Help pleaseeee:(

Mental health
1

Ok so iv been suffering from health anxiety for a while now since September/October last year when I fount some lymph nodes up in my neck, I had the doctor check these which he said he wasn't worried about. After numerous times going back he finally referred me for bloods which all came back normal. I know everybody says to stay away from Google but I have been searching and all that comes up is lymphoma. The doctor is sending me for an ultrasound on these but not until May 2nd and further bloods may 6th this is so long away! Every ache/pain I feel like it's all cancer relatedsad

Can anxiety do this to me? I just keep feeling down and depressed about it. To the point where I'm having mood swings and taking it all out on my partner!

What I would like to know is if it was cancer would I have severe symptoms of this? I feel like I'm getting symptoms of cancer but would that be because iv read up on it I'm looking into it too much? I just need my mind to be put at rest. Thank you xx

2

Hi I am exactly the same as you. I think every little symptom every ache/ pain always means cancer or something very serious. I am sick with worrying about it. If you Google things that will make it so much worse. Do not Google anything it is so bad to do. Remember the symptoms you're having can be related to hundreds of illnesses but I know what you mean when you pinpoint it to one specific illness. I do it all the time. I don't Google anything anymore.

But every day I have a fear of being sick or having cancer. Last night I started getting itchy crawly skin and I am panicking over that two now. Obviously everyone gets itchy at times but to me it means something serious because that is what anxiety does to you.

Anxiety can make you feel so many physical symptoms. I have really bad health anxiety for 18 years now and I just turned 35 on April 1. It is so scary because our mind truly makes us believe that we have an illness. Google will only tell you the serious stuff. There are sooo many reasons for having the symptoms we have and some cannot be explained. Some symptoms are everyday normal aches and pains but I always think the worst. I have nightmares toosad do you ever get any other body sensations from anxiety?

I'm also scared of waiting for test results or going to the doctor because of what they're gonna tell me. It's torture waiting for results. I always think I'm gonna die soon from something life threatening. I here living like thissad

3

Too^ not two lol

4

* hate^ living like this I meansad

5

I'm so glad somebody has the same symptoms as me it is the worst thing ever!

I do always think it's cancer mainly ever since I fount swollen lymph nodes in my neck which haven't gone down! I feel like I get the 'cancer symptoms like sweating, feeling sick, loss of appetite, the mood swings!

Everything I get I instantly link it to cancerrolleyes it's really doing my head in now and starting to affect my whole life even my relationship and I also have a 14 month oldsad I don't think I actually get anything else apart from aches and pains I kinda feel in my bones like the cancer is spreading? It'd the weirdest things I feel sad xx

6

Yes I have young kids too which makes it that much harder because I always fear I will die and leave them without a momsad breaks my heart... And when I feel anxiety I feel irritable, cranky and a little but short tempered which I'm not normally like that.

Since having my last episode of bad anxiety ( which started again a month ago) although I've had health anxiety for 18 yrs; I feel so tired, hot flashes or sweaty, sensitive skin, my joints ache a lot lately and my stomach always feels crampy or nervous. I get a very mild ache in my left side every now and then and I get so panicked about that too..

I am not exaggerating when I say I worry about EVERYTHING health related. I am looking in to getting cbt and maybe mild form of meds again. I use to take Paxil. It was ok.

I always feel my neck for swollen lymph nodes too and although I have none that are swollen, I'm afraid one day they will be. I'm waiting to find something and I don't want to do that!!

Lots of ppl can have swollen lymph nodes and it doesn't always mean cancer at all. Any kind of infection whatsoever can cause that. Even a cold, a flu, anything. My friend found 2 big swollen lymph nodes in her neck and it was nothing. I thought right away she had blood cancer or lymphoma. I fear that in myself too that I have a blood cancer. I had myself convinced now ( after googling ) that I had ovarian cancer, stomach cancer, lymphoma, blood cancer, brain aneurysm, bone cancer and many moresad

All from googling and so far after all my test, blood work from my annual physical etc... Nothing was ever found. I started to not believe the doctors thinking they were lying to me or missed something.

So you are definitely not alone. This site has 100's of ppl like is going through the exact same thing. Almost everyone I know are complaint about aches and pains or joint pains etc and they don't even worry about it. It's just natural to them as where I would be panicking like

Crazy about it ( which I am) since having aches in my shoulders and legs. My periods are irregular too since having anxiety. That scares me too. You should try and look into cbt as well. It always helps to talk to someone who knows what were dealing withsmile xx

7

Oh and nodes don't necessarily go down( which is no biggie) if your test come back fine. It's when they start getting much bigger I think you can be a bit more concerned. I had a lymph node swell behind my ear and I though for sure cancer and it's still there after 14 yrs. it didn't get any bigger so the doc said it was nothing. I get nervous just talking about these kind of things ( lumps, nodes etc) ppl without anxiety wouldn't even care about anything that we make such huge deals about.

I think my itching is from me focusing so much on it that my mind is making me think it's worse than it is. Anxiety can make us feel things much more if we dwell on it. Sucks!!!

8

It feels great to have somebody who knows about the symptoms sorry I took so long to reply I hope your still around for a chat.

I have only ever suffered this since I fount the node in September/October last year iv now got a few but they aren't very big and they are moveable. I know the lumps your meant to worry about is hard fixed lumps these aren't like that. I drill this into my head all the time when I'm about to have a panic attack, then I start feeling achy pains in my neck and color bone which is close to where my lymph nodes are!

I feel like all my legs feel achy and bruised. I also went back to the doctor a few days ago with a big rash thing on my leg he said its herpes (not the std) lol! He gave me tablets for it. Was meant to take 5 a day but I took my first one and it made me feel sick so I have stopped taking them and now it's going like a bruised big purple thing so don't know weather it's clearing up or getting worse I need to go back and make an appointment tomorrow!

I get aches all in the top of my shoulder etc and everytime I google it always related to cancer and then I start getting symptoms that I link to cancer!

I feel like I'm losing my appetite which is related to cancer but I'm also sure it relates to anxiety to?? Also when I feel panicky and hot n sweaty I feel like my throats closing in which I'm sure is also a sign of anxiety? :-( really does suck! I hate it I always want to sleep to stop myself thinking and panicking but it's not good when you have young children either it's effecting me so much and I'm only 20! 21 next Saturdaysmile

Iv had bloods and they all came back fine. Also had a d&c a few weeks ago from a miscarriage and they took plenty of blood from me and nothing came of that or they surely would have told me? I always feel like the doctors hiding something from me or they've given me the wrong test resultssad

I have got a scan on the 2nd May and more bloods on the 6th May don't know why they have to drag it out for so long when they know I'm suffering from this really bad!! I haven't noticed my periods being irregular which I'm very surprised because I feel like I'm monitoring everything I never did this or felt like this until I had my son Bradley nearly 14 months ago:-(

I read on Google with cancer you get aches and pains, loss of appetite, bruise easily, always out of breath or find it hard to breathe and I feel like since reading that it's all happening to me so I'm linking it all together I just wish it would stopsad

Thank you for you replies it really does help talking to somebody who knows what I'm going through!

Xxx

9

Hi Kirsty and Mandi,

Thought I would comment to say u are not alone I have health anxiety all started about nine months ago I

was checking myself for lumps all the time for no reason other than to find something not because I was

Unwell I knew it wasn't rite but couldn't help it, I started getting the odd panic attack at work didn't think

anything of it until one day I woke up feeling so I'll I thought I had cancer and was dying. My symptoms

Started so awful waking up every day feeling sick had a bad pain in my left side of abdomen like a cramping

Pulling pain witch is the most worrying, felt like I was loosing my mind dizzy didn't feel in control or feel in

My surroundings racing thoughts all day long. I went to my doctor and said I think I've got anxiety and I got

Mirtizipine it has helped with my thoughts about my health abit, but most physical symptoms are still there

Witch make me so worried I have a physical illness and the doctors just won't listen to me I have been

Complaining about this pain in my left abdomen for two months now and they won't even send me for a scan all my bloods where Normal so they just sending me off!! I'm 21 female and want to move on but can't if my

mind is not at rest. Lots of respect to you I know it must be difficult with a child aswell, my boyfriend doesn't

Understand and says it's all in my head so I just don't speak about it with him if he's not willing to understand

That's fine! I feel like the passion and drive that use to be in the pit of my stomach has been ripped out and replaced with anxiety!! I hope we all find a way trough. Wish u good luck.

I'm awaiting CBT have you tried this? Its suppose to be helpful.

Take care Sinead xx

10

Health anxiety is the most debilitating condition. 35 years ago my neighbour died from cancer. She was only in her thirties. She had been suffering from pains in her arms and legs for a number of months and it turned out to be cancer and she died fairly soon after her diagnosis. She had been ill for two years and hadn't known. Anyway, at the time I had an 18 month old child and I had been suffering from leg pain for several months, after my neighbour died I convinced myself that I too had cancer and was too afraid to see my doctor, so I stupidly decided to try and get pregnant, I say stupid not because I didn't want another child but because if there HAD been something wrong I might have had to choose between my unborn baby and treatment! I just believed that there couldn't be much wrong with me if I managed to concieve, which I did and I gave birth within the year to a healthy boy... what I am saying is, here I am, 35 years on and I am STILL suffering from the leg pains I had all those years ago when I made myself ill with worry and clearly it WASN'T cancer! I have been a worrier all my adult life and to a degree it has ruined my life. Every ache and pain I believe is bone cancer, I have a painful back problem which I was convinced was a tumour on my spine. Headaches are brain tumours, my eye sight is starting to fail only because I'm getting older and simply need glasses but I even worry about going blind.... can you see the pattern? Anxiety leads to depression and it's depression which is the killer! Most cancers these days are curable and I have learned that it is far better to know and deal with it head on, catch things early enough to get treatment and get better rather than bury your head in the sand because if your unlucky enough to find yourself terminally ill, not going to the doctors isn't going to make the slightest difference is it? and eventually you will have to face it. I am now having therapy for my anxiety and I am hoping I can overcome my problems and start to enjoy my life because I have been such a misery for so many years and must have been hell to live with. Please don't be like me..... if you believe you have a medical problem, see your doctor and if you don't like his diagnosis it's your right to ask for a second opinion. If your problems are down to anxiety, ask for help. Don't let anxiety ruin your life.

 

11

Hello has anyone found out why they have a lymth node  uve had one I feel it each size of neck next to muscle doctors say it tiny I think it feel huge I had a scan it showed all nodes were healthy some on one side were  3cms...  No one seems to be concerned I'm worried it could be serious sad aniexty is really bad

12

Hi Kristy, 

I am 15 and I have the exact same problem, it is so good knowing that i am not alone with this problem. I have extreme anxiety over getting cancer. I found an enlarged lymph node in my neck few weeks ago and it isn't going away, i am getting very stressed about it. I have told my mum about it but she doesn't seem to be worried about it and she doesn't understand why i am concerned about it sad 

 

13

Hello Omg I have one to km so scared it could be cancer doctors said I'm over reacting it's been there bout 5months I'm always thinking bout it have u been doctors 

14

HI just seen this thread. I have been to have nodes checked at the hospital today which thankfully seem ok, bloods fine. I have a little one age 2 and know i have some anxieties to health for justified reasons, and just think you appreciate life so much more, understand the fragility of it when you have little ones.

I went for a routine operation last year through choice to have my thryroid removed,it was overactive & affecting my ability to function day to day and problem had been recurrent.

On removal of the thyroid they found an encapsulated micro papilary carcinoma which means a it was a micro cancer that was contained.It could have gone off in the future, may not have done, likely would have.  I have a very difficult yr almost goingthrogh the grieving process, worrying about what ifs and jumping at any health concer, justifiably so. But actually i am very lucky, i have had great medical treatment from the nhs.

I am at un currently training within medical profession, which accelrates concern due to some knowledge, but google is the worse thing you can do. I could have self diagnosed myself with three different cancers last week ,and it is in fact very damaging. Cancerand the word association id horific and frightening, every year when  have a check up i feeling like pooping my pants it opens the box again, (although grateful for the monitoring) It is a frightening illness especially when you have known someone, or had a scare yourself, which they say is 1 in 3.

Its good to be aware, but you will make yourself ill if you carry on. I could get hit by a bus tomorrow.

You just need to try get on with life and stop worrying unecssarily. If you need Cognitive behavoural therapy (CBT) it may be a good way to rationalise your thoughts and put things into perspective.

The fear of being ill will make affect your health and wellbeing, lifes short, enjoy it , live it, and take acton if its making you feel that bad. Defo think symptoms could be relate dto anxiety can body do very funny things.

Take care and stop worrying!

15

Hi I've just been reading all the letters sent in by women and young girls. I've had anxiety now on and off for sixteen years I'm 44. It started when my daughter was eight months old. I would be running around making sure my house was spotless everything had to have a place. The reason for that was my childhood, my mums house would be an absolute mess and dirty, the smell that would come from my mums house was unreal. Friends would comment at school about the state of my mums house. The reason I'm sayin this is because that was the start of my anxiety. When I moved out of my mums to start a life with my husband. I had abuse thrown at me from my mum and my stepdad. My confidence was shattered, my husband helped me build it back up again. But as soon as my daughter came along so did the anxiety.  Like I said when my daughter was eight months old friends and family started dying. Then there was the beef scare. There was also a war going on in Iraq. All this contributed to my anxiety. I couldn't read news papers for fear of there being something bad like a new illness or someone dying. It got to a point wear I planned my own funeral incase I died. I wouldn't go out of the house incase my daughter caught s disease. One day I was out shopping and a friend said hello to me. I just panicked pushed my shopping trolley to one side and walked out of the supermarket. I worried I had cancer. Of all types. Brain disease. Everything you name it I had it. Then one day I noticed my daughter was exceptionally hot and lifeless. I rang my doctor who said just give her calpol. I didn't listen instead I took my daughter to hospital. My daughter had meningitis. That shook me out of my anxiety. The first time. The second time it hit me was three years ago my best friend died of cancer of the bladder her doctor kept telling her she had an infection. And just kept giving her antibiotics. When finally she was sent to hospital in the November, it was to late the cancer had spread to her kidneys. She died in the March. I then hit rock bottom my anxiety came back with a vengeance. Then another blow came another friend of mine was diagnosed with ALS or motor neurones disease. They gave her three years to live. I then focused on her symptoms. My hands would lock up I felt weak my legs felt like jelly. I went to my GP. She told me it was my anxiety and that it can mimic illnesses. She wanted to put me on depression tablets but I refused. She then sent me to CBT which helped a lot. Then one day I was watching Peter Andre on tele and he also suffers with extreme anxiety where his hands would lock up. This sort of put my mind at rest. What scares me is if you  have life insurance and you start to take antidepressants and then something does happen like your diagnosed with something the insurance won't pay out because you've been on antidepressants. This I know is true because my cousin was put on antidepressants she told her insurance company because her doc told her to. And they terminated her contract. She wasn't allowed to apply for anymore life insurance until she had been clean for five years of the anti depressants. That  added to my worries. I now have the shaking at night aching arms and legs palpitations. And I worry evey time I go to the docs. All I'm saying is you not on your own. I now drink decafe coffee and tea no fizzy drinks and no chocolate as they all contain high levels of caffeine. As I'm writing this I have doctors today. And I'm totally in a mess about going because of the diagnosis. But I know that when I get home my three beautiful children will be there waiting to celebrate Halloween. With myself and my husband. Anxiety never goes away but you can manage it and how it affects you. Good luck your not on your own.😊😊😊😊

16

Hi I've just been reading all the letters sent in by women and young girls. I've had anxiety now on and off for sixteen years I'm 44. It started when my daughter was eight months old. I would be running around making sure my house was spotless everything had to have a place. The reason for that was my childhood, my mums house would be an absolute mess and dirty, the smell that would come from my mums house was unreal. Friends would comment at school about the state of my mums house. The reason I'm sayin this is because that was the start of my anxiety. When I moved out of my mums to start a life with my husband. I had abuse thrown at me from my mum and my stepdad. My confidence was shattered, my husband helped me build it back up again. But as soon as my daughter came along so did the anxiety.  Like I said when my daughter was eight months old friends and family started dying. Then there was the beef scare. There was also a war going on in Iraq. All this contributed to my anxiety. I couldn't read news papers for fear of there being something bad like a new illness or someone dying. It got to a point wear I planned my own funeral incase I died. I wouldn't go out of the house incase my daughter caught s disease. One day I was out shopping and a friend said hello to me. I just panicked pushed my shopping trolley to one side and walked out of the supermarket. I worried I had cancer. Of all types. Brain disease. Everything you name it I had it. Then one day I noticed my daughter was exceptionally hot and lifeless. I rang my doctor who said just give her calpol. I didn't listen instead I took my daughter to hospital. My daughter had meningitis. That shook me out of my anxiety. The first time. The second time it hit me was three years ago my best friend died of cancer of the bladder her doctor kept telling her she had an infection. And just kept giving her antibiotics. When finally she was sent to hospital in the November, it was to late the cancer had spread to her kidneys. She died in the March. I then hit rock bottom my anxiety came back with a vengeance. Then another blow came another friend of mine was diagnosed with ALS or motor neurones disease. They gave her three years to live. I then focused on her symptoms. My hands would lock up I felt weak my legs felt like jelly. I went to my GP. She told me it was my anxiety and that it can mimic illnesses. She wanted to put me on depression tablets but I refused. She then sent me to CBT which helped a lot. Then one day I was watching Peter Andre on tele and he also suffers with extreme anxiety where his hands would lock up. This sort of put my mind at rest. What scares me is if you  have life insurance and you start to take antidepressants and then something does happen like your diagnosed with something the insurance won't pay out because you've been on antidepressants. This I know is true because my cousin was put on antidepressants she told her insurance company because her doc told her to. And they terminated her contract. She wasn't allowed to apply for anymore life insurance until she had been clean for five years of the anti depressants. That  added to my worries. I now have the shaking at night aching arms and legs palpitations. And I worry evey time I go to the docs. All I'm saying is you not on your own. I now drink decafe coffee and tea no fizzy drinks and no chocolate as they all contain high levels of caffeine. As I'm writing this I have doctors today. And I'm totally in a mess about going because of the diagnosis. But I know that when I get home my three beautiful children will be there waiting to celebrate Halloween. With myself and my husband. Anxiety never goes away but you can manage it and how it affects you. Good luck your not on your own.😊😊😊😊

17

Omg this is what im like i worry i have cancer all the time and that im going to leave my two children and partner, i feel sick every day, im currently waiting on a smear test as i was losing brownish discharge when i wasnt due on and have back ache the doctor doesnt for a second think it cervical cancer, he tested my urine and said ive got a water infection😕 its just a constant worry isnt it 😢 xx

18

.Hi Nicola I had the same thing a few years ago try not to worry. I know it's easier said than done. But worrying will only make your anxiety worse.😔at this moment I have the shakes and that's because I went out last night with my husband and I don't normally drink but I had one. I was woken i the night with shaking and worry. I know it's because anxiety and alcahol don't mix. I'm like you I worry that will my husband cope if something happened to me. I put this question to my husband. And his reply was he would have to cope. I think a lot of women have the same worry but ours escalates to a point where we over think things. I have docs today and I'm totally stressed. But we shall see. Not for anxiety but another thing. Still scared though. Recently I found a lump in my boob was sent to hospital over a two day examination I had the all clear. But at the time I thought I'm going to fight this. This is just a blip in life. Good luck let me know how you get on but you'll be fine.xxx☺️

19

Thanks for ur reply and i hope all is well at the doctors👍 health anxiety steals our happiness doesnt it? Did u used to convince urself u had a certain cancer so much u ended up with symptoms? Im just so worried all the time😢 feel like i  cant get out of it, hes given me antibiotics for the water infection but doesnt feel like they are doin anything and ive only got two more days left of tablets...so now my thoughts are running away with me and im thinking its cancer 😢 xx

20

Yes I would and sometimes still do convince myself that I have a disease where I'm going to die. When I was at my worst I had all the cancers known to man. And my friend who has motor neurons disease. I convinced myself I had that to. I would ask her syptoms then later that day I would have them. Our brains are powerful things. People think it's computers that are powerful but who puts the information into them. That how my husband made me look at it. As for the water infection you might just need another antibiotic. I only know this because I have kidney disease not a bad one.👍But one where only certain antibiotics work. 😳So please don't worry about that. As I said as well I also had the brownish discharge a few years ago I had all the tests you could think of. Everything was fine. 😊 yours will be to. I just think our bodies don't release all the rubbish at once. My sister had it as well and was also worried it could be cancer.  I know this sounds silly but I wish I could contact you coz sometimes you just need to talk to someone who knows what your going through. But I here if you need a chat. But chin up and say ok so these antibiotics may have not worked so the next ones will. Drink lots of water as well this spears up the process of the antibiotic and flushes you out. Xx👍👍👍👍👍☺️☺️☺️