Got the all clear on one health anxiety now worrying about yet another

[Nemo]

Hi. I posted recently about my fear of a serious bowel disease during all the investigations I felt so very anxious, like my life was on hold, and I swore to myself if I got the all clear I would stop worrying about such illnesses - well I got the all clear a week ago. Then on saturday night I had a nosebleed just before getting in to bed, mid morning the next day I coughed and could taste blood, and indeed there was a little blood (just the once so far) - now, you guessed it, Im worried about serious life threatening throat/lung diseases and have had a sore throat all day that is reinforcing it ... its been building up and I have been on the net looking around for causes and see so many awful illnesses... Should I see the doctor yet again? I cant believe this health anxiety monster has caught up with me again so quickly - anyone else get this? should I take my symptom seriously?

[nomorepanic]

I am currently reading a book on HA and this is very typical.

You get reassured by one symptom so find another one to worry about as that is how the illness effects people.

You will find one thing after another and once reassured will find the next thing.

You have to break the cycle - I haven't read that bit yet but getting there and CBT is the way forward.

[Nemo]

Thank you for your reply.

If the book you are reading is good, what is the title?

Now this has happened to me again so quickly, I dont want it to get out of hand so want to understand it a bit more.

Thanks

[Nemo]

What is CBT?

[nomorepanic]

CBT - http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/NMPcms.php?nmppage=therapy

The book is called Treating Health Anxiety - not an easy read trust me - it is more for professionals and I am reading it to try and help people on here.

I will post more when I have read it all

[Alisonj]

I have the same problem completely. My doctor told me that some people that are training to become nurses and doctors actually end up the same way. They are studying so many illnesses and symptoms that they start to feel like they have them and then suffer with health anxiety. If you cough up blood again I would get looked at for sure but it usually is a constant cycle of jumping from one illness to another.
Huge hugs and I hope you feel better!

[hendey]

I know how you feel, i'm pretty much like this at the moment, i'd give it a few days then if symptoms persist then go to the doctors.

remember that thier are proabaly like a hundred reasons why this could happen, 2 of which are probabaly life threateneing, and even then only if they are left untreated for a long period.

I wish you all the best with your struggles, and try not to google, it'll only make it worse.

[Nemo]

Hi, thanks for your concern - the net is terrible at times isnt it.

Im ok-ish at the moment, but can easily see this escalating. I now have a mild sore throat, just in one bit at the base of the neck, and it feels tickly.... Ive had a cought from time to time for ages, and now this. Im hoping it develops in to a cold, then it will substantiate my symptoms. I know logic states that the blood I saw (just the once, and I keep checking) must have been from the nosebleed, but the other symptoms make me worry it's more than that.

I dont know what the doctor will say if I turn up again with yet another concern... it was only two months ago that he referred me to the gastro specialist where I got the all clear.

[Alisonj]

My doctor actually tells me that I exhaust him