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Health Anxiety - part three!!

999 replies

MrsWhites · 02/02/2021 15:12

Hi ladies, back again for thread number 3!

OP posts:
ofwarren · 28/02/2021 18:00

@tmh88 I'm glad it's not just me!
Have you any idea what causes it? Do you think it's because we have fluid in our ears/sinuses?

tmh88 · 28/02/2021 18:03

@ofwarren I’m fairly certain yes! I’ll ask doc about it Wednesday and report back for you xx

ofwarren · 28/02/2021 20:34

My anxiety is just dreadful tonight.
I occasionally get triggered by my eyesight and this is more likely to happen if I've had a headache and I'm in the "I have a brain tumor" zone.
My vision feels like it goes slightly blurry which puts me in a full on panic, and then of course I can't see properly due to the panic.... I sit there like I lunatic, closing one eye and checking, then closing the other eye and checking. Looking at close things, looking at far away things, glasses on, glasses off..
It's just exhausting 😔

RunawayBride2 · 28/02/2021 20:37

@ofwarren my anxiety is bad tonight. I've just sat in the bath and cried and while crying was looking for lumps on my body. I hate having it. I woke up at 4.30am last night and I'm sure I was having a panic attack. I'm so tired now so I'm going to have 2 paracetamols and get in bed. Hope we have a better day tomorrow Thanks

ofwarren · 28/02/2021 20:38

@runawaybride2 it's just so awful isn't it. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.
I hope you manage some sleep 💐

tmh88 · 28/02/2021 20:46

I’m the same tonight! Dp at work tomorrow! So hopefully have an early night and pull myself together!! Sad

ofwarren · 28/02/2021 20:48

@tmh88 sorry you are feeling bad too 😔
Hopefully we all manage a sleep and feel better tomorrow.

StooriMidori · 28/02/2021 22:46

Just catching up and sending love to you all. I can absolutely sympathise and understand all of your fears.

I have an appt next Monday at the breast clinic so I'll be up to 100 all week waiting. By the time I'm seen it will be 8 weeks since I saw my GP as it's a non urgent referral and I've been stressing out the whole time. But I'm too scared to wish it was over as my mind keeps saying what if they find something and this is my last week of 'normal' life 😔

My no poke weekend was a disaster as my boob started hurting again (time of the month) so I've been at them constantly. I googled today too. The more I see the more I'm thinking I could have PMDD as the pain and anxiety, as well as feeling down is all before my period and it's enough to affect my life.

I started taking multivitamins as per all your advice and I do think they're helping as I'm much less tired, so thanks everyone xx

Goolies · 28/02/2021 23:00

Hey @RunawayBride2 I have also been diagnosed with costochondritis, about 2 weeks ago. I have rib pain, under my breast and in the mid sternum and on sides of ribs sometimes, I was worried about lungs, heart, breasts... also had a clear chest x Ray and then got this diagnosis.

It seems to be fairly common although I’d never heard of it before!

I know how stressful it is, I still have sudden surges of panic where I wonder if it’s actually heart related or breast related. It’s a never ending cycle! So exhausting.

TheSilentStars · 01/03/2021 06:37

Sorry some of you have had a bad Sunday Flowers

I posted earlier on the thread that there are some really useful info and exercise videos on YT about costochondritis, and definitely, iirc, one of the prods you can do yourself to see if it might be that is pressing the tissue where the sternum meets the ribs.
I think it's something quite common, and more likely to be so this past year when we all sit hunched over screens and not getting as much day to day upright movement as we should.

Martha- have you had a h.pylori test? I had h.pylori infection about 15 years ago and my symptoms were like yours, kind of constant gastritis burning. My GP was sure it was my gallbladder then, and I went for a scan/tests no issues anywhere except slightly elevated liver results. It was h.pylori.

Ironically I have the gallbladder issues now, but spent ages googling h.pylori again (among many things) to see if it comes back.

My gallbladder issues go right down into my groin (hence me initially going to gynae for private groin/gynae scan) The more I read the more I understand, misbehaving bile can cause all manner of things you'd never imagine.

Headaches- I get everything (migraine, sinus and that one that starts in your neck and kind of moves up and over) but oddly I never worry about brains, I'm too busy prodding fatty bits! I think the up and over one with me almost feels like it's the bones and fluid between bones and tissues in my neck and head if that makes any sense? When I get it if I move my head everything clicks and creaks. Confused

RunawayBride2 · 01/03/2021 08:20

Thank you for replying about costochondritis, I'm really struggling at the minute with it. This morning it feels like pain in my breast and more so when I take a deep breathe.

I feel like my whole heal anxiety is turning in to depression, I wake up with a dread every morning. I just wish I could go back to how I used to be, I never used to suffer with HA

tmh88 · 01/03/2021 09:18

@RunawayBride2 I’m the exact same! Miss my old anxiety as this can be so awful! I did respond yesterday about scoliosis and rib pain not sure if you saw it Flowers xx

ofwarren · 01/03/2021 09:35

I've had an ok sleep and my husband let me lie in and sorted the kids out before he went to work. Even made me a coffee and brought me my glasses and 2 paracetamol.
I've started with some pain in my opposite ear this morning. It's not bad but it's similar to what is happening in my left ear but without the fluid feeling. I know that I clench my teeth, especially when stressed so its hopefully from that.
Post nasal drip has turned into a cough whenever I feel it, which is annoying.
Neck is painful to touch down the muscles on both sides.
I'm at Maxillofacial appointment tomorrow so hopefully today will go quickly 🤞

tmh88 · 01/03/2021 11:11

@ofwarren let me know how you get on tomorrow Flowers

StooriMidori · 01/03/2021 13:22

@TheSilentStars thank you! I remembered somebody mentioning the videos :)

ofwarren · 01/03/2021 13:59

@tmh88
Are you at the doctors today did you say?
Good luck with your appointment if so Flowers

RunawayBride2 · 01/03/2021 14:04

Hi @tmh88 thanks for your post about scoliosis - I must have missed it yesterday. I felt really anxious finding out I had it so I just hope it doesn't cause me any problems and I feel guilty because apparently my daughter has a chance of having it too and they told me too look out from the age of 12 

@polkadotpixie how are you? Did you ring gp for results x

ofwarren · 01/03/2021 14:12

Oh yes, I forgot that @polkadotpixie was ringing for her results today!
I hope you are doing ok Flowers

ofwarren · 01/03/2021 14:32

I know googling isn't good but when I do it, Google just pisses me off with its algorithm. I DONT want to read about cancer and no matter what I search for now, that is at the top of the results.
I just googled "stinging nasopharynx" (as you do) and the top 8 results were cancer!
Surely there is usually a more innocent answer.
I bet health anxiety has sky rocketed since the invention of the internet.

tmh88 · 01/03/2021 14:39

@ofwarren it’s Wednesday my appointment!

Having a stress about the lumps over my collar bones again! I’m thinking it must be muscle/fatty lumps but it’s freaking me out!x

ofwarren · 01/03/2021 14:52

@tmh88
Have you got your doctor to feel the lumps there? What did they say?
You can see why health Anxiety is classed as a form of OCD cant you. The checking and googling is like an obsession!

tmh88 · 01/03/2021 15:13

@ofwarren it weren’t that long ago I found them! Don’t know if they’ve always been there or not! Blush really worried about asking doc about them as I have so much planned this year got holidays and my wedding coming up etc and I just feel fear around it being something sinister!Sad

Skyliner001 · 01/03/2021 15:13

Morning everyone, or not morning, afternoon!! I've been getting on really well today, just wanted to drop in and check anybody who was ringing for results, or had doctors appointments today was doing okay!

Totally agree that health anxiety is like obsessive compulsive disorder, minus so so similar. Breaking the obsession is so hard.

onlyreadingneverposting8 · 01/03/2021 15:19

Hello everyone! Those getting results or having tests I've been thinking of you! Let's us know how you are!

I've been a bit triggered today - both general anxiety and HA. HA is bowels/stomach - no real reason except i had a heavy feeling yesterday afternoon evening and a bit of trapped wind.
My general anxiety is most likely the cause of those symptoms - I know this!

ofwarren · 01/03/2021 15:21

@tmh88 I totally understand that. I'm the same with breasts. I just can't start obsessing with them too as it just spirals doesn't it 😔
I could easily mention the lumpy bits to the doctor but it opens a whole another can of worms.