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Original poster

Need to stop researching, health anxiety

45 replies

emilylouisex1 · 22/12/2023 16:44

I've had a bad virus now for over a month. On steroids for the wheezing, slowly getting better, I've been bed bound a lot because I've genuinely been so unwell. I developed chest pain badly and wheeze was still very prominent so I went a&e who gave the steroids. Chest pain was inflammation they said, bloods were all good.
When I was in the a&e waiting area, I developed a pain in my right calf, like a dull deep muscle cramp. I wasn't worried at first, when I saw the doctor he felt my legs (he said it's probably not related to my chest pain but just wants to see) and went 'hmmmm ok' and then asked other questions but that was it...now the pain is still in my calf I'm wondering whether it is a clot and I should be in a&e AGAIN😭 it's like a throbbing cramp, maybe I sat awkwardly or something? This health anxiety is really getting the better of me I'm so scared all the time. There's no swelling, redness or heat. Just pain and I can walk around as normal

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Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 22/12/2023 16:52

Pls no mean comments already a stress head

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Wolfiefan · 22/12/2023 16:56

You have diagnosed health anxiety? What’s your treatment plan?
I had a DVT. Hugely swollen leg. It was very obvious for me.

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 22/12/2023 17:03

Wolfiefan · 22/12/2023 16:56

You have diagnosed health anxiety? What’s your treatment plan?
I had a DVT. Hugely swollen leg. It was very obvious for me.

I do yes & im doing therapy at the moment although I must say it is not making much difference at all. I'm scared everyday. & sorry to hear that! My leg is not swollen at all, no discolouration either, nor is it hot to the touch, even touching it does not change the pain at all or worsen it but it's like a dull cramp...I'm really fixating on it :(

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Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 22/12/2023 17:52

I've had enough of this, everyday there is something new, I can never just be normal 😭😭😭😭😭

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Nursemumma92 · 22/12/2023 18:51

You could contact 111 for some advice if you are feeling really anxious- they can get a callback and triage whether you need to be seen urgently. I would do that rather than go to A+E, it will be an extremely long wait due to the Dr's strikes. Obviously if that's what they advise that's different but they might be able to get you an out of ours GP appointment in the first instance if that's appropriate for them to give it the once over. You can fill out a form online too https://111.nhs.uk/triage/check-your-symptoms
This will avoid be on hold for potentially a long time. Hope you can get some reassurance soon!

Check your symptoms - NHS 111

https://111.nhs.uk/triage/check-your-symptoms

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 22/12/2023 18:59

Nursemumma92 · 22/12/2023 18:51

You could contact 111 for some advice if you are feeling really anxious- they can get a callback and triage whether you need to be seen urgently. I would do that rather than go to A+E, it will be an extremely long wait due to the Dr's strikes. Obviously if that's what they advise that's different but they might be able to get you an out of ours GP appointment in the first instance if that's appropriate for them to give it the once over. You can fill out a form online too https://111.nhs.uk/triage/check-your-symptoms
This will avoid be on hold for potentially a long time. Hope you can get some reassurance soon!

I filled out an nhs 111 form and the result was 'you can safely look after yourself at home' and advised to look out for redness or swelling so I'm not sure 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 22/12/2023 19:01

No swelling at all

Need to stop researching, health anxiety
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Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 22/12/2023 19:26

Just filled out another 111 form to double check and it doesn't give the option to speak to a doctor at all, but I've seen people say blood clots can happen without swelling or heat or even redness :/

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Nursemumma92 · 22/12/2023 20:20

I would follow this advice for tonight then, as it's extremely rare to develop a clot and have none of either redness, heat or swelling. Unsure how long the pain has been going on for in your calf?
In the morning if you are concerned then call 111 and ask for a call back from a clinician and they can go through everything with you. Or do this tonight if you like but you will likely not get a call back until the early hours of the morning and they will only try twice to ring you before closing the case as it were.

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 22/12/2023 20:28

Nursemumma92 · 22/12/2023 20:20

I would follow this advice for tonight then, as it's extremely rare to develop a clot and have none of either redness, heat or swelling. Unsure how long the pain has been going on for in your calf?
In the morning if you are concerned then call 111 and ask for a call back from a clinician and they can go through everything with you. Or do this tonight if you like but you will likely not get a call back until the early hours of the morning and they will only try twice to ring you before closing the case as it were.

Only two days, it started when I was in the waiting area at a&e for wheezing and chest pain. I didn't mention it to the doctor because that's not why I was there and I know they are busy as it is but it has not stopped since, it's also in different areas within my calf, like il feel a throbbing my ankle and then calf and then shin....just all around everywhere there's no specific area. It does hurt though but I have the worst health anxiety going and half the time I'm ok actually 98% of the time

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Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 22/12/2023 22:15

Has anyone had random calf pain that eventually goes away?😭😭😭 it's really worrying me

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windywash · 22/12/2023 22:26

Oh @emilylouisex1 I've no advice but I suffered from health anxiety and still do, although not as bad and I know the feeling. Once you get something in your head you are convinced you have it and there is always something. I was seriously ill due to health anxiety but I am slowly getting better.

Wolfiefan · 22/12/2023 22:36

You have had advice from 111. Don’t look up symptoms online and increase your worry. Do the things that help your anxiety instead.

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 22/12/2023 23:32

windywash · 22/12/2023 22:26

Oh @emilylouisex1 I've no advice but I suffered from health anxiety and still do, although not as bad and I know the feeling. Once you get something in your head you are convinced you have it and there is always something. I was seriously ill due to health anxiety but I am slowly getting better.

How did you get better? Every single day I have a new random symptom and it doesn't go until I see the doctor and they essentially tell me I'm ok or do tests then magically the symptom just vanishes! I had chest pain for a few days before I decided to go a&e - after tests magically I barely have it now, it's SO exhausting and my rational is telling me this calf pain is not a blood clot but I just can't see it's not because google says 'not always redness or swelling' and I believe I'm going to be in that small percentage that don't have the swelling or redness 😭

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Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 22/12/2023 23:38

Wolfiefan · 22/12/2023 22:36

You have had advice from 111. Don’t look up symptoms online and increase your worry. Do the things that help your anxiety instead.

I didn't actually speak to anyone though, I just filled in their automated questionnaire, this is the thing with my health anxiety it will always give me the 'what if' my family have been failed by doctors so many times and resulted in multiple deaths. My Grandads blood clot was missed and he died suddenly, he was misdiagnosed with flu. My dad has bowel cancer and was diagnosed with IBD, I have no faith in the healthcare system 😭

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Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 23/12/2023 07:40

Woke up with no pain then as soon as I thought about it pain came swiftly, I really don't want to go a&e 😭

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Goatymum · 23/12/2023 07:56

To be kind, it probably is health anxiety related. When mine was really bad I had all sorts of aches and pains - I did have cbt but it hasn’t made a massive difference and I do genuinely have some diagnosed health conditions so never sure what’s causing ‘random’ symptoms.
Your family has been failed by medical
professionals so it’s no wonder you’re so anxious. I also had family who died after Drs missed or caught things too late - it’s def a cause of some of my issues.
I’m sure you don’t have dvt, esp if the pain is travelling around, but call 111 if you need to (a&e is awful atm so I’d avoid at all costs unless literally in danger of death).

Jeffjefftyjeff · 23/12/2023 08:04

I have had a pulmonary embolism. When I got leg pain recently that sounds similar to yours the doctors weren’t concerned even given my history. No action taken. It went away after a couple of weeks.

If the pain is moving around your leg and isn’t there sometimes it is highly unlikely to be a blood clot. To put your mind at rest and feel like you’re doing something you could: keep your leg elevated a bit when not moving, walk around a lot, keep well hydrated, maybe take half an aspirin a day.

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 23/12/2023 08:24

Goatymum · 23/12/2023 07:56

To be kind, it probably is health anxiety related. When mine was really bad I had all sorts of aches and pains - I did have cbt but it hasn’t made a massive difference and I do genuinely have some diagnosed health conditions so never sure what’s causing ‘random’ symptoms.
Your family has been failed by medical
professionals so it’s no wonder you’re so anxious. I also had family who died after Drs missed or caught things too late - it’s def a cause of some of my issues.
I’m sure you don’t have dvt, esp if the pain is travelling around, but call 111 if you need to (a&e is awful atm so I’d avoid at all costs unless literally in danger of death).

It's definitely the cause of my health anxiety, sorry you went through the same thing. I have filled a 111 form out twice but because I don't have the red flag symptoms it just takes me to the end saying 'you can safely look after yourself at home' and doesn't give me the option to speak to a doctor or nurse. & yes I will feel it in my calf, then the front of my calf, had strong pain in my ankle then sides, it's constantly there though it doesn't really go away which is what worries me but I think my anxiety is allowing it to stay, I'm so focused on it

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Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 23/12/2023 08:26

Jeffjefftyjeff · 23/12/2023 08:04

I have had a pulmonary embolism. When I got leg pain recently that sounds similar to yours the doctors weren’t concerned even given my history. No action taken. It went away after a couple of weeks.

If the pain is moving around your leg and isn’t there sometimes it is highly unlikely to be a blood clot. To put your mind at rest and feel like you’re doing something you could: keep your leg elevated a bit when not moving, walk around a lot, keep well hydrated, maybe take half an aspirin a day.

Sorry you had that, thank you - tbh I feel like the doctors would probably tell me it's nothing aswell, it's not a severe pain that I cannot do anything, I'm doing everything. It's just like a cramping/muscle pain, I wish it would go. It's going to ruin my Christmas lol I bet I will end up calling 111 then

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Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 23/12/2023 10:42

I think it might be sciatica, just went to sit down and had a jolt in my upper thigh😭

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Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 23/12/2023 17:08

Been doing Christmas shopping today, completely forgot about the pain in my calf, didn't even feel it until I get sitting down to wrap presents.

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Jeffjefftyjeff · 23/12/2023 17:42

That’s really positive 😊. Hope you are able to forget all about it and have a lovely Christmas

91BlackCat · 23/12/2023 17:54

Look on you tube for help with health anxiety.

Don't Google your symptoms, it will make things worse.

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 23/12/2023 18:51

Jeffjefftyjeff · 23/12/2023 17:42

That’s really positive 😊. Hope you are able to forget all about it and have a lovely Christmas

I hope so. I'm pretty certain it's not a clot now as the pain was literally gone whilst I was out today I didn't even think of it, now I'm back home it's back but I know the pain doesn't just disappear

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