suddenly scaredy
17-05-11, 12:48
Hi all
I've already posted this but I really could do with some words of comfort or similar stories for reassurance. I’m a 41 year old male former smoker (quit for over a month having smoked intermittently for the last 16 years). I was (so I thought) in pretty decent shape, running regularly and going to the gym but a few week back after a run I developed a sudden throbbing pain in the right side of my chest. Of course I did the worst possible thing and ran my symptoms through Google and inevitably I focused on the possibility of lung cancer. Now I’ve never been too anxious about my health but this worry has turned into a full blown obsession so much so that after only a couple of days I couldn’t sleep, was shaking like a leaf and sucked on my gums so hard that they started to bleed (and imagined I was coughing up blood!). And all this the night before starting a new job! Anyway, I went to see the local (locum) GP who checked my breathing/blood pressure and assured me that this was likely a minor strain and much reassured I felt absolutely fine the following week but on returning to work (and certainly I do think this new job is contributing to my stress levels) I felt anxious again and the throbbing in the chest started again. I was so wound up I phoned the NHS out of hours service, was referred again to a GP who once more listened to my symptoms, checked blood pressure/breathing and temperature and again reassured me that this was likely a combination of anxiety, indigestion and muscular strain. But I’m still worried. I should say that I am still staying active - I ran a 10k race the other week – and the chest pain while still coming and going isn’t too bad though I’m occasionally feeling what I think is slight burning/stinging in the centre/left side as well. But I can’t get these negative thoughts out of my mind and my imagination is running riot! The thing is I really don’t have any other symptoms. I’m not coughing unless I make myself and when I do nothing’s really coming up (there’s certainly no blood) but I am so stressed that I feel as if I’m going to be sick, I can’t concentrate and I am totally dwelling on the slightest twitch in my body (I’m now convinced that a slight twinge on my right side is serious – again this was as symptom I read up on and I’m wondering how much my mind is playing tricks on me). Anyway, I finally got an appointment with my regular GP the other week (yes 3 docs in 3 weeks!) and he ran all the tests as before and reassured me that this was likely costochondritis. He also asked about how I was coping with my new job and if anyone I knew had received rather grim news about the big C (which they have and I know this is playing on my mind). Anyway, my GP did not feel that I needed an X-ray but referred me anyway to put my mind at rest. He assured me that if he were a betting man he’d put money on the x-ray coming up clear. I trust my GP and I know three doctors have all said the same thing (and not one of them even considered lung cancer) but I’m still a nervous wreck waiting on the results. I’ve pestered the surgery and am driving my girlfriend mad with my constant worry and need to unload! Has anyone lese experienced similar? Am I a classic case of someone with serious health anxiety? Sorry for the long post and look forward to reading replies.
Thanks.
I've already posted this but I really could do with some words of comfort or similar stories for reassurance. I’m a 41 year old male former smoker (quit for over a month having smoked intermittently for the last 16 years). I was (so I thought) in pretty decent shape, running regularly and going to the gym but a few week back after a run I developed a sudden throbbing pain in the right side of my chest. Of course I did the worst possible thing and ran my symptoms through Google and inevitably I focused on the possibility of lung cancer. Now I’ve never been too anxious about my health but this worry has turned into a full blown obsession so much so that after only a couple of days I couldn’t sleep, was shaking like a leaf and sucked on my gums so hard that they started to bleed (and imagined I was coughing up blood!). And all this the night before starting a new job! Anyway, I went to see the local (locum) GP who checked my breathing/blood pressure and assured me that this was likely a minor strain and much reassured I felt absolutely fine the following week but on returning to work (and certainly I do think this new job is contributing to my stress levels) I felt anxious again and the throbbing in the chest started again. I was so wound up I phoned the NHS out of hours service, was referred again to a GP who once more listened to my symptoms, checked blood pressure/breathing and temperature and again reassured me that this was likely a combination of anxiety, indigestion and muscular strain. But I’m still worried. I should say that I am still staying active - I ran a 10k race the other week – and the chest pain while still coming and going isn’t too bad though I’m occasionally feeling what I think is slight burning/stinging in the centre/left side as well. But I can’t get these negative thoughts out of my mind and my imagination is running riot! The thing is I really don’t have any other symptoms. I’m not coughing unless I make myself and when I do nothing’s really coming up (there’s certainly no blood) but I am so stressed that I feel as if I’m going to be sick, I can’t concentrate and I am totally dwelling on the slightest twitch in my body (I’m now convinced that a slight twinge on my right side is serious – again this was as symptom I read up on and I’m wondering how much my mind is playing tricks on me). Anyway, I finally got an appointment with my regular GP the other week (yes 3 docs in 3 weeks!) and he ran all the tests as before and reassured me that this was likely costochondritis. He also asked about how I was coping with my new job and if anyone I knew had received rather grim news about the big C (which they have and I know this is playing on my mind). Anyway, my GP did not feel that I needed an X-ray but referred me anyway to put my mind at rest. He assured me that if he were a betting man he’d put money on the x-ray coming up clear. I trust my GP and I know three doctors have all said the same thing (and not one of them even considered lung cancer) but I’m still a nervous wreck waiting on the results. I’ve pestered the surgery and am driving my girlfriend mad with my constant worry and need to unload! Has anyone lese experienced similar? Am I a classic case of someone with serious health anxiety? Sorry for the long post and look forward to reading replies.
Thanks.