mad, sad or sick - need help

[Gilli]

I wanted to change my name for this as I'm embarassed, but here goes. I want to know if any other mumsnetters recognise the way I feel. For a long time now I'v had an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach, a bit like a fist pressing where the ribs go up in the centre. It makes me feel full, and sometimes there's a sharper twinge. A couple of times I've seen my GP who prescribed acid reducing drugs for gastritis and they do help but it comes back, especially with chocolate, strong coffee or dry wine, or if I'm stressed. I'm always stressed, and I feel I'm living on a knife edge, and recently I've started getting palpitations. I also feel permanently tired and that I'm aging fast. I'm always stressed, but partly because I stress about my health: I think I have cancer in at least three locations at the moment, and I can think my way all the way to the funeral in about 10 seconds if I try. If there are mumsnet threads about bereavement I read them even though I know they will make me worse, and I can't open our local paper without reading obituaries, and if there are women around my age that makes me even worse. I had some good therapy about 18 months ago which helped, but basically this seems to be how I am. Am I on my own or are there other hypochondriacs out there and if so, how do you cope, or how did you stop it? Is the worrying making me ill? Why am I like this? I sometimes feel I am completely on my own.

[gingernut]

Is it possible that you may have depression ? It often presents as an apparently physical problem.

The other thing that occurs to me about the stomach problem is that you might have a stomach ulcer .

Sorry, I don't know what else to suggest. Hope you find a solution.

[Chandra]

Yes, a depression is possible, palpitations are a true sign of them (Anxiety attacks?), tiredness is also common in depressions (that feeling of not wanting to go out of bed and the desire to sit quietly everytime you have the chance). If your GP has not yet mentioned this possibility let him know about it or ask for some help in stress management. Hope it is of any help and that you feel better soon

[expatkat]

Gilli, reading your post is like looking in a mirror. I have felt that way about 75% of my life--since I was a child, really. I agree with the other posts about anxiety & depression, though I know it's hard to make the mental leap that your feelings of unwellness/hyponchondria might NOT be a result of a true illness but of depression or anxiety. I agree that it would be a good idea to mention the larger issue to your GP, not just the specific symptoms du jour IYKWIM.

[lyndsey66]

Gilli - you are not alone. I too worry about my health all the time. If I am watching TV and something comes on about an illness I am convinced have got it! I lay in bed sometimes listening to my heart beating worrying that it wil stop! Every headache I get I think that I have a tumor!
I have got so much worse since I had my ds. Because now I worry about dieing and leaving him - or even worse something happening to him.
I spoke to my MIL about this and she said she used to be like it and over time she just phased out of it - everytime she had morbid thoughts she would distract herself.
This probably hasnt helped - just wanted you to know that you are not alone. xxx

[mears]

Gilli - go back to your doctor and ask to be investigated. It could be an ulcer. It could be your gallbladder - both solveable problems with the correct medication/treatment.
Don't assume you are being a hypochondriac at this stage - you have not had your symptoms investigated by the sound of it. That could be why your ming is running riot. Once you have investigations, if they are all negative then you can go back to the hypochondriac theory In the mean time, go back to your doctor.

[mears]

Sorry - mind is running riot. Must preview

[sunchowder]

Gilli, you are not alone with this. I suffer with depression, not exactly the same pains that you get. Stress can cause so many conditions, could be an ulcer like gingernut mentioned, it could be your gall bladder if it is off to the right just a bit. If you are not comfortable going to a doctor to get medicated or to even be told that there is nothing wrong, maybe you can go to a Cranial Sacrotherapist? Idon't know where you live, in the UK they call them Cranio Osteo's. They do very gentle manipulation and can sometimes go right to the spots that are bothering you. You need to get a recommendation for a very good one to start with. I firmly believe in them. I go once a month now, sometimes my sessions turn out to be very emotional as apparently different emotions are stored in different parts of the body that have pain. I don't know if you think that is too "new wave" or alternative. I don't talk with my DH about the experiences anymore because he tends to roll his eyes-but it brings me so much stress relief and I look forward to the sessions. Thinking of you. XX

[sunchowder]

I got called away from PC and just posted mine, good advice MEARS! I was thinking along the same lines as you were in terms of what it "could" be. Very good advice .

[robinw]

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[Gilli]

Tnhaks for all the support - I'm feeling v. low and it helps! RobinW - what are the symptoms of your reflux? I'm interested to know before I go back as my mum had a hiatus hernia for years and years, and now has coeliac disease. Does it come and go?

[MancMum]

You sound like you have what my Mum has been suffering from - she felt so full when she woke up, she could not eat and then got v. bad nausea. She went to the docs several times and they gave her gaviscon etc which only helped marginally. she does suffer badly from stress and has had a bad year - she has quite a 'hypocondria' imagination and got herself worked up that she had cancer of the stomach as all tests were coming back negative. Eventually we paid for her to see a private gastro doc who prescribed some drug called Lecor (I think) and 3 weeks later she is a changed person. Her doc told her today that he thought she had acid reflux and this can be brought on by stress - in fact he says a lot of stomach complaints are due to it.

I would say get it checked by a doc but mention your stress. Get your stomach sorted and then look after the stress.

Hope you are better soon

[robinw]

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