Has anyone tried to convince their loved one they are a hypochondriac?

My brother is bipolar and I am convinced he is a hypochrondriac as well. The problem is he also has serious health issues. It is extremely difficult to sort out what is real and what is not. And, as in the story of 'Chicken Little', I am concerned that the one time I don't believe him will be the time it is life-threatening. Because of the situation, it seems like the doctors have stopped listening. All I can do now is make sure he gets regular blood/urine work to catch anything serious. This happened recently; he is now being treated for severe dehydration and an excess of vitamin D3 in his system. There's no good answer. Good luck!

"Absolutely! You DO have all the symptoms of XYZ. The Dr prescribes exercise 3x day, 30 min each time, STRICT diet (5 servings veg/fruit, steamed, not fried, whole grain only, low salt, etc etc). These MUST be followed, check-up in 3 weeks, 6 weeks & 3 months, and after 25 excess lbs lost",

People who are hypochondriacs do not think they are. You might speak privately with her doctor or his nurse. However, I don’t know if there is any medication or treatment. What is it that you are wanting, just confirmation?

This is a difficult one.

My mother-in-law is not only a hypochondriac but also has factitious disorder which is when one fakes being sick - or actually makes oneself sick- for attention.

She has had several mostly unnecessary surgeries and procedures as a result. She was a nurse and she is very good at knowing the right things to say in order to fool the doctors.

There is no point bringing it up with her because she will deny it. It may even be subconscious in some sense. The only thing that put an end to it was pulling the doctors aside and telling them. The first time we did that she was scheduled for a brain surgery the next morning. She was livid when she saw us talking to the surgeon but he had us talk to a social worker and the surgery was canceled. That was years ago and she is fine, of course.

Since then we just tell every new doctor, nurse, caregiver, etc. Sometimes they still seem to forget but it is in the notes and as medical systems are starting to share data the doctors can read the notes from other doctors and hospitals. One surgeon told her he wasn’t going to do surgery on her after reading the notes and she called him every name in the book but it worked.

People like that will doctor shop if they can until they find one to give them what they want so we try to limit her ability to do that to the extent that we can. As she has lost more independence it is getting easier and easier.

Best advice, though, is to just make sure all of her medical providers know how she is. I don’t think there is any need to confront her about it. If she really thinks she is sick and worried about it have the doctor reassure her that she is fine.

Breeze59: I've known one or two individuals who were never well, according to them. These are the type of individuals who you may say 'be careful what you wish for' - The doctor's given them a clean bill of health, but the person is sure that they're quite ill.

I don’t know what you can do about this. My husband’s grandmother was like your mom.

Oh my gosh, one time she said to me, “My hair hurts!” So I said, “Do you mean that your scalp is hurting?” She said, “No, my hair!”

I told her that it was impossible for her hair to hurt! She insisted that it did. I let it go and thought that this was another one of her insane thoughts.

Yes, It’s crazy! Some people have so much anxiety that everything is a big deal and if there isn’t a problem they will make something up.

I feel your pain. It’s incredibly frustrating. I started ignoring my husband’s grandmother. Or I would just go along with whatever she said. If she made up a crazy symptom like her hair hurting, I would just tell her something like, “Oh, that’s too bad. I hope it stops hurting soon.” She was looking for attention. It made no sense to argue a point with her. It’s a waste of time and energy.

Do you think meds for anxiety would help her?

I tried to convince my dad, to go to hospital for hypochondriac treatment, I think he had brain tumour or something equally bad. when we see his doctor, they make tests and the both came back perfectly clear and yet I'm still so afraid I'll randomly become blind. and also I'm afraid my dad will got heart attack, because he getting random chest pain. he was just tired of all this.
Matilda

The HIPPA laws are not laws for regular citizens, they are set to guide medical professionals. You can send a letter to Mom's doctor and tell him everything, but he/she cannot reciprocate unless you get a medical POA.

Contacting an Elder Law Attorney will get you started in getting the issue documented and you can set a meeting with a Geriatric Psychiatrist, too.

My mother has always been a hypochondriac, now known as a "health anxiety disorder". We always thought she was a worrier, now I understand she has suffered from Generalized Anxiety Disorder all of her life. Now that she is older and actually has more health problems and time to worry about them - well, let's just say I have mother-induced anxiety disorder. Trying to convince her that something is not wrong is counter-productive - she thinks others are ignoring real problems, don't understand, gets angry that others are not listening to her, etc.
I have a fear that I will dismiss a real health issue because I am so used to blocking out her complaints. I agree with others that have noted that the best course is to allay her anxiety overall, which could include medication.
One thing I have noted is that often my mother seems to be worrying about something that is really not that important. Then I realize there is something else that is actually worrying her more, something more serious, and her way of dealing with it is to worry about the more inconsequential matter to distract herself.

The "cure" for hypochondria is developing an actual disease that is terminal or life-threatening. With less serious concerns, you might suggest your mother notice if the symptoms persist for two weeks, If the same problem is still worrying her, you or she can make an appt with her doctor. Whatever she was first worried about might be completely forgotten. Something new? Two weeks for that one, too. At her regular 6-month or annual health check-up, she can go over her list of concerns with her doctor.
It is not necessary that she believes or accepts the label "hypochondriac.". Don't waste time and energy trying to convince her of a label.

Does she ask constantly to be taken to the doctor for every little pain? And your the one that needs to take her. Well maybe you should direct her to your County Senior bussing. They usually need 48 hrs notice to take a client to an appt. Maybe if Mom had to make the call and wait 48 hrs to go, she would stop complaining. You could say you think its all in her head. Its like the boy who cried wolf. He said it so much that when there finally was a wolf no one game. Really, even her doctors could get to the point she is not taken seriously. I am big on I know my body better than anyone. I am not one to go to the doctors all the time so when I think something is wrong, my doctor better listen.

Look at it this way and with humor. If they can be convinced that all their imaginings and fears are groundless then they are NOT hypochondriacs.
If she is obsessed with her health know that as we age we DO get a myriad of aches and pains (I am 80; I know!), and we do know more on a subconscious level that the grim reaper is knocking on the door, or at least lurking on the doorstep. We fear what we may face toward our end and we fear for those we love. So a lot of that is normal, and it makes us worry over every little sign that this current ache in the knees (neck, back, you name it) will take us down.
I would encourage Mom to see her doc, measure her own blood pressure, take a daily multivit, be certain to get out and walk, form friends and hobbies (knitting, podcasts, gardening, baking, writing). I would LISTEN. I would ask her what she tried, if she talked with her doc, and etc. Your very act of listening may be the cure for some of this.
You can listen to me now and in perhaps four decades will know, we get pretty achy and pretty worried. When you get there you will remember I told you so! Hee hee.
My best to you and to your mom as well.

Breeze59, welcome to the forum. When it comes to being a hypochondriac, there is no way to convince someone that they are a "hypochondriac". I use to be one many years ago but was able to crawl out of that quagmire.

My hubby is one. Anytime he has a rare headache, it's a brain tumor. If his stomach is upset, it must be the start of colon cancer. The list goes on and on. It can be exhausting. I found what works best for me is to just ignore. I just hope I don't ignore if and when something is actually serious.

Hubby's grown daughter is also one. She is now half way through the alphabet of major illnesses.

Doctors are pretty good as to sorting out real health issues from issues that either don't exist or are not as serious as the patient believe.

Your profile says one of the health issues you Mom has is anxiety. I think you will have more success if you help her treat the anxiety than if you try to convince her that her health issues aren't real -- especially if she has the beginnings of cognitive decline/dementia, then she is much less able to use her reason and logic to bring herself around since these abilities are disappearing.

IMO elders begin to hyper-focus on themselves and minutae because they have less things to distract them all day, and/or they have not come to grips with mortality and have a fear of dying. My own Mother is doing this more and more (age 93). When she winds up about some health problem I tell her a therapeutic fib that the doc can't see her for at least a week. Ofter her "crisis" will be forgotten or resolve itself.

Maybe consider hiring a companion aid for your Mom or try adult day care.

Welcome, Breeze!

Your profile says that you are 64, so your mom is in her 80's.

What makes you think she's a hypochondriac?

Do you attend her doctor's appointments with her?

More information will get you better answers from us.