rossgirl
24-02-06, 11:16
Hi all,
Have enjoyed reading your previous posts, found lots of useful information, but would like to introduce myself and hopefully get the benefit of some advice!
I am a 34 yr old female with two children, 8 and 4, and a reasonably supportive partner. For about six months now, I have been suffering from terrible anxiety attacks, particularly health related. I started off with a bad back, then an inner ear infection, both after a particularly long stress period at work. From these, developed panic attacks, manifesting themselves by way of fast heartbeat, sweats, nausea, bloating and muscular pains. I even ended up in hospital for three days after a particularly bad one, so I at least had the benefit of a full MOT!
I have been told that I am 'borderline' fibromyalgic, I have a lot of muscular pain, especially in my upper back, neck and chest...it comes and goes, but is enhanced by cold wet weather, which we have had a lot of lately! I find it feels as if I have a tight band around my chest, almost restricting my breathing sometimes, and a specific area in my left side, sort of level with my bra strap, is always tight and tender. I worry profusely about this, I am convinced I have some sort of tumour or swelling there, and obsessively rub it. Can someone reassure me? I know in my heart of hearts that there isn't really anything there anatomically, or that anything wrong with me would have been picked up when I was in hospital ( I did have a chest x-ray), but I am one of those people who always think doctors have missed something!
This probably started from an early age, my mum suffered a disabling stroke caused by an aneurysm when I was 11 and she was 34 (yes, my age!) She went continually to the GP for a week complaining of pain and weakness, he told her it was stress and to go home and lie down...you guessed it, she collapsed at home, and underwent a 3 hour op, 3 weeks in intensive care, and months of rehab before she could return home.
So you may see a pattern emerging! I do, I studied Psychology at university, so have learnt all about this, and can apply logic to everyone else, but not to myself. I know it is foolish to have such worries, my mum's case was a one in a million, but I can't help thinking I am next. It is destroying my relationship, he finds it so difficult to understand me when I am literally fighting with myself to stop myself ringing the doctor when I have the slightest ache or pain, I can see it is barmy, but when it is actually happening to you, it is so difficult to see what damage you are doing.
I am taking supplements in the form of St Johns Wort, magnesium, Evening Primrose Oil, Fish Oils and a mega multi vitamin, I eat reasonably healthily, I drink a glass of wine a night. I try to relax as much as possible with two young children. I have started (only yesterday) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, so am hoping this will provide me with some solutions, and methods to deal with this, which is slowly destroying me. Even now, I am sitting here feeling the pain in my ribs and beginning to panic, feeling in need of reassurance. I tried to call my doctor in a moment of madness an hour ago, fortunately the line was engaged, so I couldn't get through...and I managed to pull myself together and remember how silly that was.
I would be so grateful for any advice anyone can offer. I am able to sit back from myself sometimes and see it objectively, but any help would be so gratefully appreciated. I am too young to fall victim to this terrible affliction, I have two children who I need to be there for, and it is destroying me to know they are seeing me do this to myself.
Thank you so much.
Have enjoyed reading your previous posts, found lots of useful information, but would like to introduce myself and hopefully get the benefit of some advice!
I am a 34 yr old female with two children, 8 and 4, and a reasonably supportive partner. For about six months now, I have been suffering from terrible anxiety attacks, particularly health related. I started off with a bad back, then an inner ear infection, both after a particularly long stress period at work. From these, developed panic attacks, manifesting themselves by way of fast heartbeat, sweats, nausea, bloating and muscular pains. I even ended up in hospital for three days after a particularly bad one, so I at least had the benefit of a full MOT!
I have been told that I am 'borderline' fibromyalgic, I have a lot of muscular pain, especially in my upper back, neck and chest...it comes and goes, but is enhanced by cold wet weather, which we have had a lot of lately! I find it feels as if I have a tight band around my chest, almost restricting my breathing sometimes, and a specific area in my left side, sort of level with my bra strap, is always tight and tender. I worry profusely about this, I am convinced I have some sort of tumour or swelling there, and obsessively rub it. Can someone reassure me? I know in my heart of hearts that there isn't really anything there anatomically, or that anything wrong with me would have been picked up when I was in hospital ( I did have a chest x-ray), but I am one of those people who always think doctors have missed something!
This probably started from an early age, my mum suffered a disabling stroke caused by an aneurysm when I was 11 and she was 34 (yes, my age!) She went continually to the GP for a week complaining of pain and weakness, he told her it was stress and to go home and lie down...you guessed it, she collapsed at home, and underwent a 3 hour op, 3 weeks in intensive care, and months of rehab before she could return home.
So you may see a pattern emerging! I do, I studied Psychology at university, so have learnt all about this, and can apply logic to everyone else, but not to myself. I know it is foolish to have such worries, my mum's case was a one in a million, but I can't help thinking I am next. It is destroying my relationship, he finds it so difficult to understand me when I am literally fighting with myself to stop myself ringing the doctor when I have the slightest ache or pain, I can see it is barmy, but when it is actually happening to you, it is so difficult to see what damage you are doing.
I am taking supplements in the form of St Johns Wort, magnesium, Evening Primrose Oil, Fish Oils and a mega multi vitamin, I eat reasonably healthily, I drink a glass of wine a night. I try to relax as much as possible with two young children. I have started (only yesterday) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, so am hoping this will provide me with some solutions, and methods to deal with this, which is slowly destroying me. Even now, I am sitting here feeling the pain in my ribs and beginning to panic, feeling in need of reassurance. I tried to call my doctor in a moment of madness an hour ago, fortunately the line was engaged, so I couldn't get through...and I managed to pull myself together and remember how silly that was.
I would be so grateful for any advice anyone can offer. I am able to sit back from myself sometimes and see it objectively, but any help would be so gratefully appreciated. I am too young to fall victim to this terrible affliction, I have two children who I need to be there for, and it is destroying me to know they are seeing me do this to myself.
Thank you so much.