I have had health anxiety ever since I can remember. Literally,
In April I had a UTI was on wrong antibiotics for about 2 weeks they ended up getting changed 2-3 times and the pain in my pelvis just stuck with me, I also started getting pains up my Anus & left side of my stomach round to my back, doctors finally referred me to gastro & gyno and I'm waiting for those appointments.
Anyway since then I have been on a downward spiral also developing this " lump" in my throats feeling and severe acid reflux!
Also I think I tend to bite down on my teeth constantly and feel like the lymph nodes under my jaw and in my collar bone area are constantly up!
Same with my pelvic area & groin .. so of course I feel like it's lymphoma which I've had tests blood tests ct scan on groin & tummy, scope down my throat! All came back clear!
Also developed a bruising feeling on insides of legs that when I press they feel like I've got bruises there but I don't! I have also been getting night sweats! Constantly!
So I am severely depressed! I'm spending my days in bed and when I actually do try to tidy up or do something I feel to weak to do so, I get very hot and shakey and the lump feeling in my throats gets worse! I also have chest pain lower and upper and it feels so Achey and is worse when I breath up I'm really sick of it all! I'm on sertraline 50g only been on it for 3 weeks, was on citalopram 20g for 7 years before that,
THIS ALL CAN'T BE ANXIETY! I know I have something serious and I'm going to die! So scared I feel like doctors aren't listening to me! And it's going to be to late before they realise! Please help!
Sorry for long winded probably boring post!
A very scared and at a loss Charlotte x
It's hard to accept but yes it can all be anxiety, your desktop are listening to you, you just don't believe them. Sadly that's what health anxiety does. What you need is trearment, for anxiety,eds or therapy, whichever you want. Chasing endless physical symptoms will get you nowhere, drs will not treat them as they aren't actually anything apart from anxiety. It's hard to accept yes, but it is the truth
Desktop should say doctors, autocorrect!
As you've been on anxiety meds, it's safe to say they arent working, they often don't. Therapy would probably do you much more good
If you have health anxiety, have you asked your dr to refer you to a pyschologist who can give you come coping techniques and undertake CBT.
The one thing I have learned is that people get all kinds of aches and pains in various parts of their body no reason.
Drs aren't infalliable but I would be very surprised if you have anything seriously wrong with you after all the tests were negative.
Some of your symptoms might be side effects from your meds or just stress related.
Thanks guys.
It's just so hard to believe that this is all anxiety, im hoping if I do have something up it's not serious and I'm not going to die ☹️ I have been doing CBT but it hasn't helped at all seeing a specialist on Wednesday!
Still I'm so scared just want to be me again but I'm
Not sure if I ever will be
Thanks again
Charlotte x
Sadly CBT is the poor relation of proper psychotherapy, it's often given first as it's quick and easy to deliver. If it's not working be sure to ask for proper psychotherapy, it's a lot better
With regard to cbt or psychotherapy, the clinical psychologist i saw said when i asked that cbt is nowadays the way forward and that psychotherapy is for going deep into your past to see if there is something to be addressed. As i was living normally for 60 plus years she thought that it wasnt an option. Is this my fault or hers?
Every NHS therapist will push CBT first, those who deliver it don't necessarily need to be very qualified, it's certainly the flavour of the month, but that's not always a good thing. I'd suggest they should be choosing what's best for you, not what's popular. If it's not working, always speak out, don't just wait and see
I am having to go privately, nigh on 30 appointments now. I think its not really working. Is clinical psychologist the right person to deliver psychotherapy? Been told its not available on nhs as wait is too long and two staffvhave left. How domi find private psychologist fully qualified, is there a list?
Try looking for a psychotherapist rather than psychologist. The terms are sometimes interchangeable, but I tend to go for psychotherapist. If you Google for Bupa finder, it helps you find Bupa accredited therapists in your area who often have private practices. You can also just Google psychotherapist in your area. Treat them as employees, your paying them to do a job, if you feel they aren't helping then look for another. There's many different forms of therapy, sometimes it takes a while to find the right one