Research and due dilligence - How much is too much?

I'm just curious about how others handle this. By definition, this forum generally, I'm sure, is populated with members who do their own research, and make it their business to become informed. Which is obviously a good thing. To a point.
I tend to be a person of extremes, (no sh!t, Sherlock). And i research everything to death. I should have been an engineer. I am now finding the same thing with my new cardiac issues. And i have become obsessed. Obsessed with exercise, and proper diet. I read everythng i can about what to eat, i have become anal about what not to eat, and have become extremley uncomfortable when i am not sure about something. In short, i feel like i am almost OCD about it. I was like this with my Prostate Cancer, and now i am like this with my Coronary issues. Its becoming a big problem for me, to the point where i have started seeing a Psych about it. In his words, i need to figure out how to put a period at the end of the sentence, rather than just hang on to everything and let it fester.

I have good friends and a good wife, who are willing to listen, but i am sure i am becomeing a pain in the arse to them. (My wife has pretty much expressed that recently)

I'm curious if many others are like this, and how you handle it. How do you move on, without obsessively worry about what might happen. Its becoming a real problem for me.

I do tend to research my health issues ad infinitum. I would prefer that my clinical testing follow guidelines, and if I read something in Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment or some other more specific guideline, I want my doctor to follow it, and it drives me nuts if they don't. I think part of problem is that if you were to take your issue to 10 different doctors, you might get more than a few different sets of tests and procedures to diagnose your issue. So its somewhat of a crap shoot and thus you want to second guess the doc. This is especially true for prostate issues. Not to mention that doctors are under pressure to see more patients and don't have enough time for them. You, on the other hand, have all the time in the world.

Post Edited (testing123) : 7/12/2015 8:41:02 PM (GMT-6)

Obsessing? Maybe it's in the air this weekend...

Pratoman - are you this same way in other areas or is this new and only medical related?

Don't let life pass you bye while you're doing all your research.

Ravine, i want to focus on enjoying my life, but its easier said, than done. But working on it, good advice.

Allen, i agree, our primary focus should be to find the best Dr we can for a given situation. One thing i know about my doc, who, as i said is my PCP but also a Cardiologist, and is treating my cardiac issues, is that he knows his limitations. Also, he is humble. So about 5 years ago, when i was having trouble getting my lipids under control, despite him having me on 3 meds, he sent me to see another Cardiologist in Manhattan, who focuses on lipid issues, not sure if it was to try to figure it out, or to get me to listen to someone else about my diet since i wasnt really listening to him. I have confidence in him, did ask another Cardiologist about whether i should be seeing a full time cardiologist and he said, for my situation it doesnt require a rocket scientist, and my guy (he knows of him) is a good Cardiologist. So the confidence is there.

RCS - Two things... 1. my psychologist is a guy who i just started seeing, I've only seen him once so far, and his comment about me needing to learn to put the period at the end of the sentence came at the end of our first meeting. 2. I'm not sure it works that way. I think the psychologist's job is to help you figure out how to put the period at the end of the sentence on your own. Its like managing a staff. If you empower them they will buy into your ideas and be more in tune

Steve, yeah, I've always been this way. I think maybe its partly control issues, but also just fear of what might happen if, if, if. Thats why i think its a problem.

PSADOT - I do operate the same way you do. Bloodwork before appointment. I do it partly to give myself time to formulate questions, but partly because i dont want to wait and have to chase the doctor. And yeah, at some point, you need to put your trust in the Dr. Trust but verify.

This is going to be a long term project, but i have to fix it because i dont want to live the rest of my years worrying, which is what will happen. Because as we get older, our health issues tend to get more serious, not less. So I'm going to keep at it trying to figure it out.
Thanks for the comments

Pratoman,

Your post is something I could have written about myself. It is a terrible way to live. Even 4 years out from my PCa surgery, I still research that and worry about whether I am doing everything I can to keep that from returning. It's exhausting. As you said, as we age we will have more and more health issues and obsessing about each one is so stressful that I'm sure it adds to the overall burden to our system.

I know intellectually that in the end something will get us. None of us get out of this alive. But, as the only creatures on Earth that walk around with the burden of knowing that life is finite, we need to somehow put that thought away and get on with living our lives. It is a very difficult balance.

I don't have any magic answer to share, but maybe it helps to know that there are others that think as you do.

Hello !

I do try to keep myself current on prostate cancer research. It's easy for anyone in our situation to obsess about researching obsessively. I've been in this battle for two years now. I think this forum has been a Godsend to many people through the years.

Anyone who has kept in touch through this forum can feel the outpouring of care and concern for others during times of great need. As well, a tremendous amount of medical insight has been provided that has helped countless people. Everyone seems to get meaningful and helpful responses. Just as I have been helped on this forum, I try to help others when I see a topic where I can add some experience or details or insight.

As far as endless hours of research, this is what I have learned for myself over time, and it's taken a while to learn this. Here we go:

My rule of thumb for myself is to do ENOUGH research that I feel that I am fully informed on my medical condition both BEFORE each medical appointment and AFTER each medical appointment. That seems to be the right amount of research, in my opinion. This rule of mine now sets the parameters for my research. Gosh, it took a while to find that this rule really works for me.

I want to be able to follow my doctor's train of thought, be informed on medical terms he uses, be versed in the names of medications we discuss, and feel like a contributing partner with my doctor when we discuss treatment ideas or medications. I want to have done enough research that I can ask a couple of insightful questions about my next appointment or the next treatment or the next step in my medical care. You want to have enough background knowledge that you can have a meaningful discussion with your doctor each time you visit.

This rule listed above seems to help me put a limit on endless hours of researching to the point of obsession. It's taken me a while to find the right balance, but I think the parameters listed above might help someone else out there who finds they are spending all day and night researching on the computer. Yeah, I've been there, too, so I understand. It can become almost like an addiction in some cases.

Meanwhile, I think it's healthy to keep up-to-date on new findings, new F.D.A. approvals, and new research. We all need to feel a sense of hope, as we look ahead. It's exciting when we hear of new F.D.A. approvals for new medications or the outcomes of trial studies.

I also try to do enough research so that I can be informed on current research, in order to help some fellow "battle brothers" and "cancer buddies" and friends of mine who share my same diagnosis. I'm concerned about them, they are concerned about me, and so I do enough research to be informed enough to have some informed discussions with my friends who also have prostate cancer.

These guidelines give me a purpose for some research, but also give me some LIMITS for my research. Maybe this will help someone else out there who knows they need to start setting some new LIMITS to the endless hours of research on the computer. Too much research can be like spending extra time putting up new wallpaper on the the walls of your room cabin on the TITANIC back in 1912, if you ask me. We've all got to find the right balance.

Meanwhile, continue to visit this forum for advice, wise counsel, friendship, support, and solace ! We're all in this together and this forum is making a difference for so many people.

Stay strong in the battle, my friends !
Cyclone

There is, by definition, no such thing as too much due diligence. As long as you don't cross the line into undue diligence you are fine. The trick,of course, is to find that line which is hard.

My best theory about that is to look for the signs of diminishing returns. If you find that your research is leaving you exactly as confused as you were before you started then that is a sign.

Prat:

Great thread.

I am very much like you.

In recent months, I've tried to tone it down.

For example, I always get Urology Today, daily, in my email. It is filled with research articles/notes. I used to read it religiously. Recently, I have started to delete it a few days a week, without even reading it.

Information overload is just too stressful.

Mel

Share yourself without yourself and you will never be alone…and always known. Oh and know that you will exist with or without you..
And yes you and compiler are spiritual dopplegangers leaking spirit just to do so…senseless and of no gain..

Post Edited (logoslidat) : 7/13/2015 5:34:51 PM (GMT-6)

Is there a Logo Translator in the house.

I don't know if I've been praised...or insulted!

Mel (leaking something, according to Logo)

Prato,

for psychotherapy to be efficacious, you and your therapist need to trust one another and have good rapport, irrespective of the modality used. Now CBT is a good modality and I have a preference for it; but having said that, a "good listener" and family member may also help. How do you think people resolved issues prior to psychological therapy.

I reckon you would do well to read about OCD, Acute Anxiety and PTSD and perhaps a host of other anxiety disorders. It will give you perspective! As you get more proficient begin to look for indicators before you spin out and obsessively want to know more.

For example, when my left leg goes cold, I know I need to check my glucose levels which are bordering on a hypo; if I ignore the signals I could get into deep trouble. So "condition" yourself to the signs when you get anxious and take steps to reduce your anxiety.
.
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I backed off the intensive research when I realized it was taking more time from my life than I cared to trade for the minimal benefit.

It also reduced my daily email load of people trying to sell me reports dramatically.