Health anxiety

[Mamatembo]

How do you deal with it?

I'm finding that waiting for tests/test results is making me incredibly anxious. It's interfering with my life.

Any tips?

[Splodge60]

Good question this. If one ever were to admit feeling anxious under yours and mine legitimate anxieties then that could be the end of any source of help available to you. The reason - many health professionals are markedly biased against patients with a history of mental health issues!!!!! How do I know this????? Because I have been the recipient of some distressing notes on my medical file like “.........there is no organic reason for this patients problems”....... or .......”your problems are caused by your mental health.....”. Yes!!!!! It has been stated to me as blatantly as that!!!!! 6 months later I was diagnosed with Cirrhosis after a change of GP practice. The whole issue of waiting times is a minefield when you have liver disease. Clinicians in this field generally have no concept, no compassion and certainly no understanding of what patients go through. If you, invariably have co-morbidities, just because you have liver disease, you are sent to this Consultant or that one in other fields of expertise, the waiting heightens exponentially till you find yourself spending more time in waiting rooms, or at the end of the phone, endlessly trying to find answers to things that will never be answered by this Consultant because he/she cannot relate (say) heart disease to the variety of components of a diseased liver. Nobody even thinks about joining up the dots for you, so, the waiting goes on and on and on and meanwhile your anxiety levels end up becoming a serious mental health issue. This was intended to give you hope and cheer you up. Sorry if it did not succeed !!!!!

[richymac]

This isnt for everyone I know - and isnt cheap. But if you can afford it, go private. The whole process is massively speeded up. When my anxiety of the bloating sensation around my liver became too much the GP wasnt really interested as I had no "red flag" symptoms as he put it. So I demanded a referral letter and got an appointment for the ultrasound the 48 hours latter. I know this isnt for everyone - but I saw the bill on my BUPA account and it was less than £500 so I would have done it anyway without insurance just to speed things up

[mattymoo33]

Hiya. I'm sorry you're struggling at the moment. I too struggle. I was on the t/p list last year for 7 months. I got my (2nd) call in September to be told I was "too well" and consequently taken off the list. Unfortunately, over Christmas and New Year I suffered several episodes of HE and in February, returned to the list. My life has been about waiting for results, appointments, procedures etc for 3 and a half years. I manage by exercising as much as I can, using yoga and meditation. I am very lucky that I have a great family and a few good friends.

There is always someone much worse off than me and I wake up thanking my lucky stars for all the wonderful people who have helped me get to where I am, including our fantastic NHS.

I'm sure you have tried lots of things, but keep looking, something will click to help.

I wish you the best of days😊🌈xx

[Hidden]

Hi,

You may find the NHS page useful, especially the links at the bottom:

nhs.uk/conditions/health-an...

Warm wishes

Trust1

[jazzjam]

I don’t particularly, I worry more about my appointments and that I ask the right things.

Waiting for results I try to think “well whatever they say it has already happened, it is happening in my body right now, I cant change that until I get the results, then I can move on and make it better or make it right or at least improve something” . I cant worry over something I cannot change while I am waiting for results. I am not saying I dont have a terrible nights sleep because I do and Im sure that is my subconscious worrying for me. Somehow I put it in a box until I know what I can do.

I hope that makes sense 🌻