health anxiety

[hopeliss]

has anybody ever found a cure for health anxiety. it has plagued my life for 7 years and don't see an end to it. awful day today.
ps never been on mumsnet before. sorry if this is the wrong place to raise this.

[choclab]

Treacle , i know how you feel what do you do at the moment to try to cope ?
I haven't seen todays news about CBT , i did find it worked for a while , i fine exercise works very well to i train 4x a week running and classes helps i find .

off out to one in a mo ....really tired but will feel better after i hope .

[monikar]

treacle I know what you mean about showering in the dark - when my health anxiety was at its peak I would avoid mirrors as then I couldn't see all the blemishes I kept checking.

How are you feeling today - hope a little better.

choc wow that's a lot of exercise! It is an effort but I find being out in the air really does help - I think it is the feeling of space above my head.

[treaclesoda]

I think I'm in a more positive frame of mind today, thanks for asking.

Went to a really tough exercise class earlier and as choc said, I find that always helps.

[treaclesoda]

how is everyone else today?

[BankerMommy2010]

Wow. Amazing reading this...I thought I was the only person that worried about my health. .. I obsess about breast cancer and can't check myself for fear of finding something..I get DH to check me now lol. I seem to dip in and out of what I worry about, at the moment its not so much my health its hubbys work... hes busy, has some big jobs going on, we have the normal nightmares of getting people to pay their invoices (hubby is self employed) but I seem to let my worries take over my life, it doesn't matter what I worry about, my head is constantly full of questions which forces me to seek reassurance, which annoys my hubby... I was diagnosed with OCD from a young age, basically the obsession is the worry whatever it might be the compulsion is to check myself or seek reassurance. .. I hate it and have just requested to go back on my tablets as id rather take them than have a head full of rubbish x

[treaclesoda]

you're definitely not alone banker, welcome to the club none of us want to be part of!

[monikar]

Banker welcome to the club - as treacle says no-one wants to be part of it, but you will find that everyone understands here. I used to obsess about breast cancer and was checking myself in the supermarket at one point - I also used to go to toilets in shopping centres to check myself there too. My health anxiety is better now and like you, my anxiety is now more general. It's so hard though isn't it - I look at other people and wonder what it must be like to not be worried about everything.

[treaclesoda]

I got a book out of the library today called The Worry Cure. I'll let you all know if I find it useful.

[Sallystyle]

I am struggling badly with HA.

I have been to the dentist twice in two days over oral cancer fears.

My GP is sick of me.

I can't find a fucking cure, meds, therapy etc and I am STILL here fighting every day. Two bloody years of this, triggered because my ex husband, the father of three of my children is battling cancer and may not live. I watch my kids go through it, how it has turned their lives upside down and now I am petrified of dying myself. I spend HOURS with a flash light looking down my mouth with a mirror.

This year I have been convinced I have had

Ovary Cancer
Cervical cancer
Oral/ Tongue cancer
Skin cancer
Brain tumour
Lymphoma
Tonsil cancer
HIV
Heart disease


I just got back from the dentist as I thought I had a hole in my gum and kind of cancer. He very nicely laughed and said I was ok, the hole is still there though but he assured me that if I had something to worry about he would spot it.

I can't enjoy anything as I am just waiting to die. I start a group anxiety thing next month, hope that helps some.

I have slightly high cholesterol, I need to check it again but don't dare, I spent the last check in tears waiting for the results, my diet has been poor because I guess I am depressed with it all now.

I just want one thing, to go to bed, be able to cuddle my husband, maybe have sex without the fear that I will bleed and freak out (never actually bled) and I want a normal conversation without asking him to check me over for signs of cancer. I want a future to look forward to.

Sorry for the downer post but I needed to get it out.

[treaclesoda]

Sam you have my sympathy, and I think all of us on this thread can really identify with your fears.

Medication has been the most effective treatment for me, but I appreciate it's not a one size fits all situation.

I hope your new therapy sessions will be the breakthrough that you need.

[monikar]

Sam sympathy here too - it is so hard isn't it. I'm sure everyone here understands how you are feeling.

I am hoping the group therapy will be helpful for you.

[choclab]

feeling awful today , mind playing tricks with me over throat C fear ....
i could cry trying to hold together as got to go out with DD ...
got another appt tomz with doctor 3rd one in 4 weeks .....need reassurance constantly as mind playing good /bad devil tricks with my mind ....im sure fellow HA sufferers know what i mean ....cant seem to get it out of my head .....

started with indigestion few weeks back , that set me off , now for past weeks constant swallowing and feeling of lump back of throat ...googled ....and that set me off .....went to docs , who said no was anx and gave me stuff for indigestion , which has gone now , but still this feeling or lump /sore ...constant coughing up and checking colour ...then last night gums bleed while brushing does happen sometimes to me , then this morning blood in spit when i cleared throat , I'm praying is left over blood from teeth brushing ....not my throat ...but mind saying is and just in such a spin now ....total panic ....i had full bloods done 4 weeks ago to and a CN125 marker all came back normal so clinging onto the fact if something bad would flag up in bloods ...
thanks for listening sorry such big rant .....
virtual hug needed ....x

[shrieklesoda]

Here is your virtual hug. I'm so sorry you're struggling at the moment.

I have had that lump in the throat feeling before, and in my case it definitely was anxiety. It was a couple of years ago, and I was terrified. I remember being in work and a colleague bringing me a coffee and I went to swallow and just felt this sensation, and the sweat broke out on me, I was so terrified. In my case it was definitely anxiety related, and it subsided after a few weeks, but it was an awful feeling, so I understand your fear.

[choclab]

thank you ....feeli a little calmer been out and haven't had time to think about it till now .....i will go to doctors tomz and go through all my symptoms again .....hope she will be able to put my mind at rest ..

[shrieklesoda]

this organisation have some good resources, I've found them useful in the past.

[choclab]

thank you shrieklesoda have had a look yes very useful .

off to the docs at 10 , no blood this morning , didn't brush teeth last night to see if was throat ...
ears feel poppy and stuffy nose ...
will just go tell her again and see .....
hate this but in my mind the only way to get through this is to get reassurance from the doctor .....

[choclab]

Back now , doc doesn't think i have TC , and all anx based , examined me again checked ears very blocked so having them suringed next week got some nasal drops for nose in mornings that may help but thinks all Health anx related ...offered me some beta blockers to help me relax ...i said would think about it ....

feel bit calmer now i think ....

[shrieklesoda]

This not a medical opinion, I'm not a doctor, it's just the opinion of a fellow sufferer. But I think the problem with getting reassurance from the Dr is that it's all so temporary. It helps for a day or two, and then you find yourself feeling yet another pain/ache/sensation and the whole cycle starts again. Or at least I know that's how I find myself feeling anyway.

[choclab]

this is true ....this is my 3rd trip to the doctors in 6 weeks .....

[monikar]

choc so sorry to hear you are struggling. How are things today?

[choclab]

not good today ...

[treaclesoda]

sorry I didn't see this after you posted choclab. Are things any better this morning? Were you able to get some sleep?

[choclab]

its ok , not good today either , went back to docs as yesterday had another bit blood in spit /flem in morning .....so sent me in to a spin .....googled and now in panic ....
didn't happen this morning so felt a bit calmer .....
went to docs just now , and again she doesn't think its TC ...maybe sinus or rinatus ...sorry can't spell ....as i get blocked nose in morning initially then cough up a bit blow nose then better ...ears full of wax so getting them syringed tuesday .....maybe things will flow bit better once I'm wax free .....
but she is going to refer me to ENT clinic to have light and camera down throat and a chest x ray ......she did stress this was more for MY peace of mind not that she thinks something sinister ....so guess thats hopeful [ hmm]
im 41 non smoker did dable late 20s but never really took to it thank goodness ....
has anyone els had similar symptoms ? or camera thing not sure of name , not an endoscopy though that goes further down into stomach ....
im terrified of it all and the results .......

[treaclesoda]

Its a vicious circle isn't it? I totally understand your anxiety, I really get it. If I go to the GP (which I rarely do, as I'm too terrified) it doesn't matter what the outcome is, I come away stressed. If he says 'all is fine, nothing to worry about' I come away worried that he has missed something. If he says 'I'm referring you to a specialist to put your mind at rest' I come away thinking 'he secretly thinks I'm ill, otherwise he wouldn't send me'.

Its a total no win.

Is your GP understanding of your anxiety?

[choclab]

exactly that treacle....really is ....!!! glad to hear someone feels same as me ......think I'm going mad at times ...

yes she's very nice wants me to go on AD or peta blockers to help me relax bit more .....i haven't as yet as i try other ways but this blip i must say has me in bits and I cantt focus on much els till get checked ou t .. :-/