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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Health Anxiety Ruining My Life

111 replies

PeppaAteMySoul · 17/03/2016 09:28

Hello,
Someone please tell me IABU to be thinking like this. Yesterday I found a mouth ulcer on my top gum it's tiny- only a few mm across but because it doesn't hurt and it seems a tiny bit sunken into the gum I have convinced myself it is cancer. I do this everytime I find something abnormal and it ruins my life. Instead of enjoying my toddler today I am rubbing iglu into my gum while staring at the mirror every 5 seconds to see if it has gone yet.

OP posts:
Anxietyisnotnice · 31/03/2016 23:48

Another health anxiety sufferer here - it was ruining my life. I am now taking fluoxetine (prozac) and it has been brilliant. Just waiting for my CBT referral now.

I have been where you are now. It's so frightening, I know.

Original poster
PeppaAteMySoul · 01/04/2016 08:23

Oh god. On way to appointment now. Deep breathes. I don't think I can do this!

OP posts:
Original poster
PeppaAteMySoul · 01/04/2016 09:00

Dentist said there was nothing there but normal pigmentation. Am a bit worried he looked in the wrong place but I know that is my anxiety talking. Now have GP appointment to discuss coping methods this afternoon

OP posts:
ssd · 01/04/2016 09:04

thank god peppa!

I'm going to my drs in 30 minutes, my heart is racing and I've been to the loo 3 times already...Blush...this is awful, my logical mind has disappeared in a mad person has taken over...I need to ask about coping methods too, although I was referred for CBT before and didnt go as I thought I was just being stupid Blush, I'll ask again, hope they dont get mad at me, when I discuss health anxiety at my drs I feel they just look at me like I'm mad or like last week the nurse said well you should worry about your health thats perfectly normal and I thought, this is more than worry, this is panic and you're telling me its ok to feel this way.....

please god I'm ok too.

JPinkertonSnoopington · 01/04/2016 10:00

There, Peppa - what did I tell you? I am so glad for you. I hope your doc appointment goes OK and I hope you feel able to explain to him or her that things were really bad for you - in fact you went through the tortures of the damned. Hope GP comes up with some answers - there are AD's that are safe in pregnancy, for example, or even something as pragmatic as breathing exercise could help. I'm a singer and have done shedloads of these, and find they help with anxiety in general. If your GP is unhelpful, could you see someone else? Either way, fingers crossed you get some help and can begin to enjoy yourself again and look forward to welcoming your new arrival in due course.

As for me - I'm glad not to have to choke down my hats (with the aid of copious amounts of braaan rockin' 'orse). I'm rather fond of them, especially my black fedora with the velvet hatband - much too good to eat! Love from Jxx

JPinkertonSnoopington · 01/04/2016 10:08

ssd - sorry to have forgotten you! Hope all went well for you as well.

Sallystyle · 01/04/2016 11:51

See! All that wasted time for nothing :) I'm glad it's all OK now you can put this behind you and work on your anxiety. good luck with the Gp.

Good luck ssd.

ssd · 01/04/2016 18:05

I was ok too, I had results back from a test 3 wks ago and it was normal, thank god, though I'm to get a monitor for my BP as its sky high when I get it taken at the drs, probably because I'm as anxious as hell when I go there...also, I asked to be referred for CBT, thanks op, I feel you encouraged me a bit from your earlier post saying you were asking for help too.

thanks everyone

Original poster
PeppaAteMySoul · 01/04/2016 18:58

Ssd I'm so happy that you are okay too. I hope counselling goes well for you.
My GP has referred me for counselling but has warned there are very long waiting lists. I need help now not in months time. I asked for medication bit was again told it's not safe during pregnancy. Sad
I need further help. I am so unwell I came out of the dentist appointment thinking what if I showed him the wrong side of my mouth? It's been a thought that had worried me all day. Sad
I might ask the midwife for some advice. I don't know how helpful that will be but I have reached a brick wall with my GP.
Thank you everyone who has supported me during this thread FlowersChocolateBrew for all.

OP posts:
Misty9 · 01/04/2016 22:59

Definitely ask your midwife and your health visitor (I think you said you had another child?) as there may well be a pregnancy mental health team, usually called perinatal, to which you could be referred. Try the website nomorepanic as well as a lot of it would be relevant to health anxiety. Have you looked at the booklet I linked to earlier in the thread? They're based on CBT and very readable. Depending on the primary care mental health system they use in your area, there might be telephone counselling available while you wait? Whereabouts do you live and I could do some digging...

JPinkertonSnoopington · 02/04/2016 10:19

Hi Peppa - I second Misty9's advice and I also found the nomorepanic website. There's an interesting article about hypnosis on there. I had this for self esteem issues when my marriage broke up in 1994, and found it helpful and not at sinister or frightening. The article provides advice on how to find a reputable practitioner. There are also mindfulness and relaxation apps you could download and try. Hope the midwife and HV are more useful than your GP who sounds rather unhelpful and dismissive. Good luck with it all and do let us know how you get on. Love Jxx

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