Can someone please reassure me I'm okay?

[Ifeelsopoorly]

Sorry this isn't strictly AIBU but I really need some reassurance. I'm a self confessed hypochondriac which stems from a deep fear of death. I have a handle on it for the most part and my partner/parents keep me grounded.

Since Monday, out of the blue, I felt achey, fevery (but no real fever) and nauseous as well as bad back pain and some pain in my ribs (not unusual in recent months but had blood test that came back fine).

I went to the doctors on Tuesday as I thought perhaps I have a water infection that's been left a while. I sometimes don't get the pain on weeing but do have increased frequency. Nope, clear as anything. The nurse stressed repeatedly that she's not sure what to do with me and if I'm not improved in a day or two go back.

We're now two days on and I've been started with d and v, but only d three times and v once. I've been able to keep most food and fluids down.

I've woken every hour tonight feeling even more fevery and sicky and just awful. It's taken me three hours of rolling around in pain to get to the toilet and come downstairs.

What's also a bit gutting is my hen do is on Saturday and I can't see me being okay for it. I also get married in just over two weeks and I'm worried whatever this is is going to rip through my family who I stupidly saw Monday.

To add my throat is sore too but no coughing or sneezing and my glands feel like they're enlarged.

I know I've probably got a bug but this has manifested itself in the weirdest way.

Has anyone else had this or can offer so awesome hacks to start feeling better?

Sorry for the essay.

No, I was thinking of what other people have to live with around hypochondriacs. It's hell, and her husband will get worn down with it. I used to know one, and sure enough she had these very same symptoms before and on her wedding day. It's in the imagination, it's a phobia. And doctors don't have much truck with it either. There's a world out, don't be afraid of living is all I'm saying - and think of those around you who will be on the receiving end of your worry and attention seeking over imaginary illness.

Also @gingersausage, sneering at it may not make it go away, but neither does enabling it and showing sympathy and trying to help - that makes it triple-fold, trust me, and very draining for the person trying to help. Then there is nothing wrong with the person after all. Who comes off worse? It's the person who has been worried that the hypochondriac genuinely is ill! Think about it that way. Been on the receiving end of this, and also witness to the effect it had on a very supportive husband. You end up worrying ever day that your friend is ill - and they are NOT. Very time consuming. Do not show sympathy - they feed off it.

Sounds exactly like a common or garden virus to me. Lots of them around at the moment which manifest with a variety of symptoms as you’re describing.

*Hypochondriac... yikes, your husband is in for a nice marriage eh. I used to know someone like that, it was pretty tough on her husband.

Maybe you're having an extreme reaction to the wedding day?*

Wow would you say that to someone who was depressed, suffered from OCD or another mental illness?

Hypochondriac's get sick too.

@Izzywizzygood - I don’t think you understand Health Anxiety, which is not hypochondria. It’s as much a mental illness as any other. It’s also a horrible thing to have. Constantly worrying. I have it. I also have multiple “real” health problems. The Health Anxiety - the imaginary problems are by far the worse ones to deal with.

You are being unkind, and talking from a position of obvious ignorance. Stop it.

izzywizzy whilst you understand the concept of health anxiety you don’t understand the mental side. Whilst you can brush it off as some irritating phobia that brings all those poor people around her down - ask yourself do you think people WANT to be like that?
Health anxiety means they genuinely think they have a serious illness. It’s not attention seeking and they can just brush it off.

Izzy because I'm just it's a breeze for her.

Izzywizzy you sound very uneducated about health anxiety it's not something a person chooses to have I have it stemming from when I nearly died once so I now worry about dying a lot. It's comments and your comments come across as very judges and unhelpful

In response to ops question sounds like a bug to me I wouldn't risk the hen do unless well over 24 hours clear so you don't infect the wedding party xx

I am cross at myself because, if I am really honest, it is hard for me to read your post and not think in the words of Edna Mode "Just pull yourself together" ... but I know, when I think of things that are a big issue for me, how hard to overcome ones phobia are.

Focus on what you can do to get well ... hot ginger and lemon drinks, plenty of water. Hot showers, rest. It's entirely normal to get colds at this time of the year. Have you tried listening to healing mantra music on YouTube it's very soothing. Oh and dont forget Cod Liver Oil and chicken soup . Good luck focus on everything you can do to get well.

Wow, thank you to the lovely people who have given lovely advice. As it happens I really don't give a shit what colour my nail varnish is for even the wedding day and haven't even sorted all that stuff yet. Definitely a self diagnosed hyperchondriac that I'm sure my husband to be will be more than capable of dealing with! 😂

@Ifeelsopoorly Can you ask for a telephone consultation with your doctor?

I also think relaxing breathing techniques suggested by a PP will help you, as well as reading up on health anxiety so that you gain a better understanding of your condition.

Focusing on positives always helps, particularly thinking of your life beyond your wedding, i.e. don't focus on your wedding right now - because that's going to happen regardless of any over thinking you might do now. Better spend your mental energy on your wonderful future and the joint life you will build with your husband

I might do @flowerarranger if I don't make a significant improvement by tomorrow.

I've been trying the breathing to help with the nausea if nothing else but will continue to do so.

Probably need to get to the bottom of this fear of death thing in honesty. DP has encouraged me to go for counselling but life's just so crazy. It's not horrendous but if I get chest pain or something I'm think oh here we go, heart attack is coming, then obviously I'm fine. But I'm really not awful, if that makes sense.

I definitely think it sounds like stress. There's nothing to feel defensive or embarrassed about. An illness caused by stressed is still a real illness.

is there any chance you could be pregnant OP? I only ask because both my early pregnancies showed up as the weirdest bug/rotten cold ever. Of course it could just be a bug or stress but your symptoms just reminded me of that.

And ignore the ignorant comments from the poster who has no clue about health anxiety and is just being spiteful.

@Cinderellasecrets oh gosh don't day that 😂 there's almost no chance but even so I'd only be a week/10 dpo so be very surprised if a. I am and b. It's presenting already. It normally takes me to 6/7 weeks to get a positive test. Thanks for the thought though.

I think I may be starting to feeling a bit better which is a huge relief, but this keeps happening and then I feel horrid again!

Virus.
Congrats.

You're okay OP. It's sounding like a virus to me, and that you're over the worst of it.

Have a great hen do.

Sounds like a virus. I bet you will be fine in a few days.

Doesn't sound like anxiety to me either, its a virus. Bet you feel loads better tomorrow if you drink loads and stay in bed