Health Anxiety or Something more...

[DanteNXS]

Hello,

I haven't really posted much on here before, mainly because I was not quite sure if I suffered from anxiety. But it seems like the longer I deal with incompetent doctors and my ongoing health issues, the more stressed out I get. I recently read an article on health anxiety and the number of people affected by it, and that it is the newest form of anxiety, and a high percentage of these cases are actually caused by the lack of knowledge, proper diagnosis, and resolution by the doctors treating these patients. In other words, the medical systems incompetence is actually causing this problem.

I have not been diagnosed with anxiety, or depression, but I do believe that I have health anxiety, due to almost 2 years of dealing with the sickcare system.

I went to see my cardiologist a few weeks ago, due to having some chest tightness and lightheadedness, but he said that my heart was fine, no issues. I even did a stress test, so I guess he is probably being truthful. He is actually one of the few doctors that I do like and trust. But he said "After all you've been through, you have the right to be anxious". But he also warned me against taking any anti-anxiety, or anti-depressants, due to all the side effects and bodily harm they do to people.

So my question is, how do you handle the symptoms of health anxiety?

[Jspar]

I just try to take each day as it comes to be honest. Some days are worse than others but every now and then I remind myself that I have been feeling this way for a couple of years and so far, nothing is actually wrong with me x

[Loveydovey0519]

Since last Halloween I have had 4-5 ecgs, 2 complete blood panels. echo stress test, and 48 hour holter monitor. All my results come back as fine and in normal ranges, they never even ask for me to come back for a follow up or anything. So with that said, obviously my heart is fine and healthy. I have health anxiety that stems with my heart, either it beat palpitations, elevated heart rate for no reason, or random aches and pains in my chest area. I got the results back from all my tests the second week of April this year. Since then I have generally been feeling a lot better, however I still have some days of palpitations, or the increased heart rate that really freaks me out still. Even though my heart checked out completely fine and good a month ago. I just try to rationalize with myself and tell myself that experts have run tests and ruled out anything of a physical illness. I was diagnosed with anxiety, panic, and depression back in 2008 I believe it was. So I have been having these symptoms and sensations for years. It will get better, just have to trust yourself. If getting confirmation from a doctor would ease your mind, I would do that. I mean just like a complete physical. After my results came back my anxiety has gone down quite a bit. I still have some things to work on, but I am getting there.

[DanteNXS in reply to Loveydovey0519]

I have had various blood, saliva, and urine tests done, as well as EKGs, MRIs, etc. Nothing found other than a few nutritional deficiencies that I am working on.

I just want to figure out how to resolve the facial tingling, chest pressure and lightheaded feeling that is present most of time.

No one has been able to give me any advice on this yet.