am I crazy?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-2004
am I crazy?
11
Tue, 04-10-2007 - 7:17pm

I don't know where to turn right now...I'm really at my wits end.

I'm 41 mother of 4 ( 12,9,8 6)...and for the past 3 weeks I have been feeling so badly.

It started with feeling dizzy, and exhausted. WEnt tot he MD, he said it was a virus.
The foloowing week ,my cheek, forhead and ear felt like there was a person in there pulling...the pressure in my cheek and forehead was terrible, and it was accompanied by shootin gear pain.
Back to the MD, ( ENT this time) sayd it may be a low grade sinus infection, not sure, puts me on sudafed and steroid nose spray.

I still don't feel better, so back to the first MD on MOnday..he says it's still just a virus.

I know that's what they are saying, and I'm sure he's right, but I am so panicking right now.

I have convincrd myself that I have some deadly disease like Leukemia or a Brain Tumor.

Its just that I don't feel well...I'm tired... I know I'm tired somewhat becasue I haven't slept, becasue I'm worried, but I still can't convince myslef that I am ok.

Can an ear infection/sinus infection make you feel so badly? I've never had one before, so I've never felt this way...

I just feel so out of control right now and I don't want to talk to anyone about it.( dh is on business trip until Thursday)

Please tellme how I can get a grip with this anxiety that I have?
How do I do this....

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
In reply to: imjmomof4
Tue, 04-10-2007 - 8:20pm

(((hugs))) No, you aren't crazy!

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
In reply to: imjmomof4
Wed, 04-11-2007 - 12:24am

Hi & welcome! I am sorry to hear about your virus. You are NOT alone. Plenty of people who post here & I am one of them, have anxiety triggered by physical illness. Take care not to read too much medical info or watch tv shows that are aimed @ health concerns. Think positively. Remember that you would be having much different symptoms if this was a brain tumor. Your dr. would have seen changes when he examined you.


In the *coping tips & tricks* folder below, you will find lots of info on how to worry more effectively. I allow myself 15 to 20 minutes tops, then keep physically or mentally active to distract myself. You CAN do this & it WILL get better. I have a habit(anxiety) of diagnosing myself with a heart attack several times a day. I belly breathe or meditate when I get scared. Also, I listen to relaxing music or take a bubble bath or read a good book, etc. As a busy mom, you need some *me* time. Be kind to your self:)


Take care of YOU! We want you to live a good anxiety-free life. Join us in chats. Keep in touch. GL & GBU! (((hugs))) jan

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-2004
In reply to: imjmomof4
Wed, 04-11-2007 - 9:25am

Thanks so much...

I just don't want to feel like this anymore...I really want to feel better.

I'm going back to the ENT this morning...hopefully someone can shed some light on this.

Thanks for the support.

J

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-2004
In reply to: imjmomof4
Wed, 04-11-2007 - 9:32am

Jan,

Thank you for your support and advice.

I dont' know why I let myself feel this way...it's exhausting, and not productive at all...

I know if it were a brain tumor, there would be other signs...I'm embarrassed to tell you that I am a Nurse PRactitioner who worked on a neuro-surgical floor at a major Hospital for 10 years... I know what would we happening if it were a brain tumor...
I also know in my head that if it were Leukemia, I would be getting worse,too...( of course, I had blood done Monday, just to double check-results will be in this afternoon)

I want to try to not feel this way...I don't want to let my mind go to those places, but sometimes, it does...

I won't even look at the internet...it's bad enough I just think I have 2 diseases : ) I don't need any more things to worry about.

Do you really start to feel better after you do those things??

Do you ever need to have an EKG or blood work to convince yourself??

I want to get there...to where I can push the thoughts out of my head, and not go for the blood test etc... to ease my mind...

I just hope I can get to where you are...

Thanks again for listenting...
J

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
In reply to: imjmomof4
Wed, 04-11-2007 - 10:17am

(((J))) It's ok, my friend. Sheri Ann & I are both nurses & we have lots of nurses who post from time to time. Undoubtedly our choice of profession has it's own set of issues. More than likely seeing illness, in fact just plain living it everyday is a major stress. Be kind to yourself! We can be our own worst enemies.


This will pass. Anxiety never lasts forever. Many times I have had to ask the dr. to test me for something to allay my fears & anxieties. This is acceptable. You have a legitimate chemical imbalance, just as diabetes is a chemical imbalance. We will accept the fact that we need insulin so much easier than dealing with an anxiety diagnosis. You WILL learn to accept yourself & love yourself for who you are. I can assure you, you are so much more than your anxiety;) GL! jan

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Avatar for lam629
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2007
In reply to: imjmomof4
Wed, 04-11-2007 - 7:47pm
J
I feel like I could have wrote your post...except that i don't have any kids yet. This bout of anxiety for me started with dizziness, ear and cheek/nose pain. I also am an NP, work in school nursing now. My anxiety is through the roof. I have been to an ENT, neurologist, and an infectious disease (Lyme Elisa was positive), oh and a psychiatrist in the past 3 months. SO far everything has been ok.. I just started zoloft and therapy.
I keep telling myself that I will feel better soon and things will get back to normal. I hope the same for you.
Good luck and take care of yourself
Lori


 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: imjmomof4
Wed, 04-11-2007 - 8:10pm
I have anxiety about my health, too---it is very debilitating. It's typical that no matter what the dr says, you think that you might have some other illness. Sinus infections can make you feel very unwell, and it takes awhile to recover from them (I just had one, so I know of what I speak). Not to mention life in general can make you feel ill. But are you crazy? No. But anxiety gets its hold on us and soon we succumb. Try not to spend too much time looking up symptoms on the internet, etc---so much of what is written is very general, and not, IMO, very useful sometimes. Most of the time our anxiety makes everything exaggerated anyway. I hope you feel better soon...peace,lyn
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-2004
In reply to: imjmomof4
Thu, 04-12-2007 - 8:27am

Thanks...it helps to know that I am not the only one...I appreciate all of your support...

I did finally go to the ENT again yesterday and he saw severe inflammation in my sinuses..,.so badly that he put me on a qwwk of steroids.
He said that sinusitis can cause the symptoms that I had experinced...

I feel so validated...I have felt like crap for 3 weeks and the MD's kept saying it was a virus and that I had such high anxiety that it was making it worse...

Well, I wouldn';t have had such high anxiety if someone had listened to me 3 weeks ago when I told them I had pain/pressure in my head,ear and cheek...'
I hate when the MD's just think I'm neurotic and dismiss me...

ANyway, just had to vent that...

Thanks again, I do't know what I would have done without all the support!!

J

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-2004
In reply to: imjmomof4
Thu, 04-12-2007 - 8:29am

Lori,

I swear sometimes it's all that we know that causes us such anxiety...sometimes "not knowing" is better...

I have a ton of medical friends who all, at one time in their lives , have had the diseases that they treat...it's hard to separate sometimes....

Hang in there...

J

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-2004
In reply to: imjmomof4
Thu, 04-12-2007 - 8:30am

Thanks Lyn,

I wish someone had told me how horrible you can feel with a sinus issue.

I am taking steroids now to decrease the swelling...hopefully that will make me feel better, but honestly, for me, just knowing what it is, or what it's not...is a relief as well...

Thanks again,

J

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