Health anxiety...anyone else?

[KimR]

I am really tired of this. A few weeks ago I received some not-so-good news from my doctor regarding the results of a routine screening test. Nothing serious or life-threatening at this point but apparently I will have to be monitored until it resolves on its own, they determine more treatment is needed, or I die (just kidding....sort of). For normal people this would probably be no big deal but I immediately went into a state of panic and started googling my condition. Of course this only threw me into an ever increasing spiral of panic and worry. Anyone who suffers from anxiety probably knows exactly what I'm talking about. My rational mind knows better but unfortunately my anxiety pays no mind to logic and reason. I've been in this state for the past 2 weeks, on and off.

A few months ago I had a headache in the side/back of my head that wouldn't go away. I thought it was odd simply because of the location so I googled it and convinced myself I had some rare disease (can't think of the name of it anymore) and was going to go blind as a result. The thing is, I am perfectly healthy. I eat right, exercise, don't smoke, my blood work is fine and other than the occasional cold I rarely get sick. I can't even begin to imagine the state I'd be in if I actually had any REAL health problems.

So does anyone else here deal with this? What are your coping strategies? I take xanax on occasion, but it is not meant to be taken long-term so I only use it sparingly.

 

[hegsag]

I am much like you with the googling and thinking the worst. Can you speak with your doctor regarding your anxiety? There must be something they can give you besides Xanax so that you are not living in a constant state of anxiety til your health condition subsides. Hugs to you - anxiety sucks!!!

 

[Bec3b1g]

I had some health problems in my 20s and my dr sent me to 3 different neurologists. One of them had the worst bedside manner. He was so serious. To break the ice, I asked him if I was going to live and he replied by telling me he wanted to finish the exam before commenting. Don't ever ask this question to your dr, btw, even if you're joking. When all the tests came back normal, he sent me on my way telling me if it was a degenerative condition I would get worse and to come back at that time. Anyways, the not knowing triggered health anxiety. I was concerned for a very long time. It was always on my mind. I threw myself into exercise and good nutrition. I figured if I was getting stronger and healthier, that I didn't have a degenerative disease. I know my tendency to worry, and if that fits with your personality, I would suggest staying away from googling your symptoms.

 

[wilkeliza]

I have major health anxiety. It is to the point that some family members think I'm a hypochondriac. Really what is going on is I watch my mother slowly and painfully die from cancer which they found from what she through was just a stomach virus she picked up from one of the kids at school. Now every time I get sick or have stomach pains I think it is going to be the visit that they tell me I've got what she had. It is so bad that unless I get a nurse I know that my blood pressure skyrockets. One doctor thought I needed BP medicine until he retook my blood pressure after he told me I was fine and not dying and it was perfectly normal.

There isn't much I can do to curb the anxiety. I try to stay off google and Web MD. Unfortunately I also tend to not go to the doctor when I probably should simply because I'm afraid.

 

[Jennasis]

I do. I have a rule...if im worried, i go to the doctor and have them check me out. I am not allowed to google or go on webmd lol. My docs are aware of my anxiety and are great about keeping me both i formed and calm.

 

[minniecarousel]

A daily anti-anxiety drug would do you a world of good (now here come the anti-pill people). But for those of us who suffer from anxiety, it can even out our lives.

There are non-addicting daily meds available. Talk to your doctor about it.

 

[LisaR]

I have horrible anxiety about my health. Unlike many with health anxiety, I actually rarely go to the doctor. I don't want a mammogram or colonoscopy that is going to let me know I need major surgery or I'm dying. I avoid the doctor as much as I can. I know that isn't the right approach, but it is what it is.
I had to go to the dermatologist last week because a really ugly looking thing appeared on my forearm out of nowhere. I did everything in my power to convince myself it was nothing. It isn't even a part of my body that would get much sun. Doctor took one look at it and said it needed biopsied. I get the results on Monday, but I've already spent my energy convincing myself I have some rare form of skin cancer and I'm going to die! Typing that out, I can honestly laugh because I know how ridiculous it sounds. I really don't believe that right at this moment, but come 3am, all bets are off!

 

[wilkeliza]

I have horrible anxiety about my health. Unlike many with health anxiety, I actually rarely go to the doctor. I don't want a mammogram or colonoscopy that is going to let me know I need major surgery or I'm dying. I avoid the doctor as much as I can. I know that isn't the right approach, but it is what it is.
I had to go to the dermatologist last week because a really ugly looking thing appeared on my forearm out of nowhere. I did everything in my power to convince myself it was nothing. It isn't even a part of my body that would get much sun. Doctor took one look at it and said it needed biopsied. I get the results on Monday, but I've already spent my energy convincing myself I have some rare form of skin cancer and I'm going to die! Typing that out, I can honestly laugh because I know how ridiculous it sounds. I really don't believe that right at this moment, but come 3am, all bets are off!

That's how I am. I would rather die not knowing then find out I have something and have to sit with that information. So I'm anxious that I have something and spend energy convincing myself I don't but then if I go to the doctor and they use words like biopsy or run some tests I am convinced all over again it is terminal and that's that.

 

[Bilberry]

When i was younger I was anxious often about health and for good reason. I developed a severe colitis problem and as a result began hearing from doctors in my late teens or early twenties about being lucky to not develop deadly bowel cancer. Then over time it became old news I suppose. I began to joke it reminded me a little of that scene in the movie The Princes Bride where the main character talks about meeting the Dread Pirate Roberts.

The Story of Dread Pirate Roberts

Now in my mid-40s, I read a good deal about health issues, and do my best to keep things in perspective I suppose.

 

[KimR]

Lisa, I hope everything turns out ok with your biopsy. Although I am usually a nervous wreck about going for screenings I do it because I figure at least if anything is wrong it's better to catch it early so something can be done about it. And also, it's such a sweet feeling of relief to get good results (when the results are good, that is).

Like Wilkeliza, I think my anxiety stems in part from watching my mother die of lung cancer. It terrifies me to think that we can be going along in life feeling fine, thinking all is well and then out of nowhere we get a diagnosis that turns our life upside down. I am somewhat of a control freak also and I think that has a lot to do with it. I'm always hearing that there's no point in worrying about things you can't control, but as far as I'm concerned, those are the very things that are most worrisome.

And I know I should stay off google, but I can't help it. Plus, I think it is good to be informed. Doctors deal in probabilities and generalities and I've always been a statistical outlier so I want to make sure all the 'what if's' get addressed. I'm probably every doctor's worst nightmare.

 

[KimR]

A daily anti-anxiety drug would do you a world of good (now here come the anti-pill people). But for those of us who suffer from anxiety, it can even out our lives.

There are non-addicting daily meds available. Talk to your doctor about it.

I actually have discussed that with my doctor (he suggested Lexapro) but thus far I've been reluctant because of the side effects and also having to worry about eventually weaning off. I'm not anti-pill at all and xanax usually works fine for me since my anxiety tends to come and go. I'm starting to reconsider, though, especially if it turns out my condition (the physical condition, not my anxiety) turns out to be chronic. If you don't mind my asking, have you had experience with any long-term anxiety meds?

 

[Jennasis]

Also, when it comes to going to the doctor, I rarely go see my general practitioner. Almost always go directly for the specialist. If its a headache issue I go to the neurologist. Chest pain the cardiologists. Eye problem is the opthamologist...etc. GP is fine for flu/colds but they honestly dont know everything nor should they.

 

[Under the Library]

Yes! Have developed a lot of anxiety, mostly health related in the past 2/3 years. And it took me that long to figure out what the hell it was. I finally got insurance again and went to my DR. We tried Zoloft because I'd been on it as a teen, I've been on different things off and on since I was a teen for bipolar and anxiety, but the side effects made it a no go this round. We tried Viibryd after being on Zoloft for 6 weeks and I LOVE Viibryd! I've been on it since Feb. and it is amazing to be able to not thinking I have a brain tumor because I have a migraine, or a heart attack when I get really nervous. I truly hope that you can find something/ some way to help curb your anxiety.

 

[scrapquitler]

Stop googling every ache and pain, and talk to your doctor about your anxiety level (and consider a mild antianxiety medication and therapy).

 

[HeatherC]

I am also prone to health anxiety at times. I never had anxiety in my life until I reached the good ol age of perimenopause. My Dr. said this was extremely common for women in their late forties and early fifties. Knowing that helped a lot.

However, something that I truly believe helps me with it is taking daily vitamins. I take a multivitamin along with extra D, B Complex, Magnesium and Fish Oil. If I forget to take them...especially the BComplex I can tell right away. May not work for you, but may also be something to consider. With BVitamins, if you wind up taking more than you really need, it just gets expelled through your urine.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

 

[JediBonas]

I have horrible health anxiety and finally went back on zoloft which helped a lot. I also have Xanax which my Dr prescribed after I had a total health anxiety meltdown in her office (sooo embarrassing). I haven't had to take a Xanax since starting on zoloft, which is nice. I still have anxiety but it's no where near the panic attacks (and running to urgent care convinced I/one of my kids has some horrible disease) that I was getting.

I never had health anxiety until I had my kids.

 

[7165red]

I am a member of the club.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am also prone to health anxiety at times. I never had anxiety in my life until I reached the good ol age of perimenopause. My Dr. said this was extremely common for women in their late forties and early fifties. Knowing that helped a lot.

However, something that I truly believe helps me with it is taking daily vitamins. I take a multivitamin along with extra D, B Complex, Magnesium and Fish Oil. If I forget to take them...especially the BComplex I can tell right away. May not work for you, but may also be something to consider. With BVitamins, if you wind up taking more than you really need, it just gets expelled through your urine.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

That was me too. I have been fine, and then the last year or so, I become convinced every ache or pain is something major. My dad had a heart attack a couple of years ago, so that is always in the back of my mind too. Learning a lot of it was perimenopausal helped calm me down a lot.

 

[tvguy]

I just wonder if we over test, over treat, and over medicate.
I have high blood pressure. The blood pressure medicine messes with my blood chemistry.
The medicine I take to fix my blood chemistry messes with my cholesterol
The medicine I took to fix my cholesterol messes with my blood sugar.

My doctor has taken me off the cholesterol medicine and my sugar has improved. He probably will take me off the blood chemistry medicine, and with enough exercise and weight loss, off the BP meds.

Seems the cures were creating bigger health issues than they were treating.

 

[Christine]

I just wonder if we over test, over treat, and over medicate.
I have high blood pressure. The blood pressure medicine messes with my blood chemistry.
The medicine I take to fix my blood chemistry messes with my cholesterol
The medicine I took to fix my cholesterol messes with my blood sugar.

My doctor has taken me off the cholesterol medicine and my sugar has improved. He probably will take me off the blood chemistry medicine, and with enough exercise and weight loss, off the BP meds.

Seems the cures were creating bigger health issues than they were treating.

Good response! I do think we over treat everything too much. There is a price to be paid with every drug you take. Nothing is a magic pill.

I am only for the use of psychiatric meds when there is known chemical imbalance. I speak from experience that hypochondriasis is a learned behavior. It happens for various reasons. Sometimes it is just a form of anxiety. You have anxiety and that's where it shows itself. Other times we get "health anxiety" (which to me seems to be the nicer way of saying you're a hypochondriac because there is too much scary information on the news, the internet, etc.

My first bout with this happened when I was about 8 years old and my best friends father, who had throat cancer, almost choked to death in front of me and had to be rushed to the hospital. I couldn't swallow well for awhile. Then there was some big news story about childhood leukemia when I was young and that freaked me out. Back then, there was no internet. Then I had some real health scares and would research medical encyclopedias at the library to calm my fears (which didn't work). Then one day, I actually GOT cancer. You know, that seemed to have cured the irrational part of my health worries. Make no mistake, I still get wound up about things that happen but it's more about real things, not what I think I might have.

What has worked for me is diet, exercise, staying off the internet and blogs about health (most are really backed up with good facts), not watching the news about weird illnesses, and staying away from doctors who are overzealous with lab tests and prescription pads.