Health anxiety

[overthinkersanonnymus]

Just looking for a hand hold and some shared experiences from people with health anxiety. I'm spiralling in to a gynecological cancer loop (even though I have no real symptoms) I'm constantly checking for symptoms, lumps, bleeding, pain in my pelvis.

I had some pre cancerous cells removed about 6 years ago and every so often, I remember it and end up in this thought and checking pattern.

I take a low dose SSRI and have done for about 10 years.

Any pearls of wisdom?!

I have no pearls of wisdom as I am exactly the same, I even had some cells removed 6 years ago & it's made me worse. I just wanted you to know you're not alone in how you're feeling. I did CBT which helped for a while but it's always at the back of my mind

@PrincessConsuela12 thanks for your reply! I'm driving myself and everyone around me insane the last few weeks. I've been down the CBT route too and it's just not enough. I'm seriously considering increasing my medication.

Are you taking any meds? Xx

I'm not... I've considered it many times but I start to feel a little better & think everything is fine, then when I'm feeling low I think I really must try medication & the loop continues 🙄

I must drive people mad with my worrying, I try to keep as much in as I can but some days (especially when I'm going through a particularly worrying time - tests I need done etc) then I talk about it a lot. It's hard when people say try not to worry or worry about it if the time comes but it's really not that simple.

You sound just like me lol. I've been toying with upping my meds when I'm in the loop for years but then it fades I'm like, oh well I'm fine so don't mess with it 🤦🏻‍♀️

Do you have any children? I don't and I read that not having children can increase your chances of ovarian cancer. Which is a ridiculous fact to cling on to because im sure many ladies have had children with OC

I do & although I was very anxious before it seems to have heightened it 🤦🏽‍♀️
That's the problem with health anxiety though, we hear something and it sticks with us & plays on our minds. It's an awful thing really & not easy to get over

Look up Sheryl Paul on anxiety - she has an Instagram wisdomofanxiety and podcast Gathering Gold.

I have terrible health anxiety too. Every little symotom I get I think its the C. I think about it every day and its bloody horrible.
I'm not on any treatment for it, I'm just trying to live my life but it is so hard. Hand hold for you.

Yes! I drive myself absolutely mad with worrying about every little niggle or new pain 🙄 I do sympathise, it’s utterly exhausting isn’t it 😫

Thanks everyone for your replies. Although I wish none of us had this issue, it's nice to know I'm not alone.

I'm going to try and rationalise every thought I get today. I'm exhausted with trying to plan for every eventuality so I've made an appointment with my gp for next week

@Sicro you're right it is a mental thing which is why it's so upsetting and frustrating for those of us who suffer. We know it's irrational and totally out of proportion but it's also consuming and frightening.

The fact that our own minds are doing this to us is the problem. We're not convinced we have have an illness because we have all the symptoms, we're convinced because our brains are trying to convince us.

@overthinkersanonnymus I can't see the other comment because it's been deleted but you are absolutely right, our brains don't work in the same way others do and they convince us we are going to die, even when we tell ourselves to stop being silly, its not that easy. I don't think media helps. It's all you see, all the time. Young people leaving behind their children and its petrifying.

Glad you have made a GP appointment, I might have to do the same. I really hope it helps you 🙏

Gosh you sound like my kind of people. My health anxiety is absolutely insane at the moment. It stemmed from watching my mum battle cancer so - of course I'm dying of cancer every time I get something wrong. It's horrible isn't it 😞 just been put on a low dose of sertraline to see if it eases the anxiety.

@iwillnotstaycalm Mine is all about cancer too. It can never be anything else, always has to be the worst case scenario. It is so exhausting and hard!
Hope it helps you!

I've had health anxiety for about 10 years.

My HA is about 4 very specific conditions, only 1 of which I have, but I sometimes have symptoms of another which terrifies me and I used to have symptoms of another which have now gone, but if they were to come back I've no doubt I'd freak out and assume the worst.

It's exhausting.and mine has led to panic disorder which I suffer with episodically. I'm on medication which really does help but it does nt make it 'gone'.

Hi all, after a good 4/5 days being anxiety free, it's back 🤦🏻‍♀️

Woke up really bloated this morning so I now have OC on my mind. Although I'm on my period and have terrible burps ( far more likely to be these events causing the bloat) I'm still obsessing about having cancer.

It's going to be a long day xx

@overthinkersanonnymus Ahh that sucks! But yes you are right, far more likeky to be that.

It's horrible living with these thoughts daily isn't it. 😔

I have exactly the same problem. Totally think that everything is cancer. Im convinced I have OC too, so much so that I have a gynecological appointment booked. A few months ago, I thought I had bowel cancer so ended up having a colonoscopy and before that it was skin cancer but it first started with me thinking that a mark under my toe nail was a very rare cancer (it ended up being a fungal infection) It’s so stressful and I can’t see a way to stop it.

@Luggagerack omg mine too has been skin & bowel. 🙈 im booked in for a private skin check on Wednesday to sort it out once and for all!
Ive had a mole removed & on waiting list for colonoscopy. (Bleeding) but that has stopped now thankfully.
Its so hard isnt it 😭

@Cm078 Really hope your appointment goes well on Wednesday. I had a mole on my back with ragged edges, that looked like it had grown bigger and it was ridiculously itchy for weeks. As soon as the dermatologist said it was ok, the itching stopped completely. My brain has a lot to answer for!

@Luggagerack thats so strange isn't it! I had to go to the breast clinic a few years back as I had constant breast pain, not long after my app, it went away! I do think our brains have a lot to answer for sometimes! If only we could be re assured with yearly bloods or something 🙈 i hope yours goes ok too and can give us the re assurance that all is ok.

Oh girls I feel you 🤣 I have vulvadynia which is over active nerves all over my vulva that spreads to my thighs sometimes. I move had pre cancerous cells removed from the are so it's just nerve damage from the laser but because it's constant sensation, I always think "well that's now turned in to cancer" 🤦🏻‍♀️

I see a gynecologist oncologist every 6 months and never believe him when he says there's nothing there!

Anyone up for setting up a whats app or email support group? I suffer badly with health anxiety 😥

How are we all doing with our health anxiety today?

Update from me - my SSRI has been increased but too anxious to take the second dose (brilliant start) dr checked my stomach and said everything was perfect, no masses etc.

So naturally, I've moved on to cervical cancer now as I felt a couple of bumps on there 🤦🏻‍♀️ I don't know why I even checked. I'm so sick of this!!