Mole worry

[Mummyto2123]

Before I go to my gp and worry myself silly I need someone to help me calm down. I suffer really bad health anxiety and have been doing so well until the mole on my shoulder became slightly itchy. I stupidly googled and have convinced myself it's skin cancer. I've had it for as long as i can remember but I'm not focused so much on it. Does anyone have anything similar? Does it look worrying or normal?

Oh OP that’s brilliant. They really can help. I have been convinced in the past I have had everything from spinal cancer to HIV. 🤦‍♀️Anxiety is so awful but you can get help. X

Hi Op so glad you have booked an appointment, health anxiety is the worst. I really hope you get the help you need and it works for you.

How did you get on today?

She was really good I'm seeing a therapist on Monday and she's upped my meds. She also said she will prioritise my NHS dermatology appointment as the scar is red and angry looking she said. But she's gave me a cream to calm it down. I mentioned the white ring around it and she said not to worry about it. But that's the one thing I'm worrying about. What are the statistics of a halo nevus being melanoma?

She has told you not to worry so you need to focus on other things and find stuff to distract you.

A halo nevus is not a melanoma. It’s a benign mole. A nevus.

a melanoma is a tumour.

I have me NHS dermatology appointment through for 11 days time and going out of my mind worrying that I'll get bad news. I'm so convinced this is a melanoma

Your life will be much better with therapy. Health anxiety is crippling and exhausting

It's ruining my life to me completely honest

You are letting the anxiety ruin your life. Not the skin issue. And it will continue to do so until you get treatment for the anxiety. Do that.

I'm just so worried it's becoming an obsession. I can't focus on anything other than this. Constantly feel sensations from it then I try to focus on other things as I'm not sure if it's the anxiety causing the sensations or if they are real

You are suffering from health anxiety. You need to seek treatment for that. See your GP and explain how you feel.

Why is this still painful even after getting it removed? I don't get it at all. It can't just be my anxiety

It can be. You can always mention it when you see your GP about the anxiety.

Well I had the dermatology on last week and left feeling a bit deflated. I was supposed to see a consultant but it seemed to be a junior doctor. As soon as I went in he said it was a dermatofibroma then after I told him I had the mole removed from that area he said oh I'm glad you told me that then had another look with the dermatoscope then proceeded to say he was sure it's a dermatofibroma and if it is they won't do anything. So he got someone else in to have a look and she had a good few looks at it and said it looked like a hypertrophic scar which is what I was thinking it was. She said she'd get in contact with the GP and organise silicone gel and sheets which I have now got. I was hoping they would do something to get rid of it. I'm so disappointed that I need to live with this it's making my anxiety so much worse

DS went to the GP with a mole this week. They made an appointment the next day to have it photographed using a special camera and the pictures have been sent to a specialist. He has a change in shape and colour (shades of black and brown), though, not itching.

Sorry, I’ve just seen the update.

But you have now had loads of people look at it and have no concerns.

Have you had any appointments to address the anxiety?

But if it wasn’t this your anxiety would fixate on something else. Make an appointment on Monday with your GP and focus on the anxiety. Show this thread if it helps. You will NEVER feel better until you address your mental health.

You poor thing. I hope your anxiety levels begin to drop soon. I have a history of depression and anxiety, including obsessing over one particular part of my body (not a mole, but could easily have been), and I can absolutely confirm that anxiety and over-focusing on an area can cause actual physical pain and all sorts of weird crawling/itching sensations.

If you are the same as I was, then nothing anybody can say will reassure you that this mole (or what is left behind) is nothing concerning.

I have moles all over my body, including ones that have been removed because of irritation by clothes, and the remaining marks/scars look similar to yours.

I also have a mole that itches and occasionally crusts over in an area that means it gets irritated a lot. At some point I will get removed - in the meantime, I’ve had it checked and it’s just a mole/skin tag.

My parent had a malignant melanoma at my age. The fact that I am not full of anxiety about my moles (I am alert rather than panicked) should tell you is that your anxiety is far higher than it needs to be, rather than mine being too low. I’m so sorry you’re going through this, as I know how awful it feels.

It took me going to 200mg sertraline daily before I could pull myself out of my anxiety spiral. You definitely need to speak to your GP. You won’t always feel this way. One day at a time.

@SmallHairyBogCreature as someone in the pits of HA at the moment that was really reassuring and helpful to read. Thank you.

I have a small pinkish mole looking thing on my arm at the moment, appeared a few weeks ago. Definitely new. Am biting the bullet and getting it checked tmrw. Feel sick about it (literally). I do sympathise Op. I have considered sertraline but am concerned about side effects and need to do more research on it.