Health Anxiety, I had my MRI today.

[jemma09]

Hi all : )

Just to preface... I want to thank this forum and all of you so very much for the positive impact it has had on my life. Reading peoples' responses was so uplifting and helped me settle at the peak of my health anxiety. I can't even begin to explain how wonderful it is to have a place to get things off my chest like this.

Anyway. I made a post on here about a month ago. My health anxiety was at an all time high because I have been getting frequent headaches and also feelings of lightheadedness. My doctor had told me it is likely anxiety, however just to be sure, they sent me in for an MRI to get the all clear. The MRI was postponed for a few weeks, was classed as 'non-urgent'. I finally finally got it done today. I am proud of myself for being able to stay still for 20 minutes and not panicking. My mind was racing and so was my heart, but, I kept my cool. I am also proud of myself that I have not googled my symptoms since my last post! Woo hoo!

Now it's a waiting game. The radiologists are not allowed to say anything, they just tell you to see your doctor. The results should be back by the end of the week, I have to have a phone consultation due to the coronavirus. I wish I could know now and I really hope it comes back 'all clear'. I know it doesn't work like that, however, I can't imagine what would happen if something was really wrong with me. Deep inside, I am really frightened it could be some cancerous brain tumour because I like to catastrophise things. I am trying to keep focused on each day and keeping busy. With the coronavirus restrictions, I can't really go out at all. So, I've decided to buy some new video games, learn how to play piano and do more reading. I am hoping these tasks will keep me occupied.

Does anyone else have subconscious symptoms of anxiety?

Eg. I have headaches/lightheadedness on and off, this happens even when I'm busy or quiet. At work or at home. There's no specific timeline for it. It just comes and goes. Sometimes pain meds do nothing, sometimes they help. Can we subconsciously cause symptoms just with anxiety? Or I wonder if one anxiety symptom can cause other symptoms? Eg. I have extremely tight muscles in my back, my muscles feel like rocks under my skin. I wonder if my muscles are pulling so tight that it's causing my headaches and feelings of being lightheaded.

Thank you very much for reading.

I hope you are all doing well and please stay safe during this time. I wish all of you the best. : )

[blondguy]

Hey jemma

you have done so well especially having your MRI....great effort! Thankyou so much too for your super complimentary post.....we love good feedback 🙂

I dont really understand what you meant with subconscious anxiety...Just from my own experience anxiety can wake us up when in a deep sleep. Yet anxiety usually requires treatment when it has a detrimental affect on our day to day ability to function in our lives...whether at work or in our personal lives..

You have just answered your own question jemma when you asked " I wonder if my muscles are pulling so tight that it's causing my headaches and feelings of being lightheaded" and yes our shoulder...back and neck muscles can not only cause occasional pain as well as feeling lightheaded too

Anticipating the results of your MRI will only increase any anxiety jemma...I used to overthink the same way you do now...which is very common yet doesnt achieve anything

I understand your feelings with your GP as we have spoken about them before...Have you considered making a phone appointment with your doctor to talk about your concerns? This may be a really good move after having an MRI..just for some reassurance..You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by having a chat with your doc!

You are a legend for being so proactive with your health and finding all the good distractions to occupy your time during this difficult period we are all going through...Excellent!

you are not alone with the tight muscles making us feel worse jemma

be gentle to yourself!

Paul

[jemma09]

Hi Paul

Thanks for your response and kind words. I'm happy to give feedback about these forums. They have been so awesome.

Yes, I am trying not to think of my results and keep myself busy. I have booked a telephone consult with my doctor at the end of the week so we can discuss.

By subconsciously I mean, still feeling anxiety symptoms without actually feeling like you're having a panic attack or anxiety attack. Even when I feel relaxed and seemingly worry-free or when keeping myself busy... I still get those feelings of headache/lightheadedness sometimes. Which is why I think my muscles could also play a factor. I have been to headspace before my MRI and told them health anxiety is a big thing for me. I also have some personal issues that I am facing. They were very helpful and understanding. Hopefully, I can get some help from them.

Glad to hear I am not alone with the tight muscles thing. They seemed to start being sore when I hit 'adulthood' and faced the 'real world' at around age 18. Unfortunately.

Hope you have a nice evening, all the best.

[calmseeker]

Hey there jemma,

Oh wow, I recently wondered what was happening with you and your MRI ! Well done to you for being so positive and brave. They made you wait quite a while for the procedure didn't they. Thank god that bit is over for you 🙂

Indulge in things that bring you happiness during the wait for results (maybe easier said than done in these bizarre times we are having in the world). I know its stressful waiting, I have been in the exact same position as you are with exactly the same test and I had to pull all the mindfulness I could muster out of the hat to deal with it. You got this, you are tougher than you think!

Squeezy hugs for you xo

CS

[jemma09]

Hi CS,

Nice to hear from you. Thank you for replying and for your lovely words.

Yes, I've finally got it done! I'm hoping to actually get a copy of the images of my brain too, it will super interesting to know what my actual brain looks like.

I will definitely be focusing on good things and keeping busy. Everytime I think about my results, I try to redirect my thoughts to something else. Seems to be working so far.

Thanks again! Hugs for you too!

All the best & have a great day 🙂

[jemma09]

Update

Hi all 🙂 hope you are having a nice day/evening so far.

Just want to extend my thanks for the support I have had here. I has helped me get through some tough times being anxious about my health. I plan to stick around here to chat and try to help others.

I'm excited to share, my brain MRI came back all clear. Now that is out of the way, I am going to discuss with my doctor the best treatments for my ongoing headaches, muscle tension and dizziness. I also plan on regularly attending headspace which should also help.

I sincerely wish all of you the best. I can't thank this forum enough in how you have all made me feel so supported and calm. It's been really life changing being a part of this forum. 🙂

[blondguy]

Hi Jemma.....and a wave to Calmseeker

This is great news jemma!! I hope having the 'all clear' made you feel better 🙂

I hope you can include your GP in your recovery as they can help us find our way...Please let us know how you are going Jemma....(thankyou for the super kind post too!)

my kind thoughts always

Paul

[strong_woman]

Hi there,

I have gone through a similar experience to you......twice.

Last year i had chronic dizziness, and so after a few months i begged my doctor to let me have an MRI, despite him telling me there was nothing to worry about. No doctor assurance could calm me down. So eventually i had the MRI and it came back all clear. I was so relieved.

Almost a year after i started getting chronic headaches which felt like my head was going to explode. They were the worst headaches/pain i've ever felt in my life. I was convinced i had a brain tumour. After 2 months, I once again begged my doctor for an MRI, and so i had it done again, and the same all-clear result came back. I was so relieved....again haha.

Now i know just how powerful the mind is, and that it has the ability to manifest these horrible symptoms. I'm working on overcoming my health anxiety, and so I hope this gives you re-assurance 😄

[calmseeker]

Hey there Jemma,

This is awesome news!!! You got through it all, you're amazing 🙂

I will have to take my own advice regarding thought distraction soon as I have a follow up MRI coming up, grrr…

Have a fab day lovely girl.

CS xo

[calmseeker]

Hi there strong woman,

Welcome to the forums.

I hope you're getting some relief from your headaches and other symptoms. Those types of symptoms are always anxiety inducing.

You are so right about the mind being so powerful in manifesting symptoms - thankfully it works in reverse also and we can use our minds for calm and recovery too (takes practice and I am working on it, yet to master!).

Have an awesome day strong woman 🙂

CS