Health Anxiety - Part two

[MrsWhites]

Hi everyone, it seems we have reached 1000 posts on our original thread which is amazing, just shows how much support we have been able to give each other.

I thought we would benefit from part two!

Does anyone else have tiny little pin prick red dots on their arms/legs? I have asked a dr before who said they were cherry sonething but tonight I’m fixated that they’re something sinister

Cherry angioma? Totally harmless, a collection of blood vessels, and have no relationship to cancer. Usually disappear on their own but I've had one on my toe for about 10 years. Dermatologist (who I saw for something else) said nothing to worry about.

Or keratosis pillars? From NHS website:

Keratosis pilaris is a common, harmless condition where the skin becomes rough and bumpy, as if covered in permanent goose pimples.

Yes it was possibly that! Dr said most likely hormone related so really not sure why I’m worrying! Really tiny red pin pricks! @Catsneezies

Don’t think keratosis as these aren’t raised, thank you though @Catsneezies

@tmh88

Does anyone else have tiny little pin prick red dots on their arms/legs? I have asked a dr before who said they were cherry sonething but tonight I’m fixated that they’re something sinister

Yes! I have them, on my chest, on my stomach and some on my legs. At first I thought they were peterchaie which can be a symptom of leukaemia, you can imagine how that ended!

That was over 15 years ago!! I still have them they are cherry something… Don't worry about them😊

@tmh88 sounds like cherry angioma, I have a couple too.

@Skyliner001 @MrsWhites thank you! That’s reassuring I’m covered as in too many to count ha! but they are all spaced out from each other!

How’s everyone feeling today?

@tmh88 Yes, mine are spaced out, I have a couple on my legs and then some on my body.

I’m doing ok, going to try to get out for a walk today and maybe do some baking with the kids as a distraction. Still worrying about this bloody lymph node, it hasn’t gone any smaller and the tenderness seems to be going away (which is stressing me out as I read tenderness is a good sign). As my husband pointed out though it isn’t any bigger and I do have a touch of a cold. I’m actually boring myself now, thinking about it so much. I’m probably boring you all senseless with it too 🙈

What is everyone else up to, so hard to keep distracted at the moment with having to stay at home.

Hello, can I join you all? I’ve suffered from health anxiety for a few years and it’s been under control for the last yr or so (covid not bothered me at all bizarrely). But it’s back with a vengeance now based on some very mild abdominal pain. I’m waiting for gp call now as it’s been going on since Fri so I thought it worth checking out but I’m climbing the walls. Ugh. And now I’ve got all sorts of additional “symptoms” that the anxiety has brought on but is clouding the actual issue now. Ffs.

Anxiety truely sucks.

@MrsWhites I know when I’ve had a swollen lymph node due to a cold or sore throat etc, even once the tenderness has eased, it’s stayed prominent for longer but eventually gone down. I think that’s just how they work but I think if you keep touching and prodding it, it’ll stay prominent for longer x

Thanks @Lib3rtine, that’s reassuring. I am trying not to poke at it because I know I’ll make it worse.

How are you and baby doing?

Hi please may I join I have had health anxiety for last few years and its utterly life destroying. I have a permanent disability which I have had since birth and has never really bothered me it's just who I am nur last few yrs I've had come,issues connected with my disability which got quite nasty and altho resolved now I'm left with debilitating health anxiety and and in last few years I've had heart attacks strokes cancer brain tumour skin cancer ovarian cancer breast cancer a range of sti even hiv despite being with my same partner over 6yrs and the latest one is MND/ALS (none of which I've actually had and no symptoms I've had have ever come to anything serious). Its ruining my mind health and my relationship. Anyone else have such a range of self diagnosed illness altho very bizarrely covid has never bothered my anxiety excessively

@MrsWhites I’m trying to keep busy too! Actually had a look for some jobs but not much in my area at the minute! I get sick of myself ha ha, please don’t feel like your boring us I will happily help anywhere I can on this thread!

@BigTallyWacker hi! I know how you’re feeling! I’ve actually only had health anxiety for about 3/4 months and I miss my old anxiety in comparison to this it really is awful!

@MackemLass79 mine started with swollen lymph nodes that I was convinced were cancer I still have these nodes swollen in my neck end they do cause me worry however the past couple of weeks I’ve had heart attack, lymphoma, leukaemia, the works! It’s draining and I completely understand how you feel!

I am also like others on this thread absolutely no fear over Covid, common colds, flu etc!

@tmh88 I'm covered too, spaced out like you, mostly on my chest.

@MackemLass79 yes I’ve self diagnosed with lung/kidney/pancreatic/breast/bowel/anal/rectal/bone/ovarian/uterine/cervical cancer, kidney failure and liver disease. And I’m sure there are others. It’s fucking ridiculous and I detest myself as I know people with these diseases and it feels so disrespectful to them when I am faffing about nothing but the anxiety just controls everything when it takes hold.

I’ve had counselling which helped tremendously and I take fluoxetine and propranolol. Both help but they’re not a cure sadly. I also did an online CBT course but I didn’t find it very helpful personally.

I’m also not anxious about covid which baffles me!

@MrsWhites You are boring us! We all get it! I don't think poking helps them, so it might struggle to go down if you continue to poke it, but as your hubby says it's not getting any bigger, and you have got an infection. It's doing its job. Hope you manage to find a distraction X

Welcome @BigTallyWacker We all feel your pain! I've not worried about abdominal pain before, but I'm always worrying about breasts, periods, throat, and lymph nodes! It's like I am on a loop…

@MackemLass79 Welcome! Sorry you are having a bad time, most of us here don't worry about covert, and a lot of our worry is revolve around cancer… Lymph nodes feature fairly highly, along with breast lumps, but I think all of us agree we can worry about anything!

@Skyliner001

Welcome *@BigTallyWacker* We all feel your pain! I've not worried about abdominal pain before, but I'm always worrying about breasts, periods, throat, and lymph nodes! It's like I am on a loop…

I’m convinced it’s a kidney issue as it’s in my back and side as well and I’ll prob get sepsis and won’t get treated because hospitals are full. In reality I’ve prob sat on the sofa for too long at a funny angle and have strained a muscle. Try telling my anxiety that though.

I’ve not had lymph node anxiety yet but I’m sure I will one day!

Thanks everyone it's insane absolutely insane and I feel bad as my dad died from cancer and having a disability myself albeit purely mobility related and I manage fine I know so many people with a range of conditions some way more serious restricting and life limiting in some cases and makes me feel bad that my brain seems to be inventing things that I feel will kill me. I've had CBT but didnt feel it actually helped and my partner at times gets very frustrated at me as hes has dealt with my stressing over every new,symptom which have all come to be nothing (thankfully)and I worry that should I have some genuine health concern I will struggle to be taken seriously

Welcome @BigTallyWacker and @MackemLass79. You’ll find everyone very supportive on here and I think between us we’ve self diagnosed every possible type of cancer!

@tmh88 and @Skyliner001 thank you both. I’ve been trying to stay away from poking as to not irritate it but will try to do better 😂 I’m determined I will try for just once each morning to allow myself to see if it’s going down. I doubt very much I’d notice any difference in the course of a day anyway!

@Skyliner001 good to know! I feel so silly when I write stuff like this (bloody pinprick dots) but so glad you are all so understanding! I really would be in a worse position without you all!