Health anxiety is back again :-(

[AsYouAre]

Long time sufferer of health anxiety here, its back with a vengeance this morning after a blissful period of not troubling me.

I get swollen lymph nodes in my neck a hell of a lot and wonder how can this be normal. I've had it at least 5 times since Christmas. That's not the norm is it?

Admittedly I've had the sneezes lately and my LO a particularly bad cough so the rational part of my brain tells me I'm bound to have swollen glands if there's a cold floating about my home, but the HA of course tells me its cancer again.I do seem to have had a low immune system most of my life so easily pick up coughs and colds.

I'm on a waiting list for CBT just wondered if anybody can relate or can offer some reassurance (I know I know!)

I have a LO to concentrate on and cannot be doing with all of this again right now

Trying to stay off google..

Hi Asyouare. I know exactly how you feel. I've had a couple of days of feeling very itchy and have convinced myself I have liver cancer! I'm afraid I don't have any answers for you but I do understand. How would you feel about checking it out at the GP for your own piece of mind? I have a friend whose glands are up most of the time and it's just one of those things her body does.

Hi horribleG, thanks for replying

I tend to avoid the doctors as the whole process of going / waiting for results adds to my anxiety but I probably should, as the likelihood would be I get reassurance

Sorry you have to put up with this too, its an awful thing to live with isn't it

Yes I try to avoid the doctor too. I go into the waiting room and feel sick with anxiety even if it's something minor! I often wonder how I will cope with getting older and all that that brings. How are you feeling today?

Sorry to hear this. Glad you are on waiting list for CBT. I really recommend the 'books on prescription' series and in particular 'overcoming health anxiety'. It includes lots of CBT exercises and I found them really helpful when on waiting list myself!

Do you have a good GP? That also made a difference to me. They would do appropriate tests and expain rationale of why doing/not doing certain investigations but not pander to me, if that makes sense.

I would say swollen glands 5 times since Christmas when you have a little one, and you know germs are in the house, completely normal. But I know that won't offer much reassurance to you, but for what it's worth - it's just your body's entirely appropriate immune response to the environment.

Hope you feel better soon x