Health Anxiety - Part 4

[polkadotpixie]

I hope no-one minds me starting a follow up thread. I know some people were waiting for me to update so I thought I would but happy to ask MNHQ to delete if one of the long term posters wanted to start it 😊

The joys of womanhood.

@stoorimidori
Either way?? Omg, my heart would have been in my mouth!

@StooriMidori Good luck tomorrow, will you let Us know how it goes? I'm sure your friend meant well, I think it's really hard for people without health anxiety to understand the implications of their words.

@Skyliner001 I’ve been trying to remind myself that nothing will have changed in the last hour so no need to check again. Do you get the thoughts like ‘what if I checked wrong through or what if I missed something?’ These bits have been there for about 2 years now though so I doubt I’ve missed anything, I think I could draw a detailed image of my breasts from memory at this point! Also, something would have changed in 2 years wouldn’t it surely.

@AJ297 thank you, that was so helpful to google about fat under the skin, I didn’t realise it was made up of small bead type bits, that’s what these bits feel like, almost like flat beads, firm but not solid.

@MrsWhites glad it's helped, it's the worst thing trying to figure out what things are without over googling. If you have a look at fibrocystic breasts also it explains it as small bead like tissues in the breast which can feel lumpy and/or ropey. Completely normal and benign but explains a lot of lumps and bumps 🙂

Do you think cancer in the jaw or in a gland under the jaw would show in a panoramic dental X ray?
I had one at the hospital a week ago.

I would have thought so @ofwarren as your teeth are set into your jaw so not sure how they could not have seen the entire jaw area.

My chest tightness has now gone to be replaced with dizziness/light-headedness. Also a symptom of anxiety but one I've not had before 2 weeks ago. Still don't want to call the GP as if he takes it seriously I will panic even more and also would like to avoid tests and appointments for another 2 weeks when my vaccine immunity will have kicked in. Not sure if I can go another 2 weeks like this though.

@KasparKat have you tried something to relax you to see if your symptoms ease? I find if I take cocodamol or even a few glasses of wine, some of the symptoms that are due to anxiety disappear. All that stays for me then is the pain under my jaw and my sinus thing. All the tingling in my arms goes away.

@KasparKat you describe symptoms similar to mine. I've had the tight/heavy chest, feeling like I can't get a full breath and dizziness and lightheaded. I've had a number of tests including chest X-ray and GP says it is long covid and anxiety brought on by covid. I even went to a&e once because I got myself so worked up and even had a panic attack with it, but I thought it was a heart attack.

Back to bed for me today. Feel like my life is just ruined with this and the fact that I can't get anyone to check where I'm feeling the actual pain.
My face on the left just won't stop tingling and it's really stressing me out. I just wanted someone to do a thorough examination of my head and neck but I've been passed from pillar to post.
GP says it's nothing, oral surgeon won't even check, just passed to ENT, MRI people would only do brain...
I'm going to ring my normal dentist tomorrow to see if she will look more closely at my jaw. I can feel a boney lump under there that is not on the other side.

MRI done

It wasn't very nice, I felt quite shaky and anxious but at least it's done

Now I start with the results anxiety no doubt! 😩

Hi! Looks like there is a few of us having bad days today! @MrsWhites can totally empathise with the "what ifs" even though there has been reassurance by a doctor - for me the words "come back if you're worried" is almost the same as saying "you should be worried about this if it doesn't stop" so then there is a cycle of constant worry that "it" might not stop!

Anyhow - I'm having a triggered day today after having had a few good days. I feel very stressed and anxious.

@Skyliner001 screening reminder always sends me into a frenzy! Unusually of symptom spotting and googling odds of having something wrong/needing further investigation and then the odds of that being something serious.

@polkadotpixie & @StooriMidori I get terrible anxiety when I have a scan.

@KasparKat COMPLETELY understand how you feel! My logical mind completely understands that there is a very low chance of something but when (like you) I've had things happen that are statically unlikely you lose all faith that the low chance thing won't happen to us again.

@polkadotpixie glad to hear it's been done! With you onwards to the results xx

Glad it's over with @polkadotpixie
Did they give you any idea how long till results? I don't know if I get a phone call or a letter.

They said it'll be by Monday 15th at the latest but I have the Gynae appointment on Thursday so I'm hoping it'll be available by then

@polkadotpixie hope you don’t wait too long for the results.

@ofwarren I would also have thought anything like that would show up on an x ray. Look at it this way, none of the medical professionals you have seen are concerned enough to do a thorough examination or referral with any urgency!

@onlyreadingneverposting8 the what’s ifs are the worst. The thing I hate the most is ‘keep an eye on it’ - even if it’s just someone like my mum saying it. To me that means ‘because it’s probably something bad’ and just the thought of what if it gets worse is enough to send me into total panic!

@Skyliner001 how are you getting on with the spotting?

Does anyone get pains in their lower stomach caused by anxiety. I've had this all weekend. My health anxiety has been pretty out of control the past week and I have also been stressed at work and now started having some weird pain/uncomfortable lower stomach and it's worrying me.

@MrsWhites I feel exactly the same, it's so hard not to re-check. I completely sympathise! Plus I do find it hard to know what I'm feeling, without having ever felt any breast but my own!!!

The spotting went away yesterday, but he's back today. So I'm not really sure what it is. I do feel slightly itchy, and seem to have some sort of spot on the outside, so I'm not sure if I have a small infection. Who knows, but I will be going for my smear test very soon. I shall mention it all then.

@polkadotpixie Good to hear that's done, and you are onto the next step which is waiting for the results, and then finally, you should feel complete belief! I know it will feel like a long week, but we are all here for you.

@KasparKat Yes, I think it would show up on an x-ray definitely.

@RunawayBride2 I don't, but my partner does, exactly what you describe, and he suffers from really bad anxiety. And also stress.

@ofwarren I know!

With regards to your jaw, I think it would definitely have shown in an xray. If it helps my jaw is bumpy and face tingling is a classic anxiety symptom of mine. I get it around my nose and mouth.

@polkadotpixie glad your scan is over, the results wait is so stressful isn't it! Hope you get it all resolved soon x

@Skyliner001 Thank you and yes, I'll let you know. I'm hoping I'll be calm enough to get some good info from the Dr too to try and help me stop stressing, but can't promise anything. Pretty sure I'll cry at some point during the appt 😬

@Skyliner001 I’m sure the nurse will be able to give you some answers at the smear test then. I wonder if you have a little bit of thrush, I had spotting with that around Christmas time. Freaked me out too.

I also know what you mean about only having your own as a point of reference. I’ve asked my husband before if that’s what other boobs feel like 😂

@RunawayBride2 I don’t get stomach pains as such but I do get a bit of an off tummy with anxiety.

It’s all moved really fast! @ofwarren sorry to hear your so down, I’m at the dentist next week to see if my ear pain is dental, I do have an impacted wisdom tooth and a rock hard bony lump on my lower jaw at the same side! Are you all ok dentally? It’s a pain when you’re passed around to everyone with no answers!

@polkadotpixie hope your are feeling better after your scan! I hope you don’t have a long wait!

@RunawayBride2 I always get anxious stomach and stomach pains

@KasparKat I get light headed when I’m badly anxious it’s horrible!

Sorry if I’ve missed anyone! Once little ones in bed I will have a proper read through xx

@StooriMidori I know the feeling 😂

I'm sure I retained nothing from my clinic appointment 😬😳

@MrsWhites I'm wondering that too. Just feel a bit itchy and weird. 😬