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Original poster

Health anxiety sufferer, positive and so scared

59 replies

CherrieBlossom · 18/12/2021 16:30

I know there’s been so many of these threads, I didn’t post on other positive ones as didn’t want to hijack them with my ridiculousness.

Tested positive on LF last night and I’m freaking out. I have severe, diagnosed health anxiety which I’m on medication for, and covid has been a huge trigger for this the past year and a half. I’ve barely been anywhere and am careful with masks and distancing etc.

Please can anyone just offer me any words of comfort? My husband isn’t the most empathetic- that’s a whole other thread. I feel very alone and scared.

OP posts:
DismantledKing · 18/12/2021 16:33

Although some people do have a bad reaction to Covid, for a lot of people it’s a mild illness. We tend to hear the worst case stories, but most people recover quickly.
As with other viruses, plenty of drinks and paracetamol is the way to go.

AD80 · 18/12/2021 16:37

Hi op! I'm also an anxiety sufferer with major health anxiety! I've spent the last 21 months worrying that I'll get covid and seriously ill with it.... but please relax.

Like you we've been really careful throughout but Dp caught it at work and we all caught it from him.

After avoiding it for so long our whole has come down with it in the last week or so. It's been mild for all of us. Dp and Dd hardly any symptoms, Dp was poorly for around 24 hours then back to normal. I've probably been worse off but still mild. I tested positive on Sunday - since then I've had head cold symptoms, slight headache (sinus headache form congestion) loss of smell and taste and that's it. I've had no loss of energy and been doing normal daily tasks!

I was so worried as I'm deemed 'obese' and have some health problems. My second jab was in May so I was worried about it being so long ago (I had to cancel booster due to getting covid!).

Take a nice long hot bath if you can, clean pjs and chill out with a film.

I can sympathise with the lack of empathy from the husband though!

I don't have a huge amount of advice op but try and take the time to relax, watch movies and eat nice things (unless you lost taste!).

💕

Original poster
CherrieBlossom · 18/12/2021 16:53

Thanks so much both of you I appreciate it ☺️

@AD80 so good to hear you all had it mildly, I’m like you in that im also overweight with a couple of health issues. I think seeing it in the media like this for so long as affected our brains!!! Even if logically we know the odds of being really ill are in our favour, it’s still got to us.

No loss of taste (yet!) but feeling incredibly achy and ‘fluey’ and sinuses feel blocked as well. I couldn’t get the booster even though I could have done this week, because I should also have maybe mentioned my son has it which is where I’ve probably caught it.

Will take it a day at a time and try to be calm.

OP posts:
Original poster
CherrieBlossom · 18/12/2021 16:54

And also, that’s good to know about your energy levels being unaffected!

OP posts:
bananaandoears · 18/12/2021 17:51

I've wrote a post like this this morning, I tested positive on lateral flow and awaiting pcr results. I'm a long term health anxiety sufferer, I've double jabbed and was going for booster tomorrow. I'm so scared. Thanks to you x

Luredbyapomegranate · 18/12/2021 18:01

It’s a tiny chance you will be seriously ill.

Can you rest up properly?

Original poster
CherrieBlossom · 18/12/2021 18:51

@bananaandoears sorry to hear this, it’s so difficult isn’t it when you’ve got extreme anxiety? Rational thought can go out the window and panic symptoms can start then, which are also unpleasant on top of being ill 😞 I’ll have a look at your post, I really hope you recover soon.

@Luredbyapomegranate yes I can rest luckily, son is a teen and I will prioritise sleep and rest to hopefully have a chance of getting better asap. I’m just very scared and can’t stop niggling thoughts at the back of my mind, and also long covid, that’s a worry too.

OP posts:
Whathefisgoingon · 18/12/2021 18:54

I had severe health anxiety (diagnosed) so I understand. I’ve yet to have my date with covid but I know it’s inevitable now.

I did a course of CBT. Whilst doing it I felt it was useless but when it was finished I actually realised it had helped a lot. Give it a go if you haven’t.

bananaandoears · 18/12/2021 18:56

Thank you @CherrieBlossom it's awful isn't it. I'm dreading bed time because that's when my thoughts start. Here to chat if you ever want to

junebirthdaygirl · 18/12/2021 19:08

I had it in September. All those achey feelings/ fatigue / sinuses but nothing l couldn't cope with . Drink lots of water, stay in bed, don't try and be a martyr, plenty of paracetamol..just like a flu.
The biggest tip l got was to move around often to keep my chest open so l got up every hour and walked up and down my room, to the bathroom, along the landing ..swinging my arms and generally focusing on keeping chest open
It may not have made any difference but l got no breathing issues so feel it did.
I am early 60s ..2 jabs.
Just rest and maybe put on a book on Audible or the radio/ TV but not Covid stuff
All the best.

Original poster
CherrieBlossom · 18/12/2021 19:43

@Whathefisgoingon

I had severe health anxiety (diagnosed) so I understand. I’ve yet to have my date with covid but I know it’s inevitable now.

I did a course of CBT. Whilst doing it I felt it was useless but when it was finished I actually realised it had helped a lot. Give it a go if you haven’t.

Sorry to hear about your anxiety, it’s awful I know. I’ve had CBT a handful of times but it’s never really helped much unfortunately, however I’d definitely be willing to give it another go so will mention to gp. That’s so great that it worked for you after, it’s apparently one of the most effective therapies I read.

@bananaandoears thank you so much, I may well take you up on that, and same to you, please message me whenever as I’m happy to listen.

@junebirthdaygirl thank you for the kind wishes and advice, I’m going to try this! It does make sense, and I can see how it would encourage blood and airflow to the lungs. Glad you got through it ok. I’ll make sure to take it easy and stay in bed, and be distracted as that’s probably key to not letting the mind wonder with all the panicky thoughts.

OP posts:
RiverUp · 18/12/2021 20:35

Health anxiety sufferer here and tested positive last month. Looking back I had it relatively mild - mainly a sinus headache and chills of a might for 2-3 days, then recovered pretty quickly.

However, covid can exasperate existing anxiety. So take it easy, don't read much up on it and it should pass pretty quickly.

Original poster
CherrieBlossom · 18/12/2021 21:10

Thank you @RiverUp it’s good to hear your had it mildly and recovered fast. Do you or anyone reading this happen to know if the two vaccines I’ve had will give ANY protection if it’s omicron I have? Or is it only with a booster that it helps? I’m so scared, feeling pretty rough now.

Also that’s interesting about it making anxiety worse, I can totally imagine that because of the way it affects the brain and blood flow.

OP posts:
Inchagoill · 18/12/2021 21:27

@CherrieBlossom @Bananaandoears would it help if I started a hand holding thread where we newly positives can check in on each other and listen / support?

I tested positive this morning, now awaiting pcr results. I don't have health anxiety but I do have severe asthma so not sure how this is going to go.

Let me know if this would be a good idea or not Smile .

Original poster
CherrieBlossom · 18/12/2021 21:31

@Inchagoill oh yes please would you mind doing that, I feel like it would be incredibly helpful!! We can support each other and hand hold etc.
Thanks so much! 💕

OP posts:
bananaandoears · 18/12/2021 21:36

@Inchagoill yes please, they would be really helpful ❤️

Inchagoill · 18/12/2021 21:55

I have started the thread...it is called 'Covid hand-holding thread' where we can come for Wine, Brew or Cake (whatever makes it better Smile )

junebirthdaygirl · 19/12/2021 10:33

Just to add one more thing. Covid can lead to heart palpitations so don't panic if this happens as my GP has said it can happy and it soon settled down. So don't let it stress you

Whathefisgoingon · 19/12/2021 10:50

Although, I will add... step away from Google! And Mumsnet, probably. Just stay offline. Health anxiety does not mix well with the internet. Blush

Original poster
CherrieBlossom · 19/12/2021 11:06

@junebirthdaygirl oh no really? This is what I’m worried about, anything heart related as I know covid can be bad for our vital organs . That’s good your gp wasn’t too concerned though , I will keep an eye out for this.

Thank you so so much @Whathefisgoingon going to have a read of this now but you’re right, not a good idea to go on a covid information marathon right now 😬

OP posts:
Original poster
CherrieBlossom · 19/12/2021 11:11

Brilliant article and very reassuring, thanks again for sharing it. I’ve had two doses of Pfizer so am hoping they will help…feeling absolutely horrendous today.

OP posts:
thepeopleversuswork · 19/12/2021 11:16

Just to add to this: the chances that you will become seriously ill are very very slim.

Original poster
CherrieBlossom · 19/12/2021 11:23

Thank you @thepeopleversuswork I’m trying to hold onto this fact, my brain is going into panic mode though today, and I can’t stop worrying.

OP posts:
oftenbaffled · 19/12/2021 11:25

Get yourself off the Coronavirus board would be a good start
Seriously