health anxiety

[pinky260]

Hi :) this is my first post on here.

I have always been a worrier but ever since my dad died 3.5 year ago my worries have turned into health anxiety which is getting worse & worse & taking over my life :(

I have 2 main 'obsessions' ovarian cancer & breast cancer. I'm waiting for a scan to look at my ovaries as i have been getting pain ( i have p.c.o.s) which I'm terrified about but today i have been getting twinges in my right breast ( i have had it on & off for months) get twinges in my left but not as often, but i have googled & everything says inflammatory breast cancer so i have scared myself.

My main question is if i go to the doctor about my H.A what will they do?

Thanks for reading & sorry for rambling :)

[susie1]

I've been there, just like you. I too have twinges in my breast. I think a lot of women do. The trouble is that most women would think nothing of them. With HA you notice ever twinge and spend your life waiting for the next one. It is exhausting. My GP told me that breast pain is VERY VERY rarely a sign of anything nasty. Plesase try to say no to this fear - at least for today. Christmas is so hard for us with HA. take care.
PS I have had ovarian pains like you too. waiting fie scans and results was horrendous. I was CONVINCED I had OC. I didn't. they found nothing!

[pinky260]

Thank you so much for replying. I feel better just reading that. You are absolutely right that most women wouldn't even notice it let alone spend days worrying about twinges. Did you go to the doctors with it?

I'm going to go to the doctor with my HA but I'm reluctant to take pills although i may have to.

Merry Christmas btw :) x

[susie1]

I did go to my doctor who is brilliant, She did a thorough check and found nothing. I have had a lot of breast pain in the past. Mostly in my left breast sometimes going into my armpit. Occassinally they are quite sharp. think it is probably hormonal. She told me to cross it off my worry list.


Are you getting help with your HA? How can fear take so much? Keep smiling x

---------- Post added at 17:40 ---------- Previous post was at 17:33 ----------

I have had my HA treated. I have had it since my mum died 20 years ago. Fortunately my GP spotted what was happening and after 'having' stomach/ovarian/brain cancers etc and putting myself through numerous tests she sent me for CBT which I have had twice. IT is good but it is hard work and fortunately for me I had my 2 closest friends and my husband on board. they had to be really strong and offer me no reassurance - which was very hard for them when I begged to discuss things and I was hysterically convinced I was dying. It does work but when a fear locks in I find it hard to apply what I have learnt. This site shows how many of us suffer. Foe many years I thought I was the only one. you are not alone

[LauraWoo84]

Hi Pinky I have only just joined this forum last night due to have a severe panic attack which was due to me having 7 bites on my arm, I was convinced it was meningitis and I have worried myself all of today because of it. I get breast pain, twinges all over my body and I have had various tests, MRI, blood tests, X-rays and much more and still everything comes back normal, when the doc told me it was health anxiety I was shocked. Have you been to see a cognitive behavioural therapist about your health anxiety? Losing your dad was a traumatic time in your life it is understandable that you are anxious but I think CBT may just help you to talk things through.

With HA it can make you feel so lonely and isolated and that you are he only one going through it, I know I have felt that way for a long time until I came across this forum last night.

Always happy to lend an ear if you ever need someone to talk to

[pinky260]

That's great, I'm so glad for you.

No, i have been to the doctors a few times recently & mentioned that I'm worrying about various things & he just sort of laughed & said to stop it but there is a lady doctor there who is amazing she is just hard to get an appointment with.

[LauraWoo84]

Don't let them laugh at you, it's not good. Try and get an appointment with the lady doctor and tell her what's happening and she may even recommend CBT. HA can be crippling at times but to learn techniques that can change the way you think and process things could be beneficial to you

[susie1]

I would persevere and book an appointment with her - even if you have to book in advance. It is really important that you have faith in someone who understands HA and who treats you as a normal person with an issue rather than make you feel like some kind of time waster. Your HA is as legitimate as a 'real' illness.

[pinky260]

Thank you so much for the replies. It helps so much to talk to people who 'get' it.

What is cbt? I will definitely see the other doctor because it is so draining & takes over my life & all logical thought is gone if that makes sense.

My dad died from a huge heart attack & i found him. It was a massive shock & i know it has been a trigger for me.

[LauraWoo84]

Oh pinky you poor thing to have found your dad it must have ben devastating. It is completely reasonable for you to have HA.

CBT is cognitive behavioural Therapy and a psychiatrist will talk things through with you and teach you coping techniques

Please do get an appointment it will be the best thing for you

---------- Post added at 18:09 ---------- Previous post was at 18:07 ----------

I do understand where you are coming from I am a smart, rational person but when I have a panic attack I become irrational and am so scared of everything and no matter what my fella says I can't snap out of the attack

[pinky260]

I will absolutely will make an appointment. I think it would help me.

It's crazy how these things take over. I'm sorry you had a panic attack, they sound awful :(

---------- Post added at 18:18 ---------- Previous post was at 18:15 ----------

Feel free to p.m me if you need a chat any of you. Definitely helps to talk.

[susie1]

Glad you're going to make that appointment. It's a really positive way forward. HA can be all consuming and take over your every waking thought. CBT will teach you strategies to challenge those thoughts and give you some control back.
Feel free to Pm me at any time. can't promise to know all the naswers but definitely know how you're feeling

Happy Christmas

[Yogi]

I had breast pain too and had an ultrasound. The doctor at the specialist breast cancer clinic told me that stress often causes pain in breasts!
Obviously it's always good to get these things checked but I now know it's my anxiety when I get the same pain.
Hope that helps!

[pinky260]

Thanks so much for the replies, very appreciated. I feel much calmer today no pains in breast today so the logical part of me says it can't be anything bad if it comes & goes? ( i hope)

I will make a doctors appointment tomorrow about my HA x