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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:
Namechanged86 · 03/02/2019 20:51

That’s a good point lammoshay. Thank you. Hopefully that means it is nothing to worry about.
I can relate to the struggling to breathe. I feel like that most of the time.

autumngazer · 04/02/2019 11:32

How is everyone today? Xx

Clastegra · 04/02/2019 12:33

I'm a bit rubbish today, hospital meant to call to give me a time for my scans but so far haven't. Tried calling no answer, it makes my anxiety worse . Trying to tell myself if it's cancer I'll have to deal with it, just spoke to a friend who said ' I refuse to discuss cancer with you' they are normally very good n patient but I guess I'm just getting on everyone's nerves now so back to feeling very alone. Hubby here with me n really doesn't think I have cancer n just says oh Clare. Not sure what I want him to say really. Just been trying to find a course I could go on to help with this anxiety but can't find any. XX
How are you xx

autumngazer · 04/02/2019 12:55

Oh @Clastegra 😔. I'm know how hard it is and how frantic it can make you feel. I really really empathise.

I'm okish. I'm on day 11 of fluoxetine and I think they might be helping. I've stopped overthinking quite a bit. I can't even when I try. But I'm so used to living with anxiety it feels weird. Xx

Original poster
Dollsandfoo · 04/02/2019 17:29

Hope everyone is doing well am away on a family holiday at the moment which I was really worried I would spoil with my anxiety but have been having a lovely time. Spending time with my family has been lovely. Hugs to you all x

OP posts:
Haggisfish · 04/02/2019 17:31

I have/had this. Am currently taking duloxetine and it’s been a miracle worker. Honestly, it’s like the anxiety tap has been turned off.

autumngazer · 04/02/2019 18:02

That's great @Haggisfish - that's how I'm starting to feel on fluoxetine. It's amazing.

autumngazer · 04/02/2019 18:03

@Dollsandfoo - that's so good to hear! Glad it's having a nice time. Enjoy! X

ohheyfreakingout · 04/02/2019 20:44

can I join? I’m really struggling at the moment.

I think my anxiety started with a traumatic pregnancy experience (termination for medical reasons at 20 weeks due to a really rare heart defect) as it’s been getting worse since then.

Recently I’ve had an issue with my eyes I’ve been referred with - my accommodation focus is all iver the place - and stupidly googled it. One of the many things it could be is neurological reasons so naturally now I am totally obsessed it’s a brain tumour. especially since I realised the nerve that controls that part of the eye also controls the neck muscles and I often have a tense neck.

It seems worse this time because I do have a specific thing - the eyes - which seems to validate that anxious voice in my head. anyone reassuring me with stats also sets me off because we had such a rare thing before but it still happened. I’ve been crying on and off all week, feeling really emotional, low-level panic the whole time.

Sunday I thought I felt off balance further feeding my brain tumour thoughts but I’d barely eaten or drank anything and had made myself go for a run to get out of the house.

I’m seeing a counsellor this week - I can’t shake the feeling that the optician hasn’t realised how serious it is (so my referral won’t come through with any urgency) but if it came through quickly I’d be doubly convinced I was dying and it was an emergency.

It’s like whatever happens I can’t win against my own brain. I’m exhausted.

ohheyfreakingout · 04/02/2019 20:45

I should have said the optician and doctor both said they think the eye issue could be caused by stress but naturally my mind is ignoring this.

Original poster
Dollsandfoo · 05/02/2019 17:31

I had the worst thing with my eyes which started in Oct a long with a headaches that was there all the time I was convinced it was some thing really bad and get myself into such a state. I had scans and blood tests and eye tests the lot all was fine . It was stress and anxiety causing it. It's only been these past 2 weeks or so that it's finally improved tho. Think that's from the antidepressants kicking in and cbt. X

OP posts:
ohheyfreakingout · 05/02/2019 20:05

Thanks @dollsandfoo what problems were you having?
I have been told my accommodation focus isn’t working properly but she did say this could be due to stress. it’s scary what anxiety and stress can do to the body.
I am waiting for my referral so not sure whether that will be tests or scans or what but I really hope it’s something simple that can be resolved this state of heightened worry and anxiety is awful.

Glad to hear you are doing a bit better now.

Original poster
Dollsandfoo · 05/02/2019 21:56

I kept having blurry vision and my eyes became really sensitive to light. The lights in the supermarket were just awful and it started to some times make me feel really dizzy aswell. I kept taking myself off to the hospital cos I was convinced there was some thing really bad wrong with me . Xx

OP posts:
saratustra · 05/02/2019 22:41

@Dollsandfoo I've suffered acute health anxiety for 20 years and when I was in my worst moment I lost my vision and the control of my limbs temporarily: all anxiety.

Not sure anybody said this already, please check the website nomorepanic.co.uk - it's incredibly helpful. Good luck x

iphigenia123 · 05/02/2019 22:48

I suffered with severe eye pain in my worst health anxiety attack period. Gp eventually put it down to stress, who knows if he was right.

MinesaPinot · 06/02/2019 09:26

I have found my people.

I have dreadful HA. It's being going on for years. I was on Sertraline and had to have CBT and sessions with a psychotherapist a few years ago because I got myself into such a state.

I'm in the midst of a flare up now. My close colleague has been diagnosed with breast cancer (thankfully treatable) but that has sent me into a massive spiral. I've always had painful breasts, but if I went to the doctors every time they were painful I'd have to take a camp bed and stay there. Since she was diagnosed I haven't stopped checking for lumps. I keep asking my DH if one breast looks fuller than the other or if looks as though it's lifting. I get pain in my back (no matter that it's on the side I use a mouse all day at work, and I have a habit of sitting with the laptop at home and holding my arm in an awkward angle to use it). There have been several cases of staff with BC in work, and one of my other colleagues keeps saying she is remembering her friend who got it and 'was gone in 5 months'. I know everyone deals differently, but it doesn't help to hear that.

I am trying to use the techniques I learned with CBT - Rationalise not Catastrophize, and deep breathing. I'm going to yoga today at work. I realise that only I can get myself through this, I can't put my DH through it again, even though he is the most supportive person in the world, but it is oh so hard.

Original poster
Dollsandfoo · 06/02/2019 10:04

You sound just like me. X

OP posts:
MinesaPinot · 06/02/2019 11:41

It's dreadful. Just a quick indication of how bad it is at the moment - I am sitting at work panicking (and I mean panicking) that my bra strap on my right shoulder is tighter than the left. This, to my mind, means that my right breast is fuller, thus pulling the bra strap, which means there is something sinister going on (because of course I've read something when I've Googled). No matter that I'm probably not sitting straight, or it is just a bit tighter than the left strap.

Thank god I've got yoga in 30 mins....

autumngazer · 06/02/2019 12:19

@MinesaPinot - I feel for you! I usually find hearing about other people's illness a trigger. Xx

MinesaPinot · 06/02/2019 13:19

Thanks autumngazer that's exactly it. I went to the doctor some time ago about some breast pain on the other side, and I was completely calm and accepting of what he told me simply because I'd had no trigger to prompt me to go, just for my own peace of mind.

Clastegra · 06/02/2019 13:55

@minesaPinot I went through this about 4 years ago, went to gp several times, breast clinic twice examinations and scans and all was normal. In fact the bit of lump I could feel was rib bone but I'd fiddled with it so much it must have been inflammed.

CatherineCawood · 06/02/2019 14:03

Hi, I really want to read the full thread but i can't because it is making me tearful and I'm at work so need to hold it together. I will read it later. I'm glad to have found you.

I'm currently in the midst of being obsessed over lymphoma. I really think I have it my GP thinks I haven't. I'm going for bloods tomorrow to put my mind at rest. So that will last a couple of days then I'll be back to it... Argh ffs.

Anyway i'll be back later x

grumblina · 06/02/2019 17:02

My thing at the moment is bruises. I panic every time I get a bruise, even though I always vaguely remember banging myself on things, even if I can’t rememebr when. So they aren’t even unexplained it’s just my warped brain Angry

Stoppedat1 · 06/02/2019 17:43

I've had HA for as long as I can remember (even as a child). I have been on citalopram for over 10 years and it is the only thing that has helped. I still have my moments but it keeps it at bay most of the time

ohheyfreakingout · 06/02/2019 18:14

@minesapinot so sorry that sounds horrible I hate it when something like that triggers you.

Thanks to those who posted about eye things. I think I’m freaked out because the optician found something not functioning correctly - but then I guess stress/anxiety could have caused that.
Mine is similar @dollsandfoo sometimes a little blurry especially at a distance and bright lights especially shop signs seem to make it worse. it makes me feel a little off balance and dizzy sometimes.
I hope my referral comes through soon and doesn’t show anything sinister but I know it will only reassure me for a few days and then I will either obsess that they haven’t checked everything or missed something or I will move on to the next thing. 😩
How long did yours last @dollsandfoo did they actually find anything or did your eyes just go back to normal in a while? It’s so horrible when it has a physical affect