Hello, my husband was diagnosed with a rare skin condition about 8 years ago called follicular mucinosis. It's been practically symptom-free for the past 5-6 years. Recently he has had a small flare-up of symptoms (skin rash on his face) which he has totally over-reacted to and it has sent him into a downward spiral of anxiety. He is convinced the condition has spread into his lymphatic system and that he is developing a much more serious condition called Adult T-Cell Lymphoma (a kind of leukemia as far as I understand). He has had blood tests which have come back normal, but does not believe that puts him in the clear. He had a panic attack at work a few days ago and went round to his parents house in floods of tears, and has not been back into work since. He is constantly and obsessively searching the internet for articles and photographs to compare with his rash, checking his body constantly for any changes and symptoms and is convinced that his lymph nodes feel 'funny' - he thought he had discovered a lump in his armpit but the doctor examined it and it is just a normal lymph node. I've been trying to explain to him that his stress levels will be making the rash worse but he won't accept that his anxiety is contributing to his symptoms. He has been very emotional and has not spoken about anything other than his 'condition' for the past couple of weeks. I'm really worried that this could be the start of a chronic anxiety disorder - how can I help him to get some perspective and bring his stress levels down?
I am sorry he is feeling so bad, I wish I knew what you could tell him, I have been suffering myself from health anxiety, my issues are memory problems, I myself like your husband have been driving myself crazy looking everything up on the Internet to compare my problems. Please tell him he is not alone and encourage him to check out this site and maybe it will help with him to know, others are going through similar situations.
He is in a crisis state of mind in search for an answer. Its very scary and uncomfortable for him. The only thing that will calm him down is to see a dermatologist or immunologist or whomever specializing in his skin ailment. All we hear on the media is you have to be your own doctor. A mans mind is in search for the answer. Doubt theres anything you can emotionally do to help him whilst he is in his current state of mind except find him a specialist for his ailment. A regular GP isnt a specialist and wouldnt even know what blood tests to properly run. They run standard tests. He is frantically looking for an answer. Good luck and maybe go to see a specialist be ause that will be the only thing that calms him.
Thanks Lisa, he does have an appointment with his dermatologist tomorrow so hopefully that will help to put his mind at ease.