HEALTH OBSESSION!!!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!
This is a question for anyone who has an obsessive worry about their health. Have any of you found a way to tell the difference between an unneeded worry and a verified worry? And have you figured out how to tell yourself there is nothing to worry about? This drives me crazy and I just can't seem to figure out how to deal with it and I am worried that if I just dismiss all of my health worry that I will miss something that is really an issue. I am also afraid that the doctor will dismiss something that really needs attention. How can I stop driving myself crazy with this? HELP!!!!!
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Guest
Hi cosomogirl,
I suffer from health anxiety. What I do is speak to my doctor/specialist about what is ailing me and take whatever tests are applicable to my suspected illness. When tests are negative--which is the medical term for good--then I have concrete evidence that I am ok. My next step is too deal with the associated anxiety and overcome/manage it.
I am a big worrier of chest pain, especially since it is a an overlapping symptom. This means chest pain can mean cardiac or asthmatic problem, anxiety, or costochondritis. This is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). It causes sharp pain in the costosternal joint — where your ribs and breastbone are joined by rubbery cartilage. Pain caused by costochondritis may mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions.
My father died at 77 four months after a heart attack. I was diagnosed with asthma in 2000. It is so (thankfully) mild that some drs have said it is asthma and some say it is not. I already had anxiety. So...you can imagine how my anxiety orbits when I get chest paid
. What do I do? I cover all the bases: I'll take some Albuterol and/or very small piece of Xanax and/or put a pain patch on.
I also right now--as I am typing--may have another issue. Today is the second time this week I have experienced foot pain while being on the bus coming home from work. My biggest fear is diabetes. Dad had Type 2. For over 10 years I have remained vilgilent about sugar and diabetes. I had blood tests 2-3 months ago and I continue to be non-diabetic. Ironically just before I came onto the forum I went onto webmd.com and checked foot pain--already knowing the diabetes possibility. But I wanted to see what other possible illnesses this could be. My current situation has many possibile illnesses.
What am I doing? Sitting tight and remaining calm til I can see my PCP Monday or Tuesday. Going to a podiatrist is actually secondary because I want to dismiss the diabetes factor immediately. My PCP will do a blood test without question and I'll get the results back in a couple of days. Once I have my biggest worry--diabetes--discounted, I can handle pretty much anything else. What's keeping my anxiety in check? My most recent blood test (along with all prior and continous non diabetic blood test results), my prior experience with chest pains and the MANY tests which should no cardiac problem--the many tests have helped me to greatly reduce "cardiac" anxiety, and cognitive behavioral therapy that I went for almost 3 years ago for health anxiety.
If you suspect any type of physical problem go to your PCP or specialist to rule out it being a physical problem. Whatever the results--yes/no it is a physical problem, perhaps get a second opinion and/or more testing done. For my chest tightness I have had virtually every heart test there is: blood, EKG, stress test, X-ray and nuclear stress test. If it it turns out to be unfortunately a physical ailment, do what the dr advices. If it turns out that (after several tests and/or a second opinion) it is not physical, perhaps consider seeing a therapist who specializes in or is well-versed in cognitive behavioral therapy preferably realted to health.
I suffer from health anxiety. What I do is speak to my doctor/specialist about what is ailing me and take whatever tests are applicable to my suspected illness. When tests are negative--which is the medical term for good--then I have concrete evidence that I am ok. My next step is too deal with the associated anxiety and overcome/manage it.
I am a big worrier of chest pain, especially since it is a an overlapping symptom. This means chest pain can mean cardiac or asthmatic problem, anxiety, or costochondritis. This is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). It causes sharp pain in the costosternal joint — where your ribs and breastbone are joined by rubbery cartilage. Pain caused by costochondritis may mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions.
My father died at 77 four months after a heart attack. I was diagnosed with asthma in 2000. It is so (thankfully) mild that some drs have said it is asthma and some say it is not. I already had anxiety. So...you can imagine how my anxiety orbits when I get chest paid
. What do I do? I cover all the bases: I'll take some Albuterol and/or very small piece of Xanax and/or put a pain patch on.I also right now--as I am typing--may have another issue. Today is the second time this week I have experienced foot pain while being on the bus coming home from work. My biggest fear is diabetes. Dad had Type 2. For over 10 years I have remained vilgilent about sugar and diabetes. I had blood tests 2-3 months ago and I continue to be non-diabetic. Ironically just before I came onto the forum I went onto webmd.com and checked foot pain--already knowing the diabetes possibility. But I wanted to see what other possible illnesses this could be. My current situation has many possibile illnesses.
What am I doing? Sitting tight and remaining calm til I can see my PCP Monday or Tuesday. Going to a podiatrist is actually secondary because I want to dismiss the diabetes factor immediately. My PCP will do a blood test without question and I'll get the results back in a couple of days. Once I have my biggest worry--diabetes--discounted, I can handle pretty much anything else. What's keeping my anxiety in check? My most recent blood test (along with all prior and continous non diabetic blood test results), my prior experience with chest pains and the MANY tests which should no cardiac problem--the many tests have helped me to greatly reduce "cardiac" anxiety, and cognitive behavioral therapy that I went for almost 3 years ago for health anxiety.
If you suspect any type of physical problem go to your PCP or specialist to rule out it being a physical problem. Whatever the results--yes/no it is a physical problem, perhaps get a second opinion and/or more testing done. For my chest tightness I have had virtually every heart test there is: blood, EKG, stress test, X-ray and nuclear stress test. If it it turns out to be unfortunately a physical ailment, do what the dr advices. If it turns out that (after several tests and/or a second opinion) it is not physical, perhaps consider seeing a therapist who specializes in or is well-versed in cognitive behavioral therapy preferably realted to health.
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Guest
UPDATE ON FOOT PAIN
Thankfully my PCP was in yesterday. He's open alternating Saturdays and I decided Friday night to go the next day. Worst thing would be he was closed and I'd go Monday or Tuesday.
He believes it is inflammation. Of course the blood test will include glucose check, but he is including other more extensive checks to see about inflammation. He gave me an RX for an anti-inflammatory med.
He also wanted to have both feet and ankles X-rayed. My local hospital's X-ray dept is open on a Saturday so I soon after the office visit went there and had the X-rays done. The blood tests and X-rays should be back with him Tuesday.
I had the RX filled out after the X-ray.
Oh BTW: He said I hadn't had an EKG done in a while and wanted his nurse to give me one. Asking an anxiety suffer who worries about his heart to take an EKG is like saying "Sick 'em" to a dog
. The EKG was normal.
The point is: I held my diabetes fear in check until I got the word from my dr. Granted, Diabetes is still not out of the mix of possiblities but his--the dr's, not mine--first impression was inflammation. He gave me an anti-inflammation drug; he didn't say something like "Watch your sugar." Now I will admit I left his office a little afraid but it was not over Diabetes. Diabetes was/is my biggest concern. I was a little afraid in having an ailment, having to go for X-rays, and then wait for the X-rays and blood work to come back for a final concrete diagnosis. This little fear, I believe, anyone would have--not just us health anxious folks.
Thankfully my PCP was in yesterday. He's open alternating Saturdays and I decided Friday night to go the next day. Worst thing would be he was closed and I'd go Monday or Tuesday.
He believes it is inflammation. Of course the blood test will include glucose check, but he is including other more extensive checks to see about inflammation. He gave me an RX for an anti-inflammatory med.
He also wanted to have both feet and ankles X-rayed. My local hospital's X-ray dept is open on a Saturday so I soon after the office visit went there and had the X-rays done. The blood tests and X-rays should be back with him Tuesday.
I had the RX filled out after the X-ray.
Oh BTW: He said I hadn't had an EKG done in a while and wanted his nurse to give me one. Asking an anxiety suffer who worries about his heart to take an EKG is like saying "Sick 'em" to a dog
. The EKG was normal.The point is: I held my diabetes fear in check until I got the word from my dr. Granted, Diabetes is still not out of the mix of possiblities but his--the dr's, not mine--first impression was inflammation. He gave me an anti-inflammation drug; he didn't say something like "Watch your sugar." Now I will admit I left his office a little afraid but it was not over Diabetes. Diabetes was/is my biggest concern. I was a little afraid in having an ailment, having to go for X-rays, and then wait for the X-rays and blood work to come back for a final concrete diagnosis. This little fear, I believe, anyone would have--not just us health anxious folks.
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Guest
hi, I too always worry about my health I always worry there is something wrong with me. I have had anxiety since I was in first grade I know it sounds ridiculous but it is very true. I am not 22. All my life I was always afraid that something was going to happen to me health wise, and I still worry about it to this day, I am afraid to travel because I am always afraid something bad will happen to me health wise I dont know why I do this. I really think sometimes that my doctor gets annoys with me because I go to the dr for every little thing and I always want her to do tests on me to make sure there really isnt a problem. But sometimes there is a problem. I had what felt like heart palpitations and it felt like my heart would skip a beat, so i went to the dr and had an ekg and it didnt find it but i knew i felt it, so i went to the dr again about 6 months later and had another ekg and it finally found it. I have what is called a rare pre mature heart beat which means my heart will beat normal and then take a short pause and beat again there is an extra beat in my heart they say its nothing to worry about but I worry about it all the time. And also I was tested for cholesterol and it turns out I have really high cholesterol I totally cut out all fried food and any food high in fat and cholesterol I am too young to have this but then again people have deadly things at young ages.
I know its super scary to always worry about your health but remember if there is something super wrong you usually can tell the difference, but it does always feel good to have that reassurance that things are ok.
You are not alone. I always worry about my health and I wish i could help you more on what to do to control it but I have no idea myself. But I do know we make things worse by worrying and wasting life for something we arent even sure of, we have to live everyday like we were dying, i know easier said than done, but thats what they say we should do.
Keep me updated about this subject.
I know its super scary to always worry about your health but remember if there is something super wrong you usually can tell the difference, but it does always feel good to have that reassurance that things are ok.
You are not alone. I always worry about my health and I wish i could help you more on what to do to control it but I have no idea myself. But I do know we make things worse by worrying and wasting life for something we arent even sure of, we have to live everyday like we were dying, i know easier said than done, but thats what they say we should do.
Keep me updated about this subject.
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Guest
I also have health anxiety. I am a Diabetic type 2 and I have high blood pressure. I do suffer from ocd as I wast checking my blood sugar close to 20 times a day. Since July 3rd I have cut down and I keep a tally in my journal. When I have a panic attack my blood pressure goes up and that scares me. A few months ago I was taking my blood pressure all night long. I stopped and I am scared to check it. I was taking Lisinopril 10 mg. but due to my weight loss and reduction in my sodium intake I was able to cut my blood pressure to 2.5mg with my doctor's approval. My endocrinologist said I need to take care of my anxiety. Had an ekg when I had to go to the ER in Sept. 2008. I am fine. Since I started the program and along with therapy I am so much better. I thought I was alone in my obsession with my health. I believe I makes my health worse by my anxiety. My blood sugar levels and blood pressure elevates win I am anxious. I look forward to the day when I can go anywhere like the movies and not obsess if my blood sugar is low.
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Guest
Thanks guys for all of your responses. I am really trying to work through my health anxiety. My biggest health fears are cancer and a heart attack. I have a lump behind my ear and my PCP said it was a lymphnode but I still have it and it has been a couple months so I am going back next mon. to check it out.I worry about some of my moles. I worry about my skipped heart beats that my doc says are nothing to worry about. I get dizzy sometimes and worry about that. I just can't stop! I just try to stay busy that is the only way I can keep it in check is to try to be busy enough that I don't have time to think about them. It is a struggle still so I just keep plugging away. What else can you do. 
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Guest
Hello,
I know I am a little late but I just wanted to join in and tell you all that this is my problem as well. Since the onset of severe anxiety in April 09, I have been the the ER 4 times, the doctor numerous times and I am sure I am dying of something. My back always hurts, I can feel my heartbeat in my stomach, I have chest pain, etc. I have had a million tests done though for MS, Brain Tumors, Blood Clots, Heart disease, aortic anyeurism, you name it. They all just tell me I am fine. SO.. here I am left to chalk it all up to anxiety. It is really hard to believe that all of these pains could be caused by my brain, but I am starting to accept that it is possible.
I know I am a little late but I just wanted to join in and tell you all that this is my problem as well. Since the onset of severe anxiety in April 09, I have been the the ER 4 times, the doctor numerous times and I am sure I am dying of something. My back always hurts, I can feel my heartbeat in my stomach, I have chest pain, etc. I have had a million tests done though for MS, Brain Tumors, Blood Clots, Heart disease, aortic anyeurism, you name it. They all just tell me I am fine. SO.. here I am left to chalk it all up to anxiety. It is really hard to believe that all of these pains could be caused by my brain, but I am starting to accept that it is possible.
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Guest
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Guest
I also worry about my health. Is is usually cancer that I think I have. I have all sorts of aches and pains and always think it is a tumor growing. I have been a hyperchondriac since I was a young child. I try and get all my physicals every year and whenever something hurts I go to my doc.I have had MRI of the brain, neck, x-rays of my chest and hips and so far so good. I also used to think I was going crazy in my mind. Things have gotten better lately. I am on Prozac 10 mg and it helps me to stop obsessing so much about things. My doc is a good friend of mine and he just laughs and says what this time... Oh well. You are not alone. Try and keep busy. The more busy I am the more I dont think about it.