Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mental health

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

Original poster

Health anxiety

153 replies

Dollsandfoo · 13/01/2019 17:51

Hi am new here but just wondering if there are any other health anxiety suffers here . I have had it for years always worrying about my health I prod and like my body for lumps untill I hurt myself then convince myself some thing awful is wrong. Then in Oct 2018 I started with this awful tension headaches it's right at the top of my nose between my eyes. And it does affect my vision aswell. This has sent my anxiety into over drive and I kept taking myself off to the hospital and the docs. I had lots of tests done and a ct scan and all been fine and I had a eye test all fine. Doctor says it is all down to my anxiety but am finding it hard to believe this. Has anyone else had this. ?he started me on sertraline been taking 25mg for almost 5 weeks now and some days I feel it helping then others am a mess with worry. I am also going to CBT which is in helping yet but hopfully it will. Thanks for reading

OP posts:
Original poster
Dollsandfoo · 29/01/2019 12:41

Yes am tried of it so sick of it taking over my life and spoiling things x

OP posts:
autumngazer · 29/01/2019 12:48

@Clastegra - most probably just a urine infection. Deep down we know that; our anxiety is just taking over.

@Dollsandfoo - I feel your pain. I'm so sick of it. It's debilitating. ☹️

autumngazer · 29/01/2019 12:55

Thanks for your detailed response @Hungrypuffin it was helpful to read.

Clastegra · 29/01/2019 15:40

Really struggling today with ha, anyone else?

autumngazer · 29/01/2019 16:00

I'm really bad today 🙄

autumngazer · 29/01/2019 16:53

@Clastegra wish I could say something to help! I know how hard it is. 💕. I'm here to chat anytime.

I know it's small, but I find a hot bath helps me. Relaxes my tense muscles.

xx

Original poster
Dollsandfoo · 29/01/2019 17:12

Hugs to you all. Always happy to chat. It helps me knowing am not alone. X

OP posts:
autumngazer · 29/01/2019 17:29

Thanks @Dollsandfoo it does help knowing I'm not the only one. Wish no one had it though. Its horrendous. X

WhyDontYouComeOnOver · 29/01/2019 17:34

I suffer terribly, HA and PTSD. Haven't been out of my house since Christmas.

autumngazer · 29/01/2019 17:41

@WhyDontYouComeOnOver - that must be so hard. I wish I knew the answer. Sending love.

I often wonder had anyone ever overcome HA.

WhyDontYouComeOnOver · 29/01/2019 17:44

Thank you! I started with it in 2007 and it started immediately after I took Clomid. I'd never had a mental illness before and the panic was life changing. After I had my son, I recovered completely.

It was only when I started taking a mini pill in 2015 that it came back, with a vengeance. This time it hasn't gone away. Absolutely convinced mine is hormonal and at the moment I don't have much hope. Its ruined my life and CBT doesn't work. Can't take meds as it comes with medical phobia Sad

Clastegra · 29/01/2019 17:45

I've been shaky all day n very tearful, constantly thinking ive got cancer, I have one symptom of it ( as I'm sure many people have one symptom of it) and that's it, i must have it, mines microscopic haematuria so obviously I must have bladder or kidney cancer, my hubby has a cough so must have lung cancer,. So so so sick if this.

autumngazer · 29/01/2019 17:52

@Clastegra - I've been really tearful and on edge in work today. My colleagues have been amazing. It's such a horrible horrible illness. It's pure anxiety hell. I'm on day 6 of my fluoxetine. I'm hoping it will kick in soon.

@WhyDontYouComeOnOver - I feel for you so much. Have you tried magnesium? I bought some from Holland and Barrett I used to take it before bed and i felt it did help some what.

I wish there was something that could help us! It's so awful. Xx

WhyDontYouComeOnOver · 29/01/2019 18:43

I have tried magnesium but it didn't help Sad

autumngazer · 29/01/2019 18:53

@WhyDontYouComeOnOver - what a shame. Do you have support around you? Xxx

Clastegra · 29/01/2019 19:06

@autumngazer thank you for that article. I will read it over n over n hope it helps XX

Tequilamockinbird · 29/01/2019 20:00

I am so pleased I've found this thread.

I've suffered with HA for a few years now and currently having a huge flare up. I take medication for a heart condition (arrhythmia) and found out 2 weeks ago that there are manufacturing issues in Europe (thanks Brexit Hmm) and I can't get it anymore. GP has prescribed a completely new drug and it's causing me to have symptoms which were previously controlled. Im convinced that I'm going to have a heart attack very soon. I've googled the medication, dosages, symptoms etc but it doesn't make any difference. I've actually taken 2 days off work to lie in bed so that I can hopefully stop the heart attack Sad

Trying to get a gp appointment this week but no joy yet.

What are the anxiety drugs which you all take? I might ask gp for some of those too if it will help.

I hate this.

Clastegra · 29/01/2019 20:32

@tequilamockinbird so sorry you feel like this, I too have had to take time off work because I currently can't face it, petrified I've got cancer.

I'm not on drugs at the moment but I think I'm going to have to ask my GP for some. I've taken some store brought calms from Wilko which has helped.

Please know you are not alone.

I've emailed the Samaritan's today as I got so bad and they are great.
Do you have anyone at home to help you ?

autumngazer · 29/01/2019 20:32

@Tequilamockinbird glad you found the thread. Sorry you're having a tough time health anxiety wise. It's can be very isolating.

I know I won't alleviate your fears. But I'm confident your doctor would only prescribe medication that he knew would be ok for you. Could the symptoms be panic/anxiety related? I can imagine they feel very similar.

I'm on Fluoxetine 20g, but not been on it long enough to see any real difference, my anxiety is worse but apparently that's normal.

Xxxx

autumngazer · 29/01/2019 20:39

@Clastegra - so sorry you got so low today. Glad the Samaritans helped. I've never thought about contacting them before, but I might. Anxiety is so stressful. Xx

Original poster
Dollsandfoo · 29/01/2019 20:46

So sorry you guys are having such a hard time. I am in sertraline and propranolol only on week 8 on them but I feel they are defo helping me. I also go to CBT and acupuncture. So I think it's a combination of it all helping me at the moment x

OP posts:
Tequilamockinbird · 29/01/2019 21:00

@Clastegra the gp rang my hospital cardiologist for advice and this was the drug he recommended. So I know they'll be ok, but I just can't get through my head. Not even sure if that makes sense. The symptoms are fast heart rate, mild chest pains and a feeling like my heart has stopped momentarily. They could be anxiety/panic related I guess? But I can't stop Sad.

I do have DH and adult DD at home but I don't really tell them much as they don't really understand and think I'm being ridiculous. Thing is, I know I'm being ridiculous too. So annoying.

It's really good to know I'm not alone. I wish there was a magic drug which would fix this for us all. I've tried kalms but found they didn't work at all. I actually have some diazepam in the cupboard which I have left over from flying (I have flying anxiety too!) but I don't really want to take one because I don't want to become reliant on them.

Tequilamockinbird · 29/01/2019 21:01

Sorry, should have tagged @autumngazer too.

autumngazer · 29/01/2019 21:17

@Tequilamockinbird. If the meds were cleared by a cardiologist then chances are it is anxiety related. I know it's hard to believe when the symptoms are so very real.

I know what you mean, sometimes I tell people what I worried about and when I say it out loud I the cold light of day I just think, god I sound crazy! But the fear is so real! It's souls destroying carrying these negative dark thoughts around all the time.

Xx