Health anxiety is taking over :(

Mental health
1

Hi I've been experiencing the worst time recently with health anxiety. The thing that's getting time most is leg pain.

Since around Christmas time I was getting really bad cramps/pains in my calf , that of course made me go to the A&E department convinced I had a blood clot. The pain has spread and now in both legs.

Recently cramps have calmed down A BIT but not a lot but I have a new thing - I get flutters/twitches through out my legs.

Everything has raced through my mind - neuropathy problems, my arteries closing, blood clot (even though I have been tested twice and both tests came back negative).

It's really starting to take over, I am snapping and lashing out as I'm panicking about what is going on with my body.

Any help would be great, reading online to people's similair stories makes me feel better as it re assured me that I am NOT dying.

Currently waiting to start CBT classes

2

Your not dying amanda....especially not from something in your calf.

Why do they have you thinking blood clot?

If your leg has a spot...that is hot to the touch and contains any lump....then yea...blood clot....if not....it could be as simple as a potassium deficiency.

I am not DISMISSING your concern...just trying to ease your anxiety...drink some sports drinks...eat a couple banannas over the next couple days and see if you feel better.

3

I know how ridiculous it sounds, but I have everything racing through my mind.. Especially because pain travelling to thighs and these annoying twitches

Really hoping to be starting the CBT classes soon, I have avoided taking medication as I am only 22 I don't want to rely on medication to make me feel ok.

This anxiety only started when my mum got diagnosed with cancer .. I just can't get my head around how much it affects your body!

Such a horrible thing to go through for anyone having this.

4

I didn't say it was "ridiculous"...that is the LAST thing anyone wants to hear when they already have anxiety or think there is something "seriously" wrong...I do understand as I always google stuff and have myself dying.  Actually, I have been dying of "something" for 30 or more years....everyday I find a new thing that I THINK I have for SURE.

To me..you sound dehydrated.....give a bunch of fluids a try for 2 days..and then see how you feel...I know it seems silly "fluids"...but per the Dr...you need 3 bottles of water at LEAST a day....

I was also having leg cramps, spasms, twitching....only have them occassionally now and i try to drink lots of fluids a day.

5

Honestly I find myself calling me a freak. It's got to the point where I want to speak to ANYONE just so they can say "oh yeah I've had that to its fine it's nothing to worry about".

It really is horrible isn't it Google is the worst thing aswell, I know this but still find myself reading up on everything a few times a day!

I've been trying to drink lots more water as I also thought it could be down to dehydration. Eating a banana a day etc.

Hopefully this all passes soon. Thanks so much for your help!!! Wish you well x

6

I really don't like when people say....Oh yea I have that too...because i always feel like what I HAVE is worse...LOL.

I just started exercising yesterday at a gym...light weight...actually the machines..so it is light and easy...and honestly...some of my aches and pains are gone today.

7

When my legs and feet do that, it is a depletion of magnesium. I use a pure topical magnesium spray, and pain or cramps...gone is less that a minute or so.

Potassium is probable also depleted...fot that, I would use food...more potassium rich foods every day, like bananas and avocados. Look up more foods  on google. (You do NOT want to mess with potassium in any other form unless porscribed by your doctor.) This will build your potassium. The magnesium will work immediately. You'll be okay, Amanda. Hugs

8

Lol yeah I know what you mean... It's amazing how much you can over think things! I actually feel a lot better already just by speaking to you!

I go out walking a lot with the dog and my wee one where as before it would be drive everywhere!

Definitely going to be exercising more as its a good way to take your mind off things aswell I guess!

Also random ... But are you in uk or USA? Most people I speak to on this are from other side of the world lol!

9

Thank you so much for your help definitely taking this on board and have been looking into magnesium spray!

Thank you cia take care x

10

Have you tried cia idea of getting some magnessium oil spray! And soraying in theat area and rub it in? I hooe you have been rehydrating as we all discussed previously. The rest is dealing with youe mums cancer and how it effected you in therapy.  Tell the cbt counselor all this so he can workk this thru with cbt so you have a paper with all this on it to repeat iver and over until its accepted by your thoughts. I guess like ocd in reverse to undo this thought. I wish you well, feel good and keep hydrated. You are not dying love, you just need to allow yourself to start living.

11

The exclamation was suppose to be a question mark lol

12

Thanks Lisa been looking into magnesium spray going to try my local Health shop before I buy online! At times I feel like it just takes over and I see all my friends out enjoying themselves and really putting the "love life" saying to use lol!!

Then there is me the paranoid wreck!!!

Thanks very much for your comment xx

13

I am from the USA Amanda...you have a little one?

Let me tell you this...my mother was studying to be a Nurse when I was younger...and her medical books were everywhere...I started reading them...BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER...

Ever since...any little twinge of anything....I am on Google....thinking I have cancer....I have WASTED many years of worry...and actually worry can bring on disease...I probably SHOULDN"T have told YOU that.

Someday we will die from something...so while you are  young...try to divert your attention away when you start going crazy looking stuff up.

What I have tried...is to give myself 3 CHANCES....to look something up...and MAKE myself stop after that.....and DO something else.

Since you have a dog and  a little one....you can distract yourself easy

14

Where abouts in the USA?

I am from Scotland and yes I have a little one... So trying to beat this anxiety before I pass it down to her!

Do you know the funny thing is, I wouldn't say I actually worry that much... It's more a case of looking into things than worrying if that makes sense?

Then when I get a Wee niggle/pain/aches etc that's when I start getting snappy and then go on to distract myself. The leg cramps has been the one to really get to me!!

I can't even watch these medical programmes on the tv anymore!!

15

LOL....yea...don't pass it down to her...

Oh...I worry...the more i look...the deeper I go...the more panic stricken I get...more snappy and even teary eyed...I have even called Drs and left messages....wanting to ask questions about my blood work....like THEY don't know what the H*LL they are doing!

hahaha....I don't watch medical shows.

I watch all the murder mysteries...  Let me explain THAT.....I always wanted to be a lawyer and it was something I never accomplished....I also had a VERY scary experience and I never reported it....

I LOVE to see the bad guys get caught and how the police go about their investigations and the court scenes at the end when they usually get CONVICTED.

16

That's funny you say that!!!!

I'm a dental nurse been doing it since I was 16, and starting a course in a few weeks to do forensics!

Always had an interest in that! So fascinating I think!

17

Oh MY GOD...that is WICKED COOL...GO FOR IT.

Well you are...lol.

And that is a cool field to be in...probably not that many people are in that field and you can probably make alot of money doing it?

 

18

And TALK ABOUT DISTRACTION

Perfect..you will be studying...and keeping your child busy...and your dog....

honestly amanda...drink lots of fluid...and incorporate 1 sports drink a day for about a week (this is what my Dr. told me to do when I had the same cramping, twitching problems.)...and I hope you feel better.

19

It's just so interesting I think and yeah really good salary for that type of job!

What is it you do yourself??

20

I USED to work in Quality Assurance for a Biotechnology Facility...really good salary...reviewing the paperwork that was filled out by people who were making medicine in the suite....

I quit....long story.....I made 100K a year...on a high school diploma...worked there for 19 years...and 8 years in a facility just like it prior to the 19 years.