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Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

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Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Mental health

Health anxiety anyone ?

94 replies

Lonelybunny · 24/04/2013 20:31

I seem to have a problem with health anxiety. I think it was triggered by PND . My daughter is now nearly 9 months . Every pain, twinge , symptom I think it's something really serious. I've already thought I have a brain tumour, back cancer, lymphoma, bladder cancer , and now breast cancer. I last went to the GP last Friday after finding a lump in my breast (I'm breastfeeding ) she said she can't feel it and thinks its glandular breast tissue , and to come back in a month. Well I nearly broke down last week after being silly and googling everything . I'm on the verge of going back to the GP as I'm still freaking out and it's really ruining my life at the moment. Anyone else suffered with this sort of anxiety before ?

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Lonelybunny · 26/04/2013 21:32

Thank you everyone , so nice to fm find people that understand where I'm coming from . I hate google I think I should dispose of my iPhone its not helpful at all ! Other then candy crush which is good at distracting me ......

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Apanicaday · 27/04/2013 10:48

I also have health anxiety and relate very much to what has been written here - I've diagnosed myself with heart attacks, leukaemia and breast cancer. It's so very hard because whilst you know you are being irrational, there's that little bit of you that says "but what if there actually IS something this time" and it's that bit that wins over.

I've had cbt in the past, which helps, but the thing that I've found most effective when I have a flare up are antidepressants - have been on escitalopram, citalopram and am now on fluoxetine as I'm pregnant (which
pushes the health obsessions to a whole new level of hideous). I find that I don't need to go on them for a massively long time (about 5/6 months) but they just give me a bit of headspace - the worries are still there (I don't think I'll ever be "free" of anxiety - I've obsessively worried about stuff all my life - but they do keep it at a level that I can cope with, and allow me to move on from whatever loop I'm locked in at the time. (I also have a driving phobia, and they've massively helped with that too). And I've not put any weight on with them (I'm not small, and have found that I actually tend to lose weight when I'm on them as I stop comfort eating and am more able to get out and about). Please go and see your GP - they really can help.

Lonelybunny · 27/04/2013 11:14

Thank you so much , I'm just sat here crying now as there's nothing else I can do , I've got all the kids home with me , baby just keeps crying and won't leave me alone to think as it were . Hubby has gone to visit a sick relative and I think he is scared to come back as has no idea y I am crying it's a joke it really is , it seems to have come from nowhere , right now I don't give a sweet FA if I'm dying or not because I feel empty. I sat in the bath this morning and I felt like I was looking through the window at my family not like I am part of it , I'm totally away with the fairies !

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Lucyellensmum95 · 27/04/2013 11:26

Oh honey - you really aren't well :( Please please please make an appointment to see your doctor on monday, one of those emergency appointments, if you can't see your doctor, see any doctor, nurse practitioner, anyone!! You sound like me at my lowest ebb and its a very scary place to be. If you have any scary thoughts or thoughts of self harm, promise me you will call someone? I have been where you are now but it will get better. It wont go away by itself though - medication and counselling is what you need. I have suffered from HA pretty much all my life and now its general, which is easier to deal with in a way - I never EVER google now as its so easy to find wrong information. Ironically I am desperately waiting for funding now for a research project into a breast cancer gene. It is like my nemesis really as i have had to read a lot of literature around the subject, but i just don't read the clinical stuff. It allows me objectivity. There was a point in my life where i wanted to have a mastectomy, just in case It has only been medication that allowed me this - I am trying to say that you can work thorugh it, i have allowed my HA to affect my family life and my career. I didn't apply for a really good job with a good company once because i knew you had to have a medical on entry and i had convinced myself i had HIV or hepatitis. The job had my name on it - i regert that bitterly.

Go to your doctors monday - please - I can feel how unhappy you are and you don't have to be because there is help out there.

Lonelybunny · 27/04/2013 11:32

I am and I will go ! I have to do something ! I was going to go to A&E but it's not really the right place to go and I've the children with me not fair on them , I waste al my days off like this , I've got work tomorrow which I'm not looking forward to , ironically I miss my baby too much . I hate feeling like this but I will pull through I have to

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Lucyellensmum95 · 27/04/2013 11:39

Yes - you WILL pull through - it will get better xx

MrsNPattz · 27/04/2013 11:52

Sending you huge hugs and to let you know I am thinking of you - you CAN do this, it WILL get easier, it just doesn't feel like it right now xx

ChilliKnickers · 28/04/2013 16:47

Hi cba to name change. I'm in the same boat as you I think. Thinking I have alsorts at the moment it throat cancer because I have a lump in my throat and sore jaw. Dr says its all the tension in my body. Also I think I damaged my liver because I use to drink too much. Dr tested liver function is fine so why don't I belive them. Can they find all that out with a blood test. They have told me that if there was anything wrong they would tell me. Its just not sinking into my bloody head. Been in bed for practically two days doing nothing but worrying. Dr has given me meds (mirtazapine) took for three days and slept for 18 hours which scared the hell out of me. Stopped taking them went back dr said to take half. Still did the same. I'm to frighterend to go back now. Have an appointment in 10 days for another blood test and results on my insistance .
Feel numb ( sorry for rambling)

Lonelybunny · 28/04/2013 18:06

Hello chilli knickers , I have no idea why we don't believe them , I woke up today crying again but I seem to be finally coming to terms with what my GP said , I'm starting to lean more towards believing the GP then my fears. Although its still lingering in my mind 24/7 it's making my work hard and I dread going home as I seem to get more anxious when I'm at home don't know if that's pnd related. I'm exhausted , freezing cold and constantly thirsty prob due to the anxiety . I am going to GP this week hopefully tommorow as I have got to get over this as its destroying my life. Very strange as its come on all of a sudden

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ChilliKnickers · 28/04/2013 19:50

I should trust my drs seen three of them now. There all saying the same thing.
It's all the things in the paper of Drs missing things and wrong diagnoses that and then it's to late to do anything ie cancer. That the person didnt fit the symptom box.
It's getting to the point that I've stopped reading the paper and watching certain things on tv.
Checking every time when I go to the toilet pooh or wee if its-the wrong colour
To be honest I wouldn't know if I had old blood in either so freaking out about that as well.
Thirsty all the time tested not diabetic.

Will stop now my mind is going into overdrive
I don't know how I can get the children up tomorrow and face the world I just want to stay in and hide and get better

Lonelybunny · 28/04/2013 20:56

Omg I'm
Thirsty all the time ! Scared now . I feel exactly the same as you so we will get through tommorow together . I have 3 children to get up and out tommorow a GP appt to make , I need to go to town so we will help each other yes ? I can still feel this lump and I'm going mad about it every time I feel it I really need to stop my stomach sinks and my mouth goes dry my heart bangs and I feel sick :( I have to turn over the cancer ads , I can't watch them they make me terrified god knows how I would cope if it is for real !

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Lonelybunny · 28/04/2013 20:56

Oh and it's affected my mum now too all my paran

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Lonelybunny · 28/04/2013 20:57

Paranoid txts she broke down and cried and said she scared now she going to die and won't be there to support me :( so it's rubbing off on my loved ones now I really need to stop this rubbish :(

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ChilliKnickers · 28/04/2013 21:13

I'm sorry Lonelybunny didn't mean to scare you.

Im trying to say this is all not real it my body reacting to stress. But its so hard with all these things happening to my body.

We will get over this.

Must make an appointment with the Dr again.

ChilliKnickers · 28/04/2013 21:17

Also thirsty all the time is another sign of anxiety as the Dr advised me

Lonelybunny · 28/04/2013 21:37

It's ok I'm still focused on my boob would much rather be worrying about diabetes lol god what are we like !?

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Lonelybunny · 29/04/2013 10:16

Well I made it to the GP this morning. She felt my lump and said its hard to tell with breastfeeding. She said she will refer me to breast clinic to be sure scared much but she thinks it's milk. She offered to try me on seroxat again as safest when breastfeeding . I said no I really don't like it , so she says 10 mg citalopram every other day for 2 weeks but she was worried as I'm breastfeeding ?

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ChilliKnickers · 29/04/2013 19:42

I made it to the Drs too not good news kidney infection now. Mind is going ten to the dozen. on antibiotics and another blood test nest week

Glad Dr heard your concerns and referred you to put your mind at rest

MrsNPattz · 29/04/2013 20:28

I hope you both get some peace soon xx

Lonelybunny · 29/04/2013 21:26

Oh dear chilli knickers did you have any symptoms of kidney infection ? Cause they can be rather painful , hope you feel better soon . I on the other hand have again be sat in all day convinced I have cancer I can't help it I can't shift it , one minute I think "oh no it'll be ok " then it "oh but the lump is hard and the dr could feel it and what the hell will the breast clinic find ?" I'm so sad for my baby girl she is so loving and just wants happy mummy but I can't even connect with her at the moment I don't feel like she is my baby iyswim? I love her so much but I feel so distant at the same time :( she deserves to be taken out and played with and have attention instead I feel like I'm ignoring her all the time .

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Sallystyle · 29/04/2013 22:09

I have very severe HA. Have done for years but have had an awful spell that has been going on for almost two years now.

I just got told I have high Cholesterol, not helped at all.

I would go into more detail but I am off to bed soon. This is an evil illness to have to live with and it has ruined the last two years for me.

I have been convinced I have had every type of cancer there is out there at one point or another.

I take anti- D's and currently having hypnotherapy which is actually really helping. I feel like I am on the up, although the cholesterol thing has put me back a step.

My story is really long and depressing but I will post more tomorrow.

Lonelybunny · 29/04/2013 22:25

Sorry to hear that samu, will speak to you tommorow xx

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Lonelybunny · 01/05/2013 20:54

Thought I would give u all an update as I k is you were all so nice to me. I have an appointment at the breast clinic next week . I think I'm ok I think but I need this over with once and for all ! I'm on citalopram and surprisingly feeling calmer already and only side effects are I'm feeling a bit lethargic . Hope everyone is ok ....

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MrsNPattz · 02/05/2013 09:17

That sounds positive, I hope it continues! Thanks for letting us know xx

Lonelybunny · 04/05/2013 18:35

Having another bad episode today can't stop dreading the worse news on Wednesday. I feel physically sick and terrified I wish Wednesday would hurry up so I can hopefully move on or if not do something about it :( I've been in again all darn day and its getting me in sick a dark distant place :( I have spent all day playing with this lump that I don't even know which one originally worried me anymore :( I miss my family I feel like they aren't even here

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