Bring your health anxiety woes this way!

[merryandbrightdelight]

Just thought I'd start this thread because I am sick to death of my health anxiety! Currently back on sertraline and have been for around a week. I developed HA 4 years ago after DD1 was born, had counselling which was great, and was doing really well. Dipped again a few years later so had medication, and came off it this summer as I felt great, however the last few weeks I've been suffering really badly so have gone back on medication.

Last week I was petrified of a heart attack, and this week it's breast lumps. Last night I spent around 4 hours off and on prodding and poking the side of my left breast and the area around it to the point where today I am so incredibly sore.

Anyone else want to join?

Me!! My health anxiety is severe it's actually turned into a severe form of OCD type behaviour. Like you I've had counseling but didn't find it helpful. I'm not currently on medication because I'm so anxious of side effects. I'm convinced I have a heart problem and I'll drop dead any second. I've had it for many years but it got worse after my son was born 18 months ago. It's taken over my life and it's actually debilitating to the point I can't be home alone without melting down. I avoid any strenuous activities because I worry my heart can't take it. I live in a constant state of fear for my health. I run over scenarios in my head from not wanting to drive. Go out, being poisoned etc all kinds of ridiculous things. I spent ages poking and prodding my neck because I thought I could feel a lump I made inside sore and convinced myself I had cancer. I spend at least two days a week in the doctor's because I'm sure something is wrong and they are missing it. I do have actual health concerns but nothing serious according to my doctor but I struggle to accept this and think they are wrong. Somewhere in my brain I know I'm being irrational but the other anxious part always wins. I feel bad for my son because I fear he will learn my behaviour and be a nervous wreck just like me.

Me too!! I have suffered with HA for 19 years, on and off meds, I've done CBT (didn't help me) and tried everything under the sun.

For me it's the constant worry about having cancer, any little thing that could be a sign and I spiral, I see myself lying in a hospice dying, leaving my young children. It seems to be everywhere and so many young people have it, I am convinced it's coming my way and it's only a matter of time. I've been where you are OP with my breasts, several times. Ended up seeing the Dr for her to check them and they're fine but it still doesn't stop me sometimes.

HA sucks!

Yes!
Todays HA is a stroke.
Woke up with pins and needles in my arm from laying on it but of course my brain is telling me a stroke is on it's way. Ffs

Ah I am so sorry to hear that you suffer badly too! Mine started after having a baby too, I'm sure there are some links there somewhere. I read a post on here a while ago and the poster worried about their heart, so to counteract it she used to jump up and down on the spot to prove to herself that she was fine - I adopted this last week and it did help to be honest. I did made myself sore too before from checking it's so awful. Are you taking anything?

Ah just re-read that you aren't. Would you consider it based on how others react to medication?

Ah 19 years is such a long time! Do you know what triggered it?

I have been there with this too! How do you cope?

Same here, suffered HA all my life on and off, 56 now and it’s really ramped up since menopause, this week I’ve convinced myself I’ve got lung cancer, breast cancer and a DVT, it’s exhausting. The problem is now I’m at this age I am waiting for the axe to fall on me, so many of my friends are getting sick, a couple are terminal. Menopause has definitely made it worse as my anxiety levels are through the roof, couple that with getting more aches and pains as I age anyway, it is hell.

I'm terribly anxious, too - constantly reading online about symptoms, gosh... Got a lot of weird aches and pains since the menopause started, and its driving me insane. I have to stop myself thinking about it, or I will never sleep ((
I think my GP has "hypochondriac" against my notes, I feel embarrassed going to see him when I really want reassurance that my chest pains are not angina and my bloated stomach is not cancer.

Yep my GP has written ‘cancer phobic’ in my notes, whenever I see another medical professional it’s the first thing that comes up, I’m not at all happy about it as I’m sure they make a judgment about me before talking about my health issue.

You just keep telling yourself it's all in your head.
That it's not really going to happen, but if it actually does you will just call an ambulance and everything will be ok.
Talk to yourself the way you would do to another person in a panic to calm them down.

How has everyone been getting on this last few weeks? We had a Christmas night last night at some friends of ours and had the equivalent of a bottle and a half of white wine, then two baileys, plus baileys chocolates (I rarely drink) so woke up this morning headache free but so anxious and my heart was racing, so I googled, stupidly, and it was coming with with symptoms of too much serotonin in the body, which made me even worse! Told dh who said ring 111 if I was worried, which I did. Lady on the phone was lovely and said she was sure it was nothing and just my anxiety but best to be checked else I would just sit at home and worry more. So we all went through to the hospital, ECG and fine and normal, blood pressure ever so slightly high so was done again before I left and the doctor said it was fine, and she was also lovely. She said Sertraline doesn't work with alcohol because the alcohol 'blocks' it, that I was on the right doseage and to keep going with it. I felt so much better even though it was a long morning and I was mortified they would think I was wasting their time.

I missed my sertraline dose today so will take it tomorrow, so my anxiety is at an all-time high tonight which is to be expected but I just need to try and keep calm. Learned my lesson though, no more alcohol