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Original poster

Health Anxiety

215 replies

fruitysmoothie · 16/09/2016 00:17

Just a safe haven for all health anxiety sufferers that may be lurking on the mental health forum to share stories and help one another through the many ups and downs.

As a former and recovered health anxiety sufferer I know all to well the worry, upset and symptoms that arise from this illness and will try and help where I can Flowers

OP posts:
autumnbella · 31/12/2016 20:09

I have a tiny cut/burn blister on the roof of my mouth. Noticed it about 30 mins ago on drive home. Scratched it it bled slightly. I did the usual seeking reassurance behaviours. Asked DP to check the inside of my mouth with the light on his phone. (He's used to these patterns of behaviour). He said it is slightly raised like a blister type thing, not red or white. I felt better for 30 seconds. Frantically googled and have diagnosed myself with mouth cancer. I've told myself I am not doing this..I just wanted to get it off my chest. If it's still there in a week I will go to the docs. Until then it's not being entertained.

Thanks for setting this thread up fruitysmoothie. I'm glad it's here.

autumnbella · 31/12/2016 20:33

apanicaday are you ok? Your post really hit home with me as I could have written it myself. I agree it can drain the peacefulness and enjoyment from life. HA is the real illness, not what we usually imagine we have.

Ethellsmum · 05/01/2017 22:50

How's everyone doing?

Not good here. I really need to make a Dr's appt but chicken out.

Haggisfish · 05/01/2017 22:56

I'm much better actually. I finally reached the point where I felt I had to take medication to stop it affecting my children and life. I'm on 30mg duloxetine and I feel much better after only a week on it. I've also been referred for counselling. I've suffered very few side effects, despite my worst fears!

Ethellsmum · 05/01/2017 23:06

That's good to hear Haggis fish 😊

Haggisfish · 05/01/2017 23:16

Thanks. Honestly, I can't recommend seeing your gp enough. It took me about three months to agree to medication and then my mum pretty much watching me to make sure I took the first dose, but I'm so glad I did.

OneOfTheGrundys · 08/01/2017 23:14

Yikes.
Ds2 has a virus. Really high fever.
I'm really struggling.
Long term ha sufferer. Cbt (twice) and 20mg citalopram are not cutting it tonight.
Bloody hell. All the nhs on black alert stuff is spinning me out too.

Haggisfish · 08/01/2017 23:34

Ah shit. Ime nhs are brilliant with sick children. My hospital is one that's been in the news recently and they have always been fab. How hot is he? They always give ibuprofen and paracetamol at hospital first to see if temp comes down and ask about how they are in themselves. Do phone 111 if you are at all worried. I totally empathise-I'm exactly the same when dc are ill.

OneOfTheGrundys · 09/01/2017 07:21

Thank you Haggis.
I'm going to work this morning and my DM has him... I'll come home early.
I can't explain how good it feels to come online here and see others like me!

OneOfTheGrundys · 09/01/2017 07:23

He was 39.5 with calpol but ibuprofen brought it down enough for him to be able to sleep... Til 2.30 then calpol again. Feel better as is Monday so GP will be available.

stoptryingtomakefetchhappen · 13/01/2017 01:04

Hi all can I join? I too have suffered health anxiety on and off for years and it has reared its ugly head again in the last few months since my baby girl was in hospital with a nasty infection a few months ago. As well as worrying about every tiny issue with my little girl (and older son) I am now suffering with my own health, and a range of 'symptoms' in the past few weeks which have had me convinced I have, well, everything really from breast cancer to meningitis, MS, a blood clot, lymphoma, and now breast cancer again. It's the usual pattern - ANY little niggle, pain, twinge I google it and I am convinced that I have a horrible disease. I have been through these periods before in my life but have been relatively ok these past few years and barely went to docs in that time. Now, since having my DC2, I've fallen back into the void. I have never done anything about it - CBT or anything - but this is starting to really affect my ability to function. I can't sleep, have trouble eating properly and feel panicky at every turn. Not sure what I hope to get out of posting this, it just helps to write it all down I guess, and know that I am not the only one...

EHG1731 · 13/01/2017 15:34

Hi,
I'm new and really struggling. I've had health anxiety on and off for years. During my pregnancies it was toxoplasmosis, then it moved to HIV and now it is asbestos cancer. A good friend recently died of it, I'd never heard of it before. It was truly awful and a real shock. I'm now driving myself mad go back over years obesessing about how I may have been exposed to it and convincing myself that sometime in the future I'm going to get told I have. I'm devastated, so anxious and i hate it so much. I was taking Prozac before, I think it helped with then HIV anxiety, I've made an appt to go back to the doc to talk about going back on it. I've been researching on the internet like mad! I just can't let it go and I'm already scared about waking up at 3 in the morning anxious and not able to sleep xxxxx

lovechocolate123 · 13/01/2017 15:34

I am the same. When I feel like this posting on here always helps. I realise I am not alone. I did a course of one to one CBT for 11 weeks last year and it really helped me. Also, there are lots of books out there. I found Overcoming Health Anxiety really helped me. X

Ethellsmum · 13/01/2017 18:35

Arghhhh. I really need to get a grip. It's just one thing after another. I'm convinced I have leukaemia or breast cancer - not much difference hey?
I am.booking a double dr appointment Tuesday - to get a general check up and put my mind at rest and then to discuss the anxiety. Im sick of feeling like this all of the time.

AndInOtherNews · 13/01/2017 18:53

Can i join please?
On monday i started on fluoxetine, i need to do something to try to get a hold of this sodding health anxiety. For me its breast cancer, I'm convinced i have it or will get it. Both gp's at my practice have checked my breasts recently, one did so on monday, both said that all feels normal but i just have this wierd heavy sensation in my right one all the time. Shes referred me to the breast clinic so even though she said my breast feels healthy I'm convinced it isn't otherwise she wouldn't be sending me.
This is just the latest thing, if i'd joined this thread 2 months ago it would have been something else. Its bloody exhausting isnt it?

Ethellsmum · 13/01/2017 19:05

I'm worried sick and sat here shaking. I thought about having a nice bath to relax but I just end up scanning my body for other things to worry about.

AndInOtherNews · 13/01/2017 19:19

I'll hold your hand ethel, it sucks.

Ethellsmum · 13/01/2017 19:24

Thank you 😚

rememberpurpleronnie · 13/01/2017 20:00

Hi everyone, I've really struggled with this too. A couple of things my psychologist has said which have helped- the mantra 'at this moment I am well' and she asked me what I was scared of with the various illnesses I worry I have (currently brain tumour and ovarian cancer)- I said dying- she asked what was the worst thing about dying - I said loss of time- she replied- have you ever thought about how much time you will lose worrying. Such a good point and one I am trying to remember.

OneOfTheGrundys · 13/01/2017 20:17

I really like that mantra. So positive.
Ethel I'm about. It's so horrible, isn't it? This will pass though...

Maz2444466 · 13/01/2017 22:21

I like that mantra remember I've spent so much time worrying about dying I've forgotten how to live :(

stoptryingtomakefetchhappen · 14/01/2017 00:51

Good to see some more posts, its reassuring to know I'm not the only one but at the same time sad to hear that we are all suffering from this horrible debilitating condition. I was better today until I had a shower and ended up 'finding' more things to worry about. Last weekend I had a blot clot, now it is breast cancer and I am obsessively checking them over and over. It's so tiring. I have just come off the phone from my mum who is also an anxious person and a terrible worrier but even she could see the complete irrationality of my thinking. One thing I am going to do is ban myself from googling. It never helps just sends me into a panic.
ethel hope you are ok

lovechocolate123 · 14/01/2017 08:25

Ethel - hope you are having a better day. This HA is awful. It is so true all this worrying has stopped me actually living in the moment. Google is bad. This time last year when I was at my worst I would spend hours googling my symptoms. Xxx

OneOfTheGrundys · 14/01/2017 09:47

Hi all. Ethel I hope that another day has eased things a bit.

It's worry about me... and the DC that does for me. Then I worry I'm turning them into mini worriers too! Arrgh...

Ethellsmum · 14/01/2017 11:54

Morning all.
Still bad. I very nearly rook myself off to the out of hours Dr's last night. I've got a few off those red pin Prick dots that Google tells me is something awful. My arms are all mottled so I'm convinced it's bleeding under the skin. Then I had tightness in my chest and shortness of breath. I only noticed the breath thing when I was looking for it iykwim so I'm thinking that was the anxiety.
Trouble is I search forums for reassurance and then end up reading an awful post that confirms my worst fears and then it all starts over again.

Hope everyone has a good weekend x