Hypochondria / Health Anxiety Of Having Breast Cancer After Pregnancy
Sep 2, 2014
I have developed quite extreme health anxiety after having my baby four months ago and I feel as though I am making my husband's life, and my own, a living hell. We are currently on holiday where, there days ago I had a sharp pain in my breast and I am convinced I have breast cancer. My Grandmother had this and since. I got the thought in my head. I have been self examined almost continually to the point that I, and my family, have not left the house for three days and I have found lots of lumps and bumps that have only further convinced me. I have made an appointment for Thursday to see a private specialist when we get back. I am also having back pain near my epidural site which I am convinced is a cancer spread. Even as I write I can see how ridiculous this all is. A few weeks ago I had a melanoma scare and didn't leave the house for a week. It took three dermatologist reviews to convince me it was okay. I have seen my GP about my issues and I am due to start CBT next week but I am now worrying it won't be enough to help me. I am determined to get rid of this as I feel I am wasting so much precious time with my new family, but the irony is that this is all driven by a fear of leaving my baby to grow up without a Mummy. I cry every day about that thought and then I feel like such a bad person because I am healthy and there are people out there with genuinely life threatening conditions and I feel so pathetic. My husband is very supportive but doesn't seem to understand that I can't just 'talk myself out of it'. I don't know how to explain?
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I'm looking for someone who understands who can give me reassurance and support as I constantly believe I am ill more so I'm scared to death of getting cancer and every niggle or pain sets off alarm bells. I have had health scares in the past such as breast lumps, abnormal cells on cervix all were treated and were ok. I have had several family members get cancer some who have died not close enough family members to be considered for genetic testing though. I am currently having problems with my kidneys the pain was unbearable I thought the worst but an ultrasound revealed a stone stuck in my ureter. After hanging on to see specialists etc I am finally having a CT scan tonight, (my worst fear) this is to see clearly the stone to determine course of treatment but of course I'm petrified that this CT is going to find cancer somewhere in my body. I particularly worry about cervical cancer although all my yearly smear tests have been ok this is an area of most concern and pains that I'm experiencing in my groin (most likely kidney stone related) worry me. This anxiety is crippling I get reassurance for one health issue then other symptom appears. So between pains from minor health issues and symptoms im probably creating myself from my anxiety my head is well and truly mashed. I hate going to the doctors for fear of what they might find. I have completed CBT which did not help so to hear from someone who is living the same hell as me would be comforting although I wouldn't wish my symptoms on my worst enemy. I have a happy marriage, kids a good job I should not be feeling as low and so preoccupied with health worries as I do.
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I apparently suffer from health anxiety I have chest pressure and breathless every day and also have obsessive thoughts of death I keep thinking I have cancer or i'm going to die and leave my family does anyone else feel this way.
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I'm 34yrs old, smoker and due to my problems a pretty heavy drinker typically 6+ tins every nite without fail, ironically I take them to help me but know it's doing the opposite. It's been 6/7 yrs now but the last 2 have been hell.it started with pins n needles in my face then pains in my arms and legs was convinced I was having a stroke even tho I obviously wasn't as this could happen ten times a day but I was always convinced each time. Then symptoms progressed to pains and tightness in chest, aching bones n muscles, headaches etc etc. I have self diagnosed everything from stroke heart attack and cancer sounds stupid when my doc can't find anything physically wrong wit me. Yet still 24hrs a day I'm convinced I'm dying. I'm on melds its sertraline which has definitely reduced the number of attacks I have from 10 a day to a few a week, but it's always in the back of my mine. I have a 19 month old son and 15 week old twin boys and my life, should be perfect but it ain't. Anxiety is ruining it I have severe mood swings I feel tired all the time n have no energy for anything anymore, does anyone else feel like this out there.
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I have a very bad case of hypochondria and cyberchondria !
I'm 26 years old and my anxiety is worse than ever. I've always been nervous even as a kid went through stages where I wouldn't leave the house because I was going to get eaten by a dog, struck by lightning etc. All very normal things of course! Haha.
So about 6 months ago I started working in a doctors surgery as a receptionist. And out of nowhere I began to have these symptoms and feelings that were all very new to me. And over the last few months I've diagnosed myself with more diseases than I've had hot dinners! I'd go to bed at night and my heart would be pounding and racing as if I'd just ran a marathon where in fact all I was doing was lying still. I ten began to experience pains in my left arm. Which worried me due to the connection between these 2 symptoms. Then eventually I started having the dreaded chest pains. That's it. I had heart disease and I was going to lose my life to a heart attack. This is when my life really went downhill. So I had reassurance from my dr that it was anxiety. Had a few weeks of cbt. Started to feel better. Then my therapist told me she was happy with the way I'd progressed and referred me back to my gp's care. Since stopping my cbt my symptoms have returned with a vengeance and I keep telling myself 'it can't be a coincidence of course they're back because your no longer have reassurance from a therapist' but it isn't helping. I've recently started having globus symptoms which are driving me crazy in thinking my throat is going to physically close up and that I won't be able to breath. Visited my gp who put it down to my GERD which is linked with my anxiety. I guess all I'm trying to ask is if I'm not the only one in this wicked situation. And is it affecting everyone else lives likes it's affecting and ruining mine. Am I the only one who keeps getting reassurance from therapists and GPs and still believe there's something seriously wrong with me?? Just don't want to do anything anymore. Feel like utter s**t all the time (which really isn't like me at all). Some advice also on whether you think me working in a GP's surgery is somehow affecting my health anxiety would be brilliant.
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I'm 23 yo with pretty bad OCD/anxiety and a whole lot of hypochondria. It's getting out of control. I've been obsessed with my heart for weeks now because it's always beating fast. And then of course I'll get the chest pain. And then I'll get pains in my arms and what I think are pains in my jaw which then makes me freakout and think I'm having a heart attack.... At 23 years old.
I've had a complete blood count test done to check my thyroid (mom has issues with hers) and everything came back perfect my cholesterol my triglycerides everything. Blood pressure is always perfect I eat healthy I've never smoked I could lose a good 5 lbs but I'm not overweight etc. I've had two ekgs done a chest X-ray but everyday I'm still convinced I'm going to have a heart attack or something because the aches and pains are still there. I'm starting to go crazy. I've been to the ER like 3 times this past week and have seen my regular doctor. I keep freaking myself because I tell myself "oh but you haven't seen a cardiologist". It's driving everyone around me insane and it's making it hard for me to be the mother and wife I was before all of this stuff started
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I recently got tested for all stds and stis, this includes swabs, blood work and pelvic exams. Things came back negative but I read online that tests can be false negative. Do I have any reason to keep worrying? I've called the doctors back and they said their tests are accurate and said I shouldn't worry. But I can't get over this. I have been with the same man for four years, and recently stopped taking my anti depressants and anxiety medicine. Do you think this that's why I keep worrying? I can't get in to see a therapist. And can't get this out of my mind.
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Ive suffered from health anxiety for a few months now but i'm now stuck in a vicious cycle! I have diagnosed myself with DVT'S , a brain tumour , an impending stroke just to name a few. I had my first smear test on monday due to me googling cervical cancer and having a lot of the symptoms. I have a 2-3 week wait for the results it's only day 3 but i'm at my witts end! ive rang the hospital and my dr.s to see if they have the results . No. I cannot take the waiting i have literally convinced myself i have cervical cancer i have all the aches and pains but i dont know if thats just from googling reading then my mind making the ones i don't have up!!!! I had lots of blood tests a few weeks ago including full blood count liver etc.. all clear and i also had a lumbar xray as id been having lower back pain that went down my leg into my foot the majority of the time it's a burning sensation , i found out through google that a tumour could cause the pains i've been having as my leg is slightly swollen as well . i cant stop googling i'm making myself ill. I'm not eating at all. i keep waking up at night with panicky nervous feeling in my tummy. i feel like a total mess. I have mirtazapine but too scared to take it because of the side effects even though i've taken it before. I just don't know what to do. I took a vitamin on a empty tummy earlier and now i've got severe tummyache so i've now convinced myself i've got a tummy ulcer that's gonna pop any minute! Please someone give me some advice . im at a loss what to do . I have 4 small children whom i love dearly but its starting to affect them also now. I can't calm down or relax i'm just a complete and utter mess!!! My dr.s have given up on me as i've been so many times they blame it on anxiety but i feel there is something seriously wrong with me
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So it all started just over 3 weeks ago I had a shooting pain in my head followed by my whole body going weak and numb-like, I panicked! After that I haven't been right. I've had shooting pains all over my body, tingles mainly in the left hand, dizziness, smoky vision, flutters under the skin, scared that my limbs were gonna stop working so i've constantly been checking them, I now have pain on both sides of my abdomen under my ribs and I constantly and I mean constantly feel soooo sick! I've been to 4 diffo docs all of which say it's my anxiety! They've only checked my blood pressure and pulse felt my tummy etc how can they be so sure?
Pic honestly feel sooo I'll i'm not getting out of bed I can't eat ... I think I'm on the verge of having a breakdown! Everyone around me has had enough but they don't understand how sick I feel!
anyone ever very honestly felt like they were physically ill all day everyday from anxiety?
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I'm in my mid teens, and earlier on this evening, i noticed that my right breast slightly ached, so i checked it out myself and found a lump, which is not visible on the surface of the skin. The lump is located on the left hand side of the right breast, directly next to and underneath the nipple. The nipple on my left breast is flat, which i got checked out earlier in the year by my doctor. The lump inside my breast feels unmovable, possibly quite large, and aches even when its not touched.
I am also two weeks late for my period, which hasn't occurred before.
I need to get this checker out, however, beforehand, i would like some advice on whether or not it could be premature breast cancer, and whether or not it can be treated. I have also read up on the possible link between breast cancer and infertility.
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I have an indention in my left breast,right above my nipple. it's like a hole. I have family history on my mother's side of breast cancer. Besides cancer what else could it be?
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Hey, so breast cancer runs in my family and so I check myself regularly. Lately tho I keep getting an ache in my left breast and sometimes the right one. I have had children so they have changed a little but when I feel them I keep feeling lumps and can't tell if they are normal or not.. Sometimes it is tender to press.. I have noticed also my nipples go a little crusty almost (I am so sorry for that info :-/).. I know I should see a doc but I suffer anxiety badly to the point I can barely leave the house alone and my husband is about to start a new job so he won't be able to come with me.. I am so scared!! I don't want to tell any friends incase it's nothing but then I'm freaking out about going alone esp with my children .
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My mother is taking tamoxifen, I want to know more about this breast tightness, she says it's so uncomfortable that she doesn't want to take tamoxifen anymore.
Does anyone know more about this tightness?
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I have a weird shaped lump on my right breast on the lower left side. And it feels like I have a big mass besides that. I'm 22, and its causing me a lot of pain in my ribs and back, and is swollen and red.
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Does anyone else dread Routine Blood Tests scared that they are going to detect some "Blood Cancer"? I've been looking up Leukemia and Lymphoma symptoms all morning. I'm getting a CBC for Fertility treatments.
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I'm 23 years old and I'm healthy. So they tell me but I suffer from extreme anxiety, hypochondria and depression for going on 6 years. Im at my breaking point. It completely controls and ruins my everyday life.
Lately, my whole life has been a whole anxiety attack. From the moment I wake up until I go to sleep. My life doesn't feel like it is a reality. I live in a fog. My heart races all day leaving me exhausted, I suffer from aches and pains and I always think of the impending doom that is coming to me in the coming seconds. Since I also suffer from hypochondria these things do not go well together. Anytime I feel brain fog or these feelings of Unreality I tell myself I have a brain tumor and I'm surely dying. Any pains it's a tumor or a blood clot. I convince myself that I'm dying and it causes anxiety. It's a never ending cycle and as of late has caused me to become very depressed. I can't even go to work in fear of an attack. The only time I feel safe is at home in my bed or when I'm asleep. I left work today on the verge of a mental breakdown. On the verge of admitting myself into the hospital. I am on an antidepressant every day and it doesn't seem to be doing its job. My depression is killing me. Does anyone else feel this way? I don't know much longer I can continue living this way.
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I'm a 17 year old female and over the past few years I've suffered awful social and general anxiety. I've always had hypochondriac tendencies but over the past 6 months, it's really kicked in, to the point where I'm getting incredibly down and possibly depressed. In the beginning of December 2015, I developed stomach pains and cramps and immediately alarm bells started ringing. I became OBSESSED. I spent most of my day googling, posting in forums, going to the doctors. I got so much blood taken and everything was perfect, by CBC was like 2/100 or something which meant I was incredibly healthy and everything else was totally okay. I had urine tests, once it showed a tiny bit of blood and protein but I had a later one and it was totally fine. I then demanded an abdominal ultrasound and spent a ridiculous amount of money on it privately so I didn't have to wait and it came back totally fine too, so there's obviously nothing major going on. I still get the stomach and back pain but it is better and I only really get it bad if I'm walking a long distance. From what I've heard, anxiety can really give you physical symptoms. Anyway, after realising that my grandfather passed away from colon cancer, I've basically self diagnosed myself with this. I feel awful about it because I know there's people out there who are seriously suffering. I'm obsessed with checking and tracking my bowel movements, and it got to the point where I was straining to go even when I didn't need to and this led to bleeding, hence, me going even more crazy with fear. The bleeding only happened once on my stool and once from my actual ... You know, and I'm still terrified. I have no fatigue and I'm generally eating well. Another thing which doesn't help is that I think I've lost a little bit of weight, but it's most likely due to the fact that over the last few weeks I've had an exceptionally good diet and I've drunk so much water, which would obviously make you lose weight, but because I'm already quite slim, I've been worried.
Anyway, as you can tell, I'm constantly worrying about something. A headache=meningitis, stomach pain in the right means I automatically have appendicitis and the other week, I thought I had a brain tumor because I saw spots. It's getting me down and I'm convinced I'm going to die randomly one day from the cancer or whatever inside killing me. Does anyone feel the same or have any way to help me at all? Thank you so much.
I'd also like to add that I'm starting CBT and therapy but it's not often so a lot of the time I'm at home for a few weeks just dwelling on my health.
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Last December I opted to have a core biopsy after finding a small size lump 12 o'clock position just above my nipple. The radiologist was able to take 6 samples. After the dreaded wait it was found to be benign and was diagnosed as granulomatous- inflammation. Has anyone ever heard of this? Also, I am currently 2 and half months post biopsy and I did a self examination yesterday and found the lump in the same place. Is this something that isn't going to go away and am I always going to need to remember that I have it for future exams?
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My Dx. Was DCIS, grade 3, negative HR.,After having a bilateral mastectomy 8 months ago, I keep having hot flashes and night sweats. My concern is not how to control it but WHY is this happening ? Exactly was is going on in my body to create this reaction.
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I had bilateral mastectomies ten years ago. I first had reconstruction with implants a year and a half after the mastectomies, and then I had the implants removed (they felt tight and uncomfortable) and DIEP reconstruction (where they used my abdominal tissue and fat for reconstruction) about two years after the initial mastectomies.
Now, ten years later, I experience chest tightness when I run. It is very uncomfortable, and I have trouble catching my breath. It feels like the muscles tighten up as I run. When I slow down and walk, the sensation abates. I even saw a cardiologist because of this uncomfortable chest tightening sensation with exercise.
Is this related to the intitial breast implant surgery, where the surgeon placed the implants under the muscle tissue?
How can I know if I am having cardiac symptoms vs. muscle tightness due to all the chest muscle and tissue manipulation after the mastectomies?
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I'm 18 and worried about breast cancer, is it possible? I know it's very unlikely but I can't help worrying.
I do tend to be overly anxious and paranoid about myself, to the point where I feel nauseous and short of breath and perhaps even imagine symptoms.
A few months ago, back in March, I had sharp pain in my chest on and off but pretty regularly for a few weeks until it gradually went away. I'm not sure if this is relevant, but I thought I'd mention it just in case!
About a week ago, I started feeling sharp pains in my chest, on the left side, when I'd sit up or lay down or move a certain way. That night, I noticed a lump under my left breast- pretty hard, and I can't tell if it moves slightly or not. It's a bit sore now, but only because I've been worrying and checking it, it didn't hurt on its own. I'm feeling sharp pain throughout both of my breasts and further below as well. I feel like there's a tightness in my chest, but that could very probably be my anxiety's fault. (I did feel like I noticed the bump a few months ago, but it was much smaller. I brushed it off as my being too nervous, and I could be wrong.)
Coincidentally, I have a general physical scheduled for Friday, so I'm definitely going to have it checked out, but I'm worrying myself sick because I think it might be breast cancer. I know it's extremely unlikely that someone as young as I am has it, but I'm so paranoid!
Am I being crazy? Every time I feel that stabbing pain I feel like I might have a heart attack. Is there anything else it could be?
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