So a brief summary of myself, I'm a 20 yrs old male. I'm in college and studying health science. I used to be happy and full of fun, and I was known for my eating. I can eat a lot even though I was thin. I am athletic and love to exercise. However recently a lot of things have changed in my life. Over the past month, I have been going through this cycle of symptoms and emotions. It first started with some throat discomfort when swallowing, then my stomach felt upset and felt hot. Off and on diarrhea and felt bloated for 3 days. But this could be due to the number of beans I had eaten before then. Then it seemed all was normal for a week, but it started again. The discomfort of swallowing and I had even visited my GP. He told me that I looked fine and felt my throat and said that it looked fine to him so he referred me to an ENT specialist. I went to the ENT specialist and he performed a Laryngoscopy and said that everything looked fine. He just told me that he believes that it is just acid reflux. So he told me to keep to a diet and come back in 4 weeks if I still have throat problems. Now at this current moment, the focus has been switched to my stomach. For the past week, I have felt like throating up before eating meals, I feel like I can't eat a lot, and I sometimes feel like my stomach region is hot. Sometimes when I'm sitting down after meals or I just feel this sensation out of nowhere. I will note that I have not had any blood tests done. I have had an x-ray of my throat and chest.
I will be honest and say that I am a victim of self diagnosing and looking up on google. I am very anxious and stressed a lot due to how I am feeling and I somewhat believe that I may have severe health anxiety.
I just don't know any more. I have been at home for a month and have not been to school. Talking to my parents helps for about a day or 2 but then still feel like a mess. I feel like a burden on my family and friends. I make my parents feel helpless because I continue to feel this way. We've talked about therapy but I really don't want to do it.
I know that this is a long post and possibly very confusing but I am just looking for help everywhere. I just want to return to my normal life and be happy again. Be me again.
I am just scared that I might have stomach cancer or something else. Or if this is an early sign and I am just wasting time.
Please help.
Hi Bullet935 and Welcome to this amazing support forum. What part of Health Science were you studying when these symptoms first appeared? We never recommend going to
Dr Google but I am glad you saw your GP and ENT doctors.
It sounds like your studies may have allowed you to go into Health Anxiety. I am not a doctor but have been down that avenue in the past. We have some choices that we have to make when symptoms continue and jump from one thing to another.
We either continue going on the medical path with more doctors, more tests etc or we
look for some reassurance and help with a therapist.
Only you can make that decision. At 20, you are too young to have anxiety hold you back.
I'm glad you are here with us. Please keep us updated on your progress going forward
xx
Hello Agora1 and Thank you,
I am studying to be a nurse and I am a junior this year. I know that the study and knowledge of health can make some (myself included) possibly develop health anxiety. I am starting to believe that I may be suffering from health anxiety but I do know why I am feeling these weird symptoms. I just want this to end.
Nursing school is tough.
I remember a bunch of us would always sit around thinking we had every disease in the book.
Are you taking care of yourself in between your studies?
HI Dolphin14,
You are absolutely right about school! But to answer your question, I am. Somewhat. I am still going to school but I am staying at home. I drive up twice a week to go to class. I know that this month has taken a lot out of my parents and me. I want to return to my normal life and stay at the dorms but I keep feeling these symptoms. Which makes my mother worry about how I will be if I go back. I just feel so helpless.
I can see where your mother would be concerned and in turn you get concerned about her.
Stay home and do the commute if that works for you.
If you have had a good medical workup maybe you should consider the therapist?
Talk a few things out, see if it helps at all.
Is there anything big going on on school right now that could be causing symptoms?
It's not an easy major. You have to always be on point. Quite stressful