Health- To ask you to share a time you've been sure there's something seriously wrong, and there wasn't?

[heliocentric]

Sorry to hijack AIBU, I'm in absolutely panic central.

Please please tell me about a time you've been waiting for assessment or tests results and you've been so sure it's something horrendous, but it's been ok.

I am so far down the rabbit hole in my head of it being bad. Struggling to function.

DOI have health anxiety, on treatment and recently started therapy but seen no benefits yet.

Yes. I was absolutely convinced I had some kind of degenerative disease (possibly MS) for nearly a year - I had twitching, weakness and bad random pains in my limbs, plus horrendous fatigue. It turned out to be stress and all went away after a very hard period in my life was resolved. (Although I think the fatigue was exacerbated by other factors as well)

Another time - I had to have an MRI to see if a tumour that was discovered was actually malignant. I felt I 'knew' I had cancer. Until the results came back: it was benign.

Health anxiety sucks. But you will probably be fine, OP. I know it's impossible to tell yourself not to worry, but I hope this helps reduce it a little bit.

All the time, every time. Too many to mention. I hope you get your results soon.

Yup. Extreme tiredness, chest pain, dizziness, headaches.

Vitamin D deficiency. Easy solve and year long symptoms gone in about two weeks

I had redness and inflammation on my breast and was referred under the two week cancer-pathway to rule out inflammatory breast cancer when I was 30. It was all fine in the end and cancer was ruled out in one appointment.

It might be helpful (depending on the condition that you're having tests for) to tell yourself that you will cope even if it is a difficult diagnosis.

Thinking of you, I know how awful it feels to be in a panic about this type of thing.

CT abdominal scan. I was amazed it was normal. I had been in a lot of abdominal pain and was expecting at least gallstones.

I convinced myself I had cancer last year or something terminal, was completely convinced, really pushed for tests from the gp, kept finding symptoms. I have always felt like I 'knew' my body so it was a massive realisation to know that it was all based in my mind. I was also terrified of Covid at the time. Therapy helped me. I hope you can find some support. It took over my life.

I have, I managed to convince myself I had bowel cancer a few years ago. To be fair the gp had a large part in it, his words were "I'm not sure if you should be on the cancer pathway, but you're not waiting much longer than that anyway". I did a lot of googling and cancer was the only thing that fitted my symptoms at all. I waited three weeks for an appointment and another three for tests. Eventually it turned out I had two conditions, one of which is extremely rare, and together they explain my symptoms. Both are very manageable and don't really affect my life at all. Once I'd gone down the rabbit hole there were also some symptoms that were purely anxiety led (like dizziness) and went away on their own once it was confirmed I didn't have cancer

I really hope you get good news! Dr Google isn't always right especially when you have health anxiety.

Thank you. Helps to hear from those who understand.
Finally spoke to a doctor today fully expecting to be reassured or even dismissed and feel totally thrown in panic by the fact they took it seriously and referred. Poor doctors; damned if they do and damned if they don't

Uterine bleeding last year - a hysteroscopy showed there was nothing sinister and it was just the perimenopause.

Very odd tremors, pins and needles, weird sensations in my limbs - it was stress and not MS or worse.

A breast lump a couple of years ago that was nothing sinister. However, I'm now waiting for another appointment for another lump and I'm terrified - my anxiety is through the roof.

Thyroid lump. I was trying and failing to get pregnant and the Dr said mine was bulging. Scanned for cancer, all fine.

feel totally thrown in panic by the fact they took it seriously and referred

Totally get that. I thought the GP would dismiss this latest lump but no, I've been referred - and not just that, I've been referred to one of the major oncology centres. My logical head is telling me it's probably just where one of the breast clinics is held, but my illogical head is telling me otherwise.

I hope everything goes OK for you @heliocentric

Heart failure in my case. Dh and I even had very passionate “dying wife” sex. Test came back fine.
I was so weak, dizzy and exhausted the days before the results came back. Imagination is very powerful - I try and use it to my advantage after that experience.

I hope you get good news.

Woke one Thursday morning with a hot, sore lump on the side of my face.

I know someone who presented this way with a rare brain tumour, but forced myself to dismiss the idea send went into work.

Mentioned it to my boss, pushing back my hair to show her and she freaked out and said I should arrange GP appt immediately.

Saw GP a couple of hours later (those were the days!), he took one look and told me he'd refer me for a biopsy. Terrified I consulted my private health insurance and got an appt through them the following week.

Foolishly (or not as the case may be) Googled the symptoms that weekend and realised it could be a blocked salivary gland.

One family size bag of Tangfastics later I was cured !

Convinced myself I had breast cancer. Dr referred me for a lump I'd found. Blood tests I was having done for something else came back with a really low platelet count.
I was so fortunate that consultant and scans showed nothing wrong. I remembering hyperventilating at the news. I'd been so anxious but hadn't let it out.
I don't think sharing your worries is a bad thing anymore.

I thought there was something seriously amiss with my heart — palpitations, missed beats, murmurs, pain and GP sent me straight to cardiac unit at the closest hospital. When ECG was clear, GP suggested stress, and though I thought this was ridiculous I eventually realised he was right. Beta-blockers helped.

I get my affairs in order every day. Honestly, it ALWAYS feels like I'm dying. And every time I'm not dying, I feel I'm shortening the odds and that next time I definitely will be dying.

In the past 5 years, I've KNOWN FOR A FACT that I had MS, heart failure, cancer of the womb, cervix, brain, breast, throat, lungs and bowel; dementia. There are others but I've forgotten. (Argh, dementia again.)

Last time I rang the GP, I put on my sternest middle-aged voice and said I didn't want to be "fobbed off". They then booked me in for blood tests, scans and a 2-week referral and I shag myself. Everything was fine. On balance, fobbing-off is less stressful.

Oh loads of times. Health anxiety here too.

Dodgy digestion and a miscommunication from GP's receptionist about a callback appointment -- I thought I had bowel cancer, it turned out to be IBS and a normal calprotectin test (receptionist had read out 'abnormal' by accident ).

Weird whooshing stomach/chest sensation. No, not a heart problem. Anxiety causing bloating and that bloating pressing on the vagus nerve, causing the whooshings. Went away of its own accord in about two weeks.

Anisocoria. (Pupils of eyes slightly different sizes, like David Bowie.) I thought brain tumour. Optician thought nope. Entirely normal, about 20% of people have this.

Absolutely no symptoms at all -- pancreatic cancer. However, it also turns out that having no symptoms at all is indicative of being in good health! Who knew...

I have had health anxiety for about seven years now. I have been wrong 100% of the time. I keep a kind of mini diary with all the times I've freaked out and it's ended up being nothing. It helps (me, anyway).

I was convinced I had a gynaecological cancer - had all the symptoms.

Doctors were fantastic and I had loads of tests which all showed up negative. As soon as I got the negative result, miraculously all the symptoms disappeared

Thank you thank you thank you

Currently in the middle of lots of tests but don't want to be too outing on what. Although I'm normally the kind of person who knows it's something awful but doesn't want to bother anyone. I cancelled a test with cardiology and I'm trying not to cancel another scan that's coming up. I'm my own worst enemy but am planning on seeing this one out although I think it will be all clear.

My partner has health anxiety. It took a long time but we worked out that he displaces his anxiety that he thinks is stupid i.e doing a work report to something that he thinks is worth worrying over i.e his headache is actually cancer. We are at the point now where if we notice he is checking his pulse we sit down and work out what is really bothering him. Sometimes it takes a few days but then we can focus on the main issue.

I had constant period-type bleeding for three months, then when it cleared up I bled every time I orgasmed (even non-penetrative).
I was convinced it had to be something awful. Doctors took it seriously and I had multiple examinations and tests, it was linked to my contraception which was causing cells to be shed (Or something along those lines )
Cleared itself up a few months later, no issues since

Thought I had MS or similar. Turned out SSRIs really don't agree with me and all my symptoms were side effects of setraline (numbness/pins and needles, spasms, balance issues). Stopped taking it on my psychiatrist's advice and within 3 weeks everything was fine.

Yes I have health anxiety. Last summer I was fully expecting to be diagnosed with MS, my symptoms were terrifying, doctors didn't hide the fact it was looking like MS. Was referred to neurology and send for CT and MRI scans. It wasn't MS, it was a type of condition that will clear up on its own and I will get back to normal. I know its SO frightening, but please try not to panic and try to keep an open mind until you get your results - it really could all be fine, it was for me Also don't forget that stress (understandably in this situation) can have some very real symptoms which whilst frightening are not dangerous x

When I had my first smear test the nurse was extremely dramatic. Basically told me that my cervix was totally abnormal and way more sensitive than it should be and that there must be something terribly wrong so she was referring me for an urgent colposcopy.
There was nothing wrong at all. I’m pretty sure I just have a very small and tight vagina.

So last year I started the year with breast cancer. Not just regular breast cancer but a very rare form called Paget’s disease. Virtually unheard of in women my age, particularly when they’re lactating. Still, I was utterly convinced I had it even though three separate GP’s confirmed I had nipple thrush. The creams weren’t working though so I was certain they were all wrong. I was then given strong tablets to take to get rid of it and it went never to return.

I then went on to develop leukaemia. I had leukaemia for months because I had a bruise on my forearm that wouldn’t disappear (when I’m anxious I grab my arm so.. obviously that) and I was tired (I had a baby and 2 year old at the time so… duh). Went for lots of blood tests which only found a slightly low level of vitamin D. While I was waiting for the results I was on edge all of the time waiting for the phone call asking me to go in.. didn’t happen.

Finished the year off with skin cancer because I realised a spot on my thigh hadn’t disappeared for a few weeks. Went to see a GP who examined it and said it was an ingrown hair. Nice.

Health anxiety is a bitch.