Trying to think logically.

[Aleman200]

Hello all, still having a rough time with the HA. I've been doing CBT for two weeks now which has helped me identify alot of the thought processes that i do and how it feeds my anxiety. But at the minute i'm struggling to regain control. It's been 2 months since i've started having this weird discomfort in my abdomen. I'm on 2 x 150mg of Ranitidine and 20mg of citalopram a day, and i'm not sure if any of it is helping to be honest.

I've been referred to a GI specialist at the local hospital but i'm scared i'm going to get worse before i even see him, and then i have to wait even more for tests after that. It's getting increasingly harder to accept that i'm probably fine, just because of the time it's taking to get seen too!

But on the other hand i try and think, "If it was cancer, i would be alot worse after 2 months, surely?" but you always hear of people who leave it for years, so it can't be that bad?

It's hard to think logically at this point. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm thinking it could be IBS. But i don't match the IBS symptoms? (I have a hard stomach whenever i'm stood up, and constipation too)

[Aleman200]

It's tougher than i thought :(

[netminder1976]

Definitely hard. Our brains are very powerful and you can't just shut it off. I feel for you as you sound just like me. Do you at least get good periods of the day where you feel relaxed. I can feel fine sometimes and terrible the next minute.

[Aleman200]

Yeah i have the exact same problem!

[Aleman200]

Yet another day of struggling. It's difficult just waiting to see a specialist. Then the paper says they've been way behind on the backlog of out patients. :( This is horrible.

[Fedup79]

Just a mention abou t ranitidine, ive been on this for reflux and started having stomach pains (very uncomfortable and HA had me thinking all sorts), checked the side effects and stomach pain listed as one. So decided to stop as knew the worst would be reflux flare. Been off it 36 hours and feel miles better!! Going to speak to gp and/or gastro specialist when i see them. Hope you feel better soon x

[netminder1976]

Just hang in there... Easier said than done I know. I been struggling since before I even stepped out of bed today. You do have periods where you feel good and normal again right? Just think about how another time like that is right around the corner. I feel for you on the waiting for results though, for people like us the waiting is sometimes the hardest part. Some of the best times I feel all day is when I'm doing something active, doesn't have to be running or anything, just a nice walk can take some of the edge off.

[ShaunRyder]

Ah one of the most toughest things with HA! Its been one of those days for me, found a bald patch on my leg and then hair gone off one of my toes(not sure i even noticed that) but straight away I was thinking of an illness and something is wrong, even though I have started a new job which requires alot of walking in very hard shoes which could of pulled the hairs off and tight trousers which have caused friction, but I cannot convince myself that is the reason!

like netminder1976 said, try and do something that may make you forget about it for a while.

[Aleman200]

Thanks for the advice everyone, it's definitely easier to cope when i'm distracted. I went out and took a look around the local town today to take my mind off it all. Just hoping i can get everything over and done with so i can move on to tackling my HA properly.