Hypochondria?

I'm 72 and hadn't seen a doctor in 10 years at least but in June I rang the surgery as I had swollen feet, was a little breathless and could feel my heart racing. After phone consultations, tests, visits to a hospital and cardiologist I have been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation, am on 4 lots of meds - for life - and even now it's not really under control. Must admit it has thrown me slightly but I don't really worry about it too much, it won't help and would make me and those around me miserable. I'm semi retired, we have our own small family business that we run from home so it's impossible to get away from but does keep me from getting bored. My youngest grandchild is just 6 months old and I hope to live long enough to see her maybe to her teens, by which time the oldest would be 30 - and maybe a doctor, that would be amazing!.

MOnica
It makes me wonder how many people are being misdiagnosed.
My friend had exactly the same thing happen to him.
At the hospital he was insistent that he hadn’t had a stroke. He is type one diabetic and knew that he had taken 2 tablets together that he shouldn’t have.
The Dr refused to change his diagnosis.
His travel insurance for his holiday in the USA went through the roof.

Petra that is my problem. The cost of my travel insurance has tripled.

Fortunately, about the time I saw a specialist about my caarpal tunnel syndrome, I had a mild reoccurence of the 'stroke' ssymptoms that was so obviously carpal tunnel and not stroke, that there could be no argument. The nerve conduction tests you have before the carpal tunnel op, revealed a cervical spine problem that accounted for all the atypical symptoms of both 'strokes'.

But going back to the subject of this thread. These events have changed my whole reaction to minor problems, from being fairly gung ho about everything. I now neurose and google the slightest twinge. The year between misdiagnose and the start of the unravelling sent, my stress levels spiralling out of control , which of course provide symptoms of that as well. My DH was also worryingly ill, now sorted. The effect on my mental health has been quite bad.

I agree with M0nica that a misdiagnosis can cause untold stress and pretty much cause hypochondria.
About 10 years ago I was told, after a chest X-ray, that I had a mass on my right lung. I have the letter from Barts here to this day. It makes me physically sick to read it. I gave up work in a flash, planned my funeral, threw out stuff on a daily basis, cancelled a holiday, and basically prepared to die. Because the appointment for the next tests ordered dragged on for 3 weeks, I then used my private medical insurance and saw a top consultant who ordered a CT scan that day. Thankfully, nothing was detected.
The point is, sorry for the long-winded explanation, that for 18 months afterwards my life was in ruins. Every tickle, every pain, every niggle, was cancer because that is what had been implied. I am not prone to self pity, but I was a complete wreck. I hardly slept, lost weight and couldn't get the diagnosis out of my head. It affected my brain if you like, and my mental health was atrocious, let alone the effects on my family.
I am a " fighter," not that there was anything tangible to fight here, but it took every ounce of strength to get me back to my former carefree self. I am still left with hypochondria, it's a horrible illness. My way of dealing with it is to tell myself that with the number of symptons I can regularly find, that I should be dead before the day is out, so stop worrying.

Thanks for all your messages. It's reassuring that I'm not the only one.
By the way, my current obsession is pain on my left side. Only had a very sharp, stabbing brief pain once with several weeks between episodes.
Not in chest, left edge if side if that makes sense. Can't go to Dr as no symptoms between episode.
Maybe muscle strain. too heavy wright's in strength training ?
I'm going mad !!

Nana56

I'm just wondering is it hypochondria to be aware of your body ?
My DH ,thinks I suffer from it.
To be honest I do go from one concern to the next.
At the moment I've had an occasional sharp, stabbing pain in my left rib, night underneath.
Probably muscle pain from strength training at the gym. Still googling it!!
Obviously, if I had severe constant symptoms would go to GP.
Only happened twice but now waiting for reoccurring.
Oh well!!

Nana56 is it hypochondria to be aware of your body?

I don't think so.

You or GP will work out the stabbing pain, no hypochondria.

Every time I've been aware of a problem in my body there was a real problem that required working out. Two knees - sorted by surgery, other serious hard to diagnose illness - sorted by surgery.