Update-- Still constantly worrying doctors missed something

[Caseyg89]

Hi everyone!

It has been quite some time since I have been on NMP. I find that the posts asking for reassurance about symptoms is not really helpful for me, but I do enjoy reading the posts about how people are combating their health anxiety.

For a quick recap on my case, I was diagnosed with OCD January 2017 and for the first time in my life it was all health focused. My first obsession started with ovarian cancer, then to colon cancer, then to pancreatic cancer, then to bladder/kidney and landed on stomach cancer approximately one year ago (acid reflux, indigestion). I had severe food poisoning around the time the health anxiety started and since then my stomach has been really off. In this time, I have worried about many other types of cancers, but my mind continues to go back to stomach cancer.

I have had every test under the sun including; ultrasounds, blood work, multiple endoscopes with biopsies, colonoscopies, an MRI and a CT scan. My biggest issue is that I constantly doubt the results of these tests. In one of the tests, my liver function was slightly high so they did an ultrasound that saw a slightly enlarged lymph node near my liver that the radiologist listed as "normal appearing" with no follow up required. My mind starts thinking the radiologist is wrong and it might actually be a malignant lymph node etc. After any test I have, I google inaccuracies and often learn about the type of cancers I am worrying about and the difficult to detect ones and decide I must have this.

I would like any input anyone has about their own experiences with:

1. Self diagnosis. Does anyone else do a ton of research and diagnose themselves not only with a illness but a very specific type? I have done this with stomach cancer and not because I exhibit the symptoms that align more with it, but instead it's harder to detect and my brain thinks that if nothing was found in my endoscopes but I still have stomach issues, it must be this type (like so specific that includes the types of cells that would be found etc).

2. Doubting doctors and results. All of my test results have come back clear. There was the one with the lymph node, but even in that one the radiologist said it was normal appearing. How do people learn to trust in the results? I am so tempted to ask my doctor for a second opinion on this as it is causing me so much distress. I had a CT scan of my bowel after this ultrasound and they didn't make any mention of it, but I always worry that the radiologist was not looking for a lymph node near my liver and may have missed it. Does anyone else find they do this and have any suggestions?

Not looking for reassurance of my symptoms but instead personal experiences on how people have managed their health anxiety.

Reality checks are always welcome LOL

Thanks!

[ServerError]

My answer will seem rather short given how much detail you went into, but here's how I manage health anxiety: sertraline and therapy.

Beyond that, I rely on self-discipline and lifestyle changes designed to enhance my feelings of wellbeing. It's hit-and-miss and an ongoing process, but it's what I do.

[unsure_about_this]

Hi

In the past I used to do it a lot, googling, did not trust gp saying I had IBS went for all the tests and all what as found was a possibly small common pouch non cancerous on a small bowel (seen on mri scan/sig camera) even when I went for ultrasounds and concerns about having testicle cancer that all started with my gp thought he felt a lump two years ago and got me worried when he referred me under the two week rule for possible cancer, even in the end it was some cysts round the epdidymis (sp?)

[Fishmanpa]

My answer will seem rather short given how much detail you went into, but here's how I manage health anxiety: sertraline and therapy.

Beyond that, I rely on self-discipline and lifestyle changes designed to enhance my feelings of wellbeing. It's hit-and-miss and an ongoing process, but it's what I do.

That's really it IMO. These are just words on a screen. It's up to the individual to take the actual real life steps.

Positive thoughts

[Caseyg89]

Thanks for all of your responses!

I am taking medication and have been in counselling for the past year but seem to not be able to shake this fear. I've doubted every test and doctor.

[Akoto]

I can take a swing at answering your questions. Just recently, I had a relapse after having good control over my health anxiety for a couple years. Turns out it wasn't worth it, of course.

1. Self-diagnosis was what caused me to relapse. After a couple of weeks waiting for the specialist, I heard the siren song of Doctor Google and could not turn away. Before I knew it, I'd diagnosed myself with three serious conditions. Once I actually got to a doctor who knew what he was talking about, it wasn't nearly so bad. I would say that self-diagnosis (and Dr. Google, who is a horrible person) is probably the greatest challenge you can face. If you keep yourself in control, though, you can resist the temptation. If you fail, so what? You can get back in order with work!

2. I have this problem, too. It's really difficult to offer a doctor your trust when you're frightened and have read way too much. When it comes to your own health, I think enough knowledge can be a really bad thing, particularly when you're not qualified to use it properly.

My decision with this new doctor was that I had to give the man a chance, give him my trust. Allow him some time to help me out. How is that any worse than sitting in front of the computer and torturing myself for hours on end, right? I'd rather give an honest effort to trusting a flesh and blood expert over my laptop. :)

So, I don't think your issues are unusual at all for people with health anxiety. They do take effort to overcome, but you can do it! From my perspective, HA is something that's with you all your life, just like a chronic physical issue. Just the same, getting the proper help and managing it can greatly improve your situation.