Not sure if FIBROMYALGIA or ANXIETY....please HELP?

[James2018]

Hi everyone

New member here - my first day actually.

I too suffer health anxiety. people always ask what's bothering you? what causes the anxiety? I know very well it's health issues. Apart from how i feel health wise I have a pretty good life and nothing I should feel fearful about.

I've had Health Anxiety for at least 10 years.

Im wondering if its mainly or all anxiety or if it may be FIBORMYALGIA?

My symptoms are:
* Sore/aching legs, feet
* Sore/aching lower back
* Sore/aching stomach/pelvis area
* Sore/aching and sometimes stinging bladder area
* Sore/aching rectum area? THIS CONCERNS ME THE MOST
I have had two cystoscopys and a colonoscopy and they found nothing of real interest. Ive had about 10 blood tests recently, urine tests, bone density scans, x rays, ultrasounds etc and nothing is ever found.
I do have scoliosis but besides that nothing that can really warrant constant aching day and night.
I worry and obsess about it all day and everyday.
Does this sound like health anxiety? Does anyone have any tips that WORK....and/or want to talk to me about it via email?
Feeling pretty down and hopeless 😞

J

[PamelaR]

Hello James and welcome to Beyond Blue forums.

It does sound like you aren't well at the moment. How frustrating when they can't find anything the matter. I'm pleased you reached out to our community here. People are friendly, caring, supportive and non judgemental.

I'm not a health professional, so really can't provide you with any advice about your symptoms. What I can do is give you some of my own experience with anxiety.

I was first diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression a bout 7-8 years ago. However, for at least 20 or more years before that, I too suffered aches, pains and extreme fatigue. The doctors could never find anything wrong with me, at times it was thought I might have chronic fatigue. However, it was never diagnosed and I got on with my life, living through the aches, pains and tiredness.

Then when I remembered (7-8 yrs ago) a trauma that happened to me as a child, my body felt every bruise I received, yank of the arm, pull of the hair, along with a lot of other trauma. For several years, while I mentally worked with my psychologist through the trauma, my body worked through it's trauma. It was an extremely painful and anxiety provoking time. What was happening to me? My psych and I talked through this. I went and had reiki, not sure if that helped. Also had myofascial massage to help release the pain caught up in my muscles, joints and bones. All the mental and physical therapy has helped me significantly and these days I'm relatively pain free, except for arthritis in my joints which is expected at my age.

It is good to hear that all your tests have come back clear. The only thing I know about fibromyalgia does cause a lot of aches and pains. Have you been to see your gp about it? Do you see anyone for your health anxiety? It would be good to have someone to talk with. By the way, there is no pressure for you to answer any of my questions if you don't want to. Just helps me support you in the best possible way.

If you want to find out more about health anxiety - do a google search for 'overcoming health anxiety workbook Centre for Clinical Intervention'. Getting to know what it is about helps to understand what you are going through and also gives you self help tips.

Beyond Blue forums and homepage are also a good source of factual information about health anxiety. Do a search in the search field for - i) Tips for managing anxiety ii) health anxiety.

Keep reaching out to us here. Let us know how you get on.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[James2018]

Thank you Pamela

I have spoken to my mum who is a great support and doctors and specialists who haven't really been able to help manage this.

I haven't seen a psych - it seems you'd really recommend me doing this as it seems to have worked wonders for you?

[PamelaR]

Hello James
Thank you for reaching out again. The Beyond Blue community rules doesn’t allow us to share information, e.g. email addresses. So we can share information here.

Yes, seeing a psychologist has helped me tremendously to work through my trauma, anxiety and depression. It took me awhile to find the right one that suited my needs. There have been one or two that didn't help at all and I stopped going to them, the other 2 have been excellent. They gave me the tools to help me manage myself and for me, that's what I need.

It is good to hear you can talk with your mum and doctor. What do they say about your symptoms?

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Jane24]

Hi James

I also struggle with anxiety/panic disorder mostly pertaining to my health. I have a couple of health issues, but the anxiety makes things far worse.

I can't offer medical advice, but I've heard that both anxiety & fibromyalgia type symptoms can be helped with a gentle exercise regime. Perhaps you could see a physio to help with that? (Easier said than done when you're tired & in pain, I know! I'm just starting out myself) Cbt therapy with a psychologist may also assist you. I find that sometimes I focus on my symptoms & what could be wrong & I feel worse, instead of all of the tests that have come back healthy & everything that is right with me! Cbt can help with this 🙂

Take care!

[starley]

Hi James
Based on the symptoms you describe, it sounds like the only issue you actually have is health anxiety! I have had it on and off for 6 years. I have had biopsies and ultrasounds and blood tests and I am still as physically healthy now as I was back when it all started. I just wish I could go back in time and tell myself "I can absolutely guarantee you are going to be perfectly healthy for the next 6 years at least so please don't let this distract you from your amazing life!". I mean i have actually had 6 years of being completely healthy - but I have been too busy worrying about dying to actually live. The irony! I am quite a spiritual person and I just believe that my body knows its healthy so health anxiety is the perfect thing for my stress to manifest through as it will never go away (because I will never get these illness i fear - just be always afraid of them!).
I know for sure that for me the tests and doctors appointments do absolutely nothing to make me feel better - if having a thousand tests and seeing my GP a million times was going to cure my health anxiety then it should definitely be cured by now, but it isn't!
I have been working with my psychologist on this for about 6 months now and she believes that health anxiety is largely about fear of not being in control and also the result of unmet care needs. So your brain latches on to health related issues because if you are sick or under the threat of illness, people rally around you, people listen to you, people are there for you perhaps in ways that they would not be if you weren't under threat (real or perceived). So we have been working on assertiveness, self compassion, trust and surrendering. It definitely does help to go and talk to someone who can unpack all of your fears and trace them back to the source.
I have been in some real states with my health anxiety (unable to eat, sleep or work for weeks at a time) but since seeing my psychologist I have had a period of 4 months where I have felt happy, healthy and functional. I have been able to stand back and look at my anxiety and think "i cant believe i let myself believe all of that, i cant believe i could be so caught up in all of this" and this was without medications. It doesn't go away straight away but it is definitely possible to get some relief, I promise!
Wishing you the best of luck on this journey of HEALTH ANXIETY (nothing else!).

[PamelaR]

Hello Starley

Welcome to the Beyond Blue forum. The community is caring, friendly, supportive and non judgemental.

Thank you so much for sharing your story here. Especially for the information you've given James about how you are managing your health anxiety. It's good to have you on board.

Feel free to create your own thread anytime if you need to. Thanks once again.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[James2018]

thanks so much for your reply! And to you ALL

Doctors and family are all urging me to see a psychologist - and it seems that is the right course for me 🙂

[LiseyL]

Hi James2018,

It doesn't sound like fibromyalgia to me; fibromyalgia sufferers would generally have pain in the upper body as well, though fibro does affect everyone differently. Scoliosis could be causing the leg pain and lower back pain if your posture is poor, causing your hips to be misaligned. Stress could also be causing this pain as when we are tense we tend to have tight muscles. I have health anxiety and fibromyalgia and, as others have already stated, it does sound like you are suffering from health anxiety. My tips would be to try taking up yoga or stretching to see if it helps the pain. It sounds like you are seeing a psychologist now, I hope that has been helpful for you. You just need to remember that you've done lots of testing and nothing sinister has shown up so it is not fatal. Whenever you're feeling stressed, do some deep breathing exercises.

Hope your doing better now 🙂

[tlinn26]

I too have the same symptoms as James, in fact I also have scoliosis. I also have kyphosis with a bulged disc in my neck and back. I found this out in my health journey to find what was wrong with me. I desperately want to believe it’s health anxiety but seemingly unlike James I also get blurry vision, muscle twitches, jaw & head tension, as well as neck pain. Its difficult to say as I know anxiety can cause some of these things too, and my bulged discs!