Health Anxiety

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So glad I found this site... I have convinced myself on multiple occasions I have cancer. Last week I went to the doctor with a red sore mark on my left breast, told me was an infection (mastitis) gave me anti biotics, the infection has responded incredibly well mark is barely visible anymore and pain is gone. However now I keep checking all the blooming time.. I can’t stop - I discovered I have stretch marks in almost identical places on both breasts but on multiple occasions over the last few days I change my mind and think it’s orange peel skin. The doctor has confirmed she didn’t see any abnormal changes in my skin and everything looked good! I’m 99.% sure it’s not they are a large area of lines going in towards the nipple, my weight has fluctuated a lot over the last six months. I just feel like I’m driving myself mad!!

Is anyone else experiencing the same feelings! I am honestly thinking about it 24/7 checking all the time I can’t even stop myself going to the bathroom at work looking

Hey, I didn’t want to read and run - I had a really bad bout of health anxiety a few years ago, this exact thing happened - would convince myself it was something terrible, then sometimes I’d get clarity that I was probably fine... cycle repeated ad Infiniti’s and everything was googled. All I can say is: don’t Google, do distraction techniques and see a doc about the health anxiety. The best ones for me listened to my worry and checked me out, but addressed the real problem which was the anxiety. Hope you’re okay xx

Thanks so much! It’s good to hear I’ve been going out my mind the last few days. Even though the anti biotics has done its job and every thing is ok!
Yes google is not the place to look and I’m going to stop looking!

Thank you xx

Checking your body/symptom checking compulsively is a big part of health anxiety (i am currently mid way through a course of therapy for it!). There is support out there for health anxiety should you want/need it x

Thank you, I’ve got a follow up with my doctor tomorrow to see how the anti biotics went - think I will have a chat then. I don’t want it to take over my life xx

Hi everyone, I’m know this was last posted on last year but i thought I’d join this site and start posting in hope that it helps me. I’ve been suffering with health anxiety for years but the extent of it now has got out of control. In the past couple of months I’ve convinced myself I have ovarian cancer, bowel cancer, mouth cancer, lymphoma and now leukaemia. When one symptom disappears another one pops up. I currently have a couple of lymph nodes I can feel in my neck, I’ve had them checked by a doctor who said they have absolutely no concerns. The dr reassures me but it only lasts for a couple of days. At the moment im worrying over a bruise on my leg and I can’t remember how I would’ve got it so as im sure you can imagine im thinking the worst. Every unexplained ache and pain I get I convince myself it must be linked. I have an ache in one of my thigh/(sometimes groin) and I’m telling myself it’s linked, but I don’t know what that could be. Like others I google like crazy looking for reassurance but then end up scaring myself crazy. I’ve been on the waiting list for CBT for over a month so I’m hoping when I can start that I will start to feel better. In the mean time I’ve decided that reaching out to other in my situation may help me (and potentially others) as we know we’re not alone. I’m only in my 20s with a daughter and I feel like it’s completely taking over my life. If anyone has any tips or books they’d recommend please let me know.

Sorry my msg above says about it being posted on last year, I posted it on the wrong health anxiety thread I’ve been reading. I’ve got so many tabs open reading people’s experiences. But like I say if anyone has any tips or even just anyone to talk to please do, I’m struggling with ways to cope with HA x

Hey @ACCx

I just saw your comment and thought I would reply! I know exactly how you feel a few months ago I was in such a bad cycle so I reached out to the doctor. Still waiting to be referred but she talked to me about distraction techniques which has helped massively. Mine is box breathing to bring me back in to focus when my mind races! I hope you get the help you need soon xx

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply! I’m glad you feel abit better now. I can’t wait until I feel better xx

Hi ladies , glad to find this!

I have HA and will always think the worst. I have several swollen lymph nodes on neck and two under jaw - being sent for bloods and ultrasound and have thought the absolute worst outcome .

HA is so bad

Xxxx

@Flightglitz85 I hope you’re okay. I’ve read sooo much on forums about how common lymph nodes are but for some reason all the websites on google just terrify you don’t they :( Keep positive you haven’t mentioned any other symptoms so that’s really good if you don’t have any others! Xx

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply 💕 yeah ur right I spend hours reading and very very few actually turn out to be sinister though of course HA makes you think that you’ll be in the unlucky group .

Trying to stay rational and realise that it’ll either be nothing or something that can be treated but thoughts still intrude xxxx

My GP told me it’s normal to be able to feel lymph nodes in some people. As long as they’re small mobile and soft. Sometimes they come up and just don’t come back down. I have no idea why mine came up. I’m struggling badly at the moment :( My new worry is a stitch like pain in my chest. GP tells me it’s most likely a muscle strain from trying out yoga (ironically I tried the yoga in hopes it would calm my anxiety) now I’m thinking the worst. HA is truly awful xxx

It really is the worst , sometime I swear I feel a heaviness in my throat and get my husband to look at my tongue- I’m officially a freak 😂

I’ve had the stitch like pain, me and my friend used to call it crusty heart 😂 nearly always it’s a muscle pain 💕💕

Oh I’m the same. Any symptom I get I’m checking multiple times a day. I was getting my partner to feel my lymph nodes if they felt bigger, hard ect. I also feel like a freak lol. I have a book it’s called ‘overcoming health anxiety’ might be worth a try for you? I got it next day delivery on Amazon and it actually helps. I need to have another read of it tonight I think! Xxx

Ooh might check it out thank you ! There’s a guy called Denis simsek who has a pod cast called thinks it’s called either anxiety guy or health anxiety it’s really good ( but v cheesy ) lol I also get my husband to feel my lymph nodes x

I also have what might be health anxiety I am fine until I feel a symptom at the moment I am lying in the sofa and the left side of my face feels odd. I get pins and needles and other strange pains like in my neck.
I have never suffered from anxiety before and did try to go to a dr March 2020 they sent me to A and E for a scan and then the dr called and told me lots of things it could be

Now it's all I can think about as soon as I get 1 pain and everything starts to twitch.

I just want to see a Dr who checks me over !!
Google has not been kind to me, but the pains are real and I don't feel anxiety until I feel a pain.

Sorry for the ramble I'm properly scared nearly all the time.

@Flightglitz85 thank you for the recommendation I will check it out :)

@peanutbear I’m sorry to hear you’re suffering with HA to. I’m the exact same. I don’t get anxious until I get a symptom. But if it’s not one thing it’s another. And it just happens one after another which means I never get a break. I hope you’re okay. Pain in your neck could be down to tension and pins and needles is a common anxiety symtom. Xx

@peanutbear that’s awful that you’re feeling that way, so stressful . It could be a vitamin deficiency or nerve issue ( not serious could be related to neck or back ) have you had blood tests with doc to see if deficient in something ? Or maybe accupuncture /physio ?

It could well be coming from something or it could maybe be a heightened self awareness- once u notice it then u can might focus on it .

If it’s still going def go to gp for more Tests- if it’s all clear then holistic therapies work wonder for stress xxx

Thank you both for your kind messages I'm going to try the drs in the summer holiday