I have health anxiety so please help (photo)

[HAaaag]

I don't know if it's my anxiety or I should be worried. DS (5) has this little tiny petechia like spot on his chest - photo attached.

He's had a few over the last week or so, isolated (so not a rash of them) and in different places - under his arm, back, chest. They have coincided with a very physical phase of enjoying wrestling with his friends and DH, so the rational part of my brain is telling me it's probably little marks he's picking up from that. But the HA is yelling leukaemia, obviously.

They fade in a couple of days and he is otherwise as healthy as anything. Huge appetite, energetic, not losing weight, no other bruises (beyond those typical of a 5yo boy - banged shins etc which all heal and fade fast), can't remember the last cold or temperature he had.

DH thinks a trip to the GP is unnecessary and it's my anxiety. I hope it is but wonder if I should get him checked out. But don't want to start dragging him to the gp just because I can't manage my anxiety, it's not fair on him. Am I being mad? Would you worry about this?

[yeOldeTrout]

What are people with HA supposed to do about it?

Because your HA has nothing to do with any reality; there's no point in asking a question about anything real.

[Thefitfatty]

It looks like a freckle. Are you sure they fade? Nothing else points to anything serious or even mildly serious.

[FrameyMcFrame]

I'd go to GP and gain reassurance.

It is most probably nothing, but you're going to worry unless you get it checked.

[HAaaag]

I'm not sure I understand your question. I wasn't asking for advice from people with HA, I was asking for views on whether recurrent tiny petechia are of concern or a normal childhood thing. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

[NoFuchsGiven]

I would not be worried about that mark for a second.

I think you need to see the gp to speak about your anxiety though.

[HAaaag]

Def not a freckle or a mole, they are red/purple and fade to nothing over a couple of days.

[HAaaag]

I agree NoFuchs, and have been already. I've got the number to self refer to wellbeing so will do that.

[Lupinlady5]

Why don't you just ask for a call back from the GP? They can just do a full blood count if they think necessary.

[RuralLibran]

I have health anxiety too, it's horrible isnt it? If they're going away it's probably nothing to worry about, i can say that when its not me or anyone connected to me- if it was I would worry too so I know how you're feeling. Have you talked to your gp about the HA?

[HAaaag]

GP was really unsympathetic and just chucked the number for wellbeing at me. I felt a bit ashamed about going to her, if I'm honest.

But it is horrible. Clouds everything. Sorry you have it too.

[yeOldeTrout]

I was asking for views on whether recurrent tiny petechia are of concern or a normal childhood thing.

But you can google to find out... you didn't need to ask to find out if it's usually a harmless thing. (How the hell did you even know a word like petechia, I work in a medical area & I had to look that word up). You're looking for some kind of reassurance, a reassurance that has nothing to do with real dangers.

Does HA happen because people don't trust themselves to judge risk, or because they feel they always have to make the perfect decision, or only the very safest decision is ever acceptable?

[Lupinlady5]

I don't mean to be unsympathetic, but you could be over-thinking, which feeds anxiety. Nobody on the internet can tell you one way or another whether a health issue needs to be investigated. You could very quickly pop to the GP and check one way or another, and then take it from there.

[HAaaag]

Obviously I googled. I have HA!

But the internet seems to talks more about rashes of them, I can't find anything about random isolated tiny dots. I thought someone on MN might recognise them/have had experience maybe.

It's anxiety. I don't know what causes it.

[MrsRhettButler]

To be honest I wouldn't even notice if my dc had those so I can't really say if it's normal or not but if you're worried I'd say go to gp.
No point worrying about it if the gp can put your mind at rest

[Hberries]

My 4yo had this off and on from about 4 months until he was maybe 1? Just a few on his legs and torso. It started after he had a nasty cold/fever and really freaked me out (I have HA as well). Drs were very understanding and did bloods etc but all came back normal. I've since read that they can sometimes happen after infections.

[Lupinlady5]

You can get them from things like tight straps etc. But it's probably worth checking with the GP.

[HAaaag]

Thanks. I think I'll book him an appointment tomorrow.

[Lupinlady5]

Good luck! Am sure it will be fine, but I always think it's simple enough to pop along to the GP and then you can just get on with things rather than worrying.

[HAaaag]

We've got a GP hotline through our medical insurance so I'm calling them tomorrow. Hopefully, they'll put my mind at rest without having to drag DS to gps.

[Lupinlady5]

How are things OP?

[SheldonsSpot]

You need to go and get some help for your health anxiety before you pass it on to your child.

Honestly, I don't think I'd have even noticed one little isolated dot like that on my DS, or photograph it or take him to the GP about it.

[Lupinlady5]

That's a bit uncalled for. The OP acknowledges her anxiety. Perfectly reasonable to run something past her GP though!

[Backingvocals]

OP I would not even see a small mark like that. Individual marks aren't mentioned on the internet because it's not a sign of anything.

But I'm wondering how helpful that is.
I work with someone with serious HA about their children and I never know if I should pile in with evidence that it's all fine or if that is, in a way, feeding the obsession. We've had type 1 diabetes, Duchesne Muscular Distrophy and leukaemia so far since term started.

[eatsleephockeyrepeat]

FYI you cant "infect" a non-anxious person with anxiety.

Obviously there can be negative side effects to a child or anyone living with someone with MH issues, but we have no reason - NO REASON WHATSOEVER - to think OP's dc experience is of anything other than a fantastic mum. HTH.

[HAaaag]

Thanks all.

I spoke to a GP on the phone who was very reassuring. Her view was that is very, very unlikely to be a symptom of anything serious. She said he may have a platelet issue, that may be caused by a virus, which would more than likely rectify itself in time. She said she would be very reticent about ordering blood tests without a sign of any other health problems.

I'll keep an eye over the weekend and book a GP appointment with him if I notice any more.

As for my anxiety, I know it's an issue and I'm working on it.