This week has been the longest week of my life.. Do things ever get better? :(

[canadagirl]

A brief history....

My highschool sweetheart died in the hospital after a bad motorcycle accident...my health anxiety started there in 2002.

My mom had a heart attack with a double bypass in 2005...things got worse for me.

I feel every pain, burning sensation, muscle twinge, chest tightness....and right away think the worst.

I am a compulsive googler..and constantly try to self diagnose...the more I read about my problems...the more symptoms I get!


Last June I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovaries with benign fibroid tumors and referred to a Gyno for groin pain.  He thinks I have endometriosis.  Over the past few months my pain  has been getting worse.  I feel pressure in my lower right groin area.

I had a really bad cold/flu the past few weeks and the pain in my groin got worse.  I went to the Dr.s...he sent me for an ultrasound...turns out I have multiple swollen lymph nodes in my groin measuring up to 2.5cm!  The Dr sent me for blood work...all that came back was inflammation...a high CRP.  I'm waiting for my family Dr to come back from vacation to see what comes next...but the Dr that went over my bloodwork with me didn't seem to think it was anything to worry about.  I just don't believe him!  Now I'm feeling pain in my neck nodes too!

I googled the lymph node issue and of course all the bad things I fear came up. 

I just feel like I'm at my wits end...that I have a grave illness...and am so depressed.  My husband does his best to be supportive but i feel so alone...

Does it ever get better???  I just want to know that I am ok but I never feel that way!

[floridaguy65]

Hi there:) What you're describing is HA in full effect...that's why most everybody is here on this forum. Look around, there are many great topics ans posts for you to draw assurances that you're not alone in your current struggles. It is amazing that anxiety / panic, etc. can cause such a plethora of physical symptoms...almost nothing is "out of bounds" for HA:) IMHO, a major key in alleviating your distress is understanding the root causes of HA and accepting the symptoms and then practicing daily anxiety reduction techniques (and perhaps meds for a bit:). Be active in helping yourself gain some relief...it simply just doesn't happen on it's own. Feel Well:)

[Marathoner]

Things do get better IF you take an active role in your recovery.  If you sit and do nothing, it will worsen. 

Once you get past this particular thing, get set up with a both a psychiatrist and a counselor.  GP's (i.e. family doctor) typically aren't the best at dealing with HA I have found.

Start exercising if you don't already and stay off the internet as I have found that every symptom I look up is somehow connected to a fatal or potentially fatal disease. 

Be aware that one aspect of this condition is refusal to accept what the doctor says.  I'm guilty of this myself. 

Good luck...