JayWright91
01-11-17, 13:58
Hey People
I'm new to this forum and tbf I am new to the whole health anxiety thing in general. However, I have suffered from anxiety in general for a few years, most recently social anxiety.
However, these 'feelings/symptoms' have plagued me for the past 4 weeks and I have been guilty of the old 'Dr. Google' and basically self diagnosed myself with two medical conditions in these 4 weeks!
So, lets start at the beginning shall we? - I am a 26 Year Old Father to 2, one just turning 6 and another yet to turn 1. I have a long term partner who I am engaged to and very much looking forward to getting married to. I've had quite a bad diet for a while and seen my weight shoot up to 14st 6lb putting me in the 'overweight' category.
Roughly 4 weeks ago, I felt a sharp twinge in the left side of my chest.. I ignored it at first and just let it be. However, it kept happening and I also suffered from a 'burning' sensation in my shoulders and higher back. I jumped straight onto google and typed in my symptoms (silly I know) and was met with hundreds of posts regarding heart attacks. So that was that, I was having a Heart Attack I thought to myself. I went to my GP who did basic Obs like Pulse, BP, Oxygen Levels and listened to my heart/chest with stethoscope and all was okay, except a high BP (Anxiety and/or diet could cause this?) - So off, I went feeling slightly at ease. Until, that was the next day when I felt the symptoms again and had a 'panic attack' I rang 111 who told me to go to A&E. So off I went, waited three hours and had basic obs and an ECG - all of which showed up fine.
This put my mind at great ease and the symptoms stopped for the heart attack I thought I was having for 2/3 Weeks.
So, Great I thought lets just keep plugging away.. I then suffered a bout of bad sickness and diarrhea and decided to alternate my diet to lose some weight, which I have stuck to and have managed to lose 7lbs over the past 4 weeks! Which is great!
Now, this is where my next self diagnosis started, I started going to the toilet for bowel movements a lot and noticed some bright red blood on my Toilet Paper, I initially again, ignored it - then I started checking all the time and noticed it again a few times! I also checked my stools and would occasionally see 'red blood' in stool! Again, I panicked - straight on doctor google and have self diagnosed myself with Bowel/Colon Cancer! Due to me fitting the symptoms of Change in Bowel Habits, Blood On TP/Stools.
I have since contacted my GP who has arranged for a blood test and advised it could be due to anal fissures and my diet/anxiety affecting bowels (I didn't know anxiety could affect this?)
I have also noticed Fatigue, is another common symptom for these cancers, which is one thing I luckily don't seem to be suffering from! As I have done a good amount of walking the past few days and have seemed able to do it with little issue.
I do however, seem to feel extremely nauseas and sometimes I am actually sick from this! Generally late in Evenings!
Anyways, I have a trip to the Hospital tomorrow for a blood test which I will have to wait 7 days to hear the results! Again, I googled and seen that Anemia is a common sign of these cancers and this is the test I'm worried about - Hopefully it comes back ok!
However, for the past 4 days - I have been constantly fighting a battle with my mind as to what it is, googling for hours symptoms and stories of the cancer and convincing myself I have this and it's driving me into a state of loss of control, sadness and anxiety.
Has anyone else experienced these symptoms and has any tips/tricks on managing this? As every day I feel like I'm fighting a battle inside my own head and feel as though I am losing. Making me feel like I'm going to die and not see my children grow up etc.
Any help or advice would be massively appreciated!
TIA!
I'm new to this forum and tbf I am new to the whole health anxiety thing in general. However, I have suffered from anxiety in general for a few years, most recently social anxiety.
However, these 'feelings/symptoms' have plagued me for the past 4 weeks and I have been guilty of the old 'Dr. Google' and basically self diagnosed myself with two medical conditions in these 4 weeks!
So, lets start at the beginning shall we? - I am a 26 Year Old Father to 2, one just turning 6 and another yet to turn 1. I have a long term partner who I am engaged to and very much looking forward to getting married to. I've had quite a bad diet for a while and seen my weight shoot up to 14st 6lb putting me in the 'overweight' category.
Roughly 4 weeks ago, I felt a sharp twinge in the left side of my chest.. I ignored it at first and just let it be. However, it kept happening and I also suffered from a 'burning' sensation in my shoulders and higher back. I jumped straight onto google and typed in my symptoms (silly I know) and was met with hundreds of posts regarding heart attacks. So that was that, I was having a Heart Attack I thought to myself. I went to my GP who did basic Obs like Pulse, BP, Oxygen Levels and listened to my heart/chest with stethoscope and all was okay, except a high BP (Anxiety and/or diet could cause this?) - So off, I went feeling slightly at ease. Until, that was the next day when I felt the symptoms again and had a 'panic attack' I rang 111 who told me to go to A&E. So off I went, waited three hours and had basic obs and an ECG - all of which showed up fine.
This put my mind at great ease and the symptoms stopped for the heart attack I thought I was having for 2/3 Weeks.
So, Great I thought lets just keep plugging away.. I then suffered a bout of bad sickness and diarrhea and decided to alternate my diet to lose some weight, which I have stuck to and have managed to lose 7lbs over the past 4 weeks! Which is great!
Now, this is where my next self diagnosis started, I started going to the toilet for bowel movements a lot and noticed some bright red blood on my Toilet Paper, I initially again, ignored it - then I started checking all the time and noticed it again a few times! I also checked my stools and would occasionally see 'red blood' in stool! Again, I panicked - straight on doctor google and have self diagnosed myself with Bowel/Colon Cancer! Due to me fitting the symptoms of Change in Bowel Habits, Blood On TP/Stools.
I have since contacted my GP who has arranged for a blood test and advised it could be due to anal fissures and my diet/anxiety affecting bowels (I didn't know anxiety could affect this?)
I have also noticed Fatigue, is another common symptom for these cancers, which is one thing I luckily don't seem to be suffering from! As I have done a good amount of walking the past few days and have seemed able to do it with little issue.
I do however, seem to feel extremely nauseas and sometimes I am actually sick from this! Generally late in Evenings!
Anyways, I have a trip to the Hospital tomorrow for a blood test which I will have to wait 7 days to hear the results! Again, I googled and seen that Anemia is a common sign of these cancers and this is the test I'm worried about - Hopefully it comes back ok!
However, for the past 4 days - I have been constantly fighting a battle with my mind as to what it is, googling for hours symptoms and stories of the cancer and convincing myself I have this and it's driving me into a state of loss of control, sadness and anxiety.
Has anyone else experienced these symptoms and has any tips/tricks on managing this? As every day I feel like I'm fighting a battle inside my own head and feel as though I am losing. Making me feel like I'm going to die and not see my children grow up etc.
Any help or advice would be massively appreciated!
TIA!