Musings on Med Student Hyponchondriasis

So maybe I'm a hypochondriac, sometimes. Like, during my outpatient pediatric month I saw a baby who had contracted shigella in Peru [in fact, I scooped his naaasty-smelling diarrhea using a little wooden spoon (not unlike the spoon with which one eats ice cream out of a wax-covered paper cup) out of 3 separate diapers into 3 separate sample cups, trying to talk and hold my breath at the same time] and then when I had diarrhea was convinced I also had shigella. And everyone knows about my whole Hantavirus experience (hangs head in shame). A month ago when I was sick and vomiting with a GI bug, I thought I might have an obstruction and seriously considered going to the ED; I had visions of being wheeled to the OR by one of the GI surgeons I worked with. When I gained 8 pounds in 6 months and could not lose any weight despite being a health-nut gym-bo, I half-joked that I must have some kind of teratoma, or some other kind of tumor making my innards heavier and bigger (heaven forbid I actually just gain weight in the form of fat, right?).

But honestly a lot of the hyponchondriacism is sort of just for self-entertainment. I never actually believe I have any of this stuff. In fact, I think that being a med student has made it a lot less likely that I'll react to things that might actually warrant some attention.

Take for example: I have this rash on my lower abdomen/flank that is starting to creep onto my upper anterior thighs, and has also appeared on my inner elbows and upper arms. I think it's probably just some viral rash. I've had other symptoms that are probably TMI so I won't write about them. Anyway, the point is: I think most people would have gone to the doctor about this by now--I've absolutely seen enough of this type of thing in the ED this month. But I'm just going to wait it out. I think of most things as being not a big deal, and that the likelihood that I have something serious is wayyyy tiny. I'll just wait to see if I'm a statistical anomaly. I know for certain of a million conditions for which I will never, ever take my kids to the ED. And I think I'll underreact, if anything, if my kids ever have a fever or vomiting/diarrhea for a few days. This, not hypochondriasis, is what med school has done to me.

(But being a hypochondriac is so much fun!)