When it comes to my mind and body I’d like to think I am in tune with them both. I know when somethings not right, I listen to my body, I take notice of things that change and when they do change, well, I tend to let everyone know about it!
This is often diagnosed by my friends and family as hypochondrainism as I tend to dramatize on every little thing that is wrong with me… to every single person that I see on a daily basis. Even the check out chick at Woolies knows what’s wrong with me today!
Every other week I’m convinced my headache is a brain tumor, the ringing in my ears is a stroke, the pins and needles in my leg is deep vein thrombosis, the burning in my pelvis is ovarian cancer, the rash on my stomach is meningococcal disease and the pain in my chest is a blocked artery, dramatic I know but I can’t help it. It gets worse…you see when I start over thinking about all the things that are potentially wrong with me, panic attacks and anxiety sets in which makes me think my fate is sealed…I’m going to die.
Once I even had the water at my house tested in an Erin Brockovich meltdown moment. I was convinced it had way too much chlorine and was dangerous to our health (I still say it tastes like it contains more chlorine than Australian standards allows but what would I know – apparently, according to the council, it’s not contaminated).
This might all sound like a bit of a joke, I guess it is quite funny I have to admit, and I do usually find taking the piss out of myself calms me down, but the truth is, I genuinely feel terrified when I think something is wrong with me, (and don’t even get me started on the worry I experience when I think the kids have got something seriously wrong with them).
Admittedly, most of the time my fears subside by the next day when the pain or whatever changing ailment it was that set off the hypochondrainism in the first place has gone away, but the following week something else pops up.
Dr Google doesn’t help of course. It only confirms my fears, adding to my problems and giving me more symptoms and synopsis’s to worry about, making me start writing my will before I go to sleep that night. Even writing this blog I’m focusing on my latest problems and feeling an increase in my heart rate. Of course I cannot help typing my symptoms into the search engine time and time again… Dr Google is an addiction.
So, anyway, I thought I’d share with you my latest concerning symptom (even though I don’t think people should air their medical problems on social media instead of going to the doctor). But I promise I have spent the last month going back and fourth between doctors and dentists and none of them have found the answer.
Writing this blog will of course only add more opinions to my ever growing diagnosis list, but perhaps it will once and for all help me find the right one. OK, so here it is…doctors, get out your prescription pads.
For four weeks straight I have had METAL MOUTH. A strong metallic taste in my mouth which is driving me absolutely CRAY CRAY! It’s there every day, some days it’s stronger than others but it’s still there every day.
I’ve been tested for pregnancy, iron deficiency, dehydration, been checked for loose amalgam fillings, gum disease, tooth decay etc etc and nothing is explaining why my mouth tastes like I’ve just licked the whole classified section of the newspaper…or a spanner.
The doctors say go back to the dentist, the dentists say go back to doctors (which wouldn’t be so bad if any of them looked like Dr Chris Brown but unfortunately, no…).
Meanwhile I’m trying special mouth washes, different flossing techniques, sensitive toothpaste and tongue scrapers, I’m chewing gum and I’ve even put on weight from eating constantly in a bid to get rid of the taste.
The only other symptom accompanying this foul taste is a sensitive tooth which began at the same time a month ago, but X-rays have revealed very little explanations for this sensitive tooth albeit a small amount of Gingivitis present in the affected area and both dentists have said they don’t believe such a small amount of gingivitis would be causing the metallic taste. Therefore I am back to square one.
My next move, after asking you, our lovely, knowledgeable intelligent followers, is to seek a naturopath or a Chinese herbalist perhaps. Both fields I am a fish out of water. So, this latest worry is what is consuming my thoughts at the moment and sending me spiraling down into a pit of panic every time the taste gets worse. Deep down I know it will probably be something minor. In fact, I could probably put money on it being hormonal? But I HAVE TO KNOW.
Believe me, I know that I am healthier than many people and I am truly grateful that I don’t have anything seriously wrong with me (besides a questionable mental health state!) and I’m very grateful that my life is rich in happiness, love and good health.
But I just can’t stand this damn metal taste any longer. I need to know what is causing it… I need answers and I need them now. Because if Dr Google ain’t got no clue, you may as well be up paranoia creek without a paddle…
HELP!
Lisa xo
6 Comments
Just a suggestion.. Being a stress head, do you grind your teeth a lot- especially at night? I do and I often have that taste cos I think I grind on my amalgam fillings- I can see the shiny spots where I grind. Could be so many things tho?! Good luck!!
Been eating pine nuts?
Hi Lisa, I’m no expert but I do know that fungus of the mouth can cause a metallic taste.
Thanks Lynsey, I mentioned this to the dentist and he doesn’t think that’s it either but is now referring me to an oral medicine specialist!
Ha ha yes I googled this one Amanda – Pine Mouth! Doc says it’s rare and wouldn’t last for six weeks (I can’t believe it’s been six weeks!)
Hi Belinda, yes this was a diagnosis the dentist considered and has shaved a bit of a tooth that may be making the most impact if grinding was the cause. He doesn’t think the taste would be so consistent if that were the cause but rather every few days etc. I am definitely one to carry my stress through to physical symptoms so I am thinking it’s something stress related (not that I feel stressed about anything in particular right at the moment!)