Do you worry about your health?

I'm 72. I take care of myself but I don't worry about my health at all. I've had two episodes of cancer ( ovary and breast) and in both cases I trusted my doctors and was fortunate to come through with a good recovery and no relapse.

I do all the right things with diet and exercise, get all the screening tests that are available, and I test my BP and blood sugar once a month with my home equipment -- diabetes is in my family so I like to keep a check on it.

Life is too short to be stressing about every little thing - my advice is to enjoy every day that is given to us. Take reasonable care, but otherwise put your health status on the back burner of life .

Worry is like riding a rocking horse, where does it get you?
But I know it's hard to switch it off sometimes.
I do have various niggles about my health, which is fairly normal at 83, but I try not to let the future spoil the present. There is just no point..
I do hope you can find a way of dealing with this as it's making you unhappy. 63 is comparitively young. Perhaps allow yourself ten minutes every morning to worry and then
determinedly switch it off for the rest of the day and just get on with living. Good luck and best wishes.

I am like your b-i-l Esspee. It's a complete nightmare to be honest.

If you are suffering from anxiety your doctor can prescribe medication to give you back your life. Do confide in them Kate I hope you get help.

Thank you *Esspee"

Ellet

My mother in law worried constantly, about her health, her husband’s health, mainly though about not having anything to worry about!!! She nearly drove us mad. She died last month at 100. She was always miserable and for the last few years kept telling me how awful it is to get old. I found this really offensive as I was diagnosed with incurable cancer at the age of 60 and would like the opportunity to get a little bit older.

I am sure that (as a friend once said) 'some people enjoy bad health'

My MIL is never away from the doctors but her 'ailments' don't stop her from being a social butterfly. She has a better social life than me!

It's hard not to worry about new aches and pains etc.

I think it is much harder if you spend a lot of time alone. It gives you time to dwell and it looms larger in your mind than it would if you were occupied doing something else.

My ex MIL had three jobs at the same time. I asked her once how she coped with the menopause (not an illness, I know). She said she didn't have time to worry about it as she was so busy.

Saying that, I do worry about my health as I get older. My mum had dementia for around eight years before she died. I just hope that it doesn't happen to me. It was horrendous seeing her deteriorate and become dependant. She would have hated it.

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I have enough to worry about at the moment so health is something i won`t be adding to the list.

I'll always try to be physically engaged and eat healthy food. Also, do light exercises to be healthy

I am 68 and suffer with migraines, high blood pressure, gout, dodgy knees, blepharitis, arthritis, diverticulitis, no gall bladder, and in 2017 was diagnosed with breast cancer. I am on so many tablets that I rattle! But, I sort of poodle along. Except I was chatting to a friend last night who has suffered from cancer and said as an aside that cancer always comes back and it gets you in the end. My confidence shrivelled a bit at that.

I can relate to this having battles with intrusive thoughts daily. Am on meds and am getting support from my doc. I am ever hopeful of feeling better soon but it is hard. I blame my poor mum who was terrified of illness.

I don't worry unduly about my health. I just get the odd headache and a bit of hayfever but don't fret that they are harbingers of anything more serious.

I came through chemo for lymphoma, antibiotics for pneumonia - they were the worst. I take painkillers when necessary and try to get on with things. I consider myself a survivor.

I definitely have the worry gene, mostly about dementia. But I try to enjoy my life despite having a couple of medical conditions. As someone said, we'll all die one day whether we worry about it or not.

I look on health issues ( which I have ) as it is what it is so crack on.

I don't worry about the future, YES I think about how I will be in the future and I am determined not to be a burden on my daughter but I dont loose sleep over it, like I say I am a big believer in, it is what it is and I tackle each and everything as it cones along.

Im glad I found this thread. I too suffer dreadful anxiety. Sometimes I have been in a right state. I often think it harks back to my past, plus my dear mum was a very anxious person. I have an autoimmune condition, I am convinced this affects my thought processes. I thank every one on here for their stories and their thoughts. As Maggie says, very humbling. I very rarely visit the doctors, if it is something that needs a doctor's attention of course I will go. One thing that did happen was I was pooh poohed over certain symptoms, but when I was eventually sent for investigation, it turned out I had 3 different conditions. One I manage with diet, the other I manage with meds. Ive got to be honest, the manner of some doctors/ consultants, does not help people with health anxiety. They make it worse. Having said this, some others are really lovely and I do appreciate their time and service. Thank you to all on here for your posts, they really help.

Oh, I am the exact same. It ruins most days for. E. As soon as I get over one thing, another comes along. A new fatal disease every week. I am so tired of it robbing my days of joy. So scared of dying you fail to properly live. You have my sympathy, but I’m not much good on advice I’m afraid. X

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) might help you - the basic premise is that this therapy challenges negative thinking.

I am another health anxiety sufferer. It is utterly debilitating. The sense of dread and panic and blind terror that washes over you in waves is hard to explain. I have had " the cough" for the last few weeks, but it has left my throat very dry and strange feeling. I tell myself I am just like hundreds of other people just now, but it doesn't help.

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Not at all. I had breast cancer in 2016, at 51. Successful surgery and treatment. It’s left me incredibly sanguine. Nothing scares me now (about myself: do worry about my loved ones).

No, I have professional experience and not seen a doctor for over 30 years. I am always holistic and do what is necessary for my own and family health. Stay positive, live in the moment and look after your very precious microbiome

Another very old thread. I wonder how the OP is now?

I understand that your health anxiety causes you great stress , however...........
Please get a grip and be thankfull your anxiety is unfounded. A season ticket to the doctor is not a badge of honour !! It is something to avoid. I wish you well in every sense of the word.