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Health Anxiety

36 replies

NovoJester · 21/10/2019 13:44

Please hit me with your best health anxiety tips or tricks? I’m having the worst time with it and unfortunately probably going through an actual MS relapse at the same time.

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Marinemarie · 21/10/2019 13:46

I have no tips OP but I also have health anxiety it’s awful isn’t it? Just wanted to let you know you’re not alone in feeling like this!

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NovoJester · 21/10/2019 13:48

Thank you @mariemarie I’m currently convinced I have nacrotising facititis or sepsis after falling asleep on a hot water bottle and burning myself. The hospital have checked it out and said it’s all fine but I’m so worried they have got it wrong.

It’s the worst feeling. I’ve now actually got myself so worked up that I feel physically unwell.

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NovoJester · 21/10/2019 13:49

I’m sorry to read you have this too. Hopefully someone who has good advice will be a long soon with some ideas.

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naericht · 21/10/2019 14:00

I’m another with it - I’m terrified of heart problems . To the extent I stopped leaving the house in case I had palpitations/ectopic beats . I had an anaesthetic on Tuesday and spent the entire time before and after absolutely terrified . It’s a bloody horrible existence when it’s bad , I’ve been housebound for months on end twice because of health anxiety .

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NovoJester · 21/10/2019 14:57

Sorry to hear that @naericht. I hope you are feeling ok now?

I may ask for diazepam. I’m not sure it will help though.

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Marinemarie · 21/10/2019 17:12

I’ve now actually got myself so worked up that I feel physically unwell
Oh I’m exactly the same. Sepsis is one of the ones I worry about but mainly I panic about cancer. If ever I have anything at all wrong with me, I fear cancer. It doesn’t really help that I work in a healthcare setting I try and keep busy but when I have time to myself, my mind drives me crazy!

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kitk · 21/10/2019 18:34

I struggle with this too. I think both are likely placebo effects but kalms and St. John's wort take the edge off my sorrows (she says while running tongue over rough patch on tongue and googling oral cancer)

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kitk · 21/10/2019 18:35

^^ sorry, sorrows should say worries. Badly cracked phone screen!

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Spoonsmum · 21/10/2019 18:42

Sympathy from me too it’s so awful. I had emetophobia from childhood which has now turned into awful health anxiety. I can no longer distinguish between anxiety and real symptoms. Cancer is my absolute biggest worry. I try really hard not to google anything because that starts days of panic and anxiety and horrible horrible thoughts. I should go to the gp but the fear of them telling me I’m going to die means I hardly ever go. It sounds so ridiculous when you write it down but it’s just horrific to live with
I’m sorry you’re having a bad time Op

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MissKittyFantastico84 · 21/10/2019 18:44

Hi there!

I also suffer but wanted to share a tip I found useful.

In a small notebook, draw a line down the page. On one side write your WORRY and on the orher side write the REALITY.

So WORRY - I think I might have ear cancer...

And then later, when you've calmed, the reality of the situation or the likelihood eg. I just hadn't cleaned my ears this week.

Looking back over the pages, It helps to see your anxieties explained to yourself later, and see how your mind lies to you on a regular basis.

It also helps you log things, so your anxiety doesn't feel like you're 'missing' anything.

Hope this helps.

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DragonMamma · 21/10/2019 18:54

Another one with health anxiety. My current worries is HIV or cancer.

The former is a new one and is awful because I’m convinced I’m going to give it to DH.

I’m about to start a course of CBT because I’m getting worse and less able to rationalise my way out of my worries. I’ve spent the whole weekend coming over in a cold sweat with panic.

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naericht · 21/10/2019 18:58

Novo thank you ... over the anaesthetic but shattered and still scared . I had lots of palpitations today and yesterday . Went out for a walk tonight which I enjoyed , I’m trying to do two small walks a day and one longer every 2/3 days .

I used to walk 15000 steps a day I don’t know where I went wrong , I’m so scared if I walk I’ll drop down dead .

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naericht · 21/10/2019 18:59

I’m sorry to hear you’re all struggling in the same way :-(

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NovoJester · 21/10/2019 19:19

@naericht I’ve had anaesethic a few times in the last 18 months as I have severe anaphylaxis (was told it was all in my head and then ended up on life support for four days which is one of the reasons I now have health anxiety I think). Anyway it takes two weeks to flush the medication out of your system. It’s really good to walk but also eat well and drink a lot! That’s what i have been told by the ICU doctors. I hope it helps you feel better sooner.

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NovoJester · 21/10/2019 19:20

@DragonMamma I feel so sorry for you. Do you know each and everyone of us should be going to the gum clinic for an annual check for STDs. Would that make you feel better?

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NovoJester · 21/10/2019 19:21

@MissKittyFantastico84 thank you for sharing a tip! I am going to try it tonight. I’m sorry you are going through this too.

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NovoJester · 21/10/2019 19:24

@Spoonsmum I am so sorry to read you are also going through this. If it helps my GP has been wonderful. Literally amazing. They explain why they don’t think I am not sick but they also look after the “real” illnesses when need be. It has helped to talk to them for me a lot (I think I drive them crazy!!)

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Marinemarie · 21/10/2019 19:26

@MissKittyFantastico84 thanks so much for the tip!

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DragonMamma · 21/10/2019 19:30

@NovoJester

I didn’t know that - why is that? I haven’t had any tests for STDs since I had my youngest. I have already made arrangements to go on Monday whilst the DCs are away anyway so I will get them done then. That may help but then I keep imagining them not giving me the HIV results over the phone (they said they won’t) and I feel like I could throw up with the panic of having to wait to find out. Do they really make you go in for HIV results? I thought they’d be instant at the GUM clinic

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NovoJester · 21/10/2019 19:30

@kitk I’ve brought both today!! I’m all
Up for a placebo effect at the moment!!

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NovoJester · 21/10/2019 19:34

@DragonMamma it’s different from
clinic to clinic (I used to work for a hiv charity). It’s the first question you must ask - how do I get results? It depends on the type of test they do but it is totally the best thing to ask! They will maybe ask if you think you’ve been exposed but you can always say you just wanted an STD MOT. Some tests are very quick (immediate with 99% accuracy) and some testing takes a bit longer. Some results are given over text/phone (as long as they don’t believe anyone else has access to your phone) and some clinics like
You to come back in to get results even if they are normal (the clinic I worked in did the latter).

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kitk · 21/10/2019 20:17

@NovoJester I'm a mega fan of kalms but the SJW is new and I hear that they make you worse before better- will take tonight but let me know how you get on pls? A parallel would be good x

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DragonMamma · 21/10/2019 20:19

Thanks @NovoJester that’s helpful to know.

I know that it’s highly unlikely I have something like HIV but my mind runs away with me. I travel a lot with work and I worry that somebody’s pricked me with an infected needle without me knowing. It’s bonkers (even I can identify that) but it doesn’t stop me being convinced it happens.

I’m sorry to hear about your MS, my stepfather has RR and it’s a terrible thing to have. I feel awful moaning when there’s actually naff all actually wrong with me (in all likelihood).

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Spied · 21/10/2019 20:34

I have health anxiety. My main focus is on my heart and having a heart attack or stroke although I also go through phases where I am convinced I have cancer.
Currently in need of a local anasthetic for a small medical procedure but I'm terrified incase the anasthetic gives me palpitations so I keep putting it off.
I also am terrified of taking any medication.
Despite my sorry story I am actually a lot better than I once was.
I credit finding out as much about actual health anxiety and all its symptoms for this and reading stories about others like me who go through the same things. It seems to put things in perspective and remind me I'm not alone in this. It also stops me googling symptoms and ruminating.
Also do anything at all to distract yourself from checking behaviours.
My therapist advised me to set a time ie. 6pm when I was allowed to 'check myself'( BP and pulse in my case) and gradually I was able to reduce from countless times a day to once.

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redhotketchup999 · 21/10/2019 20:39

I can honestly say that I am a different person since starting setraline. It’s meant to be very effective for health anxiety.
I just cannot believe I ruined the past 10 years of my life with anxiety and health anxiety when there was medication out there to help.
I still worry that I’ve got illnesses, but I seem to be much more realistic. I used to spend hours a day googling symptoms. I can’t remember the last time I did that.
I feel like I’m living my life now. It’s incredible.