Very worried

[fantasmasgoria1]

I have suffered with back pain since 2011 when I slipped a disc and had sciatica. I have never stopped having back, neck and rib pain. I have health anxiety very badly and often visit the doctor if I am worrying. I’m convinced I have lung cancer now. I have mid back and rib pain. I went to a&e a couple of months ago with bad stomach pain and thourough bloods were done and came back normal aside from low b12. I had another blood test done a month ago to test b12 levels and needed injections. All other tests normal. I’m really worried about this pain in my mid back and rib pain, it’s not constant just on and off. I am just very worried and am contemplating going to the doctor tomorrow morning as I’m panicking. I have no other symptoms.

I have bpd and have had mental health issues for many years and I guess the lack of b12 has exacerbated it! I have had 6 injections and have to have them now every 3 months. Like I said I have degenerative disc disease and I guess they s must be the cause. I am seeing the psychiatrist on Wednesday so I will ask her to increase my medication. It doesn’t matter how much the doctors say I have nothing serious wrong I can’t help thinking I am dying.

I can't imagine how awful that must be to feel that way every single day. I hope you have friends and family that support you.

Have you tried talking to yourself? Saying I have had back problems for some time now. I have been excerting myself lately. I'm anxious which plays havoc with muscles as I am tense all the time.

Keep going over and over in your head the logical explanations. Acknowledge the thoughts you are having and accept them but be aware that thoughts can't hurt you.

Download the mindfulness app on your phone and try something like yoga. Even just a 5 minute sequence can relax you. Go get a massage or your hair done or your nails done. Whatever you like that makes you feel good about yourself.

My friend makes sure she does something everyday that makes her feel happy inside even if it's just doing her make up in a morning and it seems to set up a positive day for her.

OK I sympathise. I have b12 deficiency and it causing me all sort of strange health symptoms. I am also going through the menopause which add to it.

The problem is that these odd symptoms trigger the anxiety which then trigger symptoms. I've learned it is easy to fall into the vicious circle.

Having gone through a very bad patch last winter I've learned to acknowledge that despite it all here I am months later alive and kicking so when I suddenly have a sudden health symptom kicking instead of letting my fears grip me, I remind myself that it's only the same thing and that if I didn't suffer from anything drastic then I'm unlikely to do so.

One thing the body does when stressed and anxious is to tense up and that will give you muscle pain. In my case it's the muscles in my head in your case it could be your back/ lungs.

I know it is natural to want to increase you meds to deal with it but I would highly recommend trying mindfulness instead. The benefits are not instant but much mire powerful long term because it puts you in control. It's really helped me and I'm so much better now despite health symptoms still pestering me regularly.