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 😊

Thanks all, I've had an okay morning, ended up drawing on my breasts, to see if the lumpy bit was the same on the other side, and in the same place, I basically have a lumpy bit under my left arm, which is slightly larger than the lumpy bit under right arm, but it feels the same consistency if that makes sense, I've obsessed on this one before…

I tried to show my partner it once, and he was like oh my God you've got a massive bruise there, and I had to confess I had been drawing on myself. Does anyone else do something crazy like that? I've also used a small stationary ruler to measure a lymph-node…

Hi guys so I had my appointment today and the consultant checked the crease on my areola and said she could feel something pea size which could be a blocked duct, she recommended an ultrasound and I was totally freaking out I felt physically sick.

The ultrasound was all fine and it was a gland she could feel. The radiographer said everything looked fine. I’m so relieved. The mammogram machine wasn’t working but they said as routine screening I should get one done so have booked it for next week.

The consultant said breast pain is normal and can come and go and the crease is due to stretched skin.

So the mammogram... the fact that the ultrasound is clear is a good sign right?

The consultant did reassure me that the radiographer did ultrasound a large part of both breasts.

Why do I still feel a bit on edge?

Brilliant news @Goolies You feel on edge because natural HA is to worry any test will find something. I think you'll be having a relaxing cup of tea after the mammogram 😊

Period: thought you guys might find this interesting!

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/mar/25/pandemic-periods-why-womens-menstrual-cycles-have-gone-haywire?CMP=fbgu&utmmmedium=Social&utmsource=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1bnNccbROxGNEMz3r3NLkDfhqLzQ_22EdtRnc4rRiOpsSBzQ-aO3ztnkQ#Echobox=1616678769

@cripez my lump is quite hard and feels a bit like it's on a string if that makes sense, I can move it up and down and it's probably the size of a 50p maybe a little bigger. Is that how yours started out? I think I'm worrying because they don't feel like the generic lymph node you'd get like on your neck etc.

I'm also worrying because it's completely painless 😂

Horrendous nights sleep. Awake worrying till 4am. Have had pins and needles and weakness in left hand and leg. Feeling of pressure in my head now horrendous this morning and I keep saying the wrong words eg Dint instead of dent, sink instead of toilet. When I was talking to my mum on the phone I kept almost stumbling on my words. Have booked brain MRI for next Wednesday privately but fully expect to be in A&E or GP before then. 3 people I know of died of brain tumour in past 18 months. I am terrified

@Iamsodonewith2020

I have had similar things in the last two weeks. In the same boat as you.

@Goolies ultrasound is generally a better diagnostic tool than a mammogram. So first time I was at the breast clinic they did a mammogram and as it was clear I didn't need an ultrasound. Second time I went a few months later because she could feel the lumps this time she did an ultrasound instead of the mammogram to find out what they were, and it was cysts. So I would feel completely reassured by the ultrasound if I were you. They like to do a mammogram as routine anyway because it's then much easier to compare in the future if you have any breast changes I.e. there is a baseline they can compare it to.

@Iamsodonewith2020 all of those are also symptoms of anxiety. I had pins and needles all down one side for months, was stressing about brain tumours and MS but after all the tests came back clear it just disappeared. Was definitely anxiety. I am also saying the wrong words all the time at the moment but I know I do this when I am stressed and tired. I also get that head pressure feeling when I'm really tired. When I was completely sleep deprived when DC were young it was awful and felt like my brain was too big for my head and like I needed to let some pressure out! Great that you have a scan booked for reassurance. I bet that once it comes back normal these symptoms will get much better or disappear. Not that I'm downplaying them as I know how awful it is but stress and anxiety can affect our bodies physically SO much.

@skyliner001 that was an interesting article. I do worry what I'm doing to my body by being so stressed and anxious all the time. I wish there was a switch I could turn off in my brain!

I just had my echocardiogram and it was normal so that is a relief. I now have a 24 ecg monitor taped to me and have to write down when I get the symptoms. I said to the nurse its every time I stand up so am I meant to write down every time I stand up?! She didn't really know. But typically I just did the usual test where I sit on the floor and then stand up and my heart goes nuts. Of course now I'm wearing the monitor nothing happened...! Typical!

KasparKat and argueifnecessary thank you for replies. It really helps to hear of others with same symptoms. I have only recently realised I have severe anxiety. God knows how I didn’t know as when I look back at my history it first started over 20 years ago when I was planning my wedding and I woke up with no feeling down one side and was rushed to A&E

argueifnecessary sending hugs your way too, it’s absolutely horrible to think like this everyday. I recently inherited quite a bit of money after struggling for years but instead of relaxing and enjoying it I have set up lots of trusts for my kids and sorted out my will as I am convinced I will leave them motherless at some point soon

Oh bless you @Iamsodonewith2020 that resonates with me, I'm trying hard to get on top of those feelings with a 'what will be will be' attitude!

💚

After these latest health investigations I am going to seek help from GP. In the last 12 months I have had investigations for MS, Ovarian Cancer, cervical cancer and IB cancer. I have gone private for brain MRI as I am too embarrassed to call GP as only just had results from OC investigations

When I read these posts it just like I'm reading about myself.

Couple of months ago I was having a tough time with my health anxiety and I was waking up in the night with pins and needles, I was terrified. I had headache, felt like I had a tremor. This has settled now but now I feel like I have back/rib pain so I'm worried about this now. Honestly it's never ended, one thing stops and something else starts. to everyone it really is the worse thing ever

@KasparKat thank you so much. I feel like I have some sort of post traumatic stress from this morning hearing the word ‘pea sized’ and ultrasound in the same sentence.

Thank you for your reassurance. I did think twice about whether to get the monogram or not but I know what I’m like and if I didn’t I would just stress when I’m having a high anxiety day.

I do feel better about it though so thank you :)

@Goolies glad your appointment went well although scary. I’ve also heard that ultrasound is better than mammogram at diagnosing, especially in women younger than 50. I think because they have denser breasts. That said I hope the mammogram gives you further reassurance.

I’ve been following Dr Kirren on Instagram since someone suggested her on here, she does post a lot of tips/questioning thoughts about health anxiety. Really interesting and would recommend to you all!

Morning all! So I’ve reverently started properly exercising along side dieting most I did was yoga before but I have been using a spin bike and rowing machine! I have a really achey chest and breast area! Naturally brain is concluding heart attack can someone please tell me it’s the muscles I’ve never used before from these machines

Thank you so much @MrsWhites, it’s reassuring to hear. I hope it also serves as some reassurance to those that suffer with breast pain as the consultant said it’s very common. She also said as I’m approaching 40 (39 at the mo) changes are likely.

I will check out the link you mentioned thank you x

@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 😊

Hi does anyone suffer with health anxiety and ocd? I'm not coping at all! Happy of indirect stuff happened last year but I fell into deep depression in august. I started seeing a fab therapist and things were going ok. I fount out I was pregnant with my 5th but sadly the pregnancy ended with a medical termination. I was so poorly that when I started to feel better I was on such a high. I went back on the devil pill (cerazette) for 2 weeks at the end of November and cried the entire time. Had no period until January then I started having tearing sensations and ver minor blood spots after sex. I was getting awful thrush and could feel raw spots on the outside of the entrance of my vagina. This put me off sex and we've only done it a hand full of times since. Always the same. Even with a condom. Tearing sensation and ver minor specks after that stops within seconds. I have a gp appt Tuesday morning and I'm totally I have cc. It's like a battle in my head. One side is totally rational: been with same partner for 14 years, 2 smears that were normal, last one being 2018 that said hpv neg. I stopped smoking in 2015. My periods have fell back into a regular 28'days. Awful pms but expected that. No abnormal discharge no spotting at any other time no pain no nothing. But then the other side is battling back with BUT such and such. My gp expects it to be nothing and probably hormonal so Iv got a coil refit in April but I'm just not coping. Anxiety attacks, fatigue just all round crap!

@Cheesestring19 Here you are!

Hi @Cheesestring19 Just wanted to send you a longer post now, really glad you found it here! What you are experiencing sounds really like what I experience, and there is definitely a link between OCD and health anxiety, I suffer from frantic needs to check repeatedly, almost like an obsession. And also obsessive thoughts about health. Mine was triggered last November by a giant breast cyst. Which I had drained and it went away.

My worry is tend to relate to breasts, and also anything gynaecological. At the moment my periods are crazy, logically I think probably due to stress, but like you it's incredibly stressful. For the last two months I have also had some spotting as well.

This month I don't think I have even ovulated yet, and my period is due now technically, so goodness knows what's going on! We are all in the same boat anyway, and no doubt others will be along to say hello soon.

Small achievement for me this last couple of days. I've managed to rest my hands on my breasts when in bed without checking, also had baths without bubbles and washed without the shower puff and without digressing to checks. Baby steps but I feel good about it!

@Skyliner001

Small achievement for me this last couple of days. I've managed to rest my hands on my breasts when in bed without checking, also had baths without bubbles and washed without the shower puff and without digressing to checks. Baby steps but I feel good about it!

Mine is literally like a mini battle in my mine. Never ever suffered with health anxiety. All my family have mental health issues and I saw how badly it effected them. Now it's me. Most days are better but some days it's like Iv gone into a deep dark hole. I know I'm being totally irrational and I'm nearly 60% certain it's all hormonal as Iv suffered from hair loss, irritation, acne mood swings pms anal fissures just a whole host of things. My coping is what will be will be. My gp appt is Tuesday morning. I know once I'm there I'll be ok. I think. I'm happy that Iv finally made the appt because if it is something then it'll get sorted but I'm also a ignorance is bliss type of person. This is awful!

It really is awful, and I wouldn't wish this anxiety on anyone! It's so hard to control, I also have days when I feel exhausted, and it's hard to get out of bed! I started taking sertraline in early December, and that has massively helped. I'm definitely a doctor avoider where I can be… I hope that your appointment goes well on Tuesday morning, and hopefully will give you some relief from the anxiety X

@Skyliner001

It really is awful, and I wouldn't wish this anxiety on anyone! It's so hard to control, I also have days when I feel exhausted, and it's hard to get out of bed! I started taking sertraline in early December, and that has massively helped. I'm definitely a doctor avoider where I can be… I hope that your appointment goes well on Tuesday morning, and hopefully will give you some relief from the anxiety X

Defiantly. Another trigger for me is googling stuff! That place in the internet is the devil! I think that's where it all started with me. I by passed the whole 'spotting after sex is common' there's millions of other things it can be' and just saw cancer! I'm hopeful too