ectopic - please please no horror stories.

[chocchips]

Hi everyone.
I suffer from extreme hypochondria and trying to overcome a mental breakdown over it so I would really appreciate if there are no scary horror stories (thankyou for understanding)

I keep having intermittent (like 4/5 times today) sharp pain very low down in my pelvis. Because of my hypochondria I automatically jump to anything that can kill me without rationale. Today is ectopic pregnancy.

I had my period last Friday, was normal apart from a day or so shorter than usual but this has happened before so didnt think much too it.

No other bleeding has stopped/started. I e taken two tests today out of sheer paranoia and both are negative.

I have no pregnancy symptoms (with my dd O had severe morning sickness) but I don't have any nausea, tiredness, etc.

Does this sound like an ectopic? I don't drive nor live any where near a medical walk in so that is no option. I'm sat here fretting and scares of dying, just looking for some reassurance from you lovely people that I'm just being silly and paranoid. Thankyou

[NoIamAngelaHernandez]

I had positive pregnancy tests with my ectopic - you would too, I am fairly sure.

Maybe trapped wind? Hope you are ok.

[Tea1Sugar]

I too think perhaps trapped wind or constipation

[curiousuze]

If pregnancy tests are negative then you probably need a big fart! Sorry to be crude but if it's sharp stabbing pains then it sounds like wind.

[Haggisfish3]

I agree with posters above. And ectopic a font tend to show until at least five weeks, so it would be far too early. More like wind or ibs.

[Haggisfish3]

Ectopics don't tend to show that should read!

[chocchips]

Thank you lovely people! I know I sound like an utterly big fairy but hypochondria has knocked me for six, never have I lived in fear so much over ridiculous things!

I had had really bad diarrhea yesterday and now O feel like I need to go but can't. I've had flare ups like this when I'm very stressed (and boy I have been this week) I can feel the wind bubbling to (sorry for the tmi lol).

Its very low down, a bit lower than where I get period pains. I also have all over body pains, legs and back this week but it will be something else tommorow I'm sure!

Thankyou for the reassurance (and kindness! Most people think I'm nutty ...)

[chocchips]

Oh I know haggis, my paranoia is that it wasn't a period just ectopic bleeding that was mistaken for a period (yes I Google far too much!)

[squizita]

Could be a benign cyst or fibroid - I have one. It twinges sometimes but doesn't affect fertility etc. I only realised what it was on a pregnancy scan (so obviously not preventing that!).

Or as others have said, gripy guts. Try Yakult or deflatine?

[thornrose]

Oh you poor thing, my dd has had health anxiety and I've never seen such genuine fear. You have my sympathy

Can you get to a pharmacy and try get some wind or indigestion tablets?

[chocchips]

Oh thank you thornrose. I know I sound thoroughly dramatic but I would not wish this on anybody!

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

Hmm, have you Googled ectopic pregnancy? Because I thought the pain wad generally higher rather than low down I'm your pelvis? Kidney level rings a bell but I could be wrong. I didn't have any pain at all with mine but it does vary. I would be surprised if you could mistake aperiod for ectopic bleeding unless you have very heavy periods. So like others, I suspect it has another origin. But have a look at the Ectopic trust website if you are concerned. I seem to recall they give all the symptoms and should be reliable.

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

That should be still concerned. Sorry. I realise you were concerned or would not have posted.

[chocchips]

Yes I've googled. Health anxietys number 1 no-no but clearly i'm a glutton for punishment :(

Its to the right hand side about 2/3 inches above the vagina. Definitely pubic region rather than abdominal (IMO) its below hip level I think.

It hurts to poke (just like the rest of me) it feels muscular but god I'm so fucking paranoid it is unreal.

You hace all put me at ease so much, I'm very grateful.

[FantaSea]

I have suffered with health anxiety in the past so I do understand.

If you had diarrhoea yesterday then you are likely to be very empty and what you are feeling is very likely to be wind pains - these can be very painful. Could you try having a warm drink and then lying on your side - this may help disperse it.

[chocchips]

Off topic a little but fantasea how did you overcome it? Its completely invaded my life I can't have a single niggle, pain or anything. I've had to stop reading the paper because of the health stories. I need my life back!

[FantaSea]

chocchips It is hard to say how I overcame it, probably by distraction I suspect. We moved house and had bad problems with that and then DD had to change schools and I suppose being distracted from my health worries for a few months sort of fixed it to a certain extent - I still have general anxiety but not so much of the health anxiety now. It was at its peak about 10 years ago. I would worry about everything and was constantly checking myself - I am embarrassed to admit that I even was checking my breasts in the supermarket, mad as that sounds now.

[chocchips]

I can relate to that so much. I used to check my pulse constantly and take a thermometer with me everywhere, and took my temp every 15 minutes (until my dad stamped on it for me!) I even kept going to the pharamcies to havr my BP taken. Whether I was shopping, working, at a friends the thought of dying was never off my mind.

I am much improved than I was last year but its slowly creeping back and I can fell hell coming back :(

[thornrose]

This is what I would say to my dd (after sitting in on her CBT sessions) you don't have any other symptoms eg fever, vomiting, rash which would indicate illness, the pain is not getting worse and it's not the site of a major organ. You are otherwise well. If it still hurts tomorrow then we will deal with that tomorrow.

For tonight you need to find something to distract you. It's that little niggling voice of anxiety tricking you, try to drown it out. Tell it to piss off if it helps! (I have been known to shout at dd's anxiety, she usually ends up laughing, after the shock of my foul language )

Can you find something to distract you?

(I really, really hope this doesn't sound patronising, it is meant with good intentions)

Also I think you could post separately about your health anxiety on the Mental Health topic, lots of people with your experiences might be helpful.

[FantaSea]

I went through a phase of checking my pulse all the time too, and I don't really know why. With my health anxiety I tended to focus on one 'illness' at a time so I suspect that when I stopped checking my pulse I then did some different checking. I think the key is to break the habit, but it is very hard to do that.

I think for me, when DD was younger I was much more fearful of something happening to me too.

[chocchips]

Not patronising at all! I very much appreciate the advice because I simply cannot live the way I did last year.

Your dd is very lucky to have such an understanding mum! My parents try but they simply don't understand, which is reasonable as it's such a difficult thing for a non sufferer to get their head around.

I have a huge backlog of programmes to watch on the TiVo box, so I will be starting there :-)

[chocchips]

Yes fantasea that's entirely it. I am so so scares of not seeing my daughter grow up, incredibly irrational but I was convinced I wouldn't see her first birthday. She is two in July but I was beyond convinced no medical professionals could tell me otherwise!

[thornrose]

We've been through the ringer choc, I just can't bear the thought of seeing dd go through it all again, or anyone for that matter .

If you feel like you're relapsing maybe see your GP, maybe CBT might head it off before it gets worse?

Take care, I have loads of stuff on TiVo too, you've just reminded me to have a look.

[chocchips]

I know it's very difficult on everyone :( a very horrible thing to experience. I am off to make an appointment in the morning (so they can rule out leukemia, DVT and now ectopic pregnancy I've diagnosed myself with this week) and then discuss going back on the CBT list. They only had it available on a Tuesday which wasn't possible for me but it is now so hopefully things can improve.

I had a whole evening of tv planned Saturday til ended up in A and E with my dd, will take me hours to catch up!

[chocchips]

Now my paranoia is eating away at me. Pains getting slightly more frequent and I'm worried about a cyst rupture :(

[chocchips]

Im really sorry to bump this thread. You were all so lovely to me, just looking for some advice.

I thought my period had come today, its been 4 weeks exactly since my last one. I have the usual cramps however the bleeding is so light. Its more than spotting but very light, nothing like ususal.

I cannot stop worrying about having an ectopic pregnancy, totally irational but its really taken over my life. Any nice positive stories?:)