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. : )

[jemma09]

@Paul - yes, I feel very relieved. I am going to get a mental health care plan from my GP and go from there. I'm happy to share my progress. Thanks again & have a great day 🙂

@strong woman - nice to hear from you. I'm glad to hear things have come back all clear for you! It can be concerning when we have these kinds of symptoms, good on you for making sure you are okay. You can rest easy knowing your results are all clear. Have you discussed with your doctor some treatments that could help your symptoms when they pop up? The mind is a powerful tool. Thank you for sharing, I appreciate it 🙂 Hope you have a great day!

@cs - ah thank you! Yes, I'm out the other side. Now I just need to figure out how to manage my anxiety. It's easier said than done, isn't it? Is there anything you really like to do that can help distract you? If you need to talk about it, I am happy to listen. I wish you all the best with your MRI, you're such a strong and kind-hearted person and you'll get through this. We're all here for you if you need. Hope you have a great day! 🙂

[calmseeker]

Hi there jemma,

Its very sweet of you to offer an ear to me after the stress you have endured lately, you're just lovely and thanks a bunch for that xo - I guess we are a good example of how these forums operate; give support to receive support. As far as distractions go I like to watch documentaries and listen to podcasts as I can sometimes get lost in the information and forget about my anxieties. I find walking great too but sad to say I haven't been doing enough of that, my energy levels have been low for quite some time.

Best of luck with your mental health plan and I hope you have some positive outcomes.

Stay well and safe jemma 🙂

[Dakota18]

Hi Jemma,

I am reading thru your post as if I have written it myself. I experience the headaches and dizziness/lightheadedness as well for no known reason, they just choose to come and go when they please. It also happens to me even if I am doing nothing and I don't always get relief from pain medication such as panadol. I had an MRI done as well many months ago and my scan was all clear too. I also experience a really tight neck and sore shoulders almost every other day despite managing it with massages and creams.

I am currently taking antidepressants after seeing a neurologist and I have also seen a physiotherapist, psychologist and an osteopath. As much as they have helped me at the time it has not been a long term solution unfortunately and I am still yet to find something that significantly improves my symptoms. I am positive and try my best to alleviate my symptoms when they present themselves and I think I will have to give myself some more time on this medication and see what happens from there. I am new to this site and it is somewhat reassuring to know I am not the only one experiencing these symptoms and I hope you find comfort in that too.

Wishing you all the very best with your progress !!!

[cakeboss]

i to suffer from health anxiety aswell . i know those feelings oh so well and yes they do come and go .i suffer from anxiety panic disorder and its been a bit all over the place at the moment .i have regular contact gp and psychtrist .i try mindfullness and excercise for my anxiety .Lately nothing is working due to being home self isolating from c virus .If im feeling crap from my anxiety which my gp has told me feeling pains in stomach back ace headaces nausea all signs of anxiety .i use to do swimming until this c virus resrictions took place so now i find my anxiety health anxiety up .the moment i got somthing wrong triggers what if i got this what if its that and sets me off .i have been having phone consults with psycolgist and i have good and bad days .i know how you feel you just want to be normal and ive been told that i dont except the unknown very well .Take day at a time im trying to do that will look into going for walks maybe that may help you to .i wish you well