How do people not always make big deals about health problems?

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: DeathBUA

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Is the OP one of those people who post those "OMG! I have a cold. Should I go to the doctor?" kind of posts? I don't get why there are so many hypochondriacs on this forum? It seems like the "Geeks" have zero common sense when it comes to health issues. Sure, there are some things that are worth getting worked up over, (heart problems, cancer, diabetes, etc.) but most of the health issues people here post about are just paranoia-driven nothings...

No, I never get paranoid about a cold. In fact, I have to be feeling like CRAP for WEEKS before I go to the doctors... most infections and such, colds, strep throat, etc I just deal with as long as I can.

I'm only a hypochondriac over my heart. And I have a reason to be. It USED to be thick as hell.

I'll put it to you like this.

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy is a bad thing. They define that as the sum of a few leads on an ECG - one of the ways is the sum of V1 and V5 (any nurse in here can back me up). My V1 + V5 QRS (the actual wave) total used to be 37mm as a 20 year old. They define LVH as > 35mm for this total.

Since then, I've now dropped to a total of 27 mm... still SOMEWHAT high, but no where near the threshold of 35 mm. I did that with exercise, diet changes, etc.

An echocardiogram follow up revealed that my heart walls had shrunk.

So.... YES, I am paranoid about my heart health, but I know what I'm looking for, I KNOW what's real and what isn't (if I have a normal ECG, I can read it, and understand it, and know I'm OK or I'm not OK). I went above and beyond, true... but none is paranoia.

-Matt

Now please don't take this the wrong way, cuz I like you as a forum member and fellow poster, but as an ER nurse and someone who deals with this kinda stuff daily, I will honestly say you are the kind of patient that I wanna kick upside the head. I love that you are knowledgeable about your own health, BUT you as a patient tends to like to tell me as a nurse of what I should do. And thats a HUGE pet peeve of any health care worker.

Plus paranoia/worry thing. We had a guy last night FLIP out because we took his Catapres patch OFF. He went nuts cuz he thought he BP was gonna shoot up. Yea it did cuz you flipped out!

But on the flip side it IS really awesome that you take care of yourself like that. I really respect that as a nurse, plus it means I wouldn't see you in my ER very often

I respect what you say, and I can honestly say that when I get an ECG done, NO one knows that I can read it. I ask them if all is OK, and then I politely ask for a copy of it for my records. I get home and take measurements and use that to make myself feel rest-assured.

But I do respect what you say. My good friend is a nurse and has somewhat of the same attitude you have, which is why it keeps me in line.

Catapres is good stuff. Saved me a few times. There's never any need for it anymore. My blood pressure only gets up to about 160/90 during stressful times, IF that. Most of the time the highest I see it anymore is 140/80.

-Matt

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

I finally realize why people in the US are saying that universal health care will lead to the system being abused.

We have universal health care and i haven't seen a doc since i broke three bones in my hand after a stupid bet 16 years ago.

I don't know what my blood pressure is and i don't care, i have no idea what my cholesterol levels are and i don't care about that either. (i do work out but mostly just because it's easier to get laid when you're fit and i love to challenge myself with heavy weights)

If i feel bad enough i'll go see a doc but i haven't had any ailments serious enough to do that for 16 years.

mjuszczak, you do realize that you are going to die, right? You seem to be spending too much time worrying instead of living your life.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: JohnOfSheffield
I finally realize why people in the US are saying that universal health care will lead to the system being abused.

We have universal health care and i haven't seen a doc since i broke three bones in my hand after a stupid bet 16 years ago.

I don't know what my blood pressure is and i don't care, i have no idea what my cholesterol levels are and i don't care about that either. (i do work out but mostly just because it's easier to get laid when you're fit and i love to challenge myself with heavy weights)

If i feel bad enough i'll go see a doc but i haven't had any ailments serious enough to do that for 16 years.

mjuszczak, you do realize that you are going to die, right? You seem to be spending too much time worrying instead of living your life.

Yes, I realize I'm going to die. But I like working out, and I enjoy remaining healthy... My cholestoral numbers are OFF THE CHARTS LOW. My total cholestoral is 135 - the instant machines couldn't even pick it up. In all honesty, I want to get married, and have children, and when I retire, I want to live happily with my wife. As long as possible.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: JohnOfSheffield
I finally realize why people in the US are saying that universal health care will lead to the system being abused.

We have universal health care and i haven't seen a doc since i broke three bones in my hand after a stupid bet 16 years ago.

I don't know what my blood pressure is and i don't care, i have no idea what my cholesterol levels are and i don't care about that either. (i do work out but mostly just because it's easier to get laid when you're fit and i love to challenge myself with heavy weights)

If i feel bad enough i'll go see a doc but i haven't had any ailments serious enough to do that for 16 years.

mjuszczak, you do realize that you are going to die, right? You seem to be spending too much time worrying instead of living your life.

Yes, I realize I'm going to die. But I like working out, and I enjoy remaining healthy... My cholestoral numbers are OFF THE CHARTS LOW. My total cholestoral is 135 - the instant machines couldn't even pick it up. In all honesty, I want to get married, and have children, and when I retire, I want to live happily with my wife. As long as possible.

From what you have described in your posts above i do get the impression that you worry too much instead of just living your life.

You do realize that cholesterol is useful for your body, right? It's not a toxin.

How's your HDL, with a low HDL it doesn't really matter how low your LDL is.

Living a long and HAPPY life, at least to me, includes being content with yourself and not worrying, you seem to spend more time worrying than happily living your life, no matter how healthy you are you could be run over tomorrow and all the hours you spent worrying was just time you spent on that instead of doing something that makes you happy.

From your earlier post i'd say your problems now are more psychological than physical.

 

[Megatomic]

John, I agree with what you are saying to an extent, but it is worth it to trend and pay attention to certain markers of your health. From my most recent physical:

Blood sugar: 77 (target range 65-99)
Total cholesterol: 155 (target range <200)
HDL: 60 (target range 40 or > )
LDL: 76 (target range <100<130<160)
Triglycerides: 94 (target range <150)
Resting heart rate: 48 (target range not specified)
Blood pressure: 110/70 (target range not specified)

Am I worrying too much by paying attention to these facts? I don't think so, I call it taking an active and informed interest in my health and well being. And it doesn't seem to affect my quality of life too much, there are other detractors that do that well enough for me.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: JohnOfSheffield

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: JohnOfSheffield
I finally realize why people in the US are saying that universal health care will lead to the system being abused.

We have universal health care and i haven't seen a doc since i broke three bones in my hand after a stupid bet 16 years ago.

I don't know what my blood pressure is and i don't care, i have no idea what my cholesterol levels are and i don't care about that either. (i do work out but mostly just because it's easier to get laid when you're fit and i love to challenge myself with heavy weights)

If i feel bad enough i'll go see a doc but i haven't had any ailments serious enough to do that for 16 years.

mjuszczak, you do realize that you are going to die, right? You seem to be spending too much time worrying instead of living your life.

Yes, I realize I'm going to die. But I like working out, and I enjoy remaining healthy... My cholestoral numbers are OFF THE CHARTS LOW. My total cholestoral is 135 - the instant machines couldn't even pick it up. In all honesty, I want to get married, and have children, and when I retire, I want to live happily with my wife. As long as possible.

From what you have described in your posts above i do get the impression that you worry too much instead of just living your life.

You do realize that cholesterol is useful for your body, right? It's not a toxin.

How's your HDL, with a low HDL it doesn't really matter how low your LDL is.

Living a long and HAPPY life, at least to me, includes being content with yourself and not worrying, you seem to spend more time worrying than happily living your life, no matter how healthy you are you could be run over tomorrow and all the hours you spent worrying was just time you spent on that instead of doing something that makes you happy.

From your earlier post i'd say your problems now are more psychological than physical.

My HDL is 59

 

[kevnich2]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: Skacer
Fear can cause a person to freeze in place or run faster than they've ever run in their entire life. Both Person A and Person B probably feared the news they heard, the reality of their situation. But Person A ran faster than he'd ever run, while Person B froze. Eventually, Person B will have convinced them self that it is already too late for changes and submit to their fate. I've seen far, far more Person B's than I've ever seen of Person A's. So while both scenarios are problematic, I'd take a Person A over a Person B any day. Sure, several spiteful people in this thread may think Person A would die first, but I would bet that to be the exception more than the rule where as the rule for all Person Bs is going to be a painful road until complete failure. Person B will eventually suffer multiple heart attacks and most likely still resist change. Even before that happens, Person B has already committed them self to a lowered quality of living.

I'm person A, by FAR.

Here's what goes through MY head on a daily basis, and it drives me crazy:

Diagnosed with high blood pressure when I was 19, and continued to gain weight. Doc shows me pictures of my heart when I'm 20, and how its thickening. I lose weight, get in shape. Mean while, I'm going to doctors left and right (ALL referrals!) and hearing "You're too young to be here!" 100 times. Makes me even more worried and paranoid.

I buy blood pressure machines. Then I buy another one. Then, before I know it, I have a blood pressure machine in my car, my work, and two at my house. I check it 5 times a day. Cause gosh forbid its higher than 120/80 for an hour or two, I'm paranoid I'm going to have problems when I'm older, and not be able to have kids and/or get married, which is what I've always wanted.

I turn vegetarian and eat right. I self-diagnose - I take classes on how to read EKG's (My friend is a nurse, and she gets freaked out when she can't see something on an EKG that I can).

I become afraid of closed corners. Because what if I'm in a plane, or on a train, and I have a heart attack, or my blood pressure spikes really high? How can I get to a hospital in time?

This is the way I was up until a year ago. Yes, I'm bad now, but I've very much improved. I will always be a "type A" as described above - MY problem is realizing that I work out 5 times per day, eat a vegetarian diet, eat VERY healthy, try to relax as much as I can, and I need to realize that I'm doing everything I possibly can.

I sit here now making one of the most important decisions in my life, and the only debate I have in my mind is my health. No matter what opportunity arises, no matter what options arise in my life, my decision is never about money, or friends, or fate: its about what will be best for my health, so that I can live as long as possible and be in shape as long as possible. Its turned into a passion.

Paranoid? Sure. My doctors don't think so though. They think its great. But deep down, I wish this hadn't happened so young. I've gone through a lot to get past my major paranoia of a year ago, but I still have a long way to go.

OMG, If I lived like that, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning. Relax man. My take, enjoy life while you have it. I'm not saying eat a ton but don't worry about every single thing. As far as the doctor's loving how you react, they do because they get money every time they see you. Personally, I don't eat a lot of bad food. I have been overweight since I was about...5 or 6 years old. I don't know how I got overweight but I did. My entire family is overweight and we have to work twice as hard exercising to lose 1/2 the weight as most other people. I try to eat as healthy as I can but unless I work out extremely hard, I hardly ever lose weight. My wife on the other hand, she eats just a little less than I do and she's a tiny little thing and has a major problem gaining any weight at all. I do want to lose weight but I certainly don't see a doctor every single day and worry about things all the time. My blood pressure is normal, my cholesterol is just a bit above normal/borderline and my heart is good according to my last checkup last year but I am still significantly overweight.

 

[duragezic]

I don't know much, well anything about high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart problems, or anything. So who knows I could be effed in those areas and not know it.

But I agree with what spidey said. To the point that you are worrying about your heart, wouldn't stressing out so much raise blood pressure? When you said:

"...I work out 5 times per day, eat a vegetarian diet, eat VERY healthy, try to relax as much as I can, and I need to realize that I'm doing everything I possibly can."

Relaxing just doesn't seem to fit with the lifestyle you described. I know you probably make it a point to relax after all that stuff you do daily, but are you truly relaxing, or just trying to make you believe that you are?

The mind is very powerful, but I absolutely don't agree with Person B being healthier, cause if your health is screwed yet you don't give a damn but keep a smile on your face, that sounds like denial. Again, I have no qualification to tell you that you are worried too much; your health could be serious still and what you do might be the only way. But I'm pretty sure stress can be a factor in high blood pressure. What I'm just trying to say is slow down, don't overdo it, and when you need to relax, truly relax, don't sit there going over all these numbers from a EKG or some other test or contemplating this or that.

Just a thought... don't mean to criticize you. I think with your current lifestyle, you are no doubt better than the complete opposite (i.e. extreme case of person B). But that's the problem, don't be extreme whether you are A or not, aim somewhere between... probably not the middle, so somewhere closer to A than B is okay still.


What dullard brought up about it taking about 1.3 years to be healthy versus the average gain of 1.5 years of life. That is interesting, but I would just note that for a lot of people, 30 minutes of exercise 3x per week is helpful not only for health, but to look physically better and to get those endorphins released, as many feel better all around after exercise, especially if its something you like, say swimming or whatever.