Aussie11
04-10-10, 23:38
Went to the neurologist about my back pain/ muscle twitches/ numbness last week. He did neuro exam and all seemed normal but he referred me for MRI of brain and whole spine, a heap of blood tests (inflammation/kidney/liver function/ autoimmune etc) and nerve test. I wont get my results for 3 weeks as he's gone off on holiday. The back ache is there constantly, usually down quite low, but also moves up to middle back. Bad pelvic pain today too, like period pain, but feels a bit like it's in the ligaments. I also had red blood in my stools today, not just on the paper, actually in the stool. I had a colonoscopy 2 weeks ago so contacted my consultant today to ask if I should get checked out. He said it wouldn't be bleeding from the procedure, and there were no haemoroids or anything abnormal with my test, so didn't have explanation but didn't say to get checked out either.
Also today have started worrying about changes in my breasts. They've always been quite lumpy, and last year in about June I went and had ultrasound on one of them because of one particular lump. It was fine back then. I have noticed over the last month a small rash on the top left of my right breast. It's about the size of a 50p coin. It looks like eczema, however I've heard that rashes can be a sign of breast cancer. They both feel quite lumpy again at the moment, including lumpy nodes in the underarm. The other thing I've noticed is that my nipples don't look the same on each side. My right side is bigger more oval shaped than the left. I'm not sure if I'm just noticing this now because I'm being paranoid or if I should be concerned about this.
The problem with this health anxiety is that I'm always worrying about one thing, and then worry that I might be missing something else if I just focus on the first thing! For example, I'm so caught up in the back thing at the moment that I want to get the MRI for that out the way and sort that first, but then don't want to hold off getting this breast thing looked at in case that's actually the serious thing I should be worried about. Also this latest thing has compounded my panic about having cancer that has spread -for example thinking that I've got breast cancer and it's spread to my spine and that's the cause of my back pain. Surely I'd be feeling worse by now though if that was the case!
This health anxiety thing is like an addiction - I keep thinking I'll go to get some counselling....but first just have to get this test or that test to rule out this disease or that disease, and then it will all be ok and I'll get help then.
Also today have started worrying about changes in my breasts. They've always been quite lumpy, and last year in about June I went and had ultrasound on one of them because of one particular lump. It was fine back then. I have noticed over the last month a small rash on the top left of my right breast. It's about the size of a 50p coin. It looks like eczema, however I've heard that rashes can be a sign of breast cancer. They both feel quite lumpy again at the moment, including lumpy nodes in the underarm. The other thing I've noticed is that my nipples don't look the same on each side. My right side is bigger more oval shaped than the left. I'm not sure if I'm just noticing this now because I'm being paranoid or if I should be concerned about this.
The problem with this health anxiety is that I'm always worrying about one thing, and then worry that I might be missing something else if I just focus on the first thing! For example, I'm so caught up in the back thing at the moment that I want to get the MRI for that out the way and sort that first, but then don't want to hold off getting this breast thing looked at in case that's actually the serious thing I should be worried about. Also this latest thing has compounded my panic about having cancer that has spread -for example thinking that I've got breast cancer and it's spread to my spine and that's the cause of my back pain. Surely I'd be feeling worse by now though if that was the case!
This health anxiety thing is like an addiction - I keep thinking I'll go to get some counselling....but first just have to get this test or that test to rule out this disease or that disease, and then it will all be ok and I'll get help then.