Hypochondriac?

I was just wondering if anyone else ever feels like a total hypochondriac? I don't know about u guys, but I'm so young, (23) and have already had so many complications from my lupus. now I constantly worry about what will happen next. I was diagnosed with heart failure a yr and a half ago, and I constanly find myself panicking that I will go into heart failure again. I'm not sure if this is normal, or if I'm going crazy? Probably the latter of the two! I know that stress can cause lupus flares, but it's so hard not to stress when you have to deal with this disease in the first place!

Thanx for reading!

Lots of love to everyone!

DQueen

Welcome to the forum DQueen!! So sorry you are having to deal with all of this at such a young age. I'm so glad you found us. Feel free to ask any questions you might have. I am mildly affected with connective tissue and intestinal involvement. . . so not real sick like most here. Hypochondriac????? He he he he . . . before I was dx'd, I used to 'sneak' naps in the basement. I would go down and throw in a load of laundry and take a nap. I had some great ways to fit in my naps. Then, when I finally realized there was REALLY something wrong, I didn't hide my naps anymore. LOL Just want to encourage you that you WILL get to know what is YOUR new 'normal'. You'll learn how to pace yourself so that you don't cause unnecessary flares too. That's been a huge help for me. I've learned how to ration my emotional energy. I naturally tend to want to 'help' people with things . . . and I've learned ways to help w/o making myself sick. . . and I've learned how to say "no" graciously when I really can't help. You'll find lots of amazing folks here and I've learned a lot from reading and posting here. There are some links at the end of my signature that you might find helpful. Blessings!

Hi DQueen and welcome. I think a lot of us were made to feel like hypochondriacs at one time or another by doctors or family or friends. But, you are definitely NOT a hypochondriac. I think with you going into heart failure at such a young age, it would be pretty normal to worry about it happening again. Do talk to your doc about your worry though - he or she can maybe help you sort through things and hopefully give you some piece of mind. I'm glad you found this forum - it's a great place for both support and information.

((((( DQ ))))) bless your heart, so much to go through at such a young age... I couldn't imagine. I don't know if I ever felt like a hypochondriac because I knew something was wrong with me. But I did have friends that stopped coming around me and family (1 person in particular) that told me it was all in my head. It's hard for people to understand lupus and what we go through. That is one reason I love this board and everyone here, because we each understand what the others are going through. I can talk to the people here when I can't talk to anyone else or when I don't want to complain to hubby anymore.

Take care and please let us know how your appts go. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Thanks so much! I'm really glad I found you guys. It's nice to talk to people who have been through the same things and  can relate to me. I know what you mean about friends. You find out who your true friends are when something bad happens. I consider myself very blessed though. I have the most loving and supportive family, including my boyfriend. They are there for me every step of the way, good or bad, and no matter how crabby I get! I don't know what I would do without them! They mean the world to me and the time I get to spend with them is priceless and so important to me! A supportive family makes dealing with lupus so much more bearable. Everyone should be so lucky!

Yeah, I definitely feel that way sometimes. I told DH the other day (after apologizing for complaining yet again about joint pain) that the bad thing about chronic illness is that I want to complain a whole lot more than I do. I mean, if I went on how I felt, I'd be whining all day long...seriously! But I try to reign it in. I feel like others get tired of hearing about it, so I just don't say anything.

I know I'm not a hypochondriac because I have medical proof for everything I'm coping with. If you want to meet a real hypochondriac, meet my mom and my sister-in-law. My mom farts wrong and she thinks she has cancer; my SIL's symptoms change by the day or hour and she says all this weird stuff that just can't be substantiated by medicine. (She is just out there, period!) I think both of them would benefit greatly from an antidepressant because they're both clearly exhibiting signs of clinical depression as well.

Lupus is a complex disease with many manifestations, but having it doesn't make us hypochondriacs...even though we may feel like it at times.

Hey, I am standing on a chair and waving my hands in the air.

I want to be counted.

Honey you are not alone! I think this is one of the main things I struggle with. I also have some hypochondriacs in my family and I can't stand it! So, I try to go the extra mile to hide my symptoms and fear people will think i'm a hypo! Hippo yes, hypo no! :) I can't imagine why anyone would want to be sick! You have every right to be worried about your health and fearful when you feel bad after all you've been through! God Bless your heart! Judy