What is it? I have health anxiety

[Nogodsnomasters]

I want to start with saying that I have health anxiety and therefore can't really trust my own judgement on symptoms sometimes. For about 9 days I've had mild-moderate tummy discomfort which feels a bit like period pain or wind pain, I've been on cerazette pill for 4 years with no issues and therefore don't really get periods, maybe 3 times a year I would have mild breakthrough bleeding for a couple of days each time but have absolutely none of that during these 9 days.

My bowel movements have been normal but I feel I am going slightly more often (I'm usually very routine of once a day) but have been going twice a day some days during this.

I also feel like I'm urinating a bit more than usual but not an extreme amount. I do feel pelvic pressure when I need to wee as if I've been holding it in for an hour when I haven't. No pain on urination.

I've got some mild back pain but that could be muscular, I'm not sure. My tummy is not swollen. I'm absolutely freaking out that I have ovarian cancer. Am I overreacting? All advice welcome, thank you.

No one on here can tell you if you have ovarian cancer or not. I would see if you can get a non emergency appointment with your GP for about a week or 2's time.

As you will probably know with health anxiety your worrying can make symptoms worse or more noticeable because you are looking for them.

Spend 5 minutes at the same time every day noting down any symptoms you have experienced. Try to limit the time you give to worrying about this. And if this problem occurs to you at any other time try to let go of it either by distracting yourself or using mindfulness. Be busy and as active as possible. Eat normally. Focus on other things.

I doubt you have cancer OP.
What you have described is something that most of us will suffer from from time to time. It could be any number of things, best thing to do if the symptoms continue is to see your GP.
As you have HA you will know that none of us here will really be able to reassure you so the best thing to do is speak to a doctor.
I do understand though, I've had therapy in the past for HA but I'm much better at keeping it in check these days.
Tell yourself how many people have the same symptoms your having on a day to day basis all over the country. The majority of them will not have anything seriously wrong with them.

Thank you both for your kind messages. I was worried I was going to get messages telling me I'm being stupid. You're right I am focusing on it and therefore could be causing the symptoms to be worse by doing so as this has happened to me on other occasions with HA. I think I will book a non-emergency appointment with my gp which would be more likely around a 3-4 week wait in my surgery. I just find it strange to have these period pains when I haven't had a proper period in a few years, I suppose that mild period pains also could feel similar to a "nervy belly" right?

I get the odd cramps lower down in my pelvis from time to time, at times I've really worried about it and then it gets worse!
Also anxiety/stress will need to make you pass more urine and open your bowels more regularly as you are releasing lots of adrenaline and stress hormones by worrying.
So like you say try not to focus on it, make an appointment to see your GP, stay off google and try to avoid the catastrophic thinking that comes with HA.
Remember there's a big difference between 'sensations' and 'symptoms'.
Good luck

You are over-reacting.

ellapaella thank you I really appreciate it. It's so hard not to focus on these things when health anxiety threatens to take over your whole rational side but I will take the advice given and try not to think about it and book that gp appointment tomorrow morning.

yeoldetrout cheers

I have a random selection of symptoms that can be indicative of ovarian cancer - mine however are IBS, endometriosis and fibroid related. I've had scans whenever symptoms have changed just to check things out. So because you feel like this its highly unlikely its OC bit you will worry until you know that.
Just be straight with the doctor - you've noticed a change are concerned as symptoms could mean ovarian cancer and would like a scan/blood test to check things out.

Thank you, I've had stomach cramps/discomfort and lower back ache all day today, I've urinated 6 times so far from 7.30am and had 2 bowel movements for 3 days in a row (not usual for me). I feel filled with wind. Will ring gp tomorrow and book a non-emergency appointment for definite.

I've got a doctors appointment for 11th Oct. Still having mild discomfort today, not as bad as yesterday.

Let us know if they find anything, Ng.

It sounds a bit like my IBS symptoms - abdominal discomfort, excess wind, back pain, occasional frequent urination. IBS can make you pee more due to all the wind pressing on your bladder. Hopefully it won't be anything serious :)

Probably wind or something has disagreed with you a little. I get like this if I have eaten too much fruit or lactose.

yeoldetrout I will, thank you.

The universe isn't helping as my 29 year old niece has just been diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer today, that's not helping the health anxiety at all.

I had pretty much all you described 7 years ago and went to the GP. I was convinced I had kidney problems (I had once before). The gp was convinced it was IBS. I had every test he could think of, all clear. Finally I gave the IBS medication he had been trying to get me to take a go, and all my symptoms cleared. It was IBS after all. Occasionally I still get the symptoms but knowing what causes it has made me far more relaxed about it and I find being relaxed helps as much as the medication.

Your initial symptoms of stomach discomfort, slight cramping, and needing to wee more often and feeling like you need to go when you don't are exactly how I felt a few weeks ago with a UTI. Didn't have the characteristic 'burning when peeing' symptom, mostly just noticed I felt like I needed to go all the bloody time, it would just have been and suddenly felt desperate and then when I situated myself on the loo.. nothing. Maybe a drop. This built over a few weeks, I didn't really notice at first because I was trying to drink more water and like everyone says, when you drink more you end up in the bathroom all the time, plus I was busy with work. It wasnt until I started getting stomach and lower back pain it clicked, so off to the GP, one course of antibiotics later and all back to normal.

I know health anxiety is hard, but try to remember that it's far more likely to be something simple than something major. Plus, googling any symptom for long enough leads to cancer eventually, even pregnancy symptoms can show as potential cancer!

Most women with ovarian cancer don’t know they have it (my Mum had it and didn’t know until she went about something else routine). Symptoms including persistent bloating (doesn’t come and go), change in bowel habits, abdominal pain you feel most days and difficulty eating. It’s worth seeing your GP or obviously seek urgent medical attention if it suddenly gets worse. I had similar symptoms and got admitted with a ?appendicitis. After investigating it turned out to be caused by endometriosis.

Thanks everyone, I did consider a silent uti as I don't have burning or pain when weeing but all my wees are "full" not dribbles if that makes sense. I feel like my bowel habits have changed as I'm going twice a day now instead of once. I am bloated off/on definitely not constant.

Pp who's mum had ovarian cancer (sorry I can't click back on phone to check username) that's what worries me is that usually by the time you have the symptoms it's progressed. It says on the NHS website that if you experience these symptoms for even 12 days out of a month you should ask to be tested for ovarian cancer.

I have also read though that similar symptoms could be fibroids. I kind of wish I had a sooner appointment just to stop all the anticipation but then I feel stupid wasting an emergency appointment.

If anyone is still interested, last night getting out of the bath I had a medium sized clump of jelly/mucous come out of me mixed colour between red, black and brown. I took a picture of it on loo roll to show the doctor at the appointment if they're not disgusted that is lol. Tummy discomfort was nowhere near as bad yesterday as the previous few days had been.

OP have you done a pregnancy test?

I actually haven't but this isn't like the symptoms I had when pregnant with ds, no nausea, no overpowering smells. Maybe I'll take one just to know for sure.

I don't mean to be gross but where did the mucus come from? Your vagina or back passage?

Thanks pp, sorry i wasn't clear it came from my vagina. I did a pregnancy test about half an hour ago which was negative. I also rang my gp and told them I wasn't sure whether I should wait until the 11th to be seen, he said he'd like blood test and urine sample done so that he can have the results available upon examining me. So I've to leave a urine sample in the morning and I've a blood test next Thursday.

Had my blood test today. One week to wait now for my doctors appointment and get the results of both this and urine.

Thanks for keeping us posted, OP. How are you feeling ?