heads. Years ago an MD told me to agree with people who say "It's all in your head" --- because our brain is in our head -- so they are technically correct.
>
> Also, I know of several good Pdocs within 45 miles of my home, but they don't take my insurance. They would definitely not Dx anyone with Somatoform D. without first trying nearly every brain altering med. in the PDR!
>
> Also, re: hypochondriasis. I had a link to a good article a while back that said that it's just as legit. as any other "brain disorder", unfortunately I can't find the link. Here's some info. that I'll bet Ts aren't telling too many hypochondriacs: (from www.bio-behavioral.com)
>
> "WHAT MEDICATIONS ARE HELPFUL FOR HYPOCHONDRIASIS?
>
> Current research indicates that anti-depressant medications when used in conjunction with psychological treatment may be quite helpful for hypochondriasis.
>
> Some commonly used anti-depressant medications for hypchondriasis:
>
> Sinequan
> Tofranil
> Elavil
> Anafranil
> Prozac
> Anti-psychotic medications have also been indicated. "
>
> Good luck
>
poster:JenStar
thread:366835
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040723/msgs/370022.html