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[kaenneth]

Short history:

Root canal last spring, neighboring tooth root canaled a month ago.
first root canal got inflamed, got put on antibiotics.
teeth still hurt, seems to be because of reffered sinus pain.
antibiotics caused digestive issues.
cramping, diareaha etc.

Recently, I havn't been able to stop worrying about my health.

Does the tooth have a cracked root, that will get re-infected with a MRSA strain?
Did the antibiotics trigger diverticulitis, will something rupture poisoning me internally?

Dental, allergies, arthritis, psiorisis, digestive, migraines...

Every little thing makes me panic; spent 4 hours in urgent care yesterday to determine I probably don't have appendicitis.

But now I'm worried about the cancer risk of the x-rays...

I can't work because I can't stop thinking about potential medical problems...

[ChairmanPoo]

Don't google medical conditions ever again.

[Shook]

Ah yes, hypochondria, i have the same problem (although it's been getting better). I've found that it helps to talk to people about it, because others can help you assure yourself that you're not actually terminally ill, which is the case in the VAST majority of times. None of my hypochondriac flailings have ever amounted to anything besides excessive worrying, which is beginning to lead me towards "i won't be in doubt when i'm actually sick". And that's a helpful thing too, because again, in the vast majority of cases, you really won't be in doubt when something is afflicting you.

Granted, you've had a bad streak of misfortune with complications, but that doesn't mean everything is going to turn out like that, especially when it comes to the cancer risk of x-rays. The risk is MINIMAL, especially for a young and otherwise healthy person like yourself, otherwise it wouldn't be such a widespread thing to use.

Basically, you just have to try your damnedest to not worry about it. I know it's REALLY difficult, i've actually worried myself physically sick before, but it can be done, and this comes from a guy who otherwise just worries too much about everything. Also, what Poo up there said is sound advice, i've generally stopped checking for such things because i KNOW what will happen. The amount of times i've feared heart attacks, lung problems, appendicitis and what have you is beyond my ability to count, yet none of these have ever actually happened. The worst offender for me right now is my gut, which has been acting up for months now, but i remain alive with no real complications besides the odd day off from classes.

But yeah, long story short, you'll be fine. If you feel anxious, speak to someone about it, it can be really helpful.

[lue]

Don't google medical conditions ever again.

This. If I ever create or manage a website like WebMD, I'd make a point of having a huge banner at the top of each page saying things like "YOUR CHANCE OF HAVING THIS AFFLICTION IS: MINIMAL" (or whatever the threat level happens to be).

To your OP, I can definitely see where your concerns started coming from. And if I thought my appendix was acting up, I sure wouldn't hesitate to get it checked out. But to address some of your concerns*.

• Something like MRSA probably won't happen unless you're spending a lot of time in a hospital.
• I have no knowledge of diverticulitis, but a cursory glance at Wikipedia (because that's so reliable here) says there's no known cause for it (and the possible causes only mention diet), so I doubt antibiotics did it.
• X-rays only become an issue if you're shooting them at yourself all the time. Getting an X-ray or two is negligible in terms of radiation effects.

What Shook says, about talking about what you feel, makes sense to me. You've already started .

I'm not sure how much (if at all) this will help, but the next time you decide to look up things you may have, I'd suggest you to keep Occam's Razor in mind, if you don't already know it. It basically says the simplest explanation is usually the right one. For the time being, though, I'm with ChairmanPoo

*lue is not a medical professional, nor does he play one on TV. No responsibility is assumed by him for harm caused by the medical advice of his posts. It is assumed you know that information on the Internet may be inaccurate, intentionally or otherwise.

[kaenneth]

I'm probably a MRSA carrier, I've had a MRSA infection before; but that was when I was on immune suppressent medication.

And I'm not in great health; I have been going to the gym, but I'm still very obese, with rhematoid arthritis, psioriasis, migraines, etc. and I turned 40 this year.

[Tiruin]

:S

Try to go to a doctor and talk to them about all that, face to face. I'm pretty much very sure that they'd be happy to explain and denounce any sneaky suspicions you have and verify what you're worried about.

..Also before anyone asks, we can't give any medical advice on what to do (pertaining to suggesting cures other than suggesting what to do to help yourself) online because its..pretty vague and physical examination is the best (and simplest) way to find out the problems.

Don't google medical conditions ever again.

This. So. Much.
On the note of antibiotics-probably a side effect. What you got for the antibiotic (as in the name) is what matters on that point.

I'm probably a MRSA carrier, I've had a MRSA infection before; but that was when I was on immune suppressent medication.

And I'm not in great health; I have been going to the gym, but I'm still very obese, with rhematoid arthritis, psioriasis, migraines, etc. and I turned 40 this year.

"I've had x before =/= carrier/asymptomatic status." :S

[kaenneth]

I have been to the doctor's several times over the last couple weeks and I know there is nothing major wrong, I'm just worrying about what will happen next.

[SanDiego]

Short history:

Root canal last spring, neighboring tooth root canaled a month ago.
first root canal got inflamed, got put on antibiotics.
teeth still hurt, seems to be because of reffered sinus pain.
antibiotics caused digestive issues.
cramping, diareaha etc.

Seems like a botched root canal, try swapping dentist.

Recently, I havn't been able to stop worrying about my health.

Does the tooth have a cracked root, that will get re-infected with a MRSA strain?

If you had MRSA before, you probably still carry it. You may have carried it before. And while it may be dangerous to immunocompromised patient, there are antibiotics specifically designed to battle them that are still effective despite USA's abyssymal ATB politics.

Did the antibiotics trigger diverticulitis, will something rupture poisoning me internally?

No, they didn't. If you had diverticulitis you would already be after your surgery.

Dental, allergies, arthritis, psiorisis, digestive, migraines...

Every little thing makes me panic; spent 4 hours in urgent care yesterday to determine I probably don't have appendicitis.

I recommend to stop using internet to search for medical problems.

But now I'm worried about the cancer risk of the x-rays...

That risk is negligible. Really, one chest x-ray is like lying a week on a sunny beach in terms of radiation exposure.

Source: I'm a student of 5th year of medicine.

[nenjin]

Huh. I'm currently suffering from what the doctor thinks is diverticulitis. He gave me antibiotics for the last bout, which definitely made me feel better. But a month later and it's back again.

I guess I'm going into surgery, as his response was "If you don't feel better in a few days, prepare for surgery." I was less nervous before reading WebMD articles on the procedure, now I'm actually worried. My symptoms don't sound so severe as to require a multi-day colectomy, but the prospect of having part of my intestines cut out is not making me feel calm at all.

So I'm right there with ya, kaenneth. What's keeping my spirits afloat is the hope that this actually makes me feel better. Although frankly the idea of being in a hospital itself is pretty scary (already watched one co-worker contract MRSA from his stay at one in town. I want none of that shit.)

[SanDiego]

@nenjin: unless you are 50+ years old obese diabetic, you have nothing to fear. While even partial colectomy is a large surgery, bowel has a lot of redundancy in length and heals surprisingly good.