Tuesday, March 20, 2007

The Hypochondriac's Dream

A cell phone that tracks nearby emergency rooms via GPS? Did I die and go to heaven?

And not only does Mayo Clinic in Touch inform you of the nearest emergency room, hold your breath, it also has a symptom checker, and delivers health alerts and first aid tips!

Excuse me while I go sign up.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am just learning about hypochondria , my girlfriend seems to suffer very badly from this condition.

How has it effected your relaionship?

Barbora said...

Ha ha ;) not only am I a hypochondriac, but I’m paranoid too!

I HAD to ask my boyfriend if he was the one who posted the above question.

“J-u-s-t Learning?!?” he groaned.

Ok, ok…we’ve been together seven wonderful years now and he definitely qualifies as an old pro. He has certainly taken my craziness in stride and has been patient and supportive. He even felt my lymph nodes today for me to make sure they weren’t swollen.

Dealing with a hypochondriac is not for everyone though. While my ex-husband and I had many problems, it was shortly after a severe anxiety episode that I packed up and left. It was just the straw that broke the camel’s back.

I suppose that the difference in the two relationships is that my current partner and I have just about everything else in common. We’ve never disagreed on anything of importance, and are generous and forgiving with each other. We are best friends. This was NOT the case with my ex.

Barbora said...

I LOVE the new graphic!!!!!

Leila V. said...

Anonymous:
Run! Errr, uh, I must agree with Barbora, dealing with a hypochondriac is not for the faint of heart. It takes a selfless person with a lot of patience and understanding. I couldn’t do it.

In the first year of my relationship with Rey, I was able to keep my hypochondria in the closet. Once we moved in together, it couldn’t be contained. Luckily for me, Rey fancies himself a psychologist, and sometimes I think he enjoys my attacks.

I think in some ways, the hypochondria has brought us closer. You have no idea how many times I’ve died in his arms!

You should encourage your girlfriend to start a journal or blog to document her episodes. It’s worked wonders for me.

***
Barbora:
What a cowinkydink, I also double as a paranoid schizophrenic! For a second I almost thought it was Rey that posted that comment, lol.

And, thanks!

Barbora said...

Wow! I didn’t keep my contamination/hypochondria issues from BF for long at all. On our third date, I sang him the lyrics to Tom Lehrer’s song, “I Got It From Agnes.” Tom Lehrer is awesome and hysterically funny and well worth checking out!

“I love my friends and they love me
We're just as close as we can be
And just because we really care
Whatever we get, we share!

I got it from Agnes
She got it from Jim
We all agree it must have been him
Louise who gave it to him

Now she got it from Harry
Who got it from Marie
And ev'rybody knows that Marie
Got it from me

Giles got it from Daphne
She got it from Joan
Who picked it up in County Cork
A-kissin' the Blarney Stone

Pierre gave it to Shiela
Who must have brought it there
He got it from Francois and Jacques
Aha, lucky Pierre!

Max got it from Edith
Who gets it ev'ry spring
She got it from her Daddy
Who just gives her ev'rything

She then gave it to Daniel
Whose spaniel has it now
Our dentist even got it
And we're still wondering how

But I got it from Agnes
Or maybe it was Sue
Or Millie or Billie or Gillie or Willie
It doesn't matter who

It might have been at the pub
or at the club, or in the loo
And if you will be my friend, then I might ...
(Mind you, I said "might" ...)
Give it to you!”

Leila V. said...

Okay, I'm not sure what it is, but now you've given it to me.

At least you don't suffer from social anxiety! Singing on the third date!

Lacy said...

Hrm...or you can be married to someone who rolls their eyes and trys to not acknowledge your panic.

Anonymous said...

Put my DH in the (mostly) heroically patient category... EXCEPT that he never really wants to know the details. Can't really blame him, but when in panic mode I always hope that, after I go into a coma/have a stroke/etc, someone will be there to explain to the doctor what all's been going on, symptom-wise.

He's also very capable of getting overloaded and just tuning me out.

Actually, hypochondria can be a little bit contagious. I know he worries more than he used to. But then, we're older and have more to worry about than we used to, too.

Yes, Anonymous, it can be an "interesting" factor in a relationship.

Leila--great new pic!