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Older Mum Health Anxiety Crisis - Advice Anyone?

5 replies

girlie1 · 30/03/2023 12:41

I am going through a horrible time as a 60 yr old, previously really fit and active (exercising daily, gym etc) whose world seems to have shifted after a head injury early Feb which may or may not be the cause of a whole bunch of worrying symptoms - leg weakness (as if I have to remember to walk), strange discomfort around jaw/neck, intermitent tingling in limbs, numbness on one foot, feeling of huge downward pressure on limbs, feeling like I'm on a boat, general aggitation and weakness.
My head was slammed very hard by a door in a toilet cubicle in a restaurant (not on purpose but if I could find that woman now 🤬 !). No worrying signs at first but dizziness started a week later.
Endless gp visits, then a private Neuro refferal later, my general neuro checks have been fine, as was a head scan but as I seem to get no better despite rest etc I have gone down a rabbit hole of googling MS/MND etc thinking the head injury may not have been relevant.
I'm booked for a brain / neck mri next week which I have pushed for, but am sure the Neuro is doing it to placate me. She is diagnosing Post Concussion Syndrome but I am still worrying that the worst diagnosis MND is not picked up by mri and something else is wrong.
To add to the fun a raft of blood tests have been done, mostly normal, but an 'incidental finding' of a low level of paraprotien in my blood, plus larger than normal red blood cells, low white..has set them doing more tests to exclude nasties such as Multiple Myloma, terrifying in itself. My gp says he thinks it's incidental and looking at other blood results I shouldn't panic but easier said and all that.
I'm literally in a state of constant anxiety and well aware that can cause these types of symptoms.
To make matters more complex my only child - my daughter is at uni, has ocd and is going through a big bad patch. I'm her 24/7 support line (literally just put the phone down to her sobbing), and that in itself is hell.
The gp has prescribed low dose Propranolol for anxiety (just took the first one after call from DD short while ago), I am contemplating CBD oil as an alternative and CBT /therapy as I will need to be tougher to face a diagnosis anyway if the worst happens. My gp is aware and supportive.
Prior to this life was good and happy, now I obsess constantly about the worst things happening and feel as if I'm diminishing physically/mentally whilst ignoring the things normally important to me - nice food for the family, keeping the house looking lovely etc.
Anyone with experience of post concussion syndrome/anxiety causing these symptoms advice gratefully accepted.

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OP posts:
anewbook · 02/04/2023 11:06

I am sorry to read you are going through all this. It sounds awful.
I’m sorry I don’t have much to offer but by giving this a bump hope someone will come along soon with some more constructive advice.
💐

lljkk · 02/04/2023 11:21

Just because you can think of something awful doesn't mean it's happening to you. Did the woman in restaurant toilet mean to attack you?

girlie1 · 02/04/2023 12:59

Hi and thanks for your replies and wishes. No the woman didn't mean to..my door must have been just off the latch..but she pounded in with great force and at just over 8 stone I'm quite slight, she was a much bigger person. She said sorry of course when I screamed in pain but I was shocked and I guess embarassed so never had any other interaction with her. Anyhow..I get that alot of this/all of this (🙏) may be anxiety induced. I am now just about terrified of using my legs they feel so strange and weak, barely able to carry me.
Added to that I'm fearing contacting the gp for results of latest blood tests. I'm thinking I ought to just get through the mri's Tues first ..one thing at a time.
My poor daughter back from uni to find her usually non stop on the go Mum a diminished shadow of her former self scuttling from sofa to bed and back.
I volunteer with a family charity normally and have had to knock that on the head for now. I've helped Mum's with mental health and other issues never imagining I would be here myself. If I get out the other side I'm going to double my efforts to help mums in need.
My heart goes out to the original op with a newborn and anyone facing either a mental health crisis, or a scary diagnosis with young children to care for. I'm fortunate not to have that on my plate.
Best wishes to everyone.

OP posts:
Meezerbabas · 02/04/2023 19:28

Hi I’m so sorry to hear you are struggling at the moment. It sounds to me that you have become overwhelmed by what’s going on in your life and this is causing your once manageable health anxiety to go into overdrive. I suffer from health anxiety and at the moment have a few worries that I am trying to keep in perspective - and mostly failing lol …I have just booked some CBT counselling and am trying very hard to keep calm. I understand completely how you feel. I have also started HRT to help with the anxiety - it seems to be working. The big problem is when you are stressed out you struggle to find the strength to help others as it only adds to the anxiety. I have also just read the Chimp Paradox and although the book has received some criticism it has helped me to get life into perspective and taught me how to recognise what my brain was doing in times of stress and why - by teaching me to step back, think and break down what is actually going on and not include what I might imagine may happen in the future. Anyway I’m rambling ! I’m here if you need a listening ear x

girlie1 · 07/04/2023 15:27

Meezerbabas thanks for your reply, so kind of you. I too have some CBT booked in and I have now been prescribed a low dose of sertraline. I wanted to avoid medication esp as I was concerned it may interfere with recovery from the post concussion, but there are alot of positive reviews and I took a dose earlier. Whilst I await the results of mri's just trying to keep calm.
I think you are right, I have become overwhelmed. Nothing feels normal. It helps to know I'm not alone, and I am going to look into the book you recommend.
I wish you well..and thanks again.

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