Can't sleep. I'm scared.

[TheMightyFavog]

As I said in an earlier post, I'm going through something of a health scare right now.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=9687929&mesg_id=9687929

My Doctor appointment is tomorrow afternoon, and right now, I am too frightened to sleep.

I'm scared.

[RandomThoughts]

1. Best hopes that it all works out for you.

Good health and good thoughts, sorry you are not feeling well, and hope your are fine both in body and thoughts. It is not fun to feel anxiety.

:loveya:

[freshwest]

2. What do you need? Pain Reliever? Faith? Milk? Turkey? Melantonin? Chat? Seriously, not sarcasm.

Is there someone in your life that you feel that you must stay alive and healthy for, to take the focus off your own mortality? I've had to do that at times.

[TheMightyFavog]

3. I could use someone to talk to.

I hope this isn't serious, but then again...

[freshwest]

4. I just messaged you.

[madinmaryland]

5. I hope things go well. I actually thought this was a "copycat" because the 50lb boob thread

was right above yours. Just try and stay steady and think about those 50lb boobs.

Take care, and hope everything goes well tomorrow.

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dear Favog...

I hear you, sweetie...

I've been where you are too.

Whatever it is, you will face it, and hopefully all will be well. This is no comfort now, I know.

I always try to remember that there are two kinds of things in this world: Things you have control over, and things you don't.

Worry about the things you have control over, and let the rest go. It's much better that way.

Please let us know how you are, OK?

:hug:

[MiddleFingerMom]

7. I was just talking to one of my housemates... let him know I'll probably be gone for a week...

.
.
.
...following my heart surgery.
.
.
.
He's old enough to remember what I do. The first heart transplants (though that's
not what I'm having done) by Dr Christian Barnaard in South Africa.
.
The first patient survived 13 days. Every time they tried another, it was considered
a HUGE triumph to see them survive a few days longer... the next a few days longer...
the next a few days longer... etc.
.
.
Now, it's relatively routine... and survival prognosis can be in the DECADES.
.
.
.
I reminded my housemate of that... and told him, "I'm sure glad I waited until NOW
to have my problems!!!"
.
.
Keep these two things in mind:
.
1. It's ROUTINE now for doctors to do what would have been considered MIRACLES a
few decades ago.
.
2. Virtually EVERYONE'S medical "fears" are far above what is certainly a relief to learn
is really the problem.
.
.
.
Soft soothing music couldn't hurt. Breathe. Slow and deep and easy and steady. Start at
the top of your head and WILL each and every little muscle to relax... working your way
down at a snail's pace to your toes -- a wave of relaxing muscles. Repeat as needed.
Mentally hum a low, soft and continuous monotone in your head -- let that displace your
fear... take up the space it WAS occupying.
.
.
.
You are going to be just fine. Deep down... WAY deep down... you know this.
.
.
.

[freshwest]

9. Great advice and progress. My father died in 1965. He was 51. He needed heart valve surgery.

We live in an age of miracles.

[Kali]

8. you are going to be OK

from your other post (sorry I missed it at the time) it sounds like you have got yourself in a bit of a fear cycle - not anything anybody can tell you to make you stop worrying, but it is the worry that is feeding things and then it hurts and feeds the worry in an endless cycle.

your appt tomorrow will stop that cycle and get you back on track to feeling better and worrying less

so, if you can't sleep you will just have to play on the internets all night, I guess. (my trick is to find something fairly dry and boring to read, get comfy in bed and just try to stay awake reading whatever it is. However DO NOT read medical books - I think you saw what can happen reading websites - NEVER read to match symptoms. Yes good for info AFTER you get a diagnosis, but trying to diagnose from books/websites will have you suffering from rare, weird tropical parasites in a few pages! Don't do it!;-)

[grasswire]

10. TV

Maybe I Love Lucy or Frasier is on. After 9/11 I used I Love Lucy to go to sleep at night.

Sweet dreams, and peace.

[Duer 157099]

11. I can't count the number of times I've been in that same situation

The numbers of diseases I've been sure I had, and I'm not a hypochondriac at all, just took a symptom and found the very worst thing it could be and freaked myself all the hell out, all to no avail.

The only time it was actually something was when it was a kidney stone, but I was sure I was dying. In spite of the excruciating pain, I was glad that's all it was (but it did begin as dull constant pain in the back for several days).

Just think of it this way: worrying about it won't change anything, so try to let it go. I know, not easy to do.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. *hugs* I understand. Health issues can be very scary. I hope everything will turn out fine!

[murielm99]

13. Please don't worry too much.

I understand why you are worried. I have done the same thing myself many times.

Tomorrow, you will know. I join the others in this thread in hoping that all your fears are unfounded.

Please come back and let us know your outcome.

[marzipanni]

14. I like this website because it helps you get a bit of a handle

on what your health problem is, instead of groping for an answer. Also, if you use it you will be familiar with the things the doctor will ask you today.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom.html

Lie down and breathe like a baby- let your abdomen stick out when you inhale. It really helps you relax. I hope you can get some sleep. :hug:

[dawg]

15. Hang in there!

Just tell the doctor everything, and don't worry too much if he wants to run a bunch of tests. That's what they do.

I'm a big baby about these things, and I obsess about any little medical thing that is wrong with me. And there's always something, you know. And I imagine it to be the very worst thing it could be - and so far, it's never been anything even close to serious.

Our prayers and good vibes are with you.

It'll probably be just fine.

[nolabear]

16. It's already tomorrow but I hope all's well. I suspect it is.

The middle of the night is such a vulnerable time. Sorry you were feeling so scared.