Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: rebel2 on October 23, 2017, 10:12:53 AM
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Those of you who have read my posts know that I am a serial health anxiety sufferer. I say 'serial' as when one issue dies away, another pops up to replace it and the cycle continues.
Currently I have a funny thing going on under my left rib - trapped wind or something, not there when I'm busy or distracted and today, not there first thing. Appeared after a run when I took phone call while walking fast. Not going to dwell on it - just trying to move on.
My reason for posting is mainly to 'self-help'. I have sertraline but haven't taken them yet as am too scared of side effects and don't want to rely on them when I know that the problem is in my mind. So today I started with a five minute yoga app, had a run [pretty crap as have cough so out of breath quickly] and am going to try meditation app later. Now am going to immerse myself in work [I work partly from home and partly out running courses - it is the at home bit that is an issue as I dwell too much on my health/feelings/mind]. Then I am going to report back on here every day for seven days in an effort to help myself out of this. Hope you don't mind - it won't matter to me if nobody reads this, I just wanted somewhere to come where I could record my feelings and maybe get some support.
If I am still feeling crap after seven days, then I'm going the sertraline route. Wish me luck! Out of 10 today I feel about 6 - which is great as yesterday was more like 4.
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Loud music while making soup - Wham does it for me every time. Not too bad so far - bad back that I'm hoping is muscular but have had it nearly every day... But be still that naughty thought!
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Thanks Hope - I'm full of aches and pains around the back/shoulders/neck area and think it is because of tensing muscles for so long. Am going to book a massage!
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Hi Rebel2. Another member of the club here too.... good idea Rebel. Post away. I would say that if you're not depressed don't go down the Sertraline route. Try everything natural first, yoga, relaxation etc.
You have my sympathy. It takes over your life and is so hard to live with. :( x
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Hi there
A couple of years back for a few months I had a twitching lower left ribs, it would come and go but after it twitched for 48 hours I took myself to the docs. I thought initially it was stress but when it twitched for the 48 hours on a relaxing trip guessed it wasn't that! They did an ultrasound and couldn't find anything in the area, although they did find a massive gallstone as they scanned the whole torso. Doc just put it down to maybe something going on with the intercostal muscles that weave in and out of your ribs. I know it's not so easy to get scanned in the UK but if it goes on too long might be worth getting it checked out. Also in that lower left hand rib section is the big bend of the large intestine so it could be wind is getting trapped there, plus our guts rule our brains!
Good luck with the self-help, it does sound like once you are distracted then you are a lot better. I know what it's like when you are on your own that our silly minds turn to our health. Hope it works!
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Thanks for all your replies so far.
Well yesterday went well overall - very little stress/anxiety until very late evening, and I slept very well except for a coughing fit at 3am due to my cold.
Woke up late and stayed in bed till gone 10, then did yoga and exercises - can recommend the yoga app I've got as it is 5 x 1 minute poses [quite hard, but makes you feel you've achieved something] - think it's just called 5 minute yoga. But feeling under rib has returned - feel sure it is trapped wind so am trying to stop obsessing and do something to take my mind off it - but that's not easy! Suppose I ought to go to GP if it keeps up, but it does go when I'm not thinking about it.
Feel I will struggle today as have to work at home, OH is ill in bed and weather is pants. But need to crack this - can't spend the rest of my life avoiding being on my own.
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Struggling, as I thought. Stomach churning and back hurting. Chicken and egg though - which came first, anxiety or physical symptoms?..
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Physical - at this time of life. As oestrogen levels drop muscles may become lax = aches and pains. Intercostal pain is dire. I have seen grown men in tears with it :-\.
Over-the-counter pain relief help at all? Once the pain begins anxiety can soon kick in. I am trying to keep mind under control until I've seen the GP next week :sigh: I keep telling myself that most results are OK!
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Thanks, much appreciated. Have had a brief walk and going to try a bath soon. Am watching the rickshaw challenge children on the one show, very humbling.
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Oh missed that - got a bit fed-up with The 1 Show.
Be kinder to yourself?
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Never been any good at that! But will try.
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It's hard to make new habits ::). When watching TV can you concentrate or does your mind wander?
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Another day. Got up pretty much after waking and walked the dog - quick walk but it got me up and moving. Then back to bed for a bit before a run. I used to be able to do 5k fairly easily but have slipped back over the past 6 months so gone back to the couch to 5k podcasts to get my stamina back up. Had stabbing pains under ribs after 10 minutes but ran on, now just have low level stomach ache.
Will do my 5 yoga poses but think they have caused all my stomach/neck/back muscles to seize up so I perhaps need something gentler! Will look for one and post back, in case anybody wants to give it a try.
Determined to carry on with this non AD regime all week.
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You are probably doing too much exercise. It's probably stitch!!! or a slightly pulled intercostal muscle. Which will take a while to 'heal'.
Maybe take the dog out more often and stop the running?
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In the 1970s I worked with a Consultant who recommended 'yoga' ........ a man B4 his time ;-)
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Ran again today and felt really good afterwards. Well, not ::), more :o but certainly less :'(. Had a very busy day yesterday out and about with young children, when I was busy I felt fine except for back ache [and that is probably from picking up a heavy toddler!]. So hopefully I can cope with this without ADs. Have phone interview with the NHS livingwell team today [have done it before but didn't like CBT] so am hoping for some useful talking therapy.
Onwards and upwards? T'ai Chi is great, but hard to find in my area. I just do very gentle yoga class once a week.
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One can buy videos about the various types of yoga etc., maybe approach the Chinese area in your town, i.e. Chinese Restaurant to see if there are any groups that you could join? Or look in the library for books about basic Tai Chi?
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I'm fine with yoga classes at the moment - I've been running and doing yoga for about four years now and it's always helped.
I've just had my phone consultation with the NHS counselling service. I must admit I felt totally patronised - would rather have had someone 'real' but it was a questionnaire approach all asked with a special soft, sympathetic voice. Just doesn't work for me unfortunately, I start to get a bit cross. But will give it a go, although I hated the CBT stuff - loads of homework that just made me dwell even more on my issues!
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I hated the Samaritans too, never got to speak to the same person twice as they don't want 'relationships' to form :sigh: which meant that I had to repeat my worries each time. After 3 'phone calls over 3 weeks I gave up :-\.
I had to remember to practice the deep breathing relaxation therapy - would sit down with a :catscratch: on my lap and we would fall asleep ::)
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Oh dear - had a total meltdown yesterday. No idea what brought it on, but had early adrenaline surges after good night's sleep and then WHAM, worst anxiety attack since all this started three years ago. Was manic, then crying, then desperate. Rowed with husband, poor thing, then went out for fast walk. Lots of crying. Was a bit scared to be honest as thoughts were racing dangerously.
Finally calmed down in evening but woke this morning really early [especially given clocks went back] and then had terrible adrenaline surges for a couple of hours, culminating in gurgling/upset stomach. Bugger. Have tried a long run, which was really difficult and am now going to keep busy.
Trouble is I have lost faith with professionals - I find that 'to a hammer, everything is a nail'. If I go to meno specialist, I'll get HRT, if I go to GP I get AD's, if I go to therapist I get CBT [I'm sure if I went to a herbalist, I would get herbs!]. Would like something that works, perhaps something without an acronym?!
Is this menopause?? or am I just anxious/depressed?? Has a massive four months of total sh** and stress just wrecked my stomach??
Have had prolonged periods of calm but not recently - it all started when I came of HRT suddenly after only four months on it at age 54.
Any thoughts? Am I now perhaps over menopause and should stop my oestrogen?? Is this life going forward??
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Really feel for you rebel2, my anxiety seems to be constant. I used to get good days and the occasional bad day now it's the other way around. If I get a good day i ruin it by anxiously waiting for the dreaded anxiety and depression to kick in. I am not over weight (8st 4lb) but my doctor wants me to exercise because my diabetes is getting a bit out of hand. my problem is most of my anxiety is heart related and if i exercise my already very fast heart obviously gets faster and I panic more. I just can't seem to shake this dread and doom and gloom feeling.
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I believe that hormonal upheaval can cause blood sugar levels to become less than stable? Your GP could perhaps refer you to a Specialist?
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Thanks Yammy, and I do hope you find an answer soon. I must admit exercise has been a life saver for me - partly because it makes me at least feel I am keeping healthy. Even walking is good -try the Active 10app, it's a really good way to make yourself do something.
After my Saturday meltdown I was a little better Sunday and yesterday I managed a 120 mile car drive and back to a business appointment. I was fine during the meeting, but anxious the rest of the time.
Finally bowed to pressure from family and gave the sertraline a go -have cut tablets in half so starting with 25mg a day. It might be worse, but at least I will have tried. I can't stay a raving lunatic for ever and need to get some peace of mind.
Will report back!
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Well done on the journey ! :medal:
Also - eat regularly ?
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I always eat healthily and regularly. Am trying to ignore any potential side effects from starting ADs - I am just going to press on through and tell myself that this is a new start.
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Not been on for a while but was on hol last week and NO anxiety! I find I'm usually anxiety free on holiday. Maybe it's because I'm relaxed and don't have work or any stresses? I also do a lot of walking on holiday so maybe it's the exercise helping but Yammy, for many years now I've had the heart panic about exercise. if my heart starts beating fast it panics me which I know is irrational as of course it should beat faster when I'm exercising but tell my stupid brain that! However, last week I never even thoought about it. Oh how I wish I could be on a permanent holiday as it feel so good to be anxiety free.
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Thank you all and snoooze as my dear hubby keeps telling me if I exercise my heart rate will get faster initially but in the long term the more I do the slower it will get and I will fe l better overall. Today is the start of a new month so I am going to give it a go and go walking this morning, just a little to start with and build up. I figure my fast heart hasn't killed me yet. I'll keep you posted how I get on. Once again thank you all
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He's right of course Yammy.
Normally, I'm aware of my increasing heart rate when I do any form of exercise but luckily last week, I never noticed it at all. I'm still almost anxiety free but I have probably jinxed myself writing that! I notice that I suddenly think 'oh I haven't had any anxiety' and then the wicked mind starts over thinking and I almost make myself anxious but so far, so good. Not sure what's caused the lack of anxiety but I'm hoping it lasts a while!
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I'm like that as well Sparkle. I can read an article about a health complaint and I convince myself I've got it!
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I'm never aware of my heart - my gut wrenches first :-\
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Day 3 of 25mg sertraline. Days 1 and 2 were, dare I say it, really rather good. But I think that was the positive mental attitude brought about by actually doing something, rather than any effect from the medication.
Today I woke anxious, got my trapped wind feeling, had upset/nervous stomach and a slight headache. Now I feel really jittery and anxious and very, very tired. Anybody any idea how long this will last??
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Aw rebel2, so sorry to hear your feeling so bad today, I don't have much experience with ads but maybe stick it out another few days and see how you get on. or maybe the dose your on is not enough. Hopefully someone with more experience will be along soon. :bighug:
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Sent you a message rebel2 ☺
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Thanks for all your amazing support.
To update you, I felt so dreadful on Thursday [upset stomach, severe anxiety, dizziness] that I decided not to take anymore sertraline. I then immediately felt better so have decided that it is just the idea of taking action that works. I didn't get on with ADs last time and think I just don't suit them. I went out Friday night and felt great and have continued to feel more positive.
I am hoping this period of calm and positivity will last - even if it doesn't, I am going to enjoy it while it lasts!
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Great to hear your feeling so well Rebel2, long may it last. It gives me hope that i might some day start to feel a bit normal again. this bloody health anxiety is a pain
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Just another little update. Five days of feeling great - then wham, the funny feeling is back. Trapped wind yesterday, then this morning it has [as usual] moved around to my back. Weird... Am trying not to get anxious - nothing serious would disappear completely, I keep telling myself.
I suppose it's all part of the menopause... changes to stomach, etc. Am hoping it won't last :'(
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Hello ladies.
Just wanted to add that I too try and enjoy the good times in the knowledge that they probably won't last long but secretly hoping they will. My most recent good time was very good and lasted about a week so I thought I'd cracked it. Sadly not as this morning's panicy surge out of nowhere confirmed! Oh well I suppose the quest for an anxiety free life continues...
Take care all.
K.
Wishing you all well.
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Glad to hear your doing well Kathleen, long may it last