The Unprofitable Servant: Hypochondria Strikes Again

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Hypochondria Strikes Again

Last night I was awakened by a noise, and when I realized what the sound was, I found it even more difficult than usual to go back to sleep. What woke me up was the sound of my right hand, shaking so badly that as it rustled against the sheet, it made enough noise to cause me to awaken. I have been having difficulty of late steadying my hand so I guess this little episode was truly a wake-up call telling me it's time to see a doctor.

Now, every nurse I know, myself included, is given to bouts of hypochondria, and truth be told, we really can't help it. Same for many physicians. We are so bombarded with information about every ailment known to man that it's inevitable - at some point, we will convince ourselves we have any number of diseases including cancer. We Google our symptoms and then we let our imagination run wild. Either the "symptoms" disappear, or we actually seek medical advice and are assured "it" is nothing serious. Time goes by and the next ailment comes along.

When I did a search of Parkinson's, I discovered that coughing and choking are common symptoms of the disease. Did I mention I have been given to bouts of choking and coughing for nearly a month now? Meal-time has been a real joy for the family of late. So far, no need for the Heimlich.

I keep thinking of Elaine in the Seinfeld episode where she convinces herself she has rabies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOp_77i58Ks&feature=related

Parkinson's disease is not something I find funny. My mother-in-law had it and a friend also has it.

What I do find funny is how easily I can let my imagination run away with itself. Like another celluloid hypo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao7KEvXCSBM

(This post is in no way meant to make fun of those who are seriously ill, or to minimize the seriousness of these conditions. It's meant to poke fun at ME)

6 comments:

KellyJanuary 5, 2012 at 9:20 AM
Joyce, the flip side of being in the medical profession is that you know what symptoms not to ignore! Praying for you, dear sister.
We are not sure we will be able to make it to the Jesus retreat--my MIL was hospitalized and we're not sure if going out of town is feasible. Well, His will be done, and I will strive not to allow too much disappointment to rear its head. If we do go, it will be a very last minute decision...
Again--I do hope you are following through with the doc, and soon! You're in my heart and prayers--
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CarolineJanuary 5, 2012 at 10:11 AM
Joyce,

That Seinfeld episode is hysterical. I'm so glad you posted this; it helps me understand the medical side of my family a little better..Sometimes I wonder about them..bless their hearts.
When my cousin was in medical school I thought I would lose my mind ..he'd call every weekend telling me what new disease he had..
I like my mom's diagnostic answer to most physical ailments:
It's either hormones or stress
I'll be praying for you..
Blessings and +
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TLWJanuary 5, 2012 at 6:47 PM
Kelly, how disappointing! I hope you are able to make it.

Caroline, I was looking for the scene in that episode where Elaine can't swallow a glass of water. It was one of the better episodes.

Either way, I'm not worried. I can assure you that the minute I make an appointment to see a doctor, the symptoms will disappear.

Love to you both, Kelly and Caroline
Joyce
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KellyJanuary 5, 2012 at 8:04 PM
Oh well then, the sooner you make the appointment the better! :) Oh and we are not going. Mustn't be our year.
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MannyJanuary 6, 2012 at 8:08 PM
My prayers will be for you Joyce. If my hand shook uncontrollably while in bed it would spook the dickens out of me. So I don't think hypochondria is really an issue. It's probably nothing, but this doesn't seem to be something to take lightly. I hope you see a doctor as soon as possible.
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TLWJanuary 6, 2012 at 8:59 PM
Not to worry Manny, the surest way to make symptoms disappear is to make an appointment with a doctor. At least that's my theory :)
Thanks for the good wishes and prayers
Joyce
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Mary, Queen of Peace

Ever glorious and blessed Mary, Queen of Virgins, Mother of Mercy, hope and comfort of dejected and desolate souls, through that sword of sorrow which pierced thy tender heart whilst thine only Son, Christ Jesus, our Lord, suffered death and ignominy on the cross; through that filial tenderness and pure love He had for thee, grieving in thy grief, whilst from His cross He recommended thee to the care and protection of His beloved disciple, St. John, take pity, I beseech thee, on my poverty and necessities; have compassion on my anxieties and cares; assist and comfort me in all my infirmities and miseries, of every kind whatsoever. Thou art the Mother of Mercies, the sweet comforter and only refuge of the needy and the orphan, of the desolate and afflicted. Cast, therefore, an eye of pity on a miserable, forlorn child of Eve, and hear my prayer; for since, in just punishment of my sins, I find myself encompassed by a multitude of evils, and oppressed with much anguish of spirit, wither can I fly for more secure shelter, O amiable Mother of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, than under the wings of thy maternal protection? Attend, therefore, I beseech thee, with an ear of pity and compassion, to my humble and earnest request. I ask it, through the bowels of mercy of thy dear Son; Through that love and condescension wherewith He embraced our nature, when, in compliance with the divine Will, thou gavest thy consent, and whom, after the expiration of nine months thou didst bring forth from the chaste enclosure of thy womb, to visit the world, and bless it with His presence. I ask it, through that anguish of mind wherewith thy beloved Son, our dear Saviour, was overwhelmed on the Mount of Olives, when He besought His eternal Father to remove from Him, if possible, the bitter chalice of His future passion. I ask it, through the threefold repetition of His prayers in the garden, whence afterwards, with dolorous steps and mournful tears, thou didst accompany Him to the doleful theatre of His death and sufferings. I ask it, through the welts and bruises of His virginal flesh, occasioned by the cords and whips wherewith He was bound and scourged, when stripped of His seamless garment, for which His executioners afterwards cast lots. I ask it, through the scoffs and ignominies by which He was insulted; the false accusations and unjust sentence by which He was condemned to death, and which He bore with heavenly patience. I ask it, through His bitter tears and bloody sweat; His silence and resignation; His sadness and grief of heart. I ask it, through the blood which trickled from His royal and Sacred Head, when struck with the sceptre of a reed and pierced with His crown of thorns. I ask it, through the excruciating torments He suffered, when His hands and feet were fastened with gross nails to the tree of the cross. I ask it, through His vehement thirst, and bitter potion of vinegar and gall. I ask it, through His dereliction on the cross when He exclaimed, "My God! my God! why hast Thou forsaken me?" I ask it, through His mercy extended to the good thief, and through His recommending His precious soul and spirit into the hands of His eternal Father before He expired, saying, "It is consummated." I ask it, through the blood mixed with water, which issued from His Sacred Side when pierced with a lance, and whence a flood of grace and mercy has flowed to us. I ask it, through His immaculate life, bitter passion and ignominious death on the cross, at which nature itself was thrown into convulsions, by the bursting of rocks, rending of the veil of the Temple, the earthquake, and the darkness of the sun and moon. I ask it, through His descent into hell, where He confronted the Saints of the old law with His presence, and led the captivity captive. I ask it, through His glorious victory over death, when He arose again to life on the third day, and through the joy which His appearance for forty days after gave thee, His blessed Mother, His Apostles, and the rest of His Disciples; when in thine and their presence He miraculously ascended into heaven. I ask it, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, infused into the hearts of His Disciples, when He descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, and by which they were inspired with zeal in the conversion of the world, when they went to preach the gospel. I ask it, through the awful appearance of thy Son, at the last dreadful day, when He shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world, by fire. I ask it, through the compassion He bore thee in His life, and the unspeakable joy thou didst feel at thine assumption into heaven, where thou art eternally absorbed in the sweet contemplation of His divine perfections. O glorious and ever blessed Virgin! comfort the heart of thy supplicant, by obtaining for me, (Mention your prayer intention here...) And as I am persuaded my Divine Saviour doth honour thee as His beloved Mother, to whom He refuses nothing, because thou asketh nothing contrary to His honour, so let me speedily experience the efficacy of thy powerful intercession, according to the tenderness of thy maternal affection, and His filial loving heart, who mercifully granteth the requests and complieth with the desires of those that love and fear Him. Wherefore, O most blessed Virgin, beside the object of my present petition, and whatever else I may stand in need of, obtain for me also of thy dear Son, our Lord and our God, a lively faith, firm hope, perfect charity, true contrition of heart, unfeigned tears of compunction, sincere confession, condign satisfaction, abstinence from sin, love of God and my neighbour, contempt of the world, patience to suffer affronts and ignominies, nay, even, if necessary, an opprobrious death itself, for love of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Obtain likewise for me, O sacred Mother of God, perseverance in good works, performance of good resolutions, mortification of self-will, a pious conversation through life, and, at my last moments, strong and sincere repentance, accompanied by such a lively and attentive presence of mind, as may enable me to receive the last Sacrament of the Church worthily, and die in thy friendship and favour. Lastly, obtain through thy Son, I beseech thee, for the souls of my parents, brethren, relatives and benefactors, both living and dead, life everlasting, from the only Giver of every good and perfect gift, the Lord God Almighty, to Whom be all power now and forever. Amen.

Prayer of St. Bonaventure

Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee, may yearn for Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.
Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delightful taste.
May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, Whom the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the fullness of the house of God;
may it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end; and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. Amen.

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The Unprofitable Servant

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Hypochondria Strikes Again

6 comments:

Mary, Queen of Peace

St Michael the Archangel

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

St. Teresa Benedicta of The Cross