Who suffers health anxiety? Please read!!

Mental health
1

Hey ladies & gents I post quite a lot in here when my anxiety flares up as I feel your comments help me and I find it also helps to write down what I'm feeling!

Basically I have suffered health anxiety ever since October last year when I fount a lymph node swell in my neck, I imidiately phoned the doctor and had an appointment the same day. He seemed perfectly happy with it as he says it was moveable etc! Anyway I kept suffering so I went back & seen a different gp who said the same thing or it could be a cyst! A few days later I fount a few more maybe 2-3 more very small ones around my neck! So I went back to my gp crying my heart out saying I ended blood tests.

I had the tests and they came back fine, my anxiety started to subside until I received a letter stating I had been referred to haematology for further bloods, I had this letter ona. Saturday so couldn't phone my gp until the money to find out why when all my bloods had came back fine. I the. Started GOOGLING my symptoms which made me have a panic attack (throat felt like it was closing in) when the Monday came and I finally spoke to my gp he said it was self referral (on my behalf because I still wasn't happy, although I never questioned after bloods)

I have suffered again ever since so I went back and was put on diazepam to help until my referral for more bloods which isn't until 6th may!

I didn't take the diazepam because of the possible side effects (I have a 14 month old & need to be alert for him) I also didn't want to effect myself & my family being on medication!

Anyway, I felt like this got worse and I couldn't stop panicking I went back to my gp with a rash on my leg which he told me was the "viral herpes" I then started googling again which said I could get it if I had cancer. Virus's etc although this is the only one I have had.

Basically I am concentrating my anxiety and every symptom I have googled due to my lymph nodes being up is lymphoma!

What I would like to know is ' is anxiety supposed to cause my muscles to ache and feel lik I have a blocked nose because I am linking all of this to having lymphoma sad

This Saturday I recieved another letter from the haematology where I had been referred to for the 6th May that said "they my it was necessary to cancel my appointment and refer me to another specialist and I will recieve another letter for an "outpatients' appointment in the post ASAP!

My anxiety is back again and worse than ever! It's always in the back of my mind and even though I have a new medication which I am still not taking I am only 21 (just yesterday) and have a family. I do not want to rely on medication! I have also been referred by a different doctor at my surgery for a neck scan on May 2nd!

Can anybody please help me:-( sorry for the long essay xx

2

health anxiety is such a terrible thing - and its totally possible for anxiety in general to cause aches and pains. most people will feel aches and pains, but learn to ignore or not focus on them. the trouble with anxiety is we are so hyper vigilant all the time! currently i am in the middle of a health anx episode - very bad indeed - im sure you will recognise the almost suffocating certainty that no matter how we know we are well and nothing terrible will happen, we have already convinced ourselves that we are desperatly ill and powerless to stop it? i feel for you, its a horrible situation - but if you can lower you anx just a little you will notice you no longer feel so bad - that in itself will tell you anx is behind it

3

I have health anxiety and I have aches and pains all over. I know it's difficult but googling is the worst thing you can do. The trouble is that the more you focus on the problem the more it will affect you. I should consider taking a low dose of medication. Also try and trust your doctor, it will not be easy. Take care. Ps have had flu like symptoms for nearly 2 years

4

Hi Kirsty not been through quitethe same but can sympathise with your health anxiety, I am the same just now. Had my first panic attack ever 5 weeks ago and have feared for my health ever since, things that would never phased me b4 have me thinking the worst and google fuels the fire. I was fearing for my heart, worried for stroke as my face was numb and arm was sore (carpal tunnel as 6 weeks pregnant). I have a tooth infection at the mo but as ive had headaches due to the pregnancy tiredness I have feared it has reached my brain etc, we should never ever google our symptms as it feeds the fear with worst case scenarios. Just remind yourself each day that u are still here and nothing bad will happen, the docs would of had u in immediately (without delay) if they thought the worse. Easier said than done but u have to remind yourself that its not the worst, its the anxiety making you think it is and your still here today and will b tomorrow. Say it over and over, dont know if that helps but it helps me. Jen (23 years old) xx