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Xray panic

(12 Posts)
Lizbethann55 Wed 11-Jan-23 10:10:19

O please help. This is the third time I have typed this and it keeps disappearbeford I finish and I can't cope anymore.
I have suffered from health anxiety for virtually all my life . Sometimes it is under control but sometimes it is explosive. Today it is volcanic. I am going for a chest xray in a few hours and I can't begin to explain my terror. I have had a cough since November and thought I should get it checked as this last week I have actually felt ill and fluey. Another doctor had also done a load of blood tests, I only wanted to know my cholesterol. Yesterday I saw@ very young doctor. She was very thorough and asked lots of questions, but gave no answers. Despite me telling her that I have HA. She has arranged for me to have a chest xray . It is today, but I think that is good fortune rather than anything else. She won't tell me my blood test results as another doctor is phoning me tomorrow with them, but she did say one of the " markers" is up (??!!!!!!!). I am now in a state of total panic. I am curled up in bed. I don't want to get up or do anything or go anywhere. I feel sick I am in a total sweat. My heart is pounding. My DH is away with work until tonight. My DD is living here.. she is WFH but doesn't know about the HA. I am sure I will be told I have Lung cancer am my cough has got so much worse over the last few days. I know you aren't medics but can anyone please help

FannyCornforth Wed 11-Jan-23 10:13:47

Hello Lizbethann
You need to get in touch with your GP and get help for your anxiety.
Do you have a good GP?
Your reaction isn’t abnormal. You need someone to talk to.
In the meantime we are here for you thanksbrew

FannyCornforth Wed 11-Jan-23 10:15:31

Sorry, you say that your X-ray is today. What time is it? How will you get there?
Sorry for all the questions

rosie1959 Wed 11-Jan-23 10:27:30

Could your daughter come to the hospital with you ?
May sound a bit tough but by attending your appointment you will find out what the problem is. You may well have an infection that is showing up on your blood test. X rays are not uncommon in this situation my daughter has recently had two.
You may be getting in a panic over something that hasn’t actually been diagnosed and not knowing won’t help with your understandable fear.
Wishing you well

Lizbethann55 Wed 11-Jan-23 19:44:57

Thank you for replying . HA and the panic that goes with it is so debilitating. I got myself up and showered and even walked to the hospital. ( it is less than half an hours walk, downhill and partly through a park). I was literally in and out in less than 10 minutes. The only problem is that I won't get the results for between 7 and 10 days. Which is along time to wait. I must try harder to get the HA under control.

Doodledog Wed 11-Jan-23 19:56:38

I am not a doctor, but I know that markers in blood can be all kinds of things, and they definitely don't have to mean that anything serious is wrong.

I get regular blood tests for my thyroid condition and PA, and as often as not they pick up on something being low or high. It's a nuisance, as I then have to go back to get another blood test, but they come back with the markers back to normal. It can be as simple as drinking (or not drinking) coffee on the day of the test, or as mentioned above having an infection somewhere.

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry. A cough can be a symptom of lots of things too. Let us know how you get on, but in the meantime, find a comedy or something to watch on TV and try not to dwell on the tests. flowers

M0nica Wed 11-Jan-23 19:59:50

I must try harder to get the HA under control.

No, you must accept that this is something you cannot do alone and talk to your doctor about it or seek counselling.

Lots of people have this problem, or similar. Did you follow the MRI scan thread recently?

Norah Wed 11-Jan-23 20:16:51

I'm sorry.

Perhaps no TV news, that makes some people anxious. Maybe a glass of wine or a beer? Prayer if that makes you calmer?

Markers can be a one off. I worry to calcium levels, for good reason. Usually, though, my worry is unfounded as the serious condition was solved a few years ago. I didn't die, still here typing. I'm not attempting to minimise, but please know we all receive strange marker warnings about nothing.

M0nica Wed 11-Jan-23 22:31:30

My medical history is littered with referrals for tests, xrays, scans, the result of my having worrying medical signs that might mean something serious. So far not one has proved to be anything but trivial.

In fact the first time the cause matches up to the possibility, I will probably die of shock!

crazyH Wed 11-Jan-23 22:45:47

My GP once gave me an X-ray slip to take to the Hospital. On it he had handwritten - “chest congested - cause?”. His handwriting was so bad, I read it as “chest congested- cancer?”- you can well imagine my anxiety levels - went through the roof !!! This was years ago ..
I can well believe how anxious you are ! Talk to your GP - he will probably give you some temporary medication for your anxiety. Don’t worry unnecessarily flowers

Franbern Thu 12-Jan-23 08:20:45

If the X-rays showed u,p anything veery worrying, then you would be contacted within 24-48 hours. Having to wait the full time you say is a very good sign.

rubysong Thu 12-Jan-23 08:47:52

There are some horrendous coughs around at the moment. Mine is on going from well before Christmas but each day I cough a bit less. Hopefully they will tell you it is a virus and it will get better. You have done the sensible thing getting checked out.