Health Anxiety

Have sought help from my GP re health anxiety and am struggling to stay positive. It is a long haul but I do so want to feel normal again....

I have found that though, when much younger, if I had an unexpected pain my reaction was “What have I done?”, now as an older person it is “What have I got?” I think that this attitude has increased since covid, when doctors’ appointments became as rare as hen’s teeth, thus making it more difficult to obtain reassurance. Unfortunately we do not have a similar system to that available in Scotland.

Agree Nannashiny I’m a Health Anxiety sufferer too.

I’ve always been an anxious person probably due to trauma in childhood but in recent years all my anxiety has become focused on my health it is awful am currently in panic mode following my routine mammogram thinking all the worst possible outcomes it’s an awful thing to have

Thank you Granny23 that’s good to know! Glad you were reassured and your symptoms caused by a treatable condition. But yes it’s all too easy to panic.

I have been supporting my friend whose daughter has just had an advanced cancer diagnosis. The DD had no suspicions of anything serious, but when I had heard about the minor changes, including sporadic slight bleeding, she did have it struck me like a thunderbolt that I have the same/similar. In a panic I tried to get an appointment with the GP the soonest was 2 weeks away. I had noticed on the surgeries' web site that there was an NHS Scotland service called Breathing Space (I expect there is an English equivalent), designed for those with acute anxiety. I called the number, got through immediately and talked for nearly an hour with a young psychotherapist, who allayed my fears and, indeed, had me laughing by the end of the call.
Subsequently, I kept the GP appointment. She examined me, set my mind at rest that it was not cancer, but rather due to thinning of the skin - common in the elderly. I left with a prescription for an emolument, which has cleared up the problem within a week. Hope this story is helpful to others with health worries.

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I think the increased health anxiety is understandable given the two years we have all been through. Think back to the news we saw most nights; first on the list was the number of deaths, number of infections, then warnings on how to avoid infection. It's a wonder more people are not anxious about every little symptom, this does not mean I am dismissing your concerns, just hoping that the realisation that many many others feel the same will help you

I can relate so much to your anxiety and really sympathise. It's such a horrible feeling and can overtake your life. Loss of appetite and persistent indigestion has led to an endoscopy and a CT Colonography. The endoscopy revealed a hiatus hernia but I am waiting for the results of the colonography. I feel so scared as I feel unwell a lot of the time. Wobbly, weak and with aches in my shoulders and back and just generally feeling rough. I know it could be so many things but I can only think the worse. Worse case scenario is always my first thought. Finding it really hard to cope.

Thank you Shandy57 this brush with illness and then anxiety certainly knocks you for six. Im pleased your ok after your scare. Thanks for your advice re Dr Google I will do my best to resist. Hope you manage to keep a lid on your anxiety and stay well. X

I've lost three of my oldest friends in the last two years, two to cancer and one had a heart attack. This plus now being in my seventies has made me more conscious of my own health. Aches and pains, breathless climbing a hill; are they down to getting old or are they signs of impending illness and death? I should go and talk to my GP but that hasn't been possible for over two years due to the pandemic, just phone consultations, which are not the same and all the old doctors have retired and I have no idea who the new ones are. I have never been a hypochondriac and don't want to become one now, but I'd really like a thorough MOT just to put my mind at rest or spot something before it becomes serious. We take our cars to the garage to have an MOT each year and there used to be a Well Woman clinic at our surgery but that seems to have died a death, although they do blood tests annually. I'd just like to have a sit down with a GP who knows me and have a chat about my health but that wouldn't get past the receptionist who answers the phone and make the appointments.

Big hugs Hels001. I have always suffered with anxiety, and living on my own now, it's a lot worse. During these two years of Covid I've had a scare with a painful leg resulting in a vein breaking in my thigh, and then a mysterious huge sore on my lip. As I vape having smoked for 40 years, I was really worried I might have mouth cancer. Both situations felt catastrophic because I knew it would be very difficult to see a doctor. Luckily for me, I was able to see a doctor/dentist about my lip but I made the mistake of googling my symptoms - don't do it!

I am sorry they messed up your procedure, but glad it's fixed. Good luck with your results.

Thank you halfpint1 that's comforting to hear. I have organised for the stove to be replaced with a modern heat efficient fire and fireplace this will be done in May. Its helped me little knowing I'm taking steps to make things better. I won't be using either stove or open fire again. I've an appointment with my gp a week on Friday so I think I will bring the subject of anxiety up when I get checked over and get results of recent colonoscopy. Thanks once again I keep referring back to posts when I'm feeling anxious this helps. X

Alot of open fires in my life from a young age,grandparents - my grandad was a coal merchant - and many others in the family.
No cancer.

For some reason I stopped receiving Gransnet emails for a long time then they started appearing again!

Will you start a thread telling us your new name Peasblossom?

With your past event, no wonder you have anxiety

It is wise to identify possible health risks and mitigate them

I know many posters won't agree with me - there is a fine line between health anxiety and your gut speaking to you.
Sometimes it is hard to identify what is what.

I didn’t even notice! A while back a SkyBlue appeared, but not seen it recently.

Peaseblossom

I understand how you feel. I’m always worrying about my health.

Hi!

I can see your user name was here before I took the mis-spelled version.

I won’t use it again and Ill see about changing it.

I have been a bit argumentative though with a handful of posters. I hope you don’t suffer for it.

You might have to make it clear sometimes that you’re not me ??

Oh, looking back I think Peaseblossom was here first and then took a break. I’m derailing the thread though.

Peasblossom

Oh Peaseblossom. People are going to get us mixed up?

You bet Peasblossom! Why a name almost identical?