Health anxiety

[Mvshrln]

Hi all,

I've seen a couple of health anxiety threads on here but they're all quite old/inactive and wondered if there were any more recent ones, or if anyone fancied discussing it via this new thread? It's helpful when someone else knows how you feel.

I really struggle with HA, the thoughts bounce around my head until I fixate on one and worry about it relentlessly. I can see why the anxiety has appeared (friends parent passed away, the covid-19 situation has terrified me, I'm getting older/have life events happening like buying a house, and I also work within the hospice sector). It's helpful to know why but it doesn't help with how to deal with it! I'm currently taking venlafaxine and CBT counselling via videocall but the worry takes up huge chunks of my day.

Nightmare! How is everyone else?

I posted last week about the GP at my health assessment being concerned about the breast that I had an ultrasound on a couple of months ago...

As she advised, I emailed the secretary of the consultant that I saw and attached the letter from the GP. Just heard back that the consultant does want to see me again - tomorrow. So now my mind is racing that he's looked back at the ultrasound records and seen something . I don't think he actually looked at it before - the sonographer wrote on a piece of paper that there was nothing of concern, he read it and sent me on my way..

Sorry to see how many people are struggling. I downloaded a book last night that I am determined to read and start getting over this horrible anxiety.

I've had some abdominal pain - probably perimenopause - but had 4 tubes of blood taken and 9 tests done. Previously one of the scary ones had come back elevated which was horrible and even though all was well in the end it scared the shit out of me. I had the same test this time along with 8 others - all was well. Such a relief and I'm going to try very hard to stay relaxed and ignore the niggly pains.....

@PowerslidePanda oh poor you, sometimes being given a prompt appointment is more scary. If it helps I contacted my gynae consultant on Friday at 1pm about a scan, he saw me at 3.30. Nothing was wrong, he just had a cancellation to fill!

@PowerslidePanda I keep reading that referrals within the NHS are well down at the moment because people aren’t seeing their GP’s - the consultant probably just has a few appointment so no point making you wait any longer. At least you are getting it over with quickly! I’m sure they would have done even just a cursory check after the last ultrasound x

@PowerslidePanda please try not to stress. I know I would be stressing if I’d been given an appointment well into the future just as much as if it was very soon. Our minds are just wired to worry whatever! At least you’ll get it over with quickly. I know that (in the NHS at least) they don’t seem to be booking appointments well ahead into the future at the moment. I’ve just heard about a routine follow up appointment (that I should have had in June) for later this week. Literally four days notice. Cue panic for a bit but then realisation they’ll just book you when they have free slots come up.

@PowerslidePanda please don’t worry about that, I had to have an MRI on my head about a year ago as I fainted, banged my head and it was causing a pressure feeling in my ear. Anyway, I had the scan and they said I’d get a letter with an appt to discuss the results. I got an electronic letter really quickly and they wanted me to come for the appt on the Saturday of that week! I panicked like made thinking they’d spotted some kind of tumour but in reality they’d been putting on extra appointments to get waiting lists down and now had loads spare to use up! There’s no chance something on your ultrasound would have been missed, it would have been thoroughly checked x

@NowImmeagain welcome to the thread, there’s plenty of us here for you to talk to whenever you need to. It’s really really helped me so much. If I’m nervous when ringing the doctors I tend to start by reminding them I suffer from health anxiety before I tell them my problem and that usually gives me a bit more confidence. Also write down all the points you want to get across x

Thank you. I've never mentioned health anxiety to my gp before and I moved to the area only a year ago, so I've only seen him once. I just think they'll roll their eyes and think, oh God here we go

At least he's got my email, so hopefully he'll have it in front of him. I'll print it off for myself too.

I'm so tired of feeling like this. I'm glad I've found this thread though. Thanks for welcoming me

I agree writing things down before a phone call really helps.

I’m pissing myself off to be honest, it’s like I’m not happy if I’m not worrying about something recently. My rash is still bothering me, and I found some pics on my phone of a rash my DS had during the summer, at the time we assumed it was eczema but looking at the pictures now it’s almost exactly the same as mine. Thankfully DS had no pain. So now I’m stressing about why we would both have potentially had shingles 2-3 months apart.

Hope everyone else is having a better day.

Good luck with your scan tomorrow @Lib3rtine x

@MrsWhites Please don't stress, these things can happen, both me and my husband had shingles about 4 months apart and it was just a coincidence. I have my scan in an hour so I'll let you all know how I get on! x

@NowImmeagain From my experience, once I told them about my health anxiety they were a lot more accommodating and understanding. They probably do think I'm crazy when reading my notes but as they can see I'm seeking help for it, I think they know I'm doing all I can. I would definitely recommend telling them you suffer from it x

Thanks @Lib3rtine. I will mention it tomorrow, or I'll try anyway! I'm such a coward

Thanks @Lib3rtine, sometimes you just need someone to say ‘oh that’s happened in our house too, just a coincidence’, I feel a lot better now. I hope your scan went well x

@PowerslidePanda I hope your appointment with the consultant went well x

@MrsWhites Absolutely, I know what you mean. Glad you feel a lot better.

Scan went ok, baby seems fine, wriggling around! has dropped in EFW again though from 75th percentile to 50th percentile so I've got to go back again next week to check blood flow from placenta to baby and also fluid. Consultant not worried at the moment but did ask me about stress etc so now I'm worrying that I've caused this with my health anxiety and constantly being on edge so I feel so guilty x

@Lib3rtine glad scan was good and all ok with baby. Definitely not your fault or anything you have caused, don't think that. Sure all will be ok and good they're monitoring you.

@MrsWhites how are you feeling today?

@NowImmeagain hope call goes well and if you can, do tell them as it will probably be a relief to you as much as anything and they might be better at giving you reassurance/more understanding

@chorusline79

Hi all. Has anyone had any bleeding after sex that turned out to be nothing? I'm bleeding this morn after sex last night - nothing straight after but this am I am ☹️I'm freaking out and struggling to stay calm. I had a clear smear ( no hpv) a couple off months ago but have had abnormal cells in the past but I'm too scared to google . Should I contact doctors?

I had this - it was leftover blood from my period which had ended the day before. The doctor said that if you have sex within 7 days from the last day of your period then this can happen. I've had high grade abnormal cells in the past and proper freaked out too. Bleeding after sex can be down to lots of things though, perhaps if it happens again you could call the doctor?

@PowerslidePanda

I posted last week about the GP at my health assessment being concerned about the breast that I had an ultrasound on a couple of months ago...

As she advised, I emailed the secretary of the consultant that I saw and attached the letter from the GP. Just heard back that the consultant does want to see me again - tomorrow. So now my mind is racing that he's looked back at the ultrasound records and seen something . I don't think he actually looked at it before - the sonographer wrote on a piece of paper that there was nothing of concern, he read it and sent me on my way..

I hope your appointment went okay today xx

Hi all,

I've not been on here in a while, not since my panic last month (which seemed to coincide with the same time in my cycle). I hope everyone is okay and I am glad the thread is still going (can't even remember when I started it lol). I'm sorry that so many of us are in the same boat but I'm so pleased we can support each other.

I've been panicking over my leg pain which I've had for about 6 months. Convinced myself it's cancer within the bone marrow (I did think it could be bone cancer but I can't feel a lump on it anywhere). Sick of feeling miserable, of constant googling and falling into old habits. Could be shin splints from walking flat footed, having dodgy tendons in that leg, generally leaning on that side of my body more as it's my dominant side, sitting cross legged and on uncomfortable chairs when working from home, from gaining weight during lockdown. Who knows but I know the worst of course.

Waiting for my private insurance to refer me to an orthopaedic consultant but haven't heard back yet. Just want an x ray or a scan or something. Can't focus and feel tired, anxious and run down :(

Hey @chorusline79 @TheSilentStars and @NowImmeagain welcome to the forum all. I seem to have stopped getting the notifications to say there are new posts! I thought it fell a bit silent.

Sorry your all struggling :( it’s so tough isn’t it. I will read your messages again reply individually.

@TheSilentStars I’ve had stomach issues for over a year now I ended up having a colonoscopy and now I’m waiting for an endoscopy. It’s intermittent and I was diagnosed with Ibs but of course my mind won’t let me accept that. I also get a strange kind of dull pain on the left of my belly button. I also want to do an intolerance test to check if it’s food related x

@chorusline79 I’m considering a private therapist too, it’s just getting too bad, I had a concern over a lump last week and went to see the gp he said there’s nothing there, it stressed me out this morning so I tried to get another appointment and no one came back to me. I do think they are sick of me and it’s embarrassing for me to have to keep seeing them but if only they understood that I can’t help it!

@NowImmeagain I hope your appointment goes ok tomorrow please do keep us updated xx

@Lib3rtine so glad your scan went ok. Strange isn’t as it the more they tell you not to stress the more stress that can cause! It sounds like they are monitoring you which is great and the consultant isn’t worried so that’s a great sign. Hope you’re feeling ok x

@MrsWhites I hope you’re feeling A bit better today. It’s so frustrating isn’t it. I feel the same as you did yesterday. Like I have to have something to worry about. I’ve been stressing about my armpit again. Had a shower and started prodding again. Tried to get another appointment at the surgery but no one called me back.

Why can’t my mind just leave me alone! I’ve started looking into private therapy today, I don’t know how much longer I can wait for the nhs. It’s money I don’t have right now but I feel like I have to find a way. X