Hypochondria

[TrueTimmy]

Hi guys, my name is Timothy. I'm a 17 year old, 5'7, 167 pounds. Recently I have developed a very life changing mental state. It all started whenever I woke up one morning with pain in my shoulder radiating to my jaw, so I decided to Google the symptoms to see what's going on. Well, the results made me freak out, it said I'm having a heart attack so I start to think, I'm 17 why would I have a heart attack? Oh wait, I don't eat healthy what so ever, I eat out a lot, and don't eat many fruits or vegetables so I start to think. Am I really having a heart attack, I just try to calm down. The pain goes away for the most part after a few hours, then the same thing happens the next morning I wake up with this shoulder pain, but I'm shaking really bad and I feel cold. I think something is wrong with me, I ask my grandmother to take me to urgent care, I get to urgent care, I have high blood pressure 152/99. They do an X-Ray on my shoulder to see if anything is wrong. Nothing is wrong with my shoulder, they send me home with a inflammatory medication. Well, the next night I wake up freaking out shaking in chest pains, cold, the works. I think I'm dying, I ask my grandmother to schedule me a doctors appointment with a real doctor. So I get to the doctors office, they take my blood pressure the lady goes "Your blood pressure is really." She didn't say the number though, well fast forward the doctor gets in there. Ask what's wrong, I tell him, he suspects its Anxiety, and then puts me on Zoloft. He doesn't run any test or anything. I've been on Zoloft for almost two weeks, my breathing has gotten better but I don't really have much of an appetite, I fear a lot of foods with saturated fat, cholesterol, anything that increases risk of Heart Disease, because I'm scared to death I might just have a heart attack one day due to my poor diet. The chest pains, arm pains, lack of appetite, constant worrying of what foods I eat (That's never been like me I've always ate what I want any never been worried too much about it, I'm not overweight or anything.). I'm just scared, and I need to know if anyone else is like me. This has been a dramatic change in my life, and I'd like a some advice and a peace of mind.

[needtogetwell]

Hi Timothy.

Scary stuff, especially for someone so young. I'm probably close to your grandmothers age and when my anxiety kicks up and I get those odd pains I freak out a little too. But I know it's just anxiety and I ignore it.

The first thing I'm going to tell you is really really important. DO NOT GOOGLE SYMPTOMS, EVER!!!!! All that's going to get you is into a complete panic and that's not what you want.

Glad the medicine is starting to work, it's going to take a couple more weeks or so to really kick in, so you can look forward to that.

As for your diet, eat sensibly. At 17 now is a good time to get into good eating habits. Fruits vegetables, good protein, that the best way to go. Ease up on the take away, or anything that is prepackaged. Ease up on too much sugar, that includes soda and sweets.

Don't worry so much about cholesterol, your body is still growing and it needs the cholesterol to make hormones and stuff.

Last but not least, know that you are going to be alright, just carry on with your days and everything will get better.

Cheers!

[TrueTimmy]

Hi Timothy.

Scary stuff, especially for someone so young. I'm probably close to your grandmothers age and when my anxiety kicks up and I get those odd pains I freak out a little too. But I know it's just anxiety and I ignore it.

The first thing I'm going to tell you is really really important. DO NOT GOOGLE SYMPTOMS, EVER!!!!! All that's going to get you is into a complete panic and that's not what you want.

Glad the medicine is starting to work, it's going to take a couple more weeks or so to really kick in, so you can look forward to that.

As for your diet, eat sensibly. At 17 now is a good time to get into good eating habits. Fruits vegetables, good protein, that the best way to go. Ease up on the take away, or anything that is prepackaged. Ease up on too much sugar, that includes soda and sweets.

Don't worry so much about cholesterol, your body is still growing and it needs the cholesterol to make hormones and stuff.

Last but not least, know that you are going to be alright, just carry on with your days and everything will get better.

Cheers!

Thank you for your reply. I really hope I will be okay. I've started taking a multi-vitamin, fish oil, and magnesium to maybe help with my anxiety. One issue that's really annoying is my loss of appetite. But, I'm sure I'll get back to eating right when the medicine starts working for me. If I'm correct, Heart Attack Symptoms don't drag on for weeks? So, it's not really realistic for me to be having a heart attack if I've had these pains for weeks.

[needtogetwell]

Thank you for your reply. I really hope I will be okay. I've started taking a multi-vitamin, fish oil, and magnesium to maybe help with my anxiety. One issue that's really annoying is my loss of appetite. But, I'm sure I'll get back to eating right when the medicine starts working for me. If I'm correct, Heart Attack Symptoms don't drag on for weeks? So, it's not really realistic for me to be having a heart attack if I've had these pains for weeks.

You are a smart guy Timothy. You already are more than half way there realizing that serious heart related issues don't drag on for weeks, especially in an healthy 17 year old.

You are going to do just great! Of that I have no doubt. As for the eating thing, if you can just try to eat something periodically through the day, maybe soup or cheese and crackers, something healthy, even a few bites will help you maintain energy and blood sugar levels. By the way, good choice with the vitamins and supplements. I would caution you that sometimesagmesium can make you have to run to the toilet in a hurry, so don't take more than is recommended, but don't worry, if it happens it is not dangerous, just cut back a little on the amount you take. Magmesium is fantastic for helping with anxiety.

Sorry about the spelling errors, my iPhone hates me and puts silly autocorrect words where I don't want them.

Let us know how you progress.

[TrueTimmy]

You are a smart guy Timothy. You already are more than half way there realizing that serious heart related issues don't drag on for weeks, especially in an healthy 17 year old.

You are going to do just great! Of that I have no doubt. As for the eating thing, if you can just try to eat something periodically through the day, maybe soup or cheese and crackers, something healthy, even a few bites will help you maintain energy and blood sugar levels. By the way, good choice with the vitamins and supplements. I would caution you that sometimesagmesium can make you have to run to the toilet in a hurry, so don't take more than is recommended, but don't worry, if it happens it is not dangerous, just cut back a little on the amount you take. Magmesium is fantastic for helping with anxiety.

Sorry about the spelling errors, my iPhone hates me and puts silly autocorrect words where I don't want them.

Let us know how you progress.

I guess its worth saying my grandfather died recently just randomly. He was like a father to me because my grandparents have had me ever since I was 6th months old. He died from dementia, and just a decline of health. I've had a stressful past few months, and it's been so stressful with my hypochondria like symptoms. I've never really liked any fruits and vegetables. What would you recommend I start off with?

[needtogetwell]

I guess its worth saying my grandfather died recently just randomly. He was like a father to me because my grandparents have had me ever since I was 6th months old. He died from dementia, and just a decline of health. I've had a stressful past few months, and it's been so stressful with my hypochondria like symptoms. I've never really liked any fruits and vegetables. What would you recommend I start off with?

I'm sorry about you losing your grandfather. Dementia is a nasty disease, I know, my husbands mother has it and she now has to be in a nursing home.

Losing someone that close to you is very difficult, give yourself permission and time to grieve. Remember all the great things about him. Just those happy thoughts can help your anxiety levels. If you find yourself missing him, talk to your grandmother about it, maybe ask her to tell you stories about how he was before you were born. That's something special you and your grandmother can share.

Anyway, fruits and veggies.... I have to ask, what part of the world you live in. I kind of need to know that because what I may suggest may not be available where you are.

[TrueTimmy]

I live in North Carolina. I like corn on the cob, and baked potatoes. That's pretty much it. For me a lot of the times, it's about the texture and feel. I like orange flavor, and strawberry flavor, but I never really do eat them. I don't know .

[needtogetwell]

Ok , North Carolina.....you have lots of options!

How about starting off with bananas. Apples and strawberries are also good, but if texture is an issue then the strawberries might bug you. Any berries you get the biggest nutritional bang for your buck. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries.

For veggies, if you like crunchy, how about some celery and carrots ( you can get bags of mini carrots) with some type of dip. I like those things raw, cooked carrots are disgusting to me but to each his own.

Cooked broccoli and cauliflower are great with a cheese sauce. That's the only way my husband will eat them. Kind of like a big kid, have to hide the green stuff under a sauce.

What kind of veggies does your grandmother cook? Maybe you could just try a taste each time she cooks something. Our tastes change as we get older, so what you may not have liked before you might just find it not too bad mow.

[TrueTimmy]

She doesn't really cook.

[TrueTimmy]

I've been living off fast food for a while now. I'm surprised that I'm not overweight.