Health anxiety - really rough!

stebiz

Does anybody on here suffer, or has dealt with Health anxiety? I'm really struggling and I need to get to grips with it.

Started about 30 years ago when HIV first came in the news and a girl performed a sex act on me (I was a teenager) and I thought I'd caught HIV.

Since then I've been to doctors with bump on head (it's your skull he said), breast exam because it was lumpy, 2 scans on testees (fine but awaiting another), referred to hospital to check moles, countless blood tests (including about 4 recently), back ache (been to docs many times) Mouth exams because of ulcers etc etc

I'm now at the stage I daren't even touch my body as I know I'll feel a lump or something and have to go again.

Any advice?

TeamPlum

Funnily enough I had this issue for about 5 years (teens to early 20s).

I remember spending one New years eve running upstairs to check myself for lumps over and over again. That was the point I wanted help.

I had CBT in the end, through my GP. I can't say whether it was the CBT that worked, or whether my brain had had enough of the condition, and i "grew up" (sorry, wrong expression, but I can't articulate what I mean).


I know work in a hospital, on the wards and see all kinds of conditions. I've yet to decide I'm dying - so something has worked.

Mrs_Optimist

I also suffer with this. It started a couple of years ago when an old school friend died at the age of 40 with skin cancer, leaving two young daughters, and a few weeks before my FIL was diagnosed with terminal throat and lung cancer - his symptoms - a sore throat ! It made me absolutely paranoid. My dh cousin had also recently died at the age of 42 with bowel cancer, his symptoms had been dismissed as piles because he was too young to get bowel cancer - what a joke, by the time he was referred for a scan, after numerous trips to the GP, it had spread to his liver. Untreatable.

I saw the GP about something unrelated and whilst there broke down and confessed how I was feeling. I knew it wasn't right. He sorted out some counselling for me. They sent me some leaflets about health anxiety and it helped as soon as I read them - I could have written the leaflets myself, the symptoms were identical. That helped because I knew I wasn't going mad and my reaction was completely normal to three major shocks in my life.

I still check myself daily for lumps but that isn't a bad thing. I take all screenings offered. I am far more aware of my body and it's workings than I used to be. I also wouldn't be fobbed off by the GP now if it came to it, so my anxiety has helped in a strange way.

Counselling may help, I would suggest you speak to your GP.

enginesuck

Sounds like you need to see a Doctor

elsien

The OP is in need of help, just not the sort they're getting at the moment.

Have you discussed the health anxiety with the GP? What have they offered?
Have you seen this?
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hypochondria/Documents/Health%20Anxiety%20A4%20%202010.pdf

LostandAfraid

Health anxiety, in fact any anxiety is a miserable thing to live with, I had health anxiety years ago, got over it with the help of counselling but sadly it has recently returned.

I am hoping that the CBT will help, you can self refer for it in many areas now, if you call your GP surgery they should be able to tell you if that is an option in your area and give you details of who to contact, if you self refer it is usually fairly quick, about 6-12 weeks, mine took 8 weeks to get started this time.

Mrs_Ryan

I have health anxiety linked to my cancer, mostly due to the fact that on the two occasions I had something seriously wrong (cancer diagnosis and gallstones) I was told there was nothing wrong- one GP told me I had trapped wind and to go away and relax- two days later I was rushed into hospital with a temperature of 40, a heart rate of nearly 200 and agonising stomach pain. I was in hospital for four days on IV antibiotics and then my gallbladder was removed a week later when a scan showed it was in a right mess. My cancer was dismissed as 'all in my head' a biopsy though showed it wasn't and the hospital had to issue a formal apology.
I've had psychiatric input, CBT, psychotherapy and everything but it's been a toughie to get over. One thing I would say is don't google your symptoms- it makes things a million times worse. Good luck!

LostandAfraid

Health anxiety is a miserable existence and no one who has it is behaving in a selfish way when they go to their doctor scared stiff that something is seriously wrong with them.

It's a mental illness and mental illness is just as serious and important as physical illness, the last thing a person who is mentally ill needs is critism from people who clearly don't understand how real that fear is.

My Aunt commited suicide because she was absolutely convinced that she had stomach cancer and was going to die a long and painful death, that is how serious it gets for some people.

I have a multitude of mental health problems myself and whilst I woud never expect anyone to understand them or how I feel I would always hope that others would not be critical of me for something I didn't ask for and am trying really hard to do something about.

It can be extremely difficult to reach out, admit something is wrong and ask for help, it's such a shame that when someone does that there are people willing to jump on them.

theoretica

My GP was quite definite that it was preferable for me to come in with a concern that turned out not to need any action than to miss the chance to nip in the bud something that might grow to be longer and more expensive to treat later.

Loz01

OP, see your GP - CBT would massively help you! Not sure of waiting times etc on the NHS but if you can afford it, find a good person and go private.

Anoneemoose

The OP has genuinely got something wrong with them..they have a mental illness, which is just as important as physical ones. At least there is help and a potential cure for this, but sadly not one for your ignorance, it would seem.

OP, I too had health anxiety after the birth of my youngest and it is awful. I was so ill at one point, I started looking at funeral information, so convinced I was that I was going to die.

I took meds and had CBT and it did help. I still probably overreact slightly to any health concern, but it is hardly a bother now.

And whatever you do, STOP consulting Dr Google!