Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: marge on September 05, 2018, 09:57:52 AM
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I've been having a few issues lately with the dreaded HA, but have been reading through some earlier posts and, I have to say, I feel better already. This forum really is fantastic. We're all together in the same leaky old boat it seems to me. Thank you ladies!
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Would literally be in bits if it wasn't for this site. So reassuring that Im not on my own !! Sending hugs x
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You are definitely normal marg. I totted up I have been to eight different GPs about 12 different perceived ailments , had scans I don't need, blood test that come back fine ....in the last four years if that makes you feel any better. I only became this weird neurotic nut job in my mid 40s. I latch on to one fatal illness, get it check out, have a couple of days 'rest' then identify a new one. It is exhausting. The thing that ramped it up with the NHS online Anxiety self help course. It gave me all these things to worry about that I had not considered before then instructed me to spend the day writing them down! Took anxiety to a whole new level! I think Laughter therapy might help as I don't have a whole lot of laughs in my life at the moment.
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We don't laugh much either ........... and I would love a Very Good Cry!
What's the worst that could happen?
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Hi. The dreaded health anxiety is upon me at the moment. I've had it off and on for many years, as well as plenty of general anxiety in between.
With me, if I have a symptom that doesn't resolve within a week or so, then off I go and spiral down into the doom and gloom of “what ifsâ€. I can't think of anything else and I become obsessed with the current situation I am in. Currently there at the moment. I don't know why I am like this but I imagine I react to things much much worse than a “normal†person does. In my bad times in the past I have jumped from one thing to another, and probably had tests that were unnecessary but I felt I needed to be able to move on with life. However, I probably present as very rational and together when I visit the gp because I'm very good at putting on a front.
Isn't it strange that one set of symptoms can magically disappear when something else crops up?
It's not a very nice club to belong to.
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I to suffer with ha I also have had blood tests scans etc. Ive thought I've had liver cancer pancreatic cancer stomach cancer, now I'm convinced I have mnd or dementia due to confusion forgetfulness and twitching and body jerks. I'm due to see a neurologist but I'm scared to go because of what they may tell me xx
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Thanks for your comments ladies, all very reassuring. If I'm having an HA "episode", but then have a day out, friends come round, I get absorbed in a good film/book etc, and the symptoms disappear, then I think Oh it's just HA again. But if the symptoms come back the next day, I think I'm ill again. Sorry I'm not explaining this very well. I just think it's very powerful and if, like me (us) we're prone to it, it's very difficult to be rational.
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Nothing is 'just' or 'only'. Those feelings are real but they trigger the brain to become illogical.
Ask yourself: "What is the worst that can happen?" Stop using GOOGLE ! :D. 'cos he knows nowt.
Maybe keep a mood/food/symptom diary. Find things to keep you occupied. Is the worry in your head or does it become physical? I do try to have crosswords 4 when my brain starts to whitter on.
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I have the same thing happen. The symptoms I was tested for last month are gone. Symptoms I had 3 months are gone, with a few that came back...but they'll probably go away again. I don't even know what I'll be feeling next week. I'm holding myself back at the moment from going to specialists just to rule things out. My body just doesn't feel like my body anymore. And I wonder if any of this existed before but it wasn't noticable but with my new anxiety, does everything feel worse than it used to? ???
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It's The Change!
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It's The Change!
Great title for a horror film, don't ya think? ;)
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We have a meno choir here: a charabanc; a meno swimming group ...... why not a Film too ;D
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Hello ladies, I can so relate to all of this! I haven't gone to work today as after thinking I had a uti, phoning 111 then being told I should go to A & E it appears my urine doesn't show an infection my white cell count is raised and suggests an infection. Now on antibiotics that have really upset my tummy. I had a Mirena fitted in February and use Oestrogel ( currently under menopause specialist to check levels) but have lost my appetite even on a lovely all inclusive holiday, lost a bit of weight which normally I'd be really pleased about, but now convinced myself something sinister is going on. Over the last 2 and a half years I have been to the doctors so many times and feel like a fraud :( this forum is invaluable, wishing you all well x
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Was the urine sample sent to a Lab. for testing? If the AB is upsetting you, it probably means that you don't have an infection.
You are not a fraud but someone with symptoms. Do you keep a mood/food/symptom diary?
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The doctor didn't say anything more about my urine sample. When I asked what other infection it could be he said gastric or chest but because of my symptoms was best to have AB's, frequent urination legs feeling wobbly etc. I don't keep a diary but will, thank you x
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You can open your own thread too so that you don't get 'lost' as it were.
Did he listen to your chest :-\ did you feel 'gastric' ::) ...........
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Hi CLKD
I've had a bit of a dodgy tummy for the last few weeks, didn't know if I'd picked something up in holiday. Reading further up this thread you say don't ask Google, I'm always doing that and really need to stop!
Maybe all of this is down to HA, I've recently had counselling (arranged by my work) and not sure if some of this is down to my Dad passing away 4 years ago suddenly following mid-diagnosis. One GP prescribed Citalapram in July, I took them for 3 days but felt dreadful so stopped x
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I've had HAon and off for 30 years and I've also been on and off various AD in that time. I too have had tests and scans all revealing nothing. It seems the brain locks onto the part of the body you are worried about and you feel every tiny thing which bumps up the anxiety. My daughter had a late miscarriage last year and I decided if she could cope with that, I ought to be stronger.I came off the pills in January and have done really well, even going to the gym and swimming . Then I started to experience new symptoms and have just been diagnosed with vaginal atrophy.It's come on after a period of stress, which I was managing ,just, to cope with but now the anxiety is back. Tears, mild panic attacks, lack of appetite etc I've had counselling and cbt in the past but I know it's all down to me to . I've just started treatment for the atrophy and am desperately hoping it works, because I know I won't cope with the hospital tests I've been told I Will need if it doesn't. Sorry to go on HA stinks and only other sufferers understand. :'(
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Totally understand and I'm sorry you are in the grip of HA at the moment. It does seem to come and go and you are so right about fixating on one part of the body and imagining all sorts of nasties. As I've said before, this site is fantastic for reassurance and knowing that you're not alone.
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Thanks Marge :)
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Hi
I'm new to this forum but think I'm definitely going through the menopause. I too suffer from the terrible health anxiety, if it isn't cancer than its a neurological illness like mnd. I Google my symptons constantly which certainly doesn't help. I'm always at doctors and and they generally fob me off. But last week I went about pain in left breast and itchiness after examining me she has referred me urgently to see a specialist. I'm there next Wednesday and am worried sick. I'm convinced I have the dreaded C. The fact I only get the pain in the 1 breast has made me worse. I'm beside myself with worry x
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So sorry you're going through this Hegarty50. Hope you get reassurance next week. Let us know. And try not to Google, it really doesn't help.
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They often refer like that and you will get seen within two weeks but try not to panic. My Mum was referred with breast pain even though the Dr couldn't feel a lump. She had an examination and a mammogram and was given the all clear. She doesn't suffer with HA but funnily enough as soon as she got the all clear the breast pain disappeared. Sometimes I think the more we worry about something the more we experience the pain or symptom.
Good luck at your appointment.
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Hello. I actually think I should have a health anxiety qualification because I spend so much time thinking about it.
Hegarty - I have very painful boobs. I'm perimenopausal. Sometimes it's one, sometimes it's another. Sometimes it's both. They can be achey, or sometimes actual stabbing pains. Itchy too. Hot. You name it. They fuel my health anxiety because I imagine this must mean all sorts of sinister things. However, turns out that it's hormones doing their thing. Can I ask if you have big, dense, heavy boobs? Makes it worse.
Take starflower oil, sleep in a bra, have your regular mammograms, self examine. And then try and accept that it's part of this menopause journey.
Good luck next week and try to keep calm in the meantime. You've done the right thing by getting it checked but in the meantime take comfort from the fact that these symptoms are usually not serious xxxxxxx
P.S. go on 34 menopause symptoms and look at the breast pain section
P.P.S. I do know how awful health anxiety can be. I really do xxxxxx
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Oh my it really is good to know you're not alone,I've had every illness under the sun too,cancer of pretty much every part of my body,motor neurone,ms,Parkinson's,won't go on as I KNOW you all know the picture 😊
Beware the menopausal women
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Hello ladies.
My health anxiety, if you can call it that, is that I'll never be free of my menopausal symptoms! As I've said before there are some problems that I've never had, muscle aches for example, but others like the jittery feelings still plague me. I am using 2 pumps of Oestrogel daily which isn't fully controlling my symptoms but when I tried 3 pumps recently my breasts became very tender and I worried about that!
When we were 14 my friend's mother was always going to the doctors for different illnesses but nothing was ever wrong with her. I remember thinking that she was just an attention seeking old lady and probably driving the doctor mad. At that age I had absolutely no patience or sympathy for the poor ‘old ‘ woman who was only in her late forties. About a year later my friend came to school crying because her mum needed a hysterectomy and had just gone into hospital. Clearly she had been having hormonal problems for some time. I now know that health anxiety is a big part of the menopause and I completely understand why the poor woman was so distressed.
Our bodies are going through so much at this time that it's no wonder that we feel overwhelmed at times.
Take care everyone.
K.
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Ditto, ditto, DITTO! ::) :-\
HA is a total pi**er! I too am so thankful for this site and all you lovely people and your comments and advice. Can't think how scared and alone I would feel without this forum when HA rears its ugly head...which is a lot! Even when it's not a big worry, there's usually something bubbling under the surface troubling me and I start thinking my days are numbered. :(
Spiritual hugs to you all. Here's hoping for a HA free weekend. :) xx
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Why though: why do we focus a lot on the simplest niggle that we would have dismissed ...... or taken pain relief for? Is it that when growing up at school we had instant discussion opportunities with mates?
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Horses,here here, I think I might have gone completely mad if it wasn't for all the wonderful women here.it really does help knowing you're not alone.
I know clkd,these aches and pains would have been brushed off years ago,maybe it's because when you're young you think you're immortal, I just don't know,the brain is so complex,I'm not sure scientists will ever know EVERYTHING about it xx
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They won't know everything about mine 'cos I won't tell 'em ;)
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I'll bet many women ended up in mental institutions back in the day
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Gosh I know,just seen as mad,those poor women
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Very sad to think that; poor souls. We are lucky to live in this enlightened age with the internet (despite its grim side) and ability to be in touch with each other and share our worries.
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My thoughts on this is that as we age we worry about dying probably more than is healthy. If you are in your sixties chances are that we have all lost close family already, parents, sometimes siblings and so on. So I suppose when we get a pain or something not working properly it brings on the panic that "oh bugger this might be it" type deal. Then to top it off we have Goggle which makes things worse but yes it really is nice to have lots of ladies to share with. ;)
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I think you are absolutely right Annika. We breeze through life thinking www are invincible and never give death a second thought until we hit this stage of our lives, the menopause and all its horrible symptoms kick in and suddenly we think we have less time left than we thought!
I am sure there is a knack of overcoming these awful feelings of dread but I am struggling to find it!
Forums like this one are a huge help though, being able to talk to others about how you are feeling is a big step forward.
W x
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Sometimes when I watch programmes with really fit 80+ Year old people in it that makes me feel better, I remember watching that driving at 100 & it was brilliant,all these oldies resitting their driving test,was hilarious but the one thing that shone through was their zest for life and I thought why can't I be like that,I'm only 55!!
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My thoughts on this is that as we age we worry about dying probably more than is healthy. If you are in your sixties chances are that we have all lost close family already, parents, sometimes siblings and so on. So I suppose when we get a pain or something not working properly it brings on the panic that "oh bugger this might be it" type deal. Then to top it off we have Goggle which makes things worse but yes it really is nice to have lots of ladies to share with. ;)
100%, spot on.
When I'm having anxiety
/panic I have one voice saying "stop worrying its just anxiety, it'll pass". The devil on the other shoulder "but what if it isn't this time, what if today is my day" ..... I'm so scared of dying.
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I am sure there is a knack of overcoming these awful feelings of dread
but I am struggling to find it!
Or dead 😁
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Being dead is like being asleep ;)
I don't want to be in pain! Ever.
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I think you are definitely right Annika our age does have some bearing. I am in my early sixties and I have terrible health anxiety and as someone previously said if a symptom does not go away after a week I am imagining all sorts of serious illnesses. At present I am obsessing about an earache and hot ear which is obviously brain cancer!! In my defence my husband was seriously ill 5 years ago and had a heart attack that he did not seem to know about and ended up in hospital for a month having to undergo a quadruple heart bypass - serious stuff. It has made me very nervous of illness and every little ache or pain is always the worst possible condition. Dr Google is definitely a no no. >:(
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I had mammograms but my lump didn't show on film ::) so have stopped worrying as I went through treatment successfully. I did wonder about my bloated afternoon belly was ovarian cancer but it isn't all the while and not having eaten empty sugars last week, I feel less bloated.
A lot of what we feel now is 'normal'. It's convincing the brain that it is: normal!
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Hi
I'm new to this forum but think I'm definitely going through the menopause. I too suffer from the terrible health anxiety, if it isn't cancer than its a neurological illness like mnd. I Google my symptons constantly which certainly doesn't help. I'm always at doctors and and they generally fob me off. But last week I went about pain in left breast and itchiness after examining me she has referred me urgently to see a specialist. I'm there next Wednesday and am worried sick. I'm convinced I have the dreaded C. The fact I only get the pain in the 1 breast has made me worse. I'm beside myself with worry x
Hi Hegarty
How did your appointment go? I have some similar symptoms, and will be going to the doctor's on Friday .