Freaking out

[Bex1517]

Hey. I'm one of those people that as soon as anything's wrong I google. Well. Every so often I get a dull ache in my shoulder which leads up my neck and up my head. So I've convinced myself I've got a brain tumour. Sometimes I get dizzy and light headed too which just adds to the worry 😩😩

Sorry to hear this Bex, it's painful to suffer from health anxiety I've been a life long sufferer. I found that rather than just Google it's best to pay a visit to the GP with the current symptoms plus you could mention your health anxiety. Don't let it fester and spoil your life.

I second the above regarding health anxiety. It is ruining my life. I have just desperately tried to get into my GP and I cant for a month. I have investigations on my bowel in just under 3 weeks and the worrying is ruining my life :( Ever since I have become a mom anything that doesn't resolve itself makes me convince myself I have something seriously wrong

Here here on the health anxiety. I convince myself something is wrong. Most recently it was jaundice. I spent weeks convinced i was going yellow (context to this is that im having pain in my liver area and shoulder). Try not to google, rich coming from me as all i do is google!

Hi Bex doesn’t sound like a brain tumour (I’d know as I’ve done a lot of research having diagnosed myself with one a few months ago 😂) my headaches were daily for a couple of months but have lessened now so I’m feeling a bit more positive about it and less brain-tumour-y. Sadly for me the worry it caused seems to have started a bit of health anxiety and I’ve been back and forth to the gp and am very worried about various other things now. If you possible can, then don’t google!!! If you must then stick to nhs website. See your gp as soon as you can to put your mind at rest and try to trust what they say!

NGC2017 I really feel that the long wait to see a gp contributes to the issues. It’s so hard to get an appointment, you either have to spend a month worrying you’re dying (and googling!) or get an emergency appointment which makes you feel like a fraud if there is nothing wrong!

I can get a dr appointment if I call in the morning it's the way it works in the surgery's around where I live. I just don't want to go and if I was referred for example I'd be an absolute wreck! I'm already waiting an appointment for a colonoscopy so can't take much more. I found too since I had kids I worry a lot more

I'm currently awaiting bowel investigations. I've already convinced myself of the worst. And I hate it that I am that way.

Last year was incredibly bad. I spent months in agony with my bones. Honestly it was awful. After being made to feel a hypochondriac by the GP the one day I walked in and I saw his eyes roll and I burst into tears. He finally sent me for a blood test which he didn't want to do as its expensive. Results showed I was severely low in vitamin D so an now on supplements for life. But all the months it went on and the longer I was hitting a wall with my GP I had convinced myself I had bone cancer.
Late last year I was suffering breast pain. Which I've suffered for most my life. Went on for months too. Finally went to the doctors to be told its all in my head. I remember leaving feeling stupid, but then in the shower I found a lump. I literally cried for 2 days until the Monday where I got an appointment, the lump was confirmed and a referall made. Thankfully I don't have breast cancer but had convinced myself I had.

Last year was horrific for us and my anxiety was out of control. My son was very ill and they suspected leukemia. He also had to have a brain scan. He starting have serious asthma attacks and our dog became very very ill due to a deformed spine. I was glad to see the back of 2018 lol.

The waiting tortures me. I must come across like a hypochondriac but my symptoms are always very real but I have such a battle getting a diagnosis. It's that space in between I am going out of my mind. I wish I could be more calm but people are so young these days dying of terminal illnesses, and the thought of leaving my child is just unbearable xx

@NGC2017 I'm with you. I've got a colonoscopy coming soon as I've had issues with my bowels since I had my second baby in 2017. I also found a lump in my armpit when I was in the shower and was a bloody wreck. Turns out mine was nothing sinister and antibiotics and cream made it disappear. I frantically check my armpits and breasts now almost every night out of fear. I'm like you the thought of not being there for my boys fills me with such fear. xx

Seems like health anxiety is a real issue for alot of people.
I guess we all suffer with it in some way but mine honestly cripples me. Not a day goes by where I don't worry about something xx

I suffer from health anxiety.

On a side note, sounds like muscular tightness in your shoulders and neck. The muscles in the back of your neck and shoulders cause tension in a band up the back and over your head. It can cause dizziness too...but in all honestly it's likely to be the anxiety causing that.

Totally with you all! I could deal with it but for my kids, it’s the fear of leaving them that sends me into a panic.
I think my dr is a bit sick of now and I won’t be surprised if I get an eye roll on my next visit. I find though that you look your symptoms up on the nhs website and it tells you ‘if you have x for more than 3 weeks see your gp’ or ‘if you have y see your gp as soon as possible’ so you do and then they aren’t even vaguely interested! I used to just ignore stuff and hope it would go away (and it seemed to work!) but since having my kids it’s hatder to be blasé about my health concerns.

Definitely worse when you' ve got kids. You worry about yourself, about leaving them and you start googling your kids' ailments...

How are you feeling @Bex1517? I've been struck down with an awful ear infection. It's agony and I'm getting very little sleep. I'm fed up.

I've also had a Google. Silly me. I've basically found that eating bread can feel quite uncomfortable for me. It's been happening for a while now. As I'm not a massive bread eater I've thought nothing of it. We'll que some toast and some discomfort let's just say I really wish I hadn't resorted to google.

I know we can't control these things in life but my worrying is ruining my life 😢

@NGC2017 hey 👋🏼. I'm doing ok thanks. Sorry to hear that you aren't feeling great. I always seem to find when I am kept busy I don't notice my aches and pains but when I sit down and think about it then that's when I start to worry. I've got the hospital on 3rd May to discuss my colonoscopy so bloody dreading that oh and am waiting for an appointment for a scan as I think my coil has moved. Absolutely living the dream right here xx

@Bex1517 I'm in 4th May for the same reasons. I've suddenly stopped being regular, now going to the loo every 3 to 5 days. I went earlier and have never been happier to go, but then hit with the 'well that's good but it really isn't normal for it to be taking this long'.
I agree that keeping busy seems to help. This ear pain has literally had me lying down all day feeling sorry for myself. I ended up at the walk in centre at 6am on Friday. I knew I had an ear infection but my face ear and neck was swollen unbearably and I knew I couldnt just sit this one out and let is pass. I'm praying tomorrow I get some relief. No, I'm actually praying I get a decent night's sleep.

I'm at the point now though where I feel I need to see my doctor to discuss the anxiety I get when something is wrong as it is overwhelming. I know its not all in my head, the pain and feelings I get are very much real but I immediately obsess over them and convince myself of the worst and then i get no enjoyment out of life through worrying all the damn time. I really do hate it

@NGC2017 since I've had my second baby. I struggle to go. On laxido and Senna tablets and that helps no end but when I stop it's like trying to push out a rock. I'm so paranoid about breasts. Keep getting a sore bit under my arm but it's where my wire for my bra sits so probably that but keep frantically checking 🙄. If only I could get a break from my thoughts. My husband just rolls his eyes at me. Xx

@NGC2017 how's your ear now? x

@Bex1517 it's worse. I'm contemplating taking myself back to the walk in as the antibiotics don't seem to be doing anything. The pain is now at its worst and no pain relief is helping. And I'm reluctant to take anything that is likely to block me up even more. My ear isn't worrying me too much. Just the pain is bloody horrific. That said my one ear perforated the once following a pretty bad infection. I'm just pissed off its my annual leave and I feel like shit. Meant to be taking my son to London on Tuesday. He is so excited but oh what fun that will be in pain 😢

My mom rolls her eyes and says what's next sort of thing. It doesnt help does it?! It's hard when they don't feel it themselves as they will never understand.
When I found the lump in my boob lady year I was beside myself. The consultant did help me but it doesn't mean I still don't obsess x

@NGC2017 oh no that's rubbish. There's nothing worse. Yup my mum tells me to stop being such a drama queen. I always come back with a stupid answer like you'll all be sorry when I'm right 🙄🙄. god I still check my armpits every day for lumps too xx

Sounds just like me. I say the same thing to her lol xx

@NGC2017 😆😆 xx