Health Anxiety need some advice and sertraline

Mental health
1

Hi everyone 

So I'm coming to terms that I have health anxiety; having a manic year so fare, with so many physical symptoms, such as tingling hands and feet, crawling full over body sensation and constant  ice pike headaches to name a couple, MS scare, MRI done all clear. 

So mentally it has been pretty much a high manic.. And docters have said it was all anxiety related. 

I think after Having the results of the MRI was when the health anxity really kicked in.. 

I have become focused even obsessed about finding out what was really going on.. Physically. and it's making me Ill; developing more symptoms than before digestive problems, aches and pains twitching.  

Anyway I have convinced I had so much going on, like eye cancer, due to a spot I found, had to go to three different eye docters before finally being able to stop believing. 

HIV ect 

Bowl cancer.. 

And most recently skin cancer, due to all my moles looking like they are changing getting bigger ect. I found myself this evening paiding privately to see a Docter who specialise in the field who examined me and said I was find before hand tho the visit I went to my GPs and saw three doctors who would not refer me.

I walk out of the office and for the first time this year cried, not for joy or anythink like that at all.. The reason being that I am so confessed about the person who I have become.. Apart of me doesn't believe the Docters and wanting to go for a seconds opinion.

Anyway I find myself in a position where I'm starting to think taking medication might even help. I have refused prior. I can't stop myself feeling this way and switching off, and the twitching is driving me crazy...

I started counselling last week have second appointment tomorrow.. 

I was given sertraline to take but haven't ordered it yet. 

Wondered if anyone has taken this with health anxiety..

Thank you for reading  

2

Hey Richard. 

Emma here. I have extremely bad health anxiety but now gone to severe depression as I've lost my job ect.  But i am waiting on an mri because I get pins and needles and numbness in my head.  And they wanna check. Which has scared me.. I get like bubble feelings in my for head like there's a lump moving about and scares me to death. I've had heart tests. . All blood tests.. I'm just never happy or trust the doctors as bad as it sounds. . I am constantly having panick attacks daily and tbh just about had enough can't stop crying and feeling like my life Is ruined I'm only 23.  And just don't no were else to go. 

Would love to chat

Emma

3

Hi Emma 

Try and calm nerves, I'm sure they just checking things out, better that they do so, rather than not. 

Just to let you know and for a little reassurance, for a period of over two months Feb-April I had all sorts of head sensations. I too had pins and needles and numbness across my head.. Forehead and face.. Also had intense headaches constantly everyday with included ice pike headaches around my eyes and temples..

I had a MRI of Brain and neck in April which came back clear. 

Try and keep strong Emma

Questions about the MRI and physical sensations.. please don't hesitate to ask

Rich

4

What kinda symptons did you get in your head Richard? ? X

5

I am happy I found that place and its makes me feel bit better that I am not only one.Yesterday when I saw my GP I told her that I am considering to try something non addictive for this and she told me there is nothing which is not addictive.She advised me to get fresh mint leaves make tea out of it and drink it .funnily enough it did work which is good ,will try again tomorrow lets see smile 

6

HI RICHARD..

PLEASE DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TAKING SERTRALINE... I HAVE BEEN ON THIS MEDICATION FOR ABOUT ELEVEN YEARS WITH LUCKILY NO Side EFFECTS  AT ALL, 

IT CAN REALLY BE A GREAT HELP FOR YOUR KIND OF PROBLEM...

VERY MANY PEOPLE FEEL EXACTLY THE SAME AS YOU, YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN FEELING THIS WAY.... PLEASE TRY MEDICATION, IT 'REALLY CAN CAN MAKE YOUR LI MUCH, MUCH BETTER.... I WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK  IN THE WORLD, YOU WILL BE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, TAKE CARE, LOVE DEIRDRE X

7

HI SORRY IT IS DEIRDRE AGAIN,

 I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I FELT EXACTLY THE  SAME AS YOU, PLEASE, PLEASE TRY NOT TO WORRY TOO MUCH......

Once again, very, very best wishes and sincere wishes to you, take care..Deirdre Xmas

8

HI SORRY IT IS DEIRDRE AGAIN,

 I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I FELT EXACTLY THE  SAME AS YOU, PLEASE, PLEASE TRY NOT TO WORRY TOO MUCH......Once again, very, very best wishes and sincere wishes to you, take care..Deirdre X

9

Sorry, I seem to be having a bit of a problem here sending messages to you, but the good with to you care certainly well meant,,,  Deirdre, xx

10

I also have health anxiety and cannot believe that I don't.  have an illness that the doctorshave not diagnosed yet even though the tests and MRI shows nothing,but baybe they have missed other tests!

i am too scared to take medication incase I get side effects and it seems that you can feel worse before you get better?I cannot face that,as I have absoloutley no support or back up at home and it scares me.But I have to say that this condition is destroying my day to day life as I am  too scared to do much or go far from home.

Every day I am imagine that I have a terminal illness.

i sympathise with you especially about the medication,which I might take if there was someone else living here and monitoring me.

i go to the doctors a couple of times a week for reassurance that I will not collapse at any moment,because of dizzyness and vertigo?Sometimes they take my blood pressure,sometimes not,but always tell me it is only anxiety so I feel and are missing the correct diagnosis and that they do not really take me seriously

11

hi richard! i feel ur pain as i used to worry about the slightest thing! if i get a tiny pain in my head i think i got a brain tumour! look m8 u just gotta be strong minded only urself can beat this! when ur feeling these thing u just gotta tell urself that its all in ur head and tell urself it ant gonna get to ya! do things like read books watch tv go out for walks just things to take ur mind of things! i joined a gym and took my anxiety out on the wieghts and started to get a half decent body that made me feel great! come on lad u can beat this! keep me posted and always here for a chat if u ever need me

12

Hi Richard,

Like you I have health anxiety as well as anxiety regarding all sorts. I feel my whole body for lumps And immediately diagnose myself with cancer. I was convinced I had a lump in my testies... Had it checked by three different docs ands demanded an ultrasound. Low and behold the results showed nothing. I convince myself I have pains which are cancer... I used to make an appointment with my GP every week for the smallest things. Scary to me while others thought I was crazy. Nowadays I'm on setraline to cope with my anxiety disorders and have been on them a week now. I'm guessing they haven't worked into me yet but things are going well so far. Fingers crossed

13

Hi ian can I ask you how you getting on with sertraline like you ive been put on it this week but side effects ant great feel more anxious and jittery and feel sick! Been back to docs and said they might make you feel bit worse b4 you get better! Doc also gave me oxazepam which has helped a lot but I hope you don't mind me asking how u getting on with sertraline and what side effects u getting

14

Hi Kevin, 

I've been on them now for 8 days. I did feel more anxious after the first days but this might still be just my normal anxiety kicking in. Topped with the setraline I am prescribed diazepam which I take if I feel a panic attack coming on. I was on lexipro before but it didn't do anything for me and made me worse. The docs say we have to get the meds right as they vary from person to person. Maybe it's to soon to say but I haven't had side effects from the setraline. Sorry I couldn't be more help

15

Thanks ian I think ur right mabe cos I was anxious anyway b4 taking sertraline. I am on diazepam its a great help for anxiety but went docs yesterday and he put me on oxazepam which is solely for panic attacks where diazepam is used for it but also used for other things! Ive taken 2 oxazepam tablets and what a difference! Have you tried them

16

Hi Richard,

I can across your post and was surprised to find how similar our initial health scares are with regard to symptoms. A year ago I had an MS scare as well, with symptoms of temporary paralysis, tingling, etc. The MRI ruled out MS but showed an abnormality on my brain which really was the beginning of my anxiety. Make a long story short and after many doctors later I have no explanation as to what caused this episode and have developed and increasing health anxiety condition. I wanted to know if you ever found out what caused your initial event? Is your anxiety better? I'm hanging on by a thread as of lately and am hoping you have good news to report two years later to give me some hope that I can get past this. I also recently started taking Zoloft to help with my anxiety.

Thanks in advance!