Spending savings on tests for health anxiety?

[savingsonreassurance]

I can’t decide how daft I’d be to do this.

I got a bit of money (for me) recently (£4k). I have long term severe mental health issues and if I spend that money it’s going to take me a long time to get it back.

I’ve been having health issues for years. I have had hundreds of tests. Have seen four consultants over the last 5 years and have been told it’s almost certainly just anxiety. There is a very slim chance it might be more serious but I’ve been told this is highly unlikely. Doctors have said dozens of times that the fact that every test I’ve had so far is normal, means there’s very likely to be nothing wrong physically.

However, I’ve latched onto the worries. I spend most of my day worried I’m going to die. I don’t do anything, in case I cause symptoms to happen. My consultant told me last summer she was referring me for a scan to just make absolutely certain, and said it was a routine referral so about a 14 month waiting list.

I’ve been told today I’ve still another 8-10 weeks to wait for that scan.

I’ve stopped doing most of my usual activities because I’m so anxious. I’ve been told repeatedly anxiety is the problem. That they can’t hurry up the scan just because I’m anxious.

I can get the ultrasound done on Friday of this week, privately, but it would cost at least £750 in total.

I can’t decide how stupid I’d be to do this. My GP has said they can’t advise, hospital are saying the same that it has to be my decision ‘but if we thought it needed doing this week we’d do it.’

If I spend that money, I won’t get it back, for something that’s more likely to be absolutely nothing at all. The chance is if I get rid of this worry, I’ll find something else or I’ll decide that the scan wasn’t enough and I need another one.

I’d be daft to throw that money away wouldn’t I?

What's the scan for? Which body part?

Would that price include the results being interpreted by anyone?

That seems extremely expensive for an ultrasound....

I'm not addressing the health anxiety specifically, because I don't know if your fears are reasonable. Are you symptomatic of anything?

I’d invest the money in proper therapy for your health anxiety. Until you’ve addressed that, when this £4,000 runs out having been spent on more tests, you’ll still be left anxious that perhaps they just weren’t the right tests and wanting yet more tests.

It's a waste of money, you'll spend it and still be anxious. I'd wait for the scan and invest the money into therapy of some sort.

It would be an utter waste of money, because even though nothing will show up, that won't stop you worrying (albeit unnecessarily). The money would be better spent on counselling/therapy to discover WHY you are so bothered about being ill, and how to stop that.

Cardiac - ectopic heartbeats. They happen more when I’m anxious or thinking about them. Sometimes get long runs of them. Consultants have said unless I’m full on losing consciousness or getting chest pain, they wouldn’t be worried.

They said it’s so expensive as I’d need to see the consultant, pay for the scan and pay for interpretation too (about £250 for each one).

Until you can learn to keep your health anxiety in check you will never be satisfied with the results of any scan however conclusive. Your health anxiety will trick you into believing that the machine was malfunctioning, the expert didn't read it correctly or that something else even more serious would be wrong.
Please save your money, wait for your nhs scan and look at support to treat your anxiety x

Then frankly no - don't waste that money.

While you're waiting for the NHS scan, are you looking to reduce your anxiety? What have you been trying to help with that? Medication, therapies, exercise, whatever - anything you've been doing?

I think it would be better spent on therapy for the anxiety rather than a test that’s not needed im afraid. You need to focus on the root cause, not the symptom.

I honestly don't think you should. You said in your OP that if that's all fine then the health anxiety will lead you to worry about something else.

Far, far better to invest that money in a brilliant therapist who can help you work through this.

@savingsonreassurance have you had any counselling for your health anxiety? I always felt like a had mild HA but a few years ago I got triggered and convinced myself I had something terrible. I was worried about specific diseases, so for me the answer was to have a blood test and rule them out, but I was absolutely convinced I was right and too scared to have a test as felt like my life would be over. I sought private counselling, and worked through it, and after 4-6 sessions I felt brave enough to have a blood test, which all came back negative and settled my anxiety. I know probably not that simple for you at all, if you are convinced something is wrong rather than anything specific. Sounds like you've had lots of tests and that the negative results aren't helping, but surely some therapy would help you be able to achieve a better quality of life?

Don't do it.

It will never be enough. The whole point of health anxiety is that it's not logical - if it's not this particular concern, you will move on to something else.

You need help to cope with the intrusive thoughts that your health anxiety is giving you so that you can manage them when they arise - that way you can start living your life again.

Save the money so that once you've learnt to deal with the health anxiety thoughts that you can do something really enjoyable for yourself.

The thing is , you could spend the £750 on the scan, which will show that your heart is absolutely fine

But then the next health issue will arrive and the next and the next

You'd be better off spending the £750 on counselling or hypnotherapy to help you think and feel differently when a health blip occurs

Hmm, I kind of get you and am in a similar position. But since you've got your scan coming I would wait as. Getting it earlier isn't going to help with anything long term.

No don't waste the money.
If clear you will find a lump or something else to focus your anxiety on.

I suffer with anxiety too, it's hard to manage sometimes. Are you on any anti anxiety meds?

OP I have health anxiety and I'm telling you now do not do this. It would be bad for numerous reasons

1. The money
2. It's validating your fears and that never ever helps
3. You'll only move on to another worry immediately afterwards and / or not believe the results
4. You will, in future, think that the only reason everything was ok this time was because you went private and therefore future tests won't suffice.

What about help with your anxiety? Has anyone offered that? You really need it.

Honestly, I'm saying this as a fellow sufferer - you need to be tough with yourself. Giving in to this temptation will only further fuel your anxiety in the future.

Don't do it. If multiple health professionals telling you it's anxiety hasn't worked, one more that you've paid for isn't either. You'll then want a second opinion, or think they got it wrong, etc etc.

Heart palpitations are very common with anxiety. I would suggest spending a few hundred of that money on counselling for health anxiety - it'll be money well spent.

If it all shows as normal it will not resolve your anxiety. Can you really afford to spend this money? Having private tests may not speed up NHS consultant appointments or other referrals. Are there other hospitals with shorter waiting times? 14 weeks seems a long time even if non urgent unless it is complex.

Spend the money on therapy.

I’d say if heart palpitations are your only symptom, and you’ve had other tests, and it’s being ongoing for 5 years, and you’re constantly being told it’s anxiety that you are NOT in any danger.

I get these all the time - usually worse when I have a virus or if I am stressed. They’re uncomfortable but I’ve learned not to be concerned about them.

I agree with spending the money on therapy and waiting for your NHS scan appointment to come through.

Nope, don’t do it. You’ll just find something else to worry about. You’d be better off spending the money on counselling re the health anxiety. I have ectopic heartbeats by the way so I know what it’s like.

Spend the money on therapy for your anxiety instead.

As others have said spend it on therapy instead.

I’d spend the money on therapy. Not just some random ‘therapist’, someone who is well qualified and who specialises in dealing with health anxiety.

Hypochondria is very difficult to treat, but it can be managed, often with Cbt, counselling and even medication.

this is what you need to treat op. The mental illness that is causing this.

don’t spend your money on a pointless scan; but do start to focus on how to manage your mental health condition.

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/hypochondria#:~:text=Hypochondria%20is%20a%20type%20of,about%20to%20become%20seriously%20ill.

Another note for spending the money on therapy so that you can live a normal
life.