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?

@Mvshrln sorry to hear your struggling again. Thank you so much for starting this thread it’s so so valuable to all of us!!

Leg pains are so common, what type of pain is it and where is it? X

For those considering private therapy I'd really recommend looking on the bacp website. They have lists of qualified counsellors in your area and you can choose which particular type of support you need. For example, I was looking for health anxiety support so I searched for OCD, anxiety and looked at each counsellors profile to see what they specialised in. I then emailed the ones who appealed to me, explaining that I wanted support with HA and asking if they had experience with it. I chatted with a few on the phone (they usually offer free phone consultations) to see who would be best for me.
You can also see their hourly rate, and there are often reasonably affordable therapists on there.

@Goolies I can relate to the prodding! I was obsessed with my armpit and one of my breasts. My arm pit is quite "fatty" (like that bit between your arm and where it joins your chest area) and following an ultrasound they just said I have quite glandular breasts and it was normal.

Thanks so much for your reply by the way :) The thread has been beyond beneficial for me too.

Leg pains are common aren't they, but I just can't see it that way for some reason when I'm in a state! it's on my left leg, front of the shin down one side in particular. Sort of just hurts.. But then I make it worse by prodding it, walking weirdly to see if that helps (why would that help haha) and I've started subconsciously leaning over to that side when I sit or stand. I don't know :/

@Mvshrln that’s the problem isn’t it, once you’re in that state of mind all logic goes out the window. Im so bad for it. When I spiral I end up in an awful dark place.

Sounds like your leg pain could be one of so many innocent things. Have you tried muscle rubs? Xx

@Lib3rtine welcome to the world of mum guilt, I feel guilty about my anxiety all the time, my DS is quite sensitive and a real mummy’s boy so I worry that I’m passing my anxieties onto him. As a mum there is always something to feel guilty about but your health anxiety isn’t a factor in your babies growth rate! A wiggly baby sounds very healthy and happy anyway!

@Goolies I’m doing much better now, again after getting some perspective and reassurance from everyone on here, it is honestly helping me so much, it’s like a little support group which is lovely! Sorry to hear you are struggling again, I really sympathise because showering is a real trigger for me too! Just too much temptation to have a feel 😂 Even when I get a bath I have to drape a cloth over my boobs or I’ll start poking and prodding! I’m not just saying this but I genuinely think what you are feeling is normal, probably a bit of cartilage between your ribs or something! I hope tomorrow is a better day for you x

@Mvshrln again, sorry you are having a bad day. Leg pain could be anything, it might even be due to a lack of exercise at the moment, I think we are all doing less this year. Might just be a bit of muscle tightness or something. I often get leg pain too x

Hello I'm so glad finding this thread can I introduce myself I have had health anxiety for over 30 years. It is something that I do not talk about to anyone but my lovely husband. Some many of the issues you ladies talk about I understand so much. It is so helpful to realise I am not on my own xx

Hi @anotherdoghere, welcome to the thread! It’s a brilliant space for chatting about your worries and concerns with no judgement and all the ladies on here totally understand how you feel! x

Thank you to all who talked me down! My appointment went fine - turns out the previous ultrasound wasn't of the entire breast. They did do the whole thing this time, but all clear once more - phew!

@Lib3rtine - I'm sure that the baby's weight is nothing to do with your anxiety! I was worried about it during my own pregnancies, but I seem to remember reading that low-level constant stress (like health anxiety or a stressful job) isn't a problem in pregnancy because it's your own normal baseline - it's sudden, traumatic stress (like a bereavement) that can be risky.

@Mvshrln - Sorry to hear your leg pain is getting to you. I know it's easy to jump to the worst case scenario, but you're doing really well to remind yourself of all the run-of-the-mill things too (each of which are much more likely than cancer!) Hope you hear back about the referral soon, to put your mind at rest.

How are the spots today, @MrsWhites?

Welcome, @anotherdoghere!

Hi everyone, thanks for your comments, I feel much better about it now. Sorry for late reply, nearly fainted at scan after being laid down so long which they said was quite normal but I’ve felt rubbish all afternoon.

@PowerslidePanda that’s brilliant news, been thinking of you today. I didn’t know that about low level stress, that’s good to know.

@Mvshrln hope you’re ok, as others have said, we automatically think worst case scenario but it really will be one of the million other innocent reasons. Hope you get your referral soon to put your mind at rest.

@Goolies hope you’re feeling a bit better. I did the same earlier when I was anxious about the baby, automatically started checking my breasts for lumps which I always do when anxiety is getting higher and higher. Made my left one sore I’ve prodded and poked that much. Feel much calmer now though and I’m able to think rationally. Keep reminding myself what I was told at the breast clinic that I wouldn’t have to search and prod and poke to find something if there was something to find, it would be obvious.

@anotherdoghere welcome! I know, it was a revelation when I discovered all these lovely ladies who suffered like me. There’s always someone to chat to whenever you need it x

Thank you lovely ladies. Health anxiety is debilitating and exhausting. It is the last thing you think of about night and the first thing you think of in the morning x

I was wondering if any ladies are taking venlafaxine and have tried to come off it or changed it got another medication. I tried to wean myself off it six months ago. I am taking 225 g and came down to 150 g it gave me terrible withdrawals symptoms so I am back on 225 g again. I do not think I will ever not take anti depression medication x

Morning everyone!

Spots are drying up I think, not particularly painful anymore so I think it was a mild case thankfully.

@anotherdoghere I know what you mean about it being the first thing you think of. I wake up most mornings thinking ‘right what was it I was worrying about’, my brain literally searches for an anxiety to latch onto. This morning it’s an itchy boob, I always get itchy sore boobs about 9 day’s before my period starts, today will be 10 days but can I accept that...no, every month I worry about the pain!

@Lib3rtine I remember once during a scan they had to almost tip me upside down to get a good image of the baby, I felt awful for the rest of the day so I hope you are feeling better now!

@PowerslidePanda brilliant news from your appointment!!

I’m currently worried about something valid. My blood pressure. I’ve always had white coat syndrome. But recently it’s averaging around 150/100. I really don’t want medication. I know I’m 2 stone overweight and had got lazy with working from home but I’ve started losing weight, powerwalking 3-4 times a week, I’ve stopped my nightly glass of wine. So I’m really trying. I’m speaking with my dr on 11th December about my anxiety meds which are definitely helping but will mention this to her and see if she agrees that I can try for three months to bring it down. Anyone else got experience of this?

Morning @takethegirloutofwales sorry to hear your struggling. I don’t have experience with high blood pressure however have you looked into natural remedies to try and help there are loads of suggestions online, should you not want to go down the medication route.

That’s what I’ve just started doing. I want to check with the dr though to make sure natural supplements wouldn’t interfere with my prescription anxiety meds.

Thank you @Lib3rtine and @MrsWhites for your reassurance.

I spoke to a gp on the phone this morning and she said she isn’t worried as a gp has examined me. She said leave it a week and if I still feel anxious then I can do in and they will get a female doc to check again. This helps a bit as I feel like I have a back up plan.

Strange isn’t it the way our minds work.

Hope you’re both ok this morning xx

@Goolies that sounds like a sensible plan from your GP.

I’m stressing about my eldest who is complaining about tooth ache, her face is a little bit puffy too so i’m waiting on a call back from the dentist. Anything to do with the dentist really freaks me out though, I’m not particularly scared but I find going to the dentist with my kids really intimidating, my eldest has had a couple of issues with her teeth despite not having too much sugar in my opinion and I always feel really judged by the dentist. So not really a health anxiety issue but just something else that causes me anxiety.

Does anyone else have anything other than health anxiety that causes them anxiety issues? Mine seem to be driving (I’m always convinced I’m doing something wrong) and anything to do with the dentist. I feel so weird when I see that written down 😂

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a good day x

@MrsWhites I think dentists in general are an anxiety trigger for a lot of people so sounds very natural to be a bit anxious about it all. Hope your dd is okay and you get sorted and it settles for her. I get anxious before any sort of appointment, even hairdressers for goodness sake. I’m usually okay driving but get very jittery before long journeys or holidays.

@PowerslidePanda great news about your appointment! So pleased it’s all fine and all done with now. Bet you’re super relieved.

@Goolies the waiting a week advice sounds very sensible. I know when I have a prod and feel something I carry on prodding until it’s sore. I think I have more lumps at different times of the month as they seem to come and go!

@takethegirloutofwales I often have blood pressure on the high side and have had to monitor it over a couple of weeks for the GP a few times. Have you got your own monitor? Mine is always lower at home than at GPs as just sitting in the drs waiting room send it sky high! Not sure about natural supplements to be honest.

I’m okay today in general but still anxious that there’s something really serious causing all my symptoms. Palpitations have been bad today as has back ache and now hip is bothering me. Feel about twice my age most days and exhausted by it all

Sorry to hear you’re stressing @MrsWhites, hope you DD is ok. The dentist always makes me anxious, especially when I know they will do an x Ray, I was so scared last time don’t know what I thought they would find?!

I get anxious before going away, I don’t know why, I feel much more vulnerable when far from home. We went to stay with my father in law abroad in aug, I was so worried, worried about my Ibs going off and having to use my father in laws loo! Worried about my health anxiety spiralling while I am there, I had a red spot under that stressed me for the first few days, thank goodness it went away.

I’m ok driving but don’t like driving kind distances anymore, again it makes me feel vulnerable. X

@Lolly12 I think anxiety in general is so exhausting and such a vicious circle, all the poking and prodding and the physical symptoms of anxiety, you never know what’s real and what’s not!

@Goolies I think being away from home just makes us feel vulnerable and our homes are such a safe space for those of us with anxiety so I totally understand what you mean. Hope you are feeling better now after your conversation with your GP.

DD has antibiotics now and an appointment next week which my mum has kindly offered to take her to. I know we aren’t supposed to mix households but I’m not allowed to take DS and DH will be in work so I’m hoping this will be covered by emergency childcare bubble arrangements. It’s better for my mum to take her to be honest, I get so worked up I think I probably make my DD nervous herself! More mum guilt!

@anotherdoghere I'm on venlafaxine, I started it earlier this year when my HA got out of control. It's been the only thing that kept me from going over the edge tbh. I have heard bad things about it, and when I forget to take it for a few days then I feel quote nauseous so the side effects when coming off it aren't great. I think when coming off medication it's really good to talk through it beforehand with the GP and see what they can do to help it go as well as possible.

I've been on various medications before (fluoxetine, sertraline) and they were all helpful for when I experienced severe depression and anxiety. Venlafaxine has helped take the edge off from the incessant obsessive thoughts, but I need counselling too to help. Obviously the HA hasn't gone away fully but it's no longer screaming so loudly in my head at all times of the day.

I've got an appointment with an orthopaedic consultant next week. Will see what they say about the leg!

@ mvshrin Do you mind me asking what dosage you are on? I keep wondering if I should change

Hope everyone is doing ok. I had such a bad day yesterday which coincided with getting the monthly reminder text to check my breasts. I try to do it on a monday morning but if I'm really anxious I have to do it there and then and spend ages prodding and poking convincing myself I can feel something
Feel a bit better today and got my letter the other day with my first CBT session which is tomorrow morning! Can't believe the referral was so quick. I'm really hoping it will help me get on top of this. I'm definitely going to ask for some medication once baby is here as well

@Lib3rtine sorry you had a bad one yesterday but that's good news re your CBT. I started mine a couple of weeks ago and was a bit sceptical but when I was having a v bad day last week it really helped me and am starting to use the techniques regularly. Good luck with it and really hope you find it useful.

@chorusline79 thank you! I'm really hoping it works for me, I've been suffering from this for so long, it would be nice to finally get control over it and have the techniques ready to use when I need them. Its always something small that sets me off. My brother text me and asked if I wanted to sponsor my 3 year old niece in a rudolph run to raise money for a new slide for the local Hospice and then it dawned on me that the slide must be for sick children at the hospice and I was so upset, just burst into tears and then it just spiralled out of control