Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Mojo61 on May 12, 2016, 06:41:28 PM
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Does anyone else suffer from this debilitating condition? Before the menopause I was always very level headed and didn't panic if I found a mole or had a pain in my stomach, but now it seems every little twinge, every freckle, every tiny sniffle or cough and I convince myself I'm dying of some incurable illness and I get more and more worked up until I'm just a sweaty ball of anxiety. It is horrible and I wish I knew how to stop it and become rational again :'(
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Me!! Crippled by it. Read the health anxiety threads on here :'( terrible affliction.
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Join the club. I'm currently about to die of some terrible undiagnosed ailment - it's a different one from last week !! I try and distract myself which does help but I find that once you put one thing to bed, another " scary symptom" pops up to grab your attention.
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It is truly awful isn't it? I wonder why this happens to us during the menopause?
And to top it all off my poor neighbour has just been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and he's only 58. Such a lovely man, never smoked, life just isn't fair. Trouble is, every time I think of him or see him it makes me feel so anxious and I don't want to be like that, I want to support him. 😢
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Yes, and not many people realise how it ruins your enjoyment of life. I believe it's the loss of oestrogen that triggers it in meno age but I've had HA most of my life but never this bad. What are you taking for it or doing about it?
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I am currently paranoid I'm going to lose my front teeth due to strange sensitivity pains in teeth for two days. Already planning how to live with dentures. My HA goes in waves, just had three months 'off' and thought I was cured, but now realise it was only because I had no aches, pains or odd symptoms. I was relatively sane about my health until two years ago - now I'm a bit of a nutter...
Running helps.
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I'm having CBT and am on a low dose of citalopram (10mg) but haven't been taking those for very long.
The thing is, I know I'm being irrational but I just can't seem to stop the awful thoughts from entering my head.
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I'm on 20mg of Citalopram since two weeks ago but have been on and off it for years. Had CBT but it didn't do much. I am waiting for the miracle cure! We just have to try and reverse our thinking until it becomes a habit that the brain accepts. It's so hard though.
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Yes, I am on this HA train, too. I currently take paroxetine to try and help combat it. Also mindfulness and exercise.
It just seems every time I get myself calmed and rational again over what I think are symptoms of a fatal illness, then new symptoms appear to take their place! Right now it's a burning feeling in my tummy. It's probably related to acid reflux but my brain doesn't want to listen.
It does help to know there are others out there..but still I want off!!
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Melly YES! I suffer chronically & its the worst debilitating feeling.. I go thru periods where I cant enjoy life atall because I am constantly fearing/thinking bad stuff related to health and imagine the worst scenarios ...Its bloody hell & no joke ... I have been on citalopram for sev years and I exercise and eat healthy and try to do what I can to get out of it - but there are days/weeks when I awake and that awful feeling of anx is in the pit of my stomach again and stuff just goes around and around in my head.... Then when I read or hear of people with illnesses I feel the panic rising ....To make it worse I have picked up the worst head cold that I can remember having in years - and just feel so low....
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I had to go and see my doctor this morning as I've been bleeding quite badly on the continuous HRT she prescribed me in February. I couldn't sleep at all last night as I was dreading the appointment so much, and it was at 8am and mornings are absolutely dreadful for me!
By the time I got there I was a shaking, sweating, nauseated ball of anxiety and I honestly thought I was going to pass out in the waiting room because in my mind I was adamant that I must have either cervical or ovarian cancer and was thinking what will happen to my son if I die, how will he cope?
She said it was normal with continuous HRT and swapped me onto a sequential regime. I asked her what about the scan to rule out anything sinister and she said no need, she wasn't concerned at all as I'd had no problems at all before starting the HRT.
It has taken me until now to calm down a bit, I could actually feel the adrenaline racing through my body and it just wouldn't stop. It must take hours for the nervous system to recover after something like that and I absolutely hate it because I know I'm doing it to myself and that I'm being irrational, but I just can't seem to stop the panic and worry.
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Mojo sorry meant to say mojo and not melly in my last last post.
I do exactly the same - work myself up into a frenzy imagining the worst.... I had a full hysterectomy 18 months ago, but I still suffer will all sorts of health fears - it seems if not one thing then another & I thought it was just me...At least we know we are not alone with all this on here - it does not stop the fears unfortunately, but at least we can have some empathy from others here
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Even though I know how to treat health anxiety, if it wasn't my job then I too think I would be suffering.
It's the perfect storm as you have adrenaline pumping out due to hormonal imbalance plus scary physical symptoms.
You can't rationalise your adrenaline away (although I have used hypnosis to lower bp before so I may actually test it!) but you can rationalise your perception of your physical symptoms. I guess that is the line that those with peri/meno with or without health anxiety falls.
If you think that if you go for a run your heart will beat very fast but you don't actually feel panicked. However, tachycardia or palpitations from hormones can be at a much lower rate but they can bring on severe panic!
The anxiety will lower when you truly believe the symptoms are harmless, or at worst, a concern to keep an eye on. This comes from a rational amount of research, hearing others' stories and any necessary testing to rule out more serious problems which doctors are more likely to be switched on about.
Then it's easier to ride out the adrenaline surges just like recovering from a run but for a longer time.
Accepting we can never catch every little neuron change in order to be 100% healthy can give us the freedom to just let it all go. Trying to do the impossible is bound to stress us out, right?
Allowing our minds to be unblocked from worst case scenario tracking means we will be better prepared if we ever need to be. Even people who go through terrible things in life, get through and come out the other end possibly even stronger and more appreciative.
Why should life be easy? Where's the excitement then!
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:welcomemm: UrbanChick!
Emitophobia has plagued me from an early age :'( ..........
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Count me in.
I had a hysterectomy on March 23rd, one week later I was getting major pain in the middle of my stomach that radiates to my back. I went to the emergency department and they wanted to rule post op complications. They did a ct scan with contrast and it showed that my common duct and pancreas duct are both dilated and my liver enzymes are all high, and I don't drink or smoke. Sent me home because there was no post op complications. They did mention the dilations and said to get a ultrasound in a non emergent setting.
I came home and googled it, not a good idea, everything i read on it states "double duct sign" is a high marker for pancreatic cancer. Now I am convinced I have cancer. But I am sure if they suspected that then they would have kept me in and ran a slue of tests.
Btw, I did get the ultrasound and they weren't able to view the head of my pancreas, now i have the wait to see a gastroenterologist and they said that could take up to six months.
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riversong
I imagine they would have done a marker test when they took blood tests ( prior to hysterectomy) they did when I had mine 18 months ago and as you say - if they suspected that when you went back in they would have run more tests, bloods etc..
I suffer with chronic health anx - I seem to worry and get anx about anything health related and always think the worst scenarios ...I know some of my thinking comes from my parents as they both tended to catastrophize - but its a dreadful affliction either way ...
One thing I wont do is google health stuff - I know that if I do I will just make my anx a 1000 times worse ...I think the net is a wonderful thing in many aspects, and gives us access to many things - but sometimes its better ( for mental health state) not to have too much information .. I just know that me being me my imagination and anx would go thru thru the roof .. ..Six months seems a terribly long time to see a gastroenterologist - they obviously do not suspect anything that serious, otherwise they could fast track you ...But I were you and that anx about it, I would ask to be seen sooner or explore maybe being seen privately - we health an sufferers need peace of mind
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Hi booboo (love that name btw, that's my nickname for my cat)...
Actually they did do a ca-125 test and that was slightly elevated at 44, ref range is 1-35, but they said that it was likely elevated do to inflammation or endometriosis and were not concerned about it at all. So I never thought anything of it. But now perhaps I should ask them to recheck it. Thanks for mentioning that...
Six months sure is a long time. Too long for my anxiety. I live in Canada and that's the way it is here. I will call them tomorrow and tell them about my anxiety and see if they can put me on a cancellation list. It was the gynaecologists that did my hysterectomy that recommended this gastroenterologist, he said he's good, and because he did such a great job on me I really respect his choices.
I'm going to try not to worry about it (haha). I'm sure they would have noticed a mass if there was one on the ct scan, and yes, i have to not Google, but I'm so curious...
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Hi,
I am suffering from the dreaded HA too, at the moment I am convinced I have heart failure! I have googled it of course.. and have slightly swollen ankles that's what started it. Put swollen ankles in google and heart failure shows!
I hate visiting GP...this last year I have had ( in my mind) breast cancer, bowel cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, MS just to name a few.
I remember as a child we had a huge green medical encyclopedia I used too study it all the time, it seems funny now but when I was 14yrs old I was convinced I had Syphilis....so I have always had HA.
I am going to try and not google, but what if I miss something ? and really i am ill? where do you draw the line? difficult for me and google is highly addictive when I have a "symptom"
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Apart from the emitophobia I over-thought my symptoms in the early hours :-\. I was shivering. Felt cold. So I put the lleccy blanket on. Then decided that should I fall asleep would the temp. plus blanket cause fits :-X No logic there then!
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It really does suck. Today I have a genuine illness- ended up at doctors as throwing up and dizzy - I've got labyrinthitis which is what I thought I had - so far so good. But she took my BP and after sitting in manic waiting room full of crying kids and one hell bent on stripping walls of every poster it was way up. So now I have to go back on home monitoring for a week once I'm feeling bit better - I did try explaining that I'd had to stop monitoring as I was doing it constantly and making myself ill - I even heard myself saying just give me a BP tablet now even though I know it is nowhere near that high normally ( took it at home and it was 120/70 when I calmed down) - I just wanted not to have to do the readings and worry - it seems daft to anyone who hasn't got HA that someone would prefer to have a medicine just to avoid more test or whatever. I'm also now trying not to read the insert in the meds I was given for the nausea.
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Take the meds Coldethyl ;) - no good worrying as well as feeling sick!
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Take the meds Coldethyl ;) - no good worrying as well as feeling sick!
Took one with my dinner . I don't have a choice as nothing else they can do for labyrinthitis other than soothe the symptoms.
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It's awful. I know as I open my eyes in the morning if I have vertigo and daren't move - fortunately, not in recent years >phew<
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Thanks Sparkle- mine seems to be a combination of the ear infection I had recently and a mild respiratory infection. Mr E has has terrible cold for weeks and although I've not had that, I have got swollen glands and a bunged head- I took one of the anti- nausea pills and that seemed to help so will have another later - apparently new advice is to use them as little as possible to allow brain to make new neural pathways as soon as possible. I am still dizzy but feel lot less nauseous with it today so far.
BP was 123/68 today so don't think I have a problem really.
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Oh yes! Mine started when I was approximately one year into peri and developed a urinary tract infection. I went to out of hours GP as it was excruciating, and the GP prescribed Trimethoprim. I'd had this antibiotic before a few times with no problems.
We had to drive to a late night pharmacy and the GP had told me to get a dose in asap, so I took one tablet in the car with bottled water. As soon as I swallowed it, my throat felt kinda lumpy, but then it went. We drove home and 5 minutes into our journey, I started to feel really agitated. 5 more minutes and my palms felt a bit itchy. Got home, dashed into house to run itching palms under the tap in the bathroom and looked in the mirror and my lips were purple tinged. And then I started sweating profusely. I remember looking at my hands and the just kind of bubbled with what looked like huge blisters. And then I got the terrifying feeling of sheer terror. I literally screamed for my Husband who was downstairs, and then everything went orangey black in my vision and I felt as if I was going to lose control of my bowels. Hubby grabbed the phone and dialled 999, and I was croaking very loudly 'in gonna die!' as my throat was getting very lumpy again.
Luckily I live just 5 minutes from the hospital and the ambulance arrived. I was in anaphylactic shock. They had to inject adrenaline and start a steroid infusion as well as supportive fluids. I stabilised and was helped down to the ambulance with Hubby to follow in the car. On the way to the hospital, I had a biphasic reaction and they had to repeat the treatment. They had to stop the ambulance on the way.
When we got to hospital, Hubby was ashen faced as he'd been waiting and went a different route and expected the ambulance to have arrived before him. I had to stay in over night, and thus began my nightmare of becoming allergic all of a sudden to multiple unrelated medications. I carry 2 epi pens with me everywhere now.
All of this was out of the blue, I never had a problem before this episode.
Needless to say, I'm now terrified of getting unwell for any reason in case I need medication. It's been a total nightmare so I am constantly in a state of health anxiety. It also doesn't help that doctor's are scared witless to treat you when they know you've had multiple life threatening drug allergies!
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Tempest - I wear an 'SOS' medical alert bracelet or necklace. The site is very informative and they sell identi-kits for sports people too so I bought Himself a set for his cycling helmet and shoes. 'SOS' is recognised World Wide.
Could your anyphalatic shock been triggered because you were already in a state of 'high alert'?
Are women pre-wired to react due to being the 'carer' in the Cave? so any little niggle/spasm/ache becomes 'real' - because if the woman isn't there to poke the camp fire then the little ones will stave and the men will shout?
I have had a very sore tongue and was convinced last night that it is cancer ……. rather than the fact that my mouth hadn't seen a brush 4 days and when I did brush, I probably over-did it; but Bcause I required Nurofen in order to sleep, then it must be serious.
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Thanks, CLKD! I have the 'full shebang' as regards to Medic Alert stuff. We have a specialised anaphylaxis clinic up here in Scotland and I had extensive testing to find my allergens (all drugs and their components). They actually have no idea as to why my immune system suddenly went bonkers, BUT a similar thing happened to my Aunt when she started menopause! Hers wasn't anaphylaxis, but she developed chronic urticaria. She then went on several years later to develop MS! I try not to think about that!!
Jesus, it can make you a basket case can't it? I think the whole health anxiety thing either comes on or gets worse around this time in our lives because of the added anxiety symptoms we get due to fluctuating hormones. I KNOW Dr. Google isn't my friend but it hasn't stopped me from consulting him on a very regular basis these last few years. It's like a dreadful compulsion sometimes! :-\
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Is he cheap ;)
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CrazyDaisy,
That sounded like me with your multiple self diagnosed cancers! Oh it's terrible and I want to stop but symptoms keep coming.
In one of my anxiety attacks when I took myself to hospital and was trying to convince the dr of the seriousness of my symptoms, he just looked at me and asked, "Have you been consulting with Dr Google?" I was so embarrassed. He said Google can be helpful but doesn't see the whole picture of the person.
I work hard at trying not to spiral into a health anxiety he**, but it can be so hard sometimes. And tiring. I just want to feel normal again, whatever that is.
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I've decided that I have ulcers under my tongue ………. :-\
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I'll join you here as well....had to take myself off to the docs this morning.
Had been doing really well after the op have felt good this last week but the last couple of days have been a bit stressy and overwhelming with people keep asking me to do stuff which is not on my already long to do list!
Was woken by the alarm this morning whilst coming out of a big dream which always startles me. Shut it off, shut my eyes again and then maybe I dropped off again but when I came to, opened my eyes and whoa...everything was wavy like when you are a bit tipsy. Then felt sick so wondered if it was low blood sugar or pressure, had some water and a bit of museli bar. Tried to raise myself but still woosey and laid down again. After a while that had passed which is just as well as I felt my stomach twinge and had to go and had an upset tum.
On top of this I could feel an adrenalin surge, jittery, shaky and very cold. I was concerned with the woosey head as worried about keeling over when I had to get up. I'm on my own at the moment which of course then I panic which makes things worse!
Got up and was okay but still felt very sick, made appointment with docs and luckily by the time I had to go out was feeling better but still feeling a bit sick and jittery.
Tested blood pressure which was a little up, tum, ears, temp and listened to heart and all okay. Concluded it was a touch of vertigo (which I've never had before) along with our faithful old adrenalin surges. She said I did the right things and although I'm feeling better I still feel wiped out today. She said maybe I wasn't 100% back to normal and the couple of stressy days tipped me over?
No doubt is probably hormone related as well but any ideas why vertigo should start out of the blue?
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Hi Wombat - could you have lain on your neck awkwardly during the night? I suffered a few bouts years ago and it was horrible and it was from a trapped nerve in my neck. If you are a bit rundown it could be that also - who knows with these things! Sometimes meno likes to chuck us everything all at once >:( x
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It might have been that or I think I may not have moved in bed for a while, woke up in the same position I went to sleep in. Because of the op I spent a few weeks not moving or very carefully repositioning myself because I couldn't twist and haven't got back to knowing I can move!
I think it was things getting on top of me as well which would explain the adrenalin rush, I get them when I've been worried or stressed for a few days prior.
Anyway, all okay this morning although nose was very bunged up and still had to rush to the loo but taking a day out yesterday was good!
I do get a bit nervy when I'm on my own as in what happened yesterday and when I had the gallstone attacks! I'm getting better but then something like yesterday happens and I'm back to square one! Never used to be like this, I hate this that things that never bothered me now do. I used to go to remote places and not worry if there was medical facilities near by, things like that and now the first thing you check is the local hospital! Grrrr...so annoying!
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I know what you mean Wombat. Mr ethyl is going away end of next week for few nights and even before all of this I wouldn't stay at home alone so would just go away. Still going , but the hotel I've picked is pretty close to the infirmary!!!
I've got vertigo at minute and it is horrid. Really sets the anxiety off. Mine is some sort of ear thing but I know that my tense neck is making it worse as are the flushes. Trouble is they are all just niggly things on their own but the cumulative effect puts a lot of stress on you.
X
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I woke calm. Long may it continue. I think mine is health anxiety, but also general .....if you know what i mean. It doesnt take much for me to freak out....that is the only way i can describe who i feel sometimes, also i get very depressed like a feeling of dread. But today is good :)
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The days when I awake without that overwhelming and gut wrenching anxiety - feels like I can actually breath & even better when I can keep negative thoughts/feelings at bay... Feels like I have been given a reprieve - unfortunately tho it tends to rear its ugly head and I go thru the cycle and hell again.. I have had to get used to living alone after my divorce several years ago, and with the anx and depression - does not feel like much of a life at times.. Grrrrrrrrr - gotta keep exercising and getting back up that hill
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I know that morning dread feeling. It's an awful way to start the day but nothing seems to shift it at the moment. I wake at around 5:00am just not feeling right and then get anxious because of that, even though it might be the anxiety itself - never sure. Just fed up with it now. It takes till the afternoon most days to feel remotely normal and able to do stuff even though I drag myself into work, it's hard.
Booboo, it must be very hard to get used to being on your own again. Some people love it but for others it can take years. Divorce is like a bereavement in a way so you have to get used to being alone like someone who has lost someone who has died. x
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Justjules - don't think I will ever really get used to it & like you say some people love/like it ...I personally miss living with and having a husband/partner - the companionship & continuity etc.. According to the media tho - there are more people living alone after 50 than ever - due to divorce etc and its set to rise ....Sign of the times I guess, but I think its a shame and sad too
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I never spent many nights on my own until the last few years when Hubs started working away, it coincided with all this meno lark which has done things to my brain and makes me think of things I don't want to think about! I think I'd have to get a house mate if I was on my own again.
Anyway, had the worst night ever during the week. Was a bit stressed during the day as a lot to do but went to bed quite happy. Woke up after a dream (not a bad one) with heart pounding, went to the loo but then once back in bed omg...couldn't get calm, brain in over drive, feeling sick, then I'd get calm and drop off but woke up again all panicky, and this cycle continued all night. Fortunately the yucky feelings wore off once up and had breakfast. However, joined hubby and was so exhausted last night I had the best sleep in a long, long time, 7 hours non-stop!!!
I had a phase like this some years ago when going through a stressy time, I think that's when meno stuff started at the same time. It eventually subsided once I settled down but I really need to address this being alone at night stuff. I had got a lot better until that thing last week waking up with vertigo and all those bad dreams. I've got to see the doc next week so I'll see what she says. In the meantime I've started back on a Vit b stress formula which helped last time.
Arghhh....feel for you all going through this xxxx!
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I knew when I opened my eyes that I had vertigo and didn't dare move :-\
Group :hug: