Health Anxiety - part three!!

[MrsWhites]

Hi ladies, back again for thread number 3!

@dillydallydollydaydream7 google is definitely the worse thing to do. I'll be sat there googling some symptoms then start checking myself, DH looks at me like what have you been reading now

@justgivejackie mine too! I'll always try to have a sneaky examine when we're in bed or anything and he knows straight away what I'm doing

It might be tmi but it's even got to the point that when we're intimate I don't want him anywhere near my boobs cause I'm that paranoid about them

Oh god yes!! I get worried about my boobs being touched since the giant breast cyst.

Google is a nightmare for us all. But it's hard to stay off!

Sending you ladies love.

To reassure anyone with pins and needles, this is classic anxiety. I went through a whole load of tests (neurologist, muscle tests, nerve tests, MRI) thinking I had MS and I'm pretty sure it was all anxiety. The day before I got my results the pins and needles were so bad they were going all through my body and I also kept getting these weird feelings like electric zaps all through my body. Once I got the all clear from the tests it all went away and has never come back!

I am still worrying about dizziness even though it has got a bit better. It feels like something is off with my eyesight, like one eye is seeing someone different to the other. Luckily I saw the optician last week or I would be convinced I was going blind 😊. However I'm now convinced it's something like a brain tumour. Keep hugging my kids and thinking they will have to grow up without me ☹

I have so far avoided googling brain tumours and dizziness and instead googled anxiety and dizziness and apparently it is common. But I've never had it before so I'm not convinced it is anxiety. It does seem similar to when I had vestibular neuritis but not as bad. And I keep telling myself that if it was a brain tumour it would be getting worse rather than a bit better.

@KasparKat that's so reassuring about the pins and needles, everything's always worse in the middle of the night too!

I had terrible headaches a couple of years ago, I was thinking all sorts. I went to opticians and everything was okay and so went to Gp in tears thinking this is it, he said it was stress, again as soon as I'd been doctors the headaches disappeared x

I really wish I had a friendly GP on call 24 hours a day who wasn't worried about me asking silly questions. Should have married one! Although he'd probably be very fed up with me by now

I've been having headaches with the dizziness as well. In very specific places on either side of my head, sort of behind my temple. Have been massaging that area and realised that there are muscles there that are used to clench the jaw. I do clench my teeth at night so think the headaches are down to that. Still not sure about the dizziness/weird eyesight though.

I usually have CBT on Mondays but my therapist wanted to skip this week. I got the feeling she was fed up with me last week as I had to fill in a questionnaire about health anxiety and my score hadn't gone down since we started the therapy in December. She kept questioning why I had answered things a certain way and I explained why but it felt like she was annoyed at me for answering that way. Its online so hard to tell! I think the CBT has helped my general anxiety a bit but not found much has helped with the health anxiety yet.

Sorry me again! Actually found something reassuring on Dr Google. I've been having dry and itchy eyes recently. I've had dry eyes for years (don't blink enough when I'm focused on work) so didn't think much of it. Just googled blurry vision and dry eyes and apparently its really common for dry eyes to cause blurry vision (that doesn't show up in an eye test) so I'm now trying to convince myself the blurry vision is from dry eyes and not a brain tumour!

Also in typing earlier about my MS scare I remembered that one of my MS symptoms was blurry vision in my right eye. That's the same eye that is giving me problems now so hopefully it's the same thing that I've had for at least two years, and the head MRI was clear back then.

Evening! Had a reasonable day HA wise....although I have found a mark on my elbow ... I think it's like threadveins from what I can see! I managed to stop myself from thinking skin cancer. My awareness is heightened atm due to my uncle having had one on his face removed - my mum said a melanoma but my mum isn't the best when it comes to getting details correct so it could be my Aunt said skin cancer and Mum has used the word melanoma. Years ago I went to the GP with an itchy colourless mole - you've never seen a GP look so 🙄.

@KasparKat have you looked up TMJ? I've got a mouth guard to wear at night because I grind my teeth and clench my jaw (I don't use it anywhere near as much as I should) but I find the morning after using it, my jaw feels firm and achy because it's been put back in to place, and after a few hours any pains around my face with my jaw have gone because it's been reset if that makes sense?

Sorry also if this is the second time I've said this - as I'm typing it's ringing a bell

@onlyreadingneverposting8 pleased you've had a more positive day! My GP gave me that look too when I asked her about a 'lump' on the back of my neck.... there was no lump

Yes I do have TMJ and wear a night guard. But I think it only really protects my teeth and doesn't help with the tense muscles in my face/head. Before I had the night guard I would have days where I either couldn't open my mouth or couldn't close my teeth together so it's definitely doing something good. Just wish I could make myself stop doing it in the night. Everything I've read says reduce stress but that's tough in current circumstances with health anxiety! My jaw clicks a lot all the time too. The dentist said I could have both in my jaw muscles if the nightmare wasn't helping but I really don't fancy that!

botox not both

@dillydallydollydaydream7 that happens to me too, sometimes if my husband heads in that area I have to give him a little nudge and he knows to leave them alone. I find myself thinking ‘what if he feels something’! It’s horrible but thankfully he is very understanding!

I wear a night guard, I always have a painful right jaw when I touch it! It also tingles whenever I eat or drink! @KasparKat

How’s everyone doing today? My minds gone wedding mad! Which is lovely! I didn’t realise how much there actually was to sort before! Had a little poke of my neck lymph nodes this morning but I’m talking 30 seconds tops!

@tmh88 I love how much the wedding is distracting you! 😁 aw it's so exciting planning it!

Good here today thanks - pouring down with rain and the smug feeling I had yesterday of an empty washing basket has now gone as it's full again already! The gift that keeps on giving

@dillydallydollydaydream7 me too! I’m trying to drag it out a little bit so I have lots to do also! I’m excited which is a nice feeling to have because for so long I’ve not bothered due to worrying my (not real) health condition wouldn’t see me to the day!

My washing is the same! Glad you are doing well! Nice to hear

Morning all!

@tmh88 so lovely that you have something so exciting to focus on! I’m sure your day will be beautiful!

@dillydallydollydaydream7 my washing back is ridiculous because of the rain last week. It’s sunny today here though so I’m going to get a load done and outside to dry!

I’m in a cervix stress cycle again! I keep checking up there because of a spot I have but this morning I’ve found another one on the other side, apparently it’s common to have more than one and it feels similar, rounded, smooth etc but I’ve had a little bit of bright red blood so I think I’ve made it bleed now with all my poking! The blood was in the corner of my nail so I’ve scratched something up there right? It’s ridiculous, I’m now creating symptoms for myself because I’m actually causing myself injury! I know my checks have to stop but I just can’t get the what ifs out of my head!

It did make me wonder though how many of our symptoms have actually been made worse by all our examinations!

Anyway, promised myself no more checks today!

@MrsWhites oh my goodness, I feel like I have exactly the same spot up there. I'm not sure if it's on my cervix, or if it's in the bit next to the cervix, I can't remember what it's called, but basically it's either on the cervix or very near the cervix. It's small, perhaps 3 mm, and feels very smooth to the touch, when I push on it it moves ever so slightly. I freaked out when I found it, as I found it when I was spotting, but it could've been there for absolutely years!

@MrsWhites oh you poor thing - that would stress me too! Yes I totally think you've made it bleed!! I think most doctors would say "leave the checking to them!" If you've not had it checked for a while could you get the GP to look? Would it put your mind at rest?
I had the very late post natal check with the GP this morning and she again said the spotting I've had is hormonal due to breastfeeding and she's expect it to sort itself out in a few months - but if I'm at all concerned to just contact her again. I had got myself really worked up about the appointment as it was a baby check too and I had stupidly read the article in the Daily Mail about a mUm having her baby removed for 4 months after a bruise had been found on it. I've spent the last 48hours worrying that something might be found on my baby!!!! Obviously there is nothing (despite our 4yr olds over exuberant cuddles at times!!) but I've been so anxious!

Hello all
Been a bit AWOL as trying to stay away from social media but am still prodding and obsessing so I might as well be here in good company!
I can't remember who asked but I have definitely one boob firmer than the other, and it's the right. I'm right handed, spend almost all day working online (schools closed etc) so put it down to actual tissue/muscle.
I also obsess about bowel movements. Too much. Too little. Little colour chart (especially since the gallbladder diagnosis)

Welcome to all newbies and hope everyone is having a stress-free day

Welcome @justgivejackie This thread is so supportive so I'm sure it will help x

Congratulations @tmh88 I'm trying to lose weight too as I always think if I get some horrible illness it'll be my own fault! Great news on the wedding!

My boob stress is ok the last couple of days as it's the few days of the month where I get respite from pain, and when they're not sore I don't worry. Of course, I had to prod to check they weren't sore and have now made them slightly tender 😆

@KasparKat I have dry eyes since getting laser eye a few years ago and it definitely causes blurry vision. It's also worse st certain times of the month. I can highly recommend Hycosan eye drops x

@TheSilentStars I was the boob asker! Thanks, it's my right too and I'm right handed, on computer etc so that makes sense. If I lean forward and let them dangle they feel the same! 😂

I've really made an effort to stay off google and it hugely helps. DH had the covid vax on Friday and his arm was tingling. Previously I would have been panicking thinking he was having an anaphylactic reaction or something and googling it but I just waited (which was bloody hard!) and then half an hour later he was grand.

Hope we all have a good day xxx

I'm so desperate to get the vaccine! I think it would reduce a lot of my anxiety, especially with DC going back to school in a couple of weeks

Thanks for the Hycosan recommendation, the optician recommended the same thing. It all seems so rational when I'm not panicking but when I fixate on the blurriness my emotional response takes over and won't listen to my rational brain.

Me too. I'm the only adult in my bubble now not vaxxed and our DC went back to school today so I would really like to get it asap!

I totally get it re the brain steamrollering over the rational thinking!