Hi,
I am a 26-year old guy that have been having huge problems with health anxiety. Last year was really tough with a lot of different health scares, but then at the end of last year through CBT I managed to defeat the health anxiety. At least until 3 weeks ago.
It all started with a feeling of fullness in my lower stomach/buttocks area, combined with two different types of stomach pain. One more of a classic, subtle and constant stomach ache, and one sharp pain stretching from the lower stomach to the back to the rectum. The latter seemed to occur mainly before releasing gas perhaps once a day.
Now, a little more than two weeks later, more symptoms have arisen. Since three days the lower stomach ache has worsened. But the scariest new symptom is really loud stomach noises (loud enough to wake me up in the early morning, when they are the worst), combined with nausea/acid reflux.
I have now completely convinced myself that I have stage 3-4 colon cancer, with a partial bowel obstruction causing the reflux and stomach gurgling. My health anxiety appears worse than ever, I lie in bed full days without getting up just crying, and I only spend my days googling on colon cancer forums.
I can't really focus on anything, and work and relationship really suffers. Even though I know from my therapy that my googling worsens it gravely, I am now so convinced of my coming death that I don't even care about anything anymore.
Last weekend I went to the A&E due to my stomach and a week ago I went to a GI specialist, but I found that visit very odd as he spoke with me for a maximum of 1 minute, and then ordered a lot of different blood tests and one stool sample, and told me to come back in three weeks as that apparently was when the stool sample would be ready. He didn't ask about the severity of my pains and I found him a bit dismissive. I have booked a new appointment with a GP at my regular office this Wednesday, but every minute that passes my mind tells me I need to go into A&E right now for more tests/x-rays etc.
All in all I feel I can't go on like this and I need help (both mentally and physically). Thank you for taking the time reading through!