Health anxiety???

[Hannah221b]

Hi all,

I think my fears about my health have increased this past year, but I can't tell how much of this is because of my mental health or from a relatively rational lack of faith in my local doctors.

I had pain in my side, was basically unable to eat or sleep for 4 months, had collapsed twice, had thrown up water almost every day, and always felt woozy and had headaches. Paramedics and 2 GPs in my university city dismissed it as low blood sugar and stress, and it was only after going to see my GP at home 3 times that he sent me to a specialist at my nearest hospital. I ended up being diagnosed with ADPKD (polycystic kidney disease) and I was both really annoyed but really relieved to actually find out what was wrong with me.

Nearly 2 years on, I'm still anxious about my general health, and don't know what I can really do to help my situation. I eat healthily (following Slimming World recipes) and walk and take public transport almost everywhere I need to go. I take my medication as required, but there are still things my body is doing that I'm worried about.

I can't lose weight, despite being healthier, being fitter and eating less than I did when I was thinner. I can't get rid of lumbar pain and aches that I keep getting, and it doesn't feel like it's in the same area that my kidney pain used to be in.

At this point, I'm just very nervous about going to the doctors. My doctor's in my childhood worked wonders and always checked everything that could be going wrong. But now, everything is put down to hormones or medical side effects. But it can't be hormones (as I've been on the same birth control with no issues for ages) and if it is side effects of medicine, how can I know for certain which ones are causing what, or if they're responsible at all?

I know I shouldn't worry this much, but I can't help feeling this way after having so many difficulties with previous diagnoses.

Does anyone have advice for managing health anxiety or rationalising how to broach my worries with a doctor? For instance, I could be having symptoms of something but be too worried to go to the doctors for fear of being dismissed as 'oh it's nothing'. I'm terrified of another disease/condition being overlooked for months or years on end until it's too late.

[souren]

I am not a doctor but i think you should always check up your health, irrespective of your fear and anxiety..My uncle was diagnosed with polycystic kidney diseases,he is above 60 and is really doing good,he is cultivating and growing crops on his own and doing strenuous work daily.Doctors told us not to worry,there is nothing to worry about your kidneys and just told him not to smoke ciggarette as it can do more bad than kidneys...And there are hundred of cysts residing under his skin,they are benign,may cause some mild or dull pains.

If you are not satisfied by your local doctor try other reputed doctors tell him/her everything..Don't let you disease stop you,moreover you can't do anything other than praying and being dependent on medication in meantime enjoy your life in full,just don't let some petty things ruins yours life.I am also suffering from severe depression,anxiety,panic disorder for for four years,still fighting them daily..

[Hannah221b in reply to souren]

I'm only 23 so I think it was a big shock knowing I have a kidney disease at just 22 years old. I work full-time so it's really difficult to find a doctors surgery that's open late enough or that has any available appointments without basically begging on my knees to get to see a doctor. I'm really keen to find a doctors surgery that does work best for me nearby, but it's going to take a lot of work to do so since I live in the middle of the countryside.

Thanks for giving your perspective on things. It's reassuring to know someone with similar mental health issues has a positive outlook on stuff like this. I really should just 'let things go' but it's not always that easy, as you know.

[souren in reply to Hannah221b]

I know Hannah that although it is easier to say but it is difficult in reality to live like this,it always scare the hell out of us..Just don't hesitate to see a doctor,check yourself up regularly and doctors are the only persons to reassure you that everything is okay..By the way did Doctor tell you to do surgery?

[Dolphin14]

Souren

Your dad saw a kidney dr?

[Hannah221b in reply to Dolphin14]

My dad's 60, so he's had regular medical checks for the past few years and there's no kidney issues on his side, but we're not 100% sure if there are on my mum's side.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Hannah221b]

Hannah

If you get worried about anything medical just go to the md, who cares what they think it's their job to help you.

I get so angry with the mental health stigma.

You take care of yourself

[souren in reply to Dolphin14]

Yes Dolphin..You know we are from india so it is really hard to get a fair and affordable treatment..

[Dolphin14 in reply to souren]

I didn't know where you were from Souren.

I wish your dad well.

[Amrinlama]

Same as mine I am 16 months now cold turkey but still I am feeling same as you

[shankstx]

Hi Hannah

I also have anxiety/health anxiety and I can relate to what you wrote regarding your health and how you feel. I am training to become a counsellor at the moment. I do think it is a good thing that you are trying to find another doctor who may be more sympathetic to your situation. Make sure you tell them how anxious you feel about your health and that you have anxiety. I also recommend you read Dr Claire Weeks book, "self help for your nerves" as it is one of the best resources out there for people who suffer from anxiety. Regarding your lumbar aches and pains, maybe it would be a good idea for you to see a specialist like a physiotherapist or a chiropractor to find out what the issue is. Sorry to hear you have ADPKD. But I think the chances of you having another serious disease are pretty low given your age and your generally healthy lifestyle. It's good that you follow the slimmers world diet and are careful with your lifestyle. Maybe a general health check would be good, as it may reassure you that there is nothing else seriously wrong with you.

I think Souren is right when she says you should be enjoying your life and not letting anxiety and worry ruin it. You are still so young, and it sounds like you are generally pretty healthy too. I know it is easier said than done when you have anxiety. I think you could also really benefit with sharing your feelings and worries with a local counsellor. Have you ever been through anything emotionally traumatic and painful in your life, such as in childhood or since? Many people suffer from 'somatization' which is the generation of physical symptoms as a result of psychological distress. This is why so many people with anxiety suffer from unexplained aches and pains and other physical problems that doctors cannot put their finger on or explain. The mind can be communicating distress and it is manifesting in a physical way through aches/pains and other problems. Wishing you all the best. Take care.

Shane

[Hannah221b in reply to shankstx]

Thank you so much for your help and reassurance. I'm hoping to go to a nearby walk-in centre that I know has a good reputation. Hopefully they can reassure me about the one or two relatively 'small' issues I've got going on right now, without having to go into every single detail of my history. I've gone through a lot of stressful things since childhood, although not nearly as bad or traumatic as some people, but I'm coping well now in comparison to how I did in my teenage years. It's health that predominantly worries me, alongside work/family health/friends/the current socioeconomic climate and so on. If I do have any psychosomatic pain, then that would explain a lot, but also be really, really frustrating.

Thanks for the recommendation - I'll definitely check that out.

[Tamzeali]

Hi,

It looks like that the experience that you went through with polycystic kidney, has left fears in you, and now you are reluctant to go to doctor. I had two of these experiences. One with my daughter who had asthma attack and it kept on and on, we were in hospital but despite my concerns they did handle very well and later same night she crashed. She was intubated and on mechanical ventilation for 2days. Thank God she survived without any brain damage. For myself, I had some neurological symptoms and my gp dismissed it. My obstetrics team dismissed it. Until I started crying that I am unable to walk and feel no sensation in my limbs. Then after a lot of struggle some angel dr came and listened to me. I was straight taken for MRI and the found a 2cm lesion in my spinal cord. I am left with significant disability. After all these experiences, every time you talk about going to A&E or hospital or gp, I get panic attacks and get cold and numb all over. I am left with PTSD like symptoms. I also have mental health problems and on antidepressants. Over 7 years it has gone better but with health providers, it looks like walking on egg shells. My husband attended groups who had similar experience in past and we realized that out there are so many people who went through so much trauma with health are providers. Have faith, it will get better, don't close yourself, speak to other people, it will help you. Bless you.