To worry I might have nail cancer?

[Sadandstripey]

I’m really anxious about getting cancer and because of that I don’t trust my own judgement properly.

I’ve got a dark brown stripe running lengthways across my big toe nail. It has some darker pinprick spots in and isn’t a straight line. I can’t remember hurting my toe at all. The stripe has been there since October. I’ve now googled and scared myself silly it’s cancer. Would IBU to see a GP about this?

Not sure how I managed to do my first message all in bold 🙄xx

Crikey @autumngazer, what a nightmare - how long does it take for the tablets to help? Seems a really cruel side effect that they make you worse first! I hope it settles down soon for you and you get some kind of relief.

@Sadandstripey - you had a nice night with your DH and that you're feeling okay.

@Babooshka - apparently it can take a couple of weeks. Xxx

I had a lovely evening with DH. I managed to keep anxiety under control, just wish it could be like that all the time! GP call this morning to say dermotlogist is unconcerned. Which is good news. But my anxious side thinks don’t they want to see me to double check.

Autumn I hope the medication settles down quickly for you. It was a really brave step to go to your GP.

Glad you got good news @Sadandstripey. Listen to the dermatologist as hard as it is! It wouldn't be worth his career.

Thanks, I'm up and down at the minute. One min feel ok, then I have a wave of panic and anxiety.

Xx

Hi all.

I am currently going through such a bad flare up health anxiety wise (suffered on and off for about 10 years) that I finally went to the doctors on Thursday and asked for some tablets to help me. She didn't hesitate, she's seen me quite a bit for various ailments the last few months, each consultation has always ended with me in tears saying how anxious I was.

I'm on day 4. Feeling more anxious than ever and nauseas. Apparently this is normal.

I've found a good podcast 'Not Another Anxiety Show'. I've listened to the ones below and they were very good.

Ep 128 and 129 are both specifically about Health Anxiety
Ep 130. Remember when WebMD told me I had...
Ep 25 - Rumination, Rumination, Rumination

There looks to be lots of other good ones too.

Good luck xx

Sorry meant for another health anxiety post xx

Brilliant news @Sadandstripey, I hope you can relax now as you've had an awful few weeks waiting and worrying - you need a break from it. You can't get a better opinion than that of a Dermatologist, they would always err on the side of caution if they had the slightest doubt.

Maybe you could put some nail polish on just so you can try and forget about it whilst it's growing out - that's what I'm going to do as I'm sick of inspecting it every 2 minutes!

Sorry to hear you're struggling @autumngazer, hope you turn a corner with the medication soon and start feeling the benefits.

@Babooshka thanks much. At this second in time I feel ok, so I'm going with it. It could a change again in 5 mins!

@Sadandstripey yes that what I was trying to write earlier but didn't finish properly! A dermatologist knows best! Enjoy not having to worry about it and relax.

autumngazer I am trying really hard to relax- but you know what health anxiety is like, it always throws something else for you to worry about. You know it’s completley irational but can’t stop it and the cycle continues.
I felt sick at first when I was on medication. Ginger nut biscuits helped!

babooshka I am definitely going to paint my toe nails! If I can’t look at it I can’t obsess over it. Thanks for the tip.

@Sadandstripey I do know exactly what it's like. I have a list of about 20 things I've diagnosed myself with just in the last 12months. Each time the fear is so real. It's awful. It is truly is debilitating.

Do you mind me asking if you still take medication? I'm only asking because I only see it had a short term thing myself. To be honest I was desperate to not feel like this anymore and felt I was my last resort.

And thanks for the ginger nut tip! I will get some on my way to work. I felt so sick making DD dinner earlier and she wanted sausage and mash 🤢. I don't know how I did it.

Lucozade has been a life saver as I've not had much of an appetite.