Can worrying about a symptom bring it on?

[colls22]

I've posted a couple of times recently about my current lymphoma fear, brought on by a painful lower back. Well, in researching other symptoms, I came across fever, and of course immediately became petrified that I've been having them too. The funny thing is, that ever since that symptom came into my mind, I've started having hot flashes (not fevers) daily.

So my question is this - can worrying about the hot flashes actually bring them on? I know how powerful the mind is, especially for a person with HA.

I wish I could figure out what the lymphoma back pain would feel like, but I cannot seem to find that info anywhere. My back pain seems to come about with spinal extension, or basically arching my back either forward or backward. I tell myself that this does not logically sound like back pain from swollen nodes in my abdomen, but I'm having trouble believing that...

[gcalex]

You have a back ache.  Why are you researching it or thinking about lymphoma?  Millions of people have back aches.  It's called muscle tension.  Of course the mind can produce symptoms. 

[bertybotts]

Stress creates muscle tension even if you aren't aware of it -- trust me it DOES and it ADDS UP. This will make your back hurt.

You do not have lymphoma.

[colls22]

Thanks for the replies.

As to why I'm worried, in particular about lymphoma...well, I'm a hypochondriac, what can I say.

This back pain has been kicking around for a few months. Yes, I've seen my GP and a physical therapist, who do not think its anything sinister, but we all know how this stuff goes - without an actual definitive and objective answer, we feel very uneasy and our minds start on the long road of fear.

[gcalex]

And what are you doing about being a hypochondriac?  It's not a life sentence, it's a treatable thought disorder.

[colls22]

Lets see, what am I doing...medication, CBT, books, lots of things. Just haven't found the combination that is going to work for me yet.

[gcalex]

It is good that you are making the effort, hopefully it will pay off eventually.  Sometimes you have to really aggressively confront your fear.  Here, you have zero evidence that you have anything but a benign back ache.  You have to review that over and over again and try to internalize it.  You have to embrace the notion that anxiety can cause your symptoms.  Not just grudgingly acknowledge it, embrace it. 

[colls22]

I know. I really do try, but like any H.A. mind, the good thought train always seems to get cut off by the old "what if it's not nothing" interruption. I really, really battle against that. Case in point, what began as a back ache now seems to be more than that (ie. the hot flashes, gastro issues, etc), and while I can recognize that these other symptoms may have come about from research and worry, I'm having trouble forcing myself to believe it.

Do you guys go through the same thing/thought process?

[aunjypoo]

I'm struggling with the same thing right now. Only I think it's Parkinson's disease.. I can't convince myself my symptoms are made up or nothing serious because I constantly think what if I ignore it and it is serious. Most of them come and go, which should be reassurance in itself because if it were Parkinson's I would think the symptoms wouldn't be there one day, then get better, or go away completely then come again another day.. But other things like rigid muscles and shaking hands keep me in the "there goes my life I'm going to disabled and a burden forever" which puts me in a pretty bad funk.
You're not alone..

[gcalex]

I know. I really do try, but like any H.A. mind, the good thought train always seems to get cut off by the old "what if it's not nothing" interruption. I really, really battle against that. Case in point, what began as a back ache now seems to be more than that (ie. the hot flashes, gastro issues, etc), and while I can recognize that these other symptoms may have come about from research and worry, I'm having trouble forcing myself to believe it.

Do you guys go through the same thing/thought process?

Go back and read your prior posts and study all the fears you have had before that at the time felt just as real as this one, and all the symptoms associated with those fears.  Perhaps that will convince you.  Of course your worry created the symptoms. 

[colls22]

I do that quite often - read about my old "symptoms" and then tell myself "that felt like the real thing, and I didn't end up having X". I am amazed at the constellation of things I've felt over the past year and a half (acute period of health anxiety) that have been primarily caused psychologically.

Like so many people say, it's CRAZY what the mind can do. It's hard to believe how powerful it is. I have completely lost my litmus test for when to worry or not worry, health-wise.

Another thing that I do that I know many of us do is to try to make my symptoms fit into the framework of a scary disease, while at the same time dismissing them fitting into any non-scary disease. If I see that I have more than one symptom of something really horrible, bam, I think to myself I for sure have whatever it is. However, I could have just as many if not more symptoms of something very non-scary and I completely dismiss the possibility.

[gcalex]

I do that quite often - read about my old "symptoms" and then tell myself "that felt like the real thing, and I didn't end up having X". I am amazed at the constellation of things I've felt over the past year and a half (acute period of health anxiety) that have been primarily caused psychologically.

Like so many people say, it's CRAZY what the mind can do. It's hard to believe how powerful it is. I have completely lost my litmus test for when to worry or not worry, health-wise.

Another thing that I do that I know many of us do is to try to make my symptoms fit into the framework of a scary disease, while at the same time dismissing them fitting into any non-scary disease. If I see that I have more than one symptom of something really horrible, bam, I think to myself I for sure have whatever it is. However, I could have just as many if not more symptoms of something very non-scary and I completely dismiss the possibility.

Yes, read my post on confirmation bias, that is exactly what you are doing.

[colls22]

I did read that post - great one, and so true.

I actually have an appointment with my GP for an abdominal ultrasound tomorrow. Am petrified that they'll see enlarged lymph nodes or something else sinister. Is it ridiculous to have made this appointment?

Also, to Aunjypoo - I'm certain you don't have Parkinson's. Exactly what you said, the symptoms don't come and go. This is another thing I think that is so characteristic of health anxiety - when we're not worrying about a symptom, we don't feel it. I could be wrong, but I don't think symptoms of most real illnesses wax and wane, or come and go.

[gcalex]

I wouldn't use the word ridiculous because that is prejorative but I do think you should try to break the cycle of testing and seeking reassurance, yes.  It just feeds itself and you are onto the next scare, the next symptoms, the next round of medical visits and tests.  Get off the train.  It's a choice. How many negative tests have you had already for how many things you didn't have?  Isn't enough enough? 

[colls22]

Enough was enough (but apparently not) long ago. Now, I just don't know what to say.

To focus on being logical for a moment, supposing this back pain is actually just back pain, I'm stuck on what kind it is. Does anyone here have experience with it? The movements that are problematic are really bending over forward, in which it's sore and I feel a general straining of the muscles along the belt line, and even more so, bending backward, which produces more of a sharp pain that radiates out to the sides/hips. Almost like something is being compressed that shouldn't be, if that makes any sense.

Any insight or suggestions?

[gcalex]

Break the cycle, it's within your power, unless there is some strong medical reason forget the ultrasound, you don't need more reassurance feeding your fear cycle.  Tight muscles cause all sorts of grief -- don't get hung up analyzing it.  Most back pain is psychological in origin -- look up Dr. John Sarno and TMS.