What next?

[L1974]

Been suffering with health anxiety for some time, various symptoms which will not leave me including dizziness foggy head, unsteady and really weird feeling in my eyes. Been on sertraline which helped a little but now not helping at all as I am so wound up wondering what on earth is wrong with me. My doctor has been really helpful up until now but today feel like she is washing her hands of me. Told me to come back off sertraline and just try and get on with life!! I would if I felt I could!! Don’t get me wrong still going about normal routine with stressful job and A 5 year old son. My sister has just had the all clear following cancer diagnosis which is the best news, hoped the anxiety would lift but feel like absolute rubbish like I am going to pass out at any time!! Help! What can I do?

[Natsteveo]

Hi there L1974

Health anxiety sucks big time don't it?

I've had. This for many years and mine always starts with anything medical or health related s sounds to me your sister recent scare has triggered you...this condition is not easy in the slightest I've had many outbursts with my doctor over it's like I'm scared of any symptoms I get in case I'm going to die I had a blood test a few months ago my platelets were high I convinced myself that I had leukaemia turned out I had a infection but still scares me now if I had to have another test I'd literally have a meltdown...mine started when my beautiful mum died of pancreatic cancer 11 years ago she died in my arms literally broken my heart into a thousand pieces...it's scared me because 7 weeks before that me and mum was having fun I never thought I would lose her like that so quickly and so cruelly...fabulous news your lovely sister is ok though but we have to deal with the aftermath of the build up of worrying .... I take venlafaxine and propanalol it helps but didn't take it off in my eyes...I've took up crochet and knitting I'm only 43 {hehe} but it's so soothing and takes my mind off my fear...that's what health anxiety is its fear and not a lot of people understand it unless they have it my own husband gets mad with me when I get a episode no one gets more angry with me than I do...it's awful situation to live with especially when you don't have medical support your not alone hun this is quite common message me anytime who knows maybe we can help each other

All the best

Nat x

[L1974 in reply to Natsteveo]

Hi my mum also died when I was younger maybe that has made me the way I am but don’t understand why now at 43 my body can no longer cope and the physical symptoms are very difficult to cope with. I am fed up with feeling so rubbish!

[Natsteveo in reply to L1974]

Its horrendous isnt it..i bet you thats how yours started they do say HA is brought on by loss or grief...the trouble is the physical symptoms are so awful they really are im not the same person now im 43 aswell and for the last 18 years since starting with my depression my lifes been on pause and im now a grandmother so i dont want my granddaughter to see me this way...i also had intense therapy and i was told because i was such a ill child and infant and because my father physically and mentally abused me losing my mum was the trigger to everything as a adult i still suffer i spose hope we can nail it one day

Nat

[Ckd123]

Health anxiety is so bad. I’v had it for 3 years with hardly any break from it in that time. Iv recently started Prozac so I’m hoping that starts to work soon. I am so glad your sister got the all clear. My mum died from pancreatic cancer when I was 11, she was only 32 years old. When I turned 32, three years ago, this health anxiety started for me. Although funnily enough it’s not cancer I fear the most but a heart attack. I wake up everyday with the fear something’s going to happen me today. I try get on with life as best I can as I have four kids that still need to be raised!! But it has taken away a lot of my social life because I’ll only leave the house when I have too. When I do meet up with friends I have to take a Xanax first and I’m slightly on edge the whole time, not really enjoying myself. I hope we both recover fully from HA soon xx

[Natsteveo in reply to Ckd123]

Hi Ckd123

Reading your post i felt i was reading about myself???

I lost my mum 11 years ago to pancreatic cancer and im absolutely identical to you

Nat

[Ckd123 in reply to Natsteveo]

It’s tough isn’t it Nat? I’ll never get over losing my mum x

[L1974 in reply to Ckd123]

It’s really tough especially when I’ve just watched my sister 20 years later suffer as mam did though looking like a better outcome. Life is tough.