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Original poster

Health anxiety help

17 replies

victoriaaaa · 16/12/2021 14:35

Hi , so I had a scare recently with my breast but all turned out fine . Ever since then every little symptom with my body ( unrelated to breast ) I think I'm going to die or I have this awful disease . I think about my symptoms throughout the months and just keep thinking what if it's because I'm I'll . Even when I went to the breast clinic I still felt what if they missed something etc . But now I'm ok about that and feel reassured . But now I'm thinking I have all different kind of diseases . I'm constantly googling , it's effecting me really bad :( Iv rang the docs twice this week for a appointment to see if they can help me but I can't get a appointment at alll as they say they're full . What can I do ? I'm sick of waking up feeling fear and worry . I know it's probs in my head but I can't help it ! Has anyone else been through this and if on medication does it help ?

OP posts:
onewayandday · 16/12/2021 16:16

I'm going through this right now. I was investigated for a heat problem at the beginning of the year, dr's thought possibly something serious, I had a number of tests including mri, ecg, chest X-rays. All turned out fine - apart from this cropping health anxiety. I have chest pains, stomach ache, diarrhoea, pins and needles, headaches and Gp has said it's anxiety. I convince myself I have C (can't even say the word as it scared me). I went through a stage thinking I have MS. I cry constantly at the thought of leaving my children and even recently had panic attacks. It's awful and ruining my life and I'm sorry I have no advice but I know what you are through and totally sympathiseThanks

onewayandday · 16/12/2021 16:18

Forgot to say, I tried citalopram for a couple of weeks but that made me
Worse and was prescribed beta blockers but I was scared to take as I read it can mess with your heart. My Gp is really good though and I ring at least once every month and she always talks to me and reassures me

Original poster
victoriaaaa · 16/12/2021 20:56

@onewayandday

Forgot to say, I tried citalopram for a couple of weeks but that made me Worse and was prescribed beta blockers but I was scared to take as I read it can mess with your heart. My Gp is really good though and I ring at least once every month and she always talks to me and reassures me
Hi ! Thankyou for your reply , I'm so sorry your going through this . It really is horrible , I try explain to my partner and I think he's getting sick of me lol . Tbh I'm Getting sick of myself Hmm. I think staying of google would help but I can't help myself ! Hmm maybe I need to ask my doctors about the beta blockers . I too always think it's the c because that's all that comes up on google every time I search a symptom ! I hope your doing ok and Always here for chat Smile xx
OP posts:
Original poster
victoriaaaa · 16/12/2021 21:10

Sorry not beta blockers ! The citalopram x

OP posts:
dillydallydollydaydream7 · 16/12/2021 21:26

OP I could have written this myself Thanks I had DD1 in 2019 and remember giving myself a breast examination because I hadn't for ages and thought I felt a lump. Was referred to the breast clinic and spent weeks thinking the worst and it turned out to be a fatty lump. Months later I started obsessing about a gland on my neck to the point where I was prodding it so much the pain was horrific. I was sent for an ultrasound and cried all over the sonographer; thankfully it was fine. Then I went back to my breast and had a further three referrals for 'lumps' (all again fine and nothing sinister). I then had an ingrown hair down below and thought that was sinister. This week I've read so much about Omicron I've got horrible chest pains with anxiety which has been made worse as dh has just tested positive for covid (I've tested negative).

I attended Mind for around 8 weeks for therapy and was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder which manifests as Health Anxiety. GP gave me sertraline and I found it took the edge off, but I'm currently not on anything. I'm trying my hardest now with positive thinking.

I do hope that if you feel medication would help, that you speak with your GP. It's an awful thing to suffer with but you aren't alone here

Fuzzyduckduckyfuzz · 16/12/2021 21:41

Hi op, you're certainly not alone I've struggled for a long time with this. I am on venlafaxine which keeps me mainly on an even keel. I do have flare ups if I'm ill but it takes the edge off. This time of year always exacerbates anxiety I find. Always here to listen or chat xx

blueshiningsea · 16/12/2021 21:45

Not sure if it helps, but I found a lump and it was BC - and you know what, it ended up being fine in the end and I am at here. You never know what is around the corner and I am grateful for every day I have now x

Original poster
victoriaaaa · 16/12/2021 21:59

Dillydallydaydream7

Oh bless you ! Mine too was just a fatty lump . I cried all 2 weeks till my appointment . I struggled to eat / sleep etc , it truly is a awful feeling . I was only there two weeks ago and had a week were felt sane , now this week I keep finding new symptoms unrelated to lump . And just constant anxiety . I wonder if therapy could help me Hmm I remember as well when I was around 14/15 I had health anxiety then / depression but never got it sorted just got on with it and eventually got better .. Iv always been a worrier specially about health , with me and my family scared that they will get I'll too or just daft things !

OP posts:
Original poster
victoriaaaa · 16/12/2021 22:02

Fuzzyduckduckyfuzz

Hi Thankyou for a reply ! Is that some sort of anxiety medication? Smilenever heard of that before

OP posts:
Original poster
victoriaaaa · 16/12/2021 22:04

Blueshiningsea

That's so true , I'm glad your okay now ! Thanks

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dillydallydollydaydream7 · 16/12/2021 22:15

@victoriaaaa

Dillydallydaydream7

Oh bless you ! Mine too was just a fatty lump . I cried all 2 weeks till my appointment . I struggled to eat / sleep etc , it truly is a awful feeling . I was only there two weeks ago and had a week were felt sane , now this week I keep finding new symptoms unrelated to lump . And just constant anxiety . I wonder if therapy could help me Hmm I remember as well when I was around 14/15 I had health anxiety then / depression but never got it sorted just got on with it and eventually got better .. Iv always been a worrier specially about health , with me and my family scared that they will get I'll too or just daft things !

Honestly I found therapy a massive help - one hour a week and it helped to talk to someone unrelated who talked me through things. I totally recommend it!

I check my breasts monthly and I dread it - I'm paranoid, but soon as I move on from worrying about lumps in them I then worry about lumps elsewhere or things not being right, it's an awful, vicious cycle

QweenJinx · 16/12/2021 22:16

This is me too. I had a ovarian scare. I ended up having a total hysterectomy (inc ovaries) as there was endo, cysts etc but nothing sinister- thank God! But it took. Months and months of scans, blood work and waiting on results. Now I think that every ailment is life threatening. I take beta blockers for palpitations. I have a water infection at the mo and piles which I'm convinced are stress related- also I'm over weight and currently on a weight loss programme. Im thinking I'll never feel normal again! I work full time and my work mates think Im happy and upbeat. I've taken no HRT since the histo as im scared of increased C risk. It's ridiculous!

Hotpinkangel19 · 17/12/2021 08:08

I could have written this too, I'm currently on Venlafaxine which does help but the constant checking and worrying is horrible.

Mamabear12 · 17/12/2021 08:36

I have this as well, and what has helped (i do not want to take pills to calm my anxiety), is I go through the long list of things I convinced myself I had until I moved on to the next thing to focus on....ranging from lyme disease, leukemia, heart attack, kidney disease, diabetes etc....So now when I worry about other things, I go through my list and talk sense into myself.

Rosamond35 · 17/12/2021 08:50

I'm really sorry - health anxiety is the worst. And the boards here seem full of it at the moment - we're clearly all highly stressed!

You could try and find some online resources to try and break the thinking patterns you're caught in. I found this helpful.

www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Health-Anxiety

Original poster
victoriaaaa · 17/12/2021 11:16

Mamabear12

I might have to try this ! That's also me keep thinking about every single disease and think I have it . Definitely going to give it a try and write down , maybe it might put into perspective how silly I'm being lol .

So to my op I rang the gp got put on tablets which im happy about . Also talked to her about my symptoms and she said it's normal and she's not concerned with my symptoms . I'm kind of relieved , I hope nothing else pops up I just can't take it ! I think I'm really stressed with home life etc my kids and just general stuff so I think maybe that's the cause of my anxiety. Im only 22 and sick of worrying so much !! I hope these tablets work for me Hmm

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Fuzzyduckduckyfuzz · 17/12/2021 21:30

@victoriaaaa it is an antidepressant but my gp says it's more for the anxiety side of things. It took me a lot of different types before finding which worked

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