Need urgent help for health anxiety - medication for starters?

[worriedoncemore]

I've had health anxiety to varying degrees for years but the last few months it has been steadily less & less manageable. I'm terrified of getting cancer & spend hours checking my body for signs - last week I was obsessed with breast cancer and made by breasts red raw with constant prodding. This week it's lymph nodes! To cap it all, my son is having a few investigations for enlarged glands which is adding to my anxiety - likelihood he's fine but it's the "what ifs" that is torturing me. My life is busy and there are so many things I should be doing but am really struggling to focus on them. Even nice things like booking holidays & buying nice stuff for the house.

After another sad weekend, I really feel I need urgent help now before I spiral further. As a first step, I'm thinking of getting on some medication to lift my mood. I was on Citalopram years ago for general anxiety and it really helped

Getting to see GPS here is really difficult - takes ages to get through, then it's only a phone appointment at an unspecified time (usually when I'm working and can't speak properly), after having to tell the receptionist what it's about, then a face to face in another two weeks. Feel like I can't be bothered as I find it so stressful every time. Actually, I think it's the accessing medical help situation that largely triggered this latest bout as it all started when my breast screening got cancelled.

No point to this really but had to get it down as feeling extra anxious this morning....

To add, I waste hours googling for reassurance, but usually end up more worried. Been really trying to stop that and search on here instead but it's so hard. I'm perimenopausal which doesn't help either. My sleep is mostly shit (early hours waking & worrying) so I'm exhausted. The only positive thing I do is work out 3 times a week, I know if I stop that I've really lost it.

This morning I feel sick & my legs are like jelly. Doesn't help I have a stinking cold. Got to go to work which is better than moping around the house like at weekends but feeling so desperate...

I think I'd be calling and requesting a telephone appointment - if you've taken this medication in the past with positive results then I don't see why the GP will need to see you in person - you could find they'll prescribe over the phone after a chat.

As for getting that appointment? I know it's tricky. I'm currently trying to get one and Christ - you'd think I was trying to get an appointment with the Queen

Another option is to ask for your doctors email address. Email her the above and ask for the medication.

In the meantime, I won't seek to reassure you as I know that's not what health anxiety needs. Your sane brain knows you're just fine so make it your mission today to contact your doctor. Be direct and polite and insistent as you know what you need to feel better

Good luck

I hear you OP.

I suffered HA for years - like you I would get in to spiral of googling, prodding and obsessing over some part of my body that I was convinced had cancer.

I then moved on to being obsessed with having undiagnosed HIV and I was infecting my husband. That’s when I realised I needed help.

I tried CBT but that was only partly useful. Going on to Sertraline was a life saver for me. It wasn’t an overnight change but I realised one day that I hadn’t obsessed on anything for a period that I saw how well it had worked.

I’d honestly never come off them now - they are essential to my well-being.

@ThenAgainMaybeIWont thanks. Yes, I'm sure this is something that can probably be done over the phone. The wait for phone appointments is at least a week and then it'll be between 9&11 or something which is frustrating when working, especially as it's difficult to go somewhere where you can't be overheard here. At least if it was a specific time I could go out to my car or something. Will persevere though.

@DragonMamma sorry to hear you've suffered but glad you're OK now. Willing to try CBT, but that's likely a long wait and need help now! Will persevere with the GP, although I find ringing them anxiety provoking in itself.

So I've managed to get a phone appointment for just over a weeks time after 20 mins on hold so it's a start. They also seem to be doing specific time slots now which is progress I guess and makes it slightly less stressful....

I hear you too.

I have suffered for years on and off, diagnosing myself with almost every type of cancer the minute I feel anything not quite right with my body. I obsess over it until another issue appears and the previous one miraculously vanishes! I have banned myself from Googling which has helped a lot as the cycle of seeking reassurance, discovering something I didn't want to read but then can't un-see then seeking more reassurance was getting ridiculous.

I ordered a book from Amazon called Overcoming Health Anxiety, which is basically CBT in a book. I found it helpful although I have self referred for face to face CBT.

I have not gone down the medication route yet but I hear Sertraline really helps for this type of anxiety. Good luck with your appointment.

@OnthePiste I know what you mean about Google. Many a time I've regretted reading something (which may not even be accurate as anyone can write on the Internet!). Proud to say I've not googled today long may it last! I've seen that book mentioned a few times, may give it a go.

Have ordered the Overcoming Health Anxiety book. Hopefully, this and asking GP on phone call for meds next week will help put me on the road to recovery.

What will help most of all though is my son getting clean bill of health so I can cross that worry off. Been waiting 2 weeks for ultrasound appointment. Also anxious about results of chest x-ray (done yesterday). GP had originally referred him as urgent so I'd get answers quickly (she knew I was anxious) but Consultant angry he'd been fast tracked and accused GP of abusing the system and downgraded him. While comforting he doesn't think it's serious (hope he's right!), the waiting doesn't help the anxiety.

Gah!

Just thought I'd update this thread.

Had phone appointment with GP earlier this week who listened, agreed to put me on Sertraline and suggested I register for talking therapy. Have a follow up with her in a few weeks to see how I'm doing. Talking Therapies called the following day and I have initial assessment next week, very impressed with the speed. I was feeling much more positive, especially as my son's ultrasound is early next week so fingers crossed that can soon be crossed off my worry list.

However, for some reason, on Thursday I decided to start poking around my breasts again. I had been really good last couple of weeks, probably as preoccupied with a gland that came up after a cold (thankfully now gone down despite my prodding). I have naturally lumpy breasts that change a lot through the month (probably hormonal) and several times lately I've found a lump, freaked out, only for it to go down within a couple of days. Again I found a lump, couldn't sleep for worry and ended up seeing the GP in the morning to be checked (different one I spoke to re Health Anxiety). I've started a whole thread on that on General Health if you can bear to read it. Briefly, she assured me all felt normal but I wasn't convinced as could definitely feel a lump (which I constantly prodded all day yesterday). It has gone down a lot this morning so I'm trying really hard not to touch it in the hope it disappears completely, which I'm finding hard, but trying to distract myself. If it doesn't, I'll speak to the other GP when I have my review, that's all I can do really.

I so want to get better as this is wasting so much time and energy when there's so much else I could/should be doing. DH is trying to be patient but know he's frustrated as my apathy is affecting him too.

Thanks for listening. Will update when I can.

I've been on Sertraline for 3 days and, so far, feel worse. Awful anxiety, shaky awful sleep feeling hot, sweaty nauseous and panicky. I believe this is normal and hope side effects wear off soon. I'm on 50mg. Any experiences?