Anxiety Symptoms or something more?

[AstridAv]

I've been struggling with Health Anxiety for a while. Just recently I have a list of symptoms as long as my arm I don't know if I should be speaking to the GP or trying to rise above them. I'm terrified that they mean something serious or that they are tied in with the symptoms I am already having investigated (waiting for CT scan for either chronic sinusitis or LPR).
I've been getting numbness/tingling in my hands face and arms, sometimes up my legs, itchy skin, dizziness, slightly worse than normal vision, lumpy feeling in throat, nausea and vomitting.
I am most concerned about the tingling.

I know I need help with my anxiety and I am currently doing CBT and reading the overcoming health anxiety book.

Has anyone experienced these symptoms with anxiety or should I be checking in with the doctor?

Bumping x

Hey. I used to have health anxiety. I would mention the symptoms to the doctor - NOT because I think you need to worry, but because there's no point worrying when the doctor could put your mind at rest. Best wishes with the CBT. Hugs

All symptomS Of anxiety and I've had them all. It becomes quite physical and self perpetuating. Talk to your GP, they will be able to rule out anything nasty and put your mind at rest.

@Throckmorton @TheoriginalLEM Thank you both. I spoke to the GP yesterday and they have referred me for an urgent MRI of my head. Now I'm even more worried

Hiya. Well done on speaking to the GP. Try not to worry about the MRI - it's good they are following things up to make sure all is well. Hopefully the MRI will show all is fine. Hugs

OP, I could've written your post back in December. In fact, I did write several similar ones!

I went to the GP with similar symptoms and ended up having an urgent MRI too, but the GP sent me mainly because I was concerned as my mum has MS. Nothing sinister turned up on the MRI and my symptoms have since disappeared.

If you're like me and find it impossible not to Google symptoms (100% would not recommend, but I know it's tempting), search for 'xyz + anxiety', so 'tingling hands + anxiety'. Then you'll see that all of these things can be caused by that.

Feel free to PM me if I can help at all. Take care

Thank you @Throckmorton
@MrsPhyllisTyne How long did it take for your MRI appointment? My GP doesn't know this bu my uncle has MS. They said if I get any worse then to go to a+e and today I feel worse but I don't know if that's all in my head :( its awful. I can't concentrate on anything other than how I feel.

Hi @AstridAv, it took about a month from referral to having the MRI. It should've been two-and-a-half to three weeks, but it was right over Christmas and I was given an appointment for 6pm on Christmas Eve which I just couldn't make, so it slowed things down. Then it was about another three weeks until I had the results (mine came in a letter). But I had a neurology consultation before the MRI where they tested my reflexes/balance etc, which was also reassuring.

I don't know whether there is a hereditary/genetic link with MS, I'm not sure whether it's been proven or not. Some sources seem to say that there is a link and some that there isn't. I know that I found it a particular cause of concern, but the neurology consultant wasn't too fussed.

It can be so hard to focus on other things when something like this is bothering you but hopefully the scan/appointment will set your mind at ease

pernicious-anaemia-society.org/symptoms/

A lot of your symptoms actually for Pernicious Anemia. Have you had bloods done?

*fit

@gotothecooler I have recently have bloods and they have all come back as okay.

@MrsPhyllisTyne oh gosh, that's quite a long time to be waiting, especially given that it was an urgent MRI! The thought of waiting that long makes me anxious in itself. I will feel reassured once I have had the scan. There was no mention by the GP of me seeing anyone else beforehand just told me to await the appointment for the scan. I think I will pop you a DM, if I can figure out how too.

Oooh I've got another fab symptom. Now I feel like i can't get a deep breath and have done for 3 days. On googling this (followed with the word anxiety) it mentions hyperventilation. I wonder if this is what I am doing because I am always trying to control my breath. I cant seem to breathe without thinking about it. Best way to describe it is like my lungs have lost half their capacity and when I try and take a deep breath I can't. Very frustrating, and of course the more you try not to focus on it.. the more you do focus on it.

AstridAv did you get to the bottom of it? I have developed numbness and tingling in my right arm and foot aswell as headache and dizziness. I had an MRI 13 months ago so GPeont re refer me.