poppy77
26-12-15, 22:41
I suppose as far back as my early 20s, I have had mild health anxiety issues - my family used to think it was funny that I would be a bit of a hypochondriac about things. I do think anxiety is slightly in my family though (I heard it can be slightly hereditary), my mum can be a bit highly strung and my dad is a bit of a worried about health as well.
Since my mid 30s my health anxiety has got much worse. Mainly due to two things: firstly, two of my friends died young of cancer and also, I have become a mum which makes me keenly aware that I need to be around and healthy for my children. This has made me very easily worried about my health. The first time I really worried was after the birth of my middle child, I had labrynthitis, which I worried was leukaemia, MS etc. Things settled down for a few years until this year.
I gave birth to my daughter in July and all was well. I was checking my stitches in September and discovered a lump down there which sent me into panic overdrive. The Drs (I went to three) all told me it was a Bartholin Gland Cyst and fairly common. It has got a lot smaller and has virtually disappeared now but for a month I googled things and worried to the extent that it made me feel stressed out. I also started developing slight abdominal pain to the lower right side and lower back off and on. I got really worried and paid for a private abdominal ultrasound which came up clear. I still worried. It turns out I have a prolapse from childbirth. This doesn't worry me as I know it's not a life threatening thing. What worries me is if the pains are actually something worse. Luckily the pains (more a tugging sensation) have got a lot better the last few weeks).
Due to anxiety, the last week and a half I have had a bit of a burping, swallowing, lump in throat thing which has worried me.
My husband and family are getting really fed up with me which I can understand, I would too! They just can't understand how I get myself into a position of worry like this. I know I am over reacting but can't seem to stop myself or Googling symptoms. I also have been to the Drs a few times and worry they think I am a fruit loop! I just want to stop this cycle of worry, anxiety and making myself feel ill. I absolutely do not want to pass this health anxiety on to my children. I have thought about asking to see someone about it (I don't want to take medication at the moment as I am breastfeeding) but my mum has put me off saying it will go on a psychiatric record.
I just feel crap about myself and also hate the constant worrying. I just want to feel like I did four months ago before I found that cyst and started this cycle of worrying.
---------- Post added at 22:41 ---------- Previous post was at 22:32 ----------
Plus tonight I found another small cyst when I was checking to see if the Bartholin Gland had gone away, which I tried to pop with a sterilized needle (boiling water and alcohol and put on antiseptic afterwards). I just didn't want another lump type thing to worry about 'down there'. I told my husband who said this was a really stupid thing to do and I could give myself blood poisoning. Of course, my HA has gone into overdrive and I have now convinced myself that is what will happen. J have just phoned Aviva online GP (we have health cover) who has reassured me that I don't need to drive up to A&E tonight.
Since my mid 30s my health anxiety has got much worse. Mainly due to two things: firstly, two of my friends died young of cancer and also, I have become a mum which makes me keenly aware that I need to be around and healthy for my children. This has made me very easily worried about my health. The first time I really worried was after the birth of my middle child, I had labrynthitis, which I worried was leukaemia, MS etc. Things settled down for a few years until this year.
I gave birth to my daughter in July and all was well. I was checking my stitches in September and discovered a lump down there which sent me into panic overdrive. The Drs (I went to three) all told me it was a Bartholin Gland Cyst and fairly common. It has got a lot smaller and has virtually disappeared now but for a month I googled things and worried to the extent that it made me feel stressed out. I also started developing slight abdominal pain to the lower right side and lower back off and on. I got really worried and paid for a private abdominal ultrasound which came up clear. I still worried. It turns out I have a prolapse from childbirth. This doesn't worry me as I know it's not a life threatening thing. What worries me is if the pains are actually something worse. Luckily the pains (more a tugging sensation) have got a lot better the last few weeks).
Due to anxiety, the last week and a half I have had a bit of a burping, swallowing, lump in throat thing which has worried me.
My husband and family are getting really fed up with me which I can understand, I would too! They just can't understand how I get myself into a position of worry like this. I know I am over reacting but can't seem to stop myself or Googling symptoms. I also have been to the Drs a few times and worry they think I am a fruit loop! I just want to stop this cycle of worry, anxiety and making myself feel ill. I absolutely do not want to pass this health anxiety on to my children. I have thought about asking to see someone about it (I don't want to take medication at the moment as I am breastfeeding) but my mum has put me off saying it will go on a psychiatric record.
I just feel crap about myself and also hate the constant worrying. I just want to feel like I did four months ago before I found that cyst and started this cycle of worrying.
---------- Post added at 22:41 ---------- Previous post was at 22:32 ----------
Plus tonight I found another small cyst when I was checking to see if the Bartholin Gland had gone away, which I tried to pop with a sterilized needle (boiling water and alcohol and put on antiseptic afterwards). I just didn't want another lump type thing to worry about 'down there'. I told my husband who said this was a really stupid thing to do and I could give myself blood poisoning. Of course, my HA has gone into overdrive and I have now convinced myself that is what will happen. J have just phoned Aviva online GP (we have health cover) who has reassured me that I don't need to drive up to A&E tonight.