View Full Version : Should I go to the er???
I got hot flushing on my face and chest my heart is racing around 115 beats per minute and my blood pressure is high 145/101. Im also shivering uncontrollably does this warrant a er trip???
---------- Post added at 20:25 ---------- Previous post was at 20:22 ----------
Please someone i dont what to do :(
venusbluejeans
14-01-19, 20:26
They can all be anxiety symptoms..
The 2 main causes ove read to cause this are carcinoid tumor or adrenal tumor...
That describes a panic attack exactly.
That describes a panic attack exactly.
Yea but a adrenal tumor can cause the panic attack. Like my face and chest are literally bright red and burning they have been for hours along eith the fast heart rate.
venusbluejeans
14-01-19, 20:45
why ask for advice and then not actually take any of it in and not actually listen to it?? If you want to go to the ER then go because that is what you seem to want to do anyway to be honest.. kind of sounds like you have made your mind up that it is something serious and no matter what we say you will answer back with "but google says....... "
Asks for advice.........Advice given...... BUT I have googled and it is this...... all that is doing is bringing on the anxiety and panic more and exacerbates the symptoms. Dr Google is not your friend.
Sorry to be blunt but just telling it how it is...
You've already been tested for carcinoid/adrenal tumours. Do you remember?
You've already been tested for carcinoid/adrenal tumours. Do you remember?
I've never been checked for a adrenal tumor and they just did a random urine for carcinoid which I read they are suppose to do a 24 hour urine.
A lot of things can cause a lot of different symptoms. But, considering you have an anxiety disorder, that is the most likely cause of your panic attack.
[QUOTE=Hypo27;1850335]I've never been checked for a adrenal tumor and they just did a random urine for carcinoid which I read they are suppose to do a 24 hour urine.[/QUOTE
It's an expensive and extensive business testing for carcinoid/adrenal tumours. And very specialised. So you weren't taken seriously when you last thought you had one or other of these conditions?
What brought this on Hypo ? I mean what were you doing and thinking of before this happened? I know around now you are due your medical checks on your gastric issues, is there any connection?
Have you taken your temperature, it could be that you could have some sort of virus coming on.
Should I go to the er???
Being this thread started an hour ago, I'd say no :whistles:
Positive thoughts
What brought this on Hypo ? I mean what were you doing and thinking of before this happened? I know around now you are due your medical checks on your gastric issues, is there any connection?
Have you taken your temperature, it could be that you could have some sort of virus coming on.
I honestly was just watching tv when it came on my temparture is normal.
---------- Post added at 21:34 ---------- Previous post was at 21:31 ----------
[QUOTE=Hypo27;1850335]I've never been checked for a adrenal tumor and they just did a random urine for carcinoid which I read they are suppose to do a 24 hour urine.[/QUOTE
It's an expensive and extensive business testing for carcinoid/adrenal tumours. And very specialised. So you weren't taken seriously when you last thought you had one or other of these conditions?
I don't know I guess i wasn't.. The flushing and stuff has come and gone in the past but nevwr has been this bad it hasnt let up at all. Guess i nees to go back to the endocrinologist.
AMomentofClarity
14-01-19, 21:42
Sounds like CLASSIC panic attack, to a T. Like if there was a book about panic attacks, that could be the intro.
I've been through carcinoid/adrenal cancer testing and a friend of mine has carcinoid so your best bet will be the endocrinologist asap. Make sure you budget for expensive tests though.
The thing is, 115 isn't actually even that fast. A normal resting heart-rate is 60 -100 bmp.
So, when is your gastric test thingy?
AMomentofClarity
14-01-19, 21:51
The thing is, 115 isn't actually even that fast. A normal resting heart-rate is 60 -100 bmp.
So, when is your gastric test thingy?
Didn’t he decide it was spinal cancer, not gastric?:shrug:
I've been through carcinoid/adrenal cancer testing and a friend of mine has carcinoid so your best bet will be the endocrinologist asap. Make sure you budget for expensive tests though.
So it does have to be 24 hour urine then? When I asked the endo about that he acted like it didn't need to be 24 hour urine... So your saying my symptoms sound like carcinoid?
So your saying my symptoms sound like carcinoid?
......I guarantee, knowing Pulisa, she's not saying that :D (Sorry P, I know you can speak for yourself, but just had to say this)
......I guarantee she's not saying that :D (Sorry P, I know you can speak for yourself, but just had to say this)
Idk she said I need to see the endo asap like she thinks its carcinoid..
AMomentofClarity
14-01-19, 22:16
So your saying my symptoms sound like carcinoid?
I’ll take “Making Shit Up for $500 Alex”
Hypo, I strongly suspect it was irony. :)
So, anyway, I think you should go with the symptoms you feel you have today...and not go to ER.....you've had them before and it wasn't found to be a carcinoid tumour. I think, like last time they will disappear. 115 really isn't that fast, your blood pressure isn't that high and anyway home testing is notoriously unreliable.
Now, the gastric referral, when is that?
I did have a ct of my stomach last April wouldn't that of see a adrenal tumor if it was big enough at the time? I see the gastro Friday at 9.
WiseMonkey
14-01-19, 23:08
Hypo, you need to read the last bit of advice I gave darkside, as it applies to you too :lac:
I really believe this is one of the two I shouldn't be flushing for no reason and the headaches are god awful just wish I knew what was wrong with me :(.
utrocket09
15-01-19, 01:24
I really believe this is one of the two I shouldn't be flushing for no reason and the headaches are god awful just wish I knew what was wrong with me :(.
You are having an anxiety attack that is what is wrong....yes you don't want to listen
AMomentofClarity
15-01-19, 01:30
l just wish I knew what was wrong with me :(.
If only there were a place where you could spend 2 years asking....then get hundreds of replies explaining it very clearly.....:whistles:
Then, you could go back and read said replies anytime you needed....wouldn’t that be something....
Now, where to look......
You are having an anxiety attack that is what is wrong....yes you don't want to listen
From what I just read the classic symptoms of pheochromocytoma which is the adrenal tumor are high blood pressure high heart rate sweating headache and flushing.. I literally have them all...
From what I just read the classic symptoms of pheochromocytoma which is the adrenal tumor are high blood pressure high heart rate sweating headache and flushing.. I literally have them all...
OMG YOUR GOOGLING ?????
:doh::doh::doh:
Symptoms of a panic attack according to the Mayo Clinic:
Panic attacks typically include some of these signs or symptoms:
Sense of impending doom or danger
Fear of loss of control or death
Rapid, pounding heart rate
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat
Chills
Hot flashes
Nausea
Abdominal cramping
Chest pain
Headache
Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness
Numbness or tingling sensation
Feeling of unreality or detachmen
Also from Mayo: Anxiety doesn't cause long-term high blood pressure (hypertension). But episodes of anxiety can cause dramatic, temporary spikes in your blood pressure.
The list literally has them all.
utrocket09
15-01-19, 02:12
From what I just read the classic symptoms of pheochromocytoma which is the adrenal tumor are high blood pressure high heart rate sweating headache and flushing.. I literally have them all...
NO ONE WOULD KNOW WHAT THAT IS UNLESS THEY GOOGLED. What you have are anxiety symptoms. Nothing physical is wrong with you.
NO ONE WOULD KNOW WHAT THAT IS UNLESS THEY GOOGLED. What you have are anxiety symptoms. Nothing physical is wrong with you.
Googling isn't always a bad thing. I've seen a ton of people figure out what they had just by googling and then go to their doctor and be right.
utrocket09
15-01-19, 02:32
Googling isn't always a bad thing. I've seen a ton of people figure out what they had just by googling and then go to their doctor and be right.
Hypo the whole point is you are googling something that most don't what the hell that even is. So what !? you know a few people whom used Dr. Google vs someone with a medical degree. No. Thanks I'll trust a Dr with a degree. Let's see how long this post goes on for...
Are you doing anything for the anxiety?
Hypo the whole point is you are googling something that most don't what the hell that even is. So what !? you know a few people whom used Dr. Google vs someone with a medical degree. No. Thanks I'll trust a Dr with a degree. Let's see how long this post goes on for...
Are you doing anything for the anxiety?
I see my psychologist Thursday but I really wanna take medication but im so terrified of side effects... I'm just so scared of what this is...
---------- Post added at 03:11 ---------- Previous post was at 02:54 ----------
How do I get the courage to take medicine?
I've literally had all these symptoms at once
Believe me it's anxiety. It has tricks on getting to you. Heat flashes are not common for me but when they hit they hit hard. An increased heart rate and blood pressure is basically anxiety 101. Uncontrolled shivering means you're scared. You've tricked yourself into believing you have something terrible. Also if there's anything id suggest against is googling as anxiety matches almost every disease in the book.
Agreed, it's a classic panic attack. I get all of these when I'm having a bad one.
Symptoms of a panic attack according to the Mayo Clinic:
Panic attacks typically include some of these signs or symptoms:
Sense of impending doom or danger
Fear of loss of control or death
Rapid, pounding heart rate
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat
Chills
Hot flashes
Nausea
Abdominal cramping
Chest pain
Headache
Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness
Numbness or tingling sensation
Feeling of unreality or detachmen
Also from Mayo: Anxiety doesn't cause long-term high blood pressure (hypertension). But episodes of anxiety can cause dramatic, temporary spikes in your blood pressure.
The list literally has them all.I just want to copy this post to make sure Hypo sees it. Since you are believing everything you read on Google can you believe this? If the answer is no, why not?
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
Agree, in worst panic attacks ever in my life, these highlighted things in the list are exactly what I've had, and some of the others from the list at the same time. (except my heart rate is usually more like 145!) SUdden and extreme adrenaline changes do that.
......I guarantee, knowing Pulisa, she's not saying that :D (Sorry P, I know you can speak for yourself, but just had to say this)
No, I'm definitely not saying that. You have a different perceived cancer every time you post, Hypo, so I don't take your "diagnoses" seriously. I suspect your doctor doesn't take you seriously either but is happy to take your money for cursory tests to satisfy your hypochondria but little else.
You said you have a limited budget so I'd focus on financing some therapy and concentrating on your young family and being there mentally for them as opposed to being a regular at your doctor's surgery.
But I know nothing will change.
I do wonder whether health anxiety can almost become a sort of safe space for people, almost, if they're lonely or dissatisfied with other aspects of their life. Certain serial posters here seem resistant to the concept that they have a problem with anxiety, despite the fact that this forum is for exactly that.
Not trying to be cruel, I just know that my HA would be a whole lot worse if I didn't have a lot of other things I was keen to achieve.
WiseMonkey
15-01-19, 09:02
I do wonder whether health anxiety can almost become a sort of safe space for people, almost, if they're lonely or dissatisfied with other aspects of their life. Certain serial posters here seem resistant to the concept that they have a problem with anxiety, despite the fact that this forum is for exactly that.
Not trying to be cruel, I just know that my HA would be a whole lot worse if I didn't have a lot of other things I was keen to achieve.
I do believe HA about can become an addiction, the anxiety/panic certainly makes the body releases powerful chemicals. These two serial posters seem to have continual obsessions about various cancers, therefore the body is in a constant state of chemical high alert. I'm wondering whether they get withdrawal symptoms when the adrenaline rush subsides? The body never has a long enough period to normalise!
BrightPhoenix
15-01-19, 09:06
I do wonder whether health anxiety can almost become a sort of safe space for people, almost, if they're lonely or dissatisfied with other aspects of their life. Certain serial posters here seem resistant to the concept that they have a problem with anxiety, despite the fact that this forum is for exactly that.
Not trying to be cruel, I just know that my HA would be a whole lot worse if I didn't have a lot of other things I was keen to achieve.
Well that's the thing - when you have health anxiety you are stuck in a feedback loop that makes it VERY hard for people who aren't suffering what you're suffering to understand. It's even scarier when you haven't even had a doctor there to reassure you of what you THINK you don't or don't have, like OP has.
I can 100% understand how this person feels. Several months back I had a lupus scare and I was just about lose my mind about it and I asked every single person I knew about it and I know I was a giant pain in the butt to them.
The only way you can really stop at least this "episode" is to have a doctor tell you you're fine, the only problem is you may feel you forgot to ask the doctor about this or that symptom you didn't mention, so even though the doctor tells you you're fine you start to doubt it. And couple that with how accessible the Internet is, you can easily pull up an article or a tale about this person who had x or y symptoms and had doctors "miss" them and holy cow it actually was something else that was big and scary, even though the odds are in your favor for it to be something less severe if it's anything at all.
I can understand the frustration OP is going through because I too have been in that feedback loop where someone will constantly try to reassure me and I wouldn't listen. Health Anxiety is a tough beast.
---------- Post added at 23:06 ---------- Previous post was at 23:02 ----------
I do believe HA about can become an addiction, the anxiety/panic certainly makes the body releases powerful chemicals. These two serial posters seem to have continual obsessions about various cancers, therefore the body is in a constant state of chemical high alert. I'm wondering whether they get withdrawal symptoms when the adrenaline rush subsides? The body never has a long enough period to normalise!
Some folks just have it worse than others, I think. I usually dislike it when people tell me this, but I think shaming them for being serial posters isn't that productive since it's pretty obvious they have it worse off with HA than us. It does sound like a more experienced therapist (preferably one experienced with dealing with OCD/HA) would be a huge help to these folks.
That actually makes a lot of sense. If nothing else, when the entire mind is occupied with perceived survival all the time, how on earth can you cope with normality when the threat sirens aren't screaming in your ear?
I feel as though after a while it could almost become an identity - I know I've come close to that point in the past, where I've felt as though anxiety was all there was to me.
BrightPhoenix
15-01-19, 09:12
That actually makes a lot of sense. If nothing else, when the entire mind is occupied with perceived survival all the time, how on earth can you cope with normality when the threat sirens aren't screaming in your ear?
I feel as though after a while it could almost become an identity - I know I've come close to that point in the past, where I've felt as though anxiety was all there was to me.
It's destructive if you need to work to live like I do. You'd go to work worrying about your health and your entire day's worth of productivity is crushed as you Google symptoms in a panic-stricken matter and failing to focus on your work.
And what's worse is at work, you generally are expected to have some semblance of stoicism, whether you're a woman or man - you have to pretend like nothing's wrong with you and get the work done even though all you want to do is crawl in a hole and continue to panic about your symptoms.
On top of that you just have those days where you are so scared of your symptoms you don't want to go to work at all and just lie in bed all day worrying about them, maybe having those symptoms remind you that you might have whatever you're worrying about, so even though you're in a comfy position you can't even relax because you're still worrying about those symptoms.
Like I said, I can only imagine how difficult it is for the frequent posters here. You might be right, for those folks it might be like their mind is in 100% fight or flight mode all day - I can only imagine how frustrating that is for your productivity.
Believe me, BrightPhoenix, I know - there's nothing worse than a day spent panicking on Google worrying about your symptoms as well as worrying what will happen if you're caught. It happens to me several times a year.
I know I might sound critical of the frequent fliers here, but I do empathise - I feel lucky that I've had the right support and been able to pull myself out to the point where I'm functional again.
However, when somebody has a track record of ignoring and/or being actively hostile to advice, it becomes frustrating sometimes, especially for those of us trying so hard not to let anxiety dominate our own lives and the lives of our loved ones.
I do wonder whether health anxiety can almost become a sort of safe space for people, almost, if they're lonely or dissatisfied with other aspects of their life. Certain serial posters here seem resistant to the concept that they have a problem with anxiety, despite the fact that this forum is for exactly that.
Not trying to be cruel, I just know that my HA would be a whole lot worse if I didn't have a lot of other things I was keen to achieve.
I've equated it to a co-dependent abusive relationship. And like that, there are issues deep down that helped to develop that relationship and keep the abused victim from helping themselves.
That's another reason to seek real life professional mental help.
Positive thoughts
AMomentofClarity
15-01-19, 14:16
I know I might sound critical of the frequent fliers here, but I do empathise - I feel lucky that I've had the right support and been able to pull myself out to the point where I'm functional.
Doesn’t sound critical at all to me. It’s that you know how to get better, how to help yourself overcome anxiety, so you try to help others recognize their patterns and challenge their thoughts.
We all know that a pat on the back and “there there now now, you don’t have xyz” only reinforces things.
Double_Rainbow
15-01-19, 15:18
I see my psychologist Thursday but I really wanna take medication but im so terrified of side effects... I'm just so scared of what this is...
---------- Post added at 03:11 ---------- Previous post was at 02:54 ----------
How do I get the courage to take medicine?
I was at that point a few years back. Then it got real bad and I took zoloft. Yeah I did have some side effects but not too bad. Most importantly, the difference it made in my anxiety and panic is tremendous. I highly recommend that you do it. If not for yourself, then for your family. Given the mental state you seem to be in, I think that they would be really happy that you did.
---------- Post added at 10:13 ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 ----------
It's destructive if you need to work to live like I do. You'd go to work worrying about your health and your entire day's worth of productivity is crushed as you Google symptoms in a panic-stricken matter and failing to focus on your work.
And what's worse is at work, you generally are expected to have some semblance of stoicism, whether you're a woman or man - you have to pretend like nothing's wrong with you and get the work done even though all you want to do is crawl in a hole and continue to panic about your symptoms.
On top of that you just have those days where you are so scared of your symptoms you don't want to go to work at all and just lie in bed all day worrying about them, maybe having those symptoms remind you that you might have whatever you're worrying about, so even though you're in a comfy position you can't even relax because you're still worrying about those symptoms.
Like I said, I can only imagine how difficult it is for the frequent posters here. You might be right, for those folks it might be like their mind is in 100% fight or flight mode all day - I can only imagine how frustrating that is for your productivity.
Yes, one of the worst things that my anxiety does (other than makes me unable to sleep) is it crushes my productivity. All I can do is google symptoms, catastrophize, and schedule/run to various doctors. For me, it takes a few weeks on Zoloft to actually recognize and accept that.
---------- Post added at 10:18 ---------- Previous post was at 10:13 ----------
I did have a ct of my stomach last April wouldn't that of see a adrenal tumor if it was big enough at the time? I see the gastro Friday at 9.
How much more of the unnecessary medical imaging do you want? Repeated x-ray exposure is not without side effects, you know.
MyNameIsTerry
15-01-19, 16:22
One of the fundamentals of anxiety is it's a self protection system, it's just firing too much and at the wrong things. A fluffy bunny becomes a crazed bear.
The most basic cycle in this system is to tell us to fight or flee. Avoidance is fleeing.
Remove HA and think something like Agoraphobia or Panic Disorder. They are running away from the scary trigger.
So why do some HAers, and it goes well beyond into other anxiety disorders (remembering HA isn't even a diagnostic label anyway), flee from seeing doctors or avoid tests? Why do they resist facing what is painful? Why do they focus (not even considering the point of an obsessive-compulsive cycle or Cognitive Distortions) on a lesser pain rather than confront their anxiety and seek treatment?
They know it's not cancer but facing the fear of tackling their anxiety is more scary than continuing to stay in a cycle of fear.
Taking on your anxiety means greater exposure to that which you feel you can't take anymore of. It's putting your hand into a fire when your body is screaming not to do it.
Addiction has different cycles, definitions and means different neurotransmitters. Impulse Disorders are closer in some respect with them being about chasing the rush more than satisfying the fear.
They are different but they can appear similar. It's the complexity of mental health and how other disorders, such as addictions, come with other emotions that overlap into many conditions since anxiety is part of the human experience. But a reduction in anxiety from a temporary hit to calm it isn't the same as a euphoric rush.
Better the devil you know. It's easier to stay in the cycle as you know it than face the uncertainty of change.
Just joining & posting here tells you that no matter what they say they know it's anxiety. Otherwise we would be seeing people with more severe mental health problems here insisting they have cancer (think delusion & psychosis) or actual cancer patients who are experiencing anxiety with their diagnosis & treatment. But we don't, they are rare. HAers on here really aren't rare :winks: Why talk on here when you have plenty of cancer forums or hospitals to insist it to?
---------- Post added at 16:22 ---------- Previous post was at 16:11 ----------
Symptoms of a panic attack according to the Mayo Clinic:
Panic attacks typically include some of these signs or symptoms:
Sense of impending doom or danger
Fear of loss of control or death
Rapid, pounding heart rate
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat
Chills
Hot flashes
Nausea
Abdominal cramping
Chest pain
Headache
Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness
Numbness or tingling sensation
Feeling of unreality or detachmen
Also from Mayo: Anxiety doesn't cause long-term high blood pressure (hypertension). But episodes of anxiety can cause dramatic, temporary spikes in your blood pressure.
The list literally has them all.
Giving it a bump as jray did. Good question by him too, are you willing to trust Dr Google A or Dr Google B? Dr Google B tells you why it's panic. In fact, it's even a therapy technique to do this.
Are you willing to entertain it could be this?
You mentioned only two possible causes are on Google for your symptoms. You note have 3. I'm sure there are many more, we all know there are given basic physical exercise can cause your body to do the same.
ankietyjoe
15-01-19, 16:26
Googling isn't always a bad thing. I've seen a ton of people figure out what they had just by googling and then go to their doctor and be right.
Frankly, bullsh1t.
You're trying to justify googling, which is always bad. There are no exceptions.
Giving it a bump as jray did. Good question by him too, are you willing to trust Dr Google A or Dr Google B? Dr Google B tells you why it's panic. In fact, it's even a therapy technique to do this.
Yes, my therapist told me that if I have to Google something to search for things about anxiety and it really helps!
Yes, my therapist told me that if I have to Google something to search for things about anxiety and it really helps!It's how I found this forum in the first place!
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
Double_Rainbow
15-01-19, 21:07
Googling isn't always a bad thing. I've seen a ton of people figure out what they had just by googling and then go to their doctor and be right.
Well, it depends on the probability of the condition in question. Someone who has googled "headache" and decided that they have a migraine has about 15-20% chance of being right. While if the same person decided that they have brain cancer, the probability drops to less than 0.01%. Which is applicable in your case too, as those tumors are so rare most people or even doctors have barely heard of them at all.
It's how I found this forum in the first place!
Me too!
MyNameIsTerry
15-01-19, 22:12
Well, it depends on the probability of the condition in question. Someone who has googled "headache" and decided that they have a migraine has about 15-20% chance of being right. While if the same person decided that they have brain cancer, the probability drops to less than 0.01%. Which is applicable in your case too, as those tumors are so rare most people or even doctors have barely heard of them at all.
And the person doing the Googling. Many people may correctly use Google to find the right condition because they are objective.
Someone looking up an annoying ache won't jump to the most severe thing on the list, often after realising they were doing something that can easily cause it the day before.
That's why part of therapy is always going to be about being ok with Google and not avoiding it out of fear of what you may see.
---------- Post added at 22:12 ---------- Previous post was at 22:10 ----------
Yes, my therapist told me that if I have to Google something to search for things about anxiety and it really helps!
It's interesting because you could take many a sensation/symptom and Google it + condition A and it pops up. There is so much crossover and many of our symptoms can be found in many disorder/conditions simply because they are natural reactions of the body e.g. fatigue.
BrightPhoenix
17-01-19, 00:37
Yes, my therapist told me that if I have to Google something to search for things about anxiety and it really helps!
Yep, this.
If you have a symptom you're worried about, google the symptom + anxiety, or even better, google the symptom + Nomorepanic or anxietycentral or other HA support sites.
It's way more comforting learning that you're not alone.
Just got back from my appointment with my pcp. I told him my concerns about the episodes of flushing, high heart rate and high blood pressure. We discussed the possibilities of carcinoid and adrenal gland tumors. He mentioned that he already did the urine test for carcinoid and it was normal. He is now checking to make sure it isn't pheochromocytoma (adrenal tumor) but was pretty sure that I didn't have it. He wants me to start blood pressure medicine because my levels have been consistently high. That's another thing that concerns me my blood pressure being high at 29 years old... I have no family history of it and don't eat too horrible. I do know that carcinoid cancer is very hard to diagnose early on in the disease so testing can be normal. I'm just scared to take BP medicine I'm just so young to have to do so and I know they have their side effects. He also prescribed celexa for the anxiety.. If it is carcinoid cancer I would rather get it found early and treated you know?
---------- Post added at 19:37 ---------- Previous post was at 19:35 ----------
I also have chiari malformation which I have also read could cause the headaches, high heart rate, and high blood pressure but not sure about flushing..
AMomentofClarity
17-01-19, 19:44
I know this game from my own HA experience:
Actual conversation:
Me-Could it be adrenal tumor?
Dr-Absolutely not. But because you’re anxious I’ll test anyway
I report back:
We discussed the possibility of adrenal tumor. He’s going to test to make sure I don’t have it.
---------- Post added at 12:44 ---------- Previous post was at 12:43 ----------
And oh yeah....how’s the esophageal/spinal cancer? Did you mention that?
I know this game from my own HA experience:
Actual conversation:
Me-Could it be adrenal tumor?
Dr-Absolutely not. But because you’re anxious I’ll test anyway
I report back:
We discussed the possibility of adrenal tumor. He’s going to test to make sure I don’t have it.
---------- Post added at 12:44 ---------- Previous post was at 12:43 ----------
And oh yeah....how’s the esophageal/spinal cancer? Did you mention that?
Still having pain between the shoulders too and yea I mentioned it and he said it was probably related to the chiari malformation..
He wants me to start blood pressure medicine because my levels have been consistently high. That's another thing that concerns me my blood pressure being high at 29 years old... I have no family history of it and don't eat too horrible.
Blood pressure spikes when you are in an anxiety state. Family history is overblown and too many people look to it when it only accounts for a small percentage of cases. You can probably get your blood pressure down by improving your mental state and exercising a little more.
The reason for your blood pressure is probably because you're so anxious and freaked out all the time.
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
MyNameIsTerry
17-01-19, 22:07
BP can certainly be elevated due to anxiety, it's what happens, just as it does for with physical exercise however there must be a reason why we don't hear about constant BP meds given to anxiety disorder sufferers.
I'm not saying that there is anything else but it's my understanding that BP meds can be overprescribed without sufficient checks and this is why it's a standard to perform ambulatory testing now.
Did they want to use them as a temporary measure or because of diagnosed Hypertension?
WiseMonkey
17-01-19, 22:36
The reason for your blood pressure is probably because you're so anxious and freaked out all the time.
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
Yes, I agree with this, you've most likely set it up yourself with the constant anxiety as this can happen even at an early age. Extreme stress can cause heart attacks.
So the intelligent thing would be to reduce your stress/anxiety levels (you'll need help with this to break the cycle), join the gym, change to a healthy diet and drink plenty of water.
Yes, I agree with this, you've most likely set it up yourself with the constant anxiety as this can happen even at an early age. Extreme stress can cause heart attacks.
So the intelligent thing would be to reduce your stress/anxiety levels (you'll need help with this to break the cycle), join the gym, change to a healthy diet and drink plenty of water.
That's the thing I eat a healthy diet, I exercise regularly, and drink plenty of water. Something physical is definitely causing these issues.
That's the thing I eat a healthy diet, I exercise regularly, and drink plenty of water. Something physical is definitely causing these issues.Anxiety can cause physical symptoms.
Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk
Well it isn't anxiety causing this.. I do have issues with anxiety but they stem from these physical issues.
Well it isn't anxiety causing this.. I do have issues with anxiety but they stem from these physical issues.I've actually been in the scenario a bit like the one you describe. Basically you're scared of the symptoms of fear thus magnifying it. If you're worrying about symptoms they will come.
Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk
AMomentofClarity
18-01-19, 02:30
Well it isn't anxiety causing this.. I do have issues with anxiety but they stem from these physical issues.
The saddest thing about people like you and threads like yours, is that at the end of the day you’re choosing to be this way. I know anxiety is a bitch, been there done that, but you can choose to break the cycle, to stop googling, to fight the catastrophic thinking. You can take medication, you can seek therapy. You can frame the whole situation in terms of anxiety.
But....
I think there’s a part of you that subconsciously enjoys the drama your HA brings. It occupies your time, occupies your mind, gives you a reason to seek attention and reassurance. You love coming on here with a title like “should I go to the ER” and having 10 people tell you you’re going to be ok.
The hypochondria is such a part of your identity, you’re afraid to change it.
That's the thing I eat a healthy diet, I exercise regularly, and drink plenty of water. Something physical is definitely causing these issues.Do you sleep well (7-8 hours) regularly? Or do you often stay awake or get jolted awake with fear and worry? Improper sleep is just as bad for bp and health as diet and exercise.
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
BrightPhoenix
18-01-19, 05:22
Trust me man, I had the same thing happen when I got my first panic attack - my BP was REALLY high and my pulse was really high and this was back when I was 20 or so.
For other folks here, a psychiatrist I saw a few years ago *did* prescribe me atenolol (normally a blood pressure medicine) for anxiety. He said it was a good "just in case" medicine because by controlling your blood pressure it can help break the feedback loop the anxiety causes. I spoke with my GP/PCP and she agreed that it was a good idea to assign it since it also helped to control my blood pressure due to my poor diet and lifestyle.
As others have asked, are you taking CBT for your anxiety? Have you seen a therapist about it yet?
---------- Post added at 19:22 ---------- Previous post was at 19:15 ----------
I've actually been in the scenario a bit like the one you describe. Basically you're scared of the symptoms of fear thus magnifying it. If you're worrying about symptoms they will come.
Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk
Yeah, it's really a feedback loop. You have a problem with something, so you Google it, then you go "holy cow my symptoms match that!" so your anxiety starts up, then the anxiety symptoms get amplified and if you check the big list of symptoms from https://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml it can cause a TON of those to happen and your mind wants to equivocate those symptoms with what you THINK you have.
It's such a tough "zone" to end up in and even reassurance from people who are trying to help you will have difficulty getting you out of it.
BP can certainly be elevated due to anxiety, it's what happens, just as it does for with physical exercise however there must be a reason why we don't hear about constant BP meds given to anxiety disorder sufferers.
I'm not saying that there is anything else but it's my understanding that BP meds can be overprescribed without sufficient checks and this is why it's a standard to perform ambulatory testing now.
Did they want to use them as a temporary measure or because of diagnosed Hypertension?
I've had multiple high readings in the doctor office so I guess I've been diagnosed. Its just quite odd for my age I've read usually young adults that have high BP usually have cause...
I've had multiple high readings in the doctor office so I guess I've been diagnosed. Its just quite odd for my age I've read usually young adults that have high BP usually have cause...Ive also had multiple high readings at the doctor but the cardiologist says I'm fine. Doctor offices for me make me stressed bumping my BP high. Could be happening to you as well
Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk
I ALWAYS have high readings at the doctor, it is always in high blood pressure category (hypertension stage 1 and once I had it in stage 2), at home it is in normal range. Actually they call is pre-hypertension stage 127/80, but I'm totally happy with that.
AMomentofClarity
18-01-19, 16:28
I've read usually young adults that have high BP usually have cause...
ANXIETY!
Serious question....do you honestly not recognize your anxiety? All these years spent here and anxiety zone, the multi year threads, etc, the MANY MANY times you’ve been wrong. You think it’s all just one big coincidence???
---------- Post added at 09:28 ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 ----------
One more question....
If it’s not attention you’re after, why are you here? You claim to want reassurance, but every time you get it you argue with it? What’s the purpose? Aside from gathering attention....
utrocket09
18-01-19, 17:14
ANXIETY!
Serious question....do you honestly not recognize your anxiety? All these years spent here and anxiety zone, the multi year threads, etc, the MANY MANY times you’ve been wrong. You think it’s all just one big coincidence???
---------- Post added at 09:28 ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 ----------
One more question....
If it’s not attention you’re after, why are you here? You claim to want reassurance, but every time you get it you argue with it? What’s the purpose? Aside from gathering attention....
I almost feel like hypo has munchausen. Like, look how sick I am?! Thus it gets him the attention that he wants. Once he does not get attention from one illness it shifts to another
Unfortunately, I agree. It's just this constant string of pronouncements of doom interspersed with arguments with anyone who suggests the problem might be something more mundane.
I almost feel like hypo has munchausen. Like, look how sick I am?! Thus it gets him the attention that he wants. Once he does not get attention from one illness it shifts to another
It's histrionic behaviour we see so often here. It appears to manifest with or without anxiety/panic - although I think there is often some degree of low mood/dysphoria.
AMomentofClarity
18-01-19, 17:38
I almost feel like hypo has munchausen. Like, look how sick I am?! Thus it gets him the attention that he wants. Once he does not get attention from one illness it shifts to another
I agree completely.
I completely understand health anxiety in terms of “I have abc symptoms, I’m worried about xyz illness” and hoping for some reassurance or replies from those with similar experiences.
But threads like this go well beyond anxiety. His goal is clearly to get and maintain as much attention as he can. You’re right about always searching for that next “illness” to get attention from. How many different “issues” has he covered in this thread alone?
I also find it interesting that he never mentions mental health treatment until that becomes the focus of his thread, then he tosses everyone a bone so to speak and mentions his psychiatrist or medication just long enough to get people replying again so he can steer the discussion back to his perceived “illness.”
It’s all quite sad really.
utrocket09
18-01-19, 19:16
I agree completely.
I completely understand health anxiety in terms of “I have abc symptoms, I’m worried about xyz illness” and hoping for some reassurance or replies from those with similar experiences.
But threads like this go well beyond anxiety. His goal is clearly to get and maintain as much attention as he can. You’re right about always searching for that next “illness” to get attention from. How many different “issues” has he covered in this thread alone?
I also find it interesting that he never mentions mental health treatment until that becomes the focus of his thread, then he tosses everyone a bone so to speak and mentions his psychiatrist or medication just long enough to get people replying again so he can steer the discussion back to his perceived “illness.”
It’s all quite sad really.
Exactly. This is what people with munchausen do. This is beyond anxiety at this pount. Hypo fends off the questions by mentioning it very passive agressively. Then shifts to another illness just long enough.
If attention is the goal then MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. You’ve got to admit he’s good!
AMomentofClarity
18-01-19, 22:12
If attention is the goal then MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. You’ve got to admit he’s good!
:roflmao:
Guilty:)
If attention is the goal then MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. You’ve got to admit he’s good!
Ye know too much, JoJo :shades:
BrightPhoenix
18-01-19, 22:22
It seems very clear this individual needs to see a therapist. We cannot help him any further as much as we want to. Doesn't hurt to see one, it doesn't mean they'll cart you off into a white strait jacket Hypo. Seek a therapist, it'll help you get over this anxiety and possibly this Munchausen's you're suffering. I know people are being harsh here but it's mostly because we're trying to help you but you're not listening - at the very least seek mental health - you're only going to make it tougher for yourself not doing so.
I don't honestly agree about Munchausen's or the attention-seeking as the motivating factor here. This is HA with all its associated behaviour patterns in their finest glory.
nomorepanic
18-01-19, 23:18
Please walk away from this post rather than post accusations etc. If hypo is frustrating you then just don't reply and leave him to it.
We have asked this many times.
Thanks
MyNameIsTerry
19-01-19, 05:21
I don't honestly agree about Munchausen's or the attention-seeking as the motivating factor here. This is HA with all its associated behaviour patterns in their finest glory.
Agreed. Mental health is complex and HA is a nonsense term invented by people in places like this. WHO and the APA disagree on the various overlaps between the disorders that even fall under this made up term.
HA goes well beyond reassurance seeking. Just taking the OCD end the level of compulsions and overlap go way beyond what you see in threads like these and I always find it very narrow minded (anxiety guru website stuff as opposed to medical literature based) how it's often described in places like this.
There could be a mix of disorders going on in heer that can inflame behaviours. But it can just be the nuances of different disorders under the anxiety bracket too.
The Somatoform Disorders can easily form some of these peoples anxiety as opposed to the more like OCD of others. Somatoform Disorders lend themselves more to believing you have xyz but still doubting (as opposed to delusion or psychosis levels of total belief) so it's more about chasing the docs than it is reassurance.
But the APA & WHO disagree on the classifications. So, we have a site of US and other others on here, mostly UK. We use WHO, the US use the APA. So, who's type of sufferer do you mean? Even the docs can't agree.
Anyone who has read the classifications of disorders that overlap this fictional HA term will know what I am talking about. The DSM and ICD differ in names as well as criteria for diagnosis.
If we have documented cases of HA that have mimicked real physical conditions to the point of some of the ones that neurologists have discussed in papers then I think we can go beyond the narrow view of HA as often seen on here.
---------- Post added at 05:21 ---------- Previous post was at 05:16 ----------
I've had multiple high readings in the doctor office so I guess I've been diagnosed. Its just quite odd for my age I've read usually young adults that have high BP usually have cause...
It can be a genetic thing but they test for this anyway in people diagnosed with Hypertension under a certain age...or at least the NHS do as they informed me not long ago when they got my age wrong and knocked 10 years off by mistake :roflmao: I was only a few years under the expected age range and with both my parents having BP issues they agreed it may be a factor but then I expect my anxiety since I hit thirty will play a factor in this too but really its about how I wasn't taking better physical care of myself as I age.
My point about this is whether this is lazy doctoring pushing pills. As mentioned by another poster there can be benefits to mental health so there is that possibility but I just raise this question because White Coat Syndrome has been a documented cause of over overprescribing BP meds to the point it's become a big enough issue to change how our NHS even diagnose.
That's nothing to worry about, I just think it's worth asking. We've got GP's at our surgery who push pills rather than try lifestyle changes simply because it's quick, cheap & easy. I wonder if getting your anxiety under control might be a big help but then there are other lifestyle conditions that are more important than stress that they will always look at e.g. diet, exercise, salt & sugar intakes, weight and waist sizes, etc.
Even if you had an adrenal tumor, they are almost considered no big deal. My mom had a cancer on her adrenal gland for like ten years before they removed it. They tend to grow very slow, remain encapsulated, and her surgeon told her something else would likely have killed her before adrenal cancer. Also, she was sixty three.
Get help for the thing you know you have.
Please walk away from this post rather than post accusations etc. If hypo is frustrating you then just don't reply and leave him to it.
We have asked this many times.
Thanks
I’m sorry. My comment wasn’t actually meant as a criticism of Hypo. I believe there are certainly mental health issues going on and we should be sympathetic of those. I was actually trying to hi light the irony of accusing him of attention seeking!
I was actually trying to hi light the irony of accusing him of attention seeking!
Thats how I read it :)
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.