Hoping someone can help me with this...

[shutterbug]

I had a bit of a health scare last xmas and became convinced I was going to die! I then spent 3/4 months suffering from anxiety/depression. One of the physical symptoms was a heavy tense feeling in the stomach, like a knotted feeling that didn't seem to go. During the first few months the feeling was there frequently but eventually got less and less or milder. However they seem to be making a return and getting worse, so now I am wondering is this normal or is it something else, and so the worry starts(thoughts of death or dying) and the knotted feeling gets worse and so I worry more....Is this a normal side effect/symptom of anxiety??

[Hidden]

Hi. shutterbug. Yes! That is what it would appear to be! You have all the classic symptoms of an anxiety state. Do not be alarmed by this. Have you seen your GP? You should as the reassurance can be helpful. You have described a typical reaction. "The knotted feeling gets worse so I worry more". Exactly. The thoughts create the anxiety; the anxiety creates fear; which introduces more adrenaline into your system which creates more fear. You are caught in the Fear-Adrenaline-Fear cycle. What to do. Provided you have seen your GP and been given the OK I would suggest the fear of dying and death is NOT uncommon. I am am sure when you get more replies you will find that a lot of us have had this feeling. Can you Face this and Accept how you feel without giving it too much importance. Difficult I know, but acceptance stops you chasing your own tail, going round in circles. Obviously, the more you worry the worse it gets for the reasons stated above. I am sure more replies will follow. Keep with us. More posts are always welcome. regards. jonathan.

[shutterbug]

Thanks Jonathan. I have been to the Drs last week and he has referred me for counselling, I'm expecting a call from them today. The catalyst was the results of a blood test last year, at the time I was suffering from toothache, mouth ulcers and to top it all off ended up with a bug to top it off!! The blood test came out of the blue, a letter from the dr's asking me to arrange a blood test at 'my earliest convenience' so this started me off with my knotted stomach. When I got the results, on xmas eve of all days, he told me that my kidney's were'nt functioning properly and that my white cell count was high, and knowing that a white cell imbalance can be a sign of cancer I became convinced that this was it my time was up! Christmas day I was a gibbering wreck and ended up going to see an emergency dr, he then re-assured me there was no major problems and that the white cell imbalance could have been caused by the fact I was run down, I was not eating and also the anti-biotics I was on from my dentist! Further blood tests over the next couple of months seemed to prove this as everything went back to normal. Over the summer the knotted feeling and major worries became less and I was able to function, however the last few months it has begun to return and the tight stomach is almost constant.

[Hidden]

Hi. shutterbug.The three days waiting for results can be hell for an anxiety sufferer. You may not believe this. Five years ago I had earache. Went to GP. Told needed to see specialist. Was told "You may have cancer working in your ear". GP prescribed antibiotics. No problem since. There does not seem to be any awareness of the misery they can cause by these totally unprofessional remarks! As I said, try and accept how you feel without giving it too much attention. You have become 'sensitised' again and the more you worry about your state the more anxiety you produce. I do hope the site will be of help. Best wishes. jonathan.

[Hidden]

Hi shutterbug sorry to hear another person is going through these horrid thoughts/feelings. I do know exactly what you mean though although my story goes like this....had a bit of a miserable and stressful (work, relationship, financial everything) start to this year so my sister booked herself and I a lovely holiday to Egypt was so excited couldn't wait thought this is exactly what I need! So the time came to go and I ended up in a&e with a urine infection the night before so three days of antibiotics (didn't tell doc I was going on plane but sis said I should've) anyway the night we arrived I thought about blood clots inside me and BANG it hit me a massive panic attack I was so frightened (had no idea what it was) i thought it was a clot and I was going to die in my sleep that night but as scared as I was I didn't want to frighten my sister (how flipping silly huh) so you can imagine my surprise when I woke up next morning! But from then till now I have the similar thoughts of dying in my sleep or just dropping down dead but not as often as before, as the wonderful people on this site have helped me learn how to cope so so much and that there are many with thoughts/fears of dying.

I haven't had dying thoughts for a while until tonight but I know it's because I'm tired and on more antibiotics which I think might be making me tired too. But they're nowhere near as bad as the beginning.

I really hope that helped as I don't have energy to read over it again.

All the best xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi.PB. "Good lord, am I still here?" A common waking thought in nervous illness. This is one of the most distressing symptoms in this rotten complaint. A good message PB. And you are still with us!!! Please don't go away. Many thanks. Regards. jonathan.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hello Jonathan, yes I'm still here lol. I could never go away Jonathan I need this site to help me through the bad times and the good if corse but they're not very often lol.

All the best xx

[fuengirola1]

This is a wonderful site and the people on it have helped me understand that I am not on my own with all these horrible thoughts and anxiety feelings. Don't give up this site will help you.

[shutterbug]

thanks everyone for your words and support, i really appreciate it. Today has been a middling type of day, started off not so good with usual tense stomach, but it has relieved off now so not so bad. After my telephone session with the local psychological well being team have been diagnosed with moderate depression and severe anxiety and will start some therapy/counselling in about 3 weeks....so something to look forward to..