Owwie

[fredericks]

I sucked it up and got my ass to my internist's office this morning, mainly because the periodic aches, chills, and sinus symptoms weren't being controlled by liberal dosing of Tylenol Sinus. I didn't get the cool PA but the elusive doc himself, and he spent a minute tops asking me questions and looking down my throat and up my nostrils before saying I'm suffering with allergies. Which, JESUS, I knew he was going to say and so I don't know why I ended up spending the time and $20 co-pay for the visit anyway. He was going to write me scripts for Zyrtec (btw, I totally called this a couple of weeks ago) and a pain med for my occasional neck soreness (he says I might have strained a muscle...no, I did not), but I declined both. Now I'm going to try OTC Claritin and see if it improves on the Tylenol. Something needs to happen, because my eyes and face were burning today while I was outside. Not fun at all. And do allergies explain the occasional sore throat and the lump on the side of my neck? Blah blah sick cakes

Apropos of nothing, I think a lot of my problems (except the ones listed in the previous paragraph, obviously) would be remedied if I somehow got an infusion of confidence. I'm always questioning my worth and my abilities (I've spent a good portion of today fretting about what I may or may not have done at work on Friday) and lack of self-esteem is such a tough hurdle to have to continuously jump that I think I've all but given up at this point. Related note - no, I have yet to call one of the numerous SWs or Psychologists that are covered under my insurance in order to schedule counseling. But I look at the list of names just about every other day.

Comments

[sternel.livejournal.com]

My allergies are pretty mild, and even I'm having a miserable time of it this year. After being outside for more than a few minutes I do get a sore throat -- I can practically feel the pollen coating it. My eyes have been itching and burning like crazy too, and then I come inside and wash my face and have a big glass of water and I feel better.

It's just so gross. Dear pollen: plz go have your treesexing SOMEWHERE ELSE KTHX.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

Nice icon, btw. *grin*

I figured it was allergies with a touch of sinusitis, but I've not been able to make it to the MD's while I have chills and full body aches. If I ever mocked people who complained of seasonal allergies before I'm begging for forgiveness now, because this fucking sucks. I want to walk outside in a burka or something; when your *skin* starts burning shit ain't cool. I do know I'm going to have to at least invest in a good pair of sunglasses before long.

Dear pollen: plz go have your treesexing SOMEWHERE ELSE KTHX.
Seconded!

[army-kitten.livejournal.com]

you deserve to believe that you are the amazing, awesome, hardworking person that you are. and if a LCSW can help you see that, well... it certainly can't hurt your health. i wish you luck in finding someone good. (^_^)

i really think it could help you a lot, too. stress and emotion can do SO MUCH in terms of making allergic reactions worse. ever since coming to korea my hand eczema has almost entirely disappeared and has only made a brief return on the couple of occasions that things have gotten more stressful at work. it could be related to allergens that were affecting me in the US that are simply not present here, but... it's hard to see it as a coincidence that even though culture shock etc. is very stressful in its own way, now that i'm doing what i've been wanting to do for so long, my stress eczema clears up entirely after making me miserable for more than one year.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

you deserve to believe that you are the amazing, awesome, hardworking person that you are. and if a LCSW can help you see that, well... it certainly can't hurt your health. i wish you luck in finding someone good. (^_^)
My problem is I have a hard enough time making relationships that trying to find a professional I can open up to is a little intimidating. So many options and it's intimidating. I'll be shopping for a sounding board, which is also a little weird.

Stress and a link to my allergies? That's something I didn't think of. Mostly because I felt a lot more stressed last year and had GI and cardiac issues to show for it. I guess if stress is causing this upsurge of histamines things are improving for me a little bit.

I am glad to hear that you're doing well in your new digs, though. *grin*

[anogete.livejournal.com]

You should totally make the leap and call a head doctor. I went to one last year--just for a handful of sessions--and it helped so much. I didn't think talking to someone about my bullshit thoughts would make a difference, but it totally did. I made some connections in my head and the therapist I went to actually said things that gave me a different perspective.

Dude, I had a lump on my neck which the doc told me was a strained muscle. A week later I developed a rash on my back which turned out to be effin' Shingles. Turns out, the lump was a swollen lymph node. I would think that a muscle and a lymph node would feel different.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

I would think that a muscle and a lymph node would feel different.
They do. The doc was a bit of a douche. He didn't even palpate the swollen region. But I'm going to try the allergy angle and see how that works out.

I'm a fan of counseling myself - had a couple of gratis sessions during college - but I'm finding it hard to actually commit to a name. Making that first leap is tough.

Btw - Shingles. Ye Gods, that must have been horrible.

[anogete.livejournal.com]

I hope you settle on a name and end up liking the person you pick.

My Singles episode wasn't that bad. I went to another doc (at the free clinic since I was without insurance) and she diagnosed me. She said it was probably due to stress, which makes sense. My life has been a ball of stress for the past year. I can only assume my age helped me come through unscathed. I had two two-inch spots on my lower back, one in the middle and one to the right and a bit lower. They hung out there for a couple weeks and then faded away. No blisters or horrible pain--just some stinging and burning at night after I showered. I did feel very run-down and tired, though.

[emily-goddess.livejournal.com]

He didn't even palpate the swollen region

What? Why the hell not?

It's frustrating to have your doctor dismiss your concerns and treat you like an idiot, but it must be even more so when you're a medical professional.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

I'd never dealt with this guy before, but I know he was convinced it was allergies once I walked into the room and could have given two craps about anything else. He's lucky I'm feeling better (sans any allergy meds; I walked outside today with no problems so I'm convinced I was dealing with sinusitis) otherwise there'd be words.