Mattytheshark
27-07-16, 11:08
Hello everyone, I'm Matt
I hope you don't mind me giving a potted history of my story.
18 months ago I started to worry that I'd contracted an STD (namely HIV or hepatitis) as, I'm ashamed to say, I had unprotected oral sex with someone. I immediately began to worry about this even though the chances of me contracting either of these diseases through this was spectacularly low. It still didn't stop me spending £100s on various tests etc to put my mind at ease.
Since this time (and starting about a year ago) I've obsessed about every little thing that is wrong with me. Last year I found a neck lump which turned out to be nothing but that didn't stop me worrying about it, not taking my doctor's judgement that it wasn't cancer, and revising the surgery twice a week. Eventually a consultant appointment put my fears to rest......for a while.
About 5 weeks ago I had a sore throat from hell. It was awful. I decided I must have cancer of the throat. The doctor said it wasn't and it went.....then came back. It went away again but in its place was left a very very mild discomfort in my throat when I sometimes swallowed. I was worried also because I could feel a lump inside my throat. So I went back to docs didn't I. I decided to talk to him about my anxiety as well. He felt my neck and said that apart from clearly recovering from a viral infection, he could not feel any that felt like cancer. He also did a GAD7 test in which I scored 21/21 and he said that I was clearly severely anxious.
So what about the lump? Apparently this is common in anxious people (globus pharyngeus?) and since learning about this I have become more aware of it. This morning I don't think it was there at all but now I can sense it. It also seems like it's in a different spot to yeaterday. It doesn't stop me eating but I wish it wasn't there as it continues to worry me (ie what if it IS cancer )
I'm going on holiday next week and worry my throat will block up...I know...I'm mad.
While I am at work I am fine. In fact I am doing really well with my career (I'm a teacher) having been recently promoted. The holidays are hard for me though. I have 6 weeks off with my family now and am constantly worried about things (especially my health).
I'm on a waiting list for CBT but that's in 8 weeks or so.
Any help you can give me would be appreciated. Sorry for rambling!
Matt
I hope you don't mind me giving a potted history of my story.
18 months ago I started to worry that I'd contracted an STD (namely HIV or hepatitis) as, I'm ashamed to say, I had unprotected oral sex with someone. I immediately began to worry about this even though the chances of me contracting either of these diseases through this was spectacularly low. It still didn't stop me spending £100s on various tests etc to put my mind at ease.
Since this time (and starting about a year ago) I've obsessed about every little thing that is wrong with me. Last year I found a neck lump which turned out to be nothing but that didn't stop me worrying about it, not taking my doctor's judgement that it wasn't cancer, and revising the surgery twice a week. Eventually a consultant appointment put my fears to rest......for a while.
About 5 weeks ago I had a sore throat from hell. It was awful. I decided I must have cancer of the throat. The doctor said it wasn't and it went.....then came back. It went away again but in its place was left a very very mild discomfort in my throat when I sometimes swallowed. I was worried also because I could feel a lump inside my throat. So I went back to docs didn't I. I decided to talk to him about my anxiety as well. He felt my neck and said that apart from clearly recovering from a viral infection, he could not feel any that felt like cancer. He also did a GAD7 test in which I scored 21/21 and he said that I was clearly severely anxious.
So what about the lump? Apparently this is common in anxious people (globus pharyngeus?) and since learning about this I have become more aware of it. This morning I don't think it was there at all but now I can sense it. It also seems like it's in a different spot to yeaterday. It doesn't stop me eating but I wish it wasn't there as it continues to worry me (ie what if it IS cancer )
I'm going on holiday next week and worry my throat will block up...I know...I'm mad.
While I am at work I am fine. In fact I am doing really well with my career (I'm a teacher) having been recently promoted. The holidays are hard for me though. I have 6 weeks off with my family now and am constantly worried about things (especially my health).
I'm on a waiting list for CBT but that's in 8 weeks or so.
Any help you can give me would be appreciated. Sorry for rambling!
Matt