Hi Guys, I've made a post before and have read and interacted on these forums before but I've been away from these forums for a very long time because when symptoms become manageable... you sort of stop worrying as much. Which is exactly what happened to me... But hear me out.
I used to have a consistent shortness of breath, which used to worry me consistently - this was after having a panic attack at a festival due to being over worked and sleep deprived. This gave me intense health anxiety. I went to see a doctor, and finally after months and months of going back and forward with testing and results, I accepted I must have Health Anxiety. This was particularly hard for me as I was studying medicine at the time. I went to see a psychologist which didn't help me very much because I'd never found myself really thinking about stressors BAR my health.
Symptoms improved slightly each month, and became... bareable.
After I'd finished my degree, symptoms were very similar. bareable, but persistent (probably a consistent 3-4/10 if you had to scale them against best to worst). I thought that I may as well try anti-anxiety medication to see if it could improve quality of life. It did improve symptoms, but brought on a new one. Erectile Dysfunction. Note that this was a forewarning and common side-effect. This was a deal breaker for me and decided to ween off the medication, which I did successfully.
Now, probably 3 months after weening off medication. I have had a barrage of slightly new and slightly old symptoms.
These are all very common symptoms and have moderate to high evidence of Hypothyroidism. I can't shake this thought.
I have had common tests done; ECG, TSH, Bloods. The only thing the doctor could tell me was wrong was slightly raised cholesterol (LDL)
Otherwise, I am in the least stressful environment of my life. Dream job, no debt, no relationship problems, exercise daily, eat healthy - and yet, symptoms persist... the more I stress the worse they get. I am 25 yo with not a problem in the world bar my health!
Do I chalk this up as Health Anxiety once again?
Thanks in advance for any replies. It really means a lot to hear your thoughts.
