Struggling with health

[StruggleTownPeeps]

Hi peeps, been going through these symptoms that i have described to my doctor as well as another 3. Each time i get told its Anxiety. I have had spirometery tests for working away. Ct scans in brain chest xrays blood tests and of course my blood pressure and heart beat. But i am convinced something is wrong with my health because i get like a shortness in breath and have to take a deep one with a yawn on a regular basis. Its like i know im breathing and not thinking on anything else like my kids and wife. I have read about health anxiety but it dont matter how many times i read my mind dont concentrate on it. Some days it is ok some days is full on. 'My doctor is a surgeon also so im sure he would know.

i have two kids and cant find myself to do things for or with them same as helping people i dont want too.

so i look forward to a post

[Mathy]

Hi StruggleTownPeep and welcome to the BB forum 🙂

I too, have occasions when I’m short of breath and yawn a lot, and I have anxiety, depression and ptsd.

Seems like there’s a lot of information pointing towards you being physically healthy, and doctors who say so too. Not being able to concentrate when you read is common with people who live with anxiety.

Seeing as how there’s evidence that you’re physically healthy, you could suggest to the Doctor that you try some medication for Anxiety. Then, if you feel better - meaning that shortness of breath/yawning goes away, then perhaps your mind will be convinced. Then, you could try some other non medication methods for managing anxiety. I would be happy to let you know about those if you like.

This is you thread to speak and tell your story, I hope you come back and let us know how you’re doing, bestest, cheers M 🙂

[Croix]

Dear StruggleTownPeeps~

I'd like to join Mathy in welcoming oyu here to hte Forum. One of the advantages of coming here is you get views from people with all sorts of experiences. I"m basically hte same as Mathy with PTSD, anxiety and bouts of depression.

I'm similar to you too, in that I've had test after test: bloods, CAT, ECG, MRI plus lots of others in an effort to pin down the cause for what seems like physical symptoms. They all come back negative. It did take me a while to accept test results, thinking there might have been mistakes or exceptions. It always was anxiety, and being treated for it has made things an awful lot better.

Reading about health anxiety is really no help at all. It is not a case of realizing what the problem is and it goes away. Realizing lets to take the first step, which is to seek appropriate treatment. So I'd suggest you go to your GP and ask to be tested for an anxiety condition and then discuss treatment alternatives . This normally involves therapy of a fair period plus possibly medication too.

Would you like to come back and say more? Particularly if there is, or has been, anything in your life you think might account for this and if there is any way to make you life less stressful.

Croix

[StruggleTownPeeps]

Hi i have been prescribed medication and take one a night been on it for 4 weeks now but also have an appointment for a psych too as this has been going on for years. I been on and off from meds to in that time but its only now im going to try and stick to them and start seeing someone

[Mathy]

Hi StruggleTownPeeps

I’m very happy to read your posts.

I know that taking medication can be an issue for a variety of reasons, but it’s great that you’ve decided to give it a go, and stick with them for a while. That decision plus a psychologist, and a commitment to get to grips with anxiety is a great step to take.

I know these decisions can be difficult, I don’t like taking medication and I used to be very resistant to the idea of psychologist/psychiatrist - until I was forced into the position of having to DO something. Now I have an entirely different opinion. Working on Anxiety can be tough, I’m not going to say it’s easy. However, it is very empowering to get to the point where you are in charge - NOT your mind or your environment.

I’ll be keeping an eye on your thread, it’s your place to share how you’re going and I’ll keep an eye out for you 🙂 cheers M 🙂

[StruggleTownPeeps]

Hi Mathy i have been going through this for so long whats happening to me now has happened in 2009 i had a full on attack and i couldnt go to work or anything. I have an issue of being scarred of things. Yesterday i came home from work with abdominal issues. I came home to go hospital but mum was over she works as a nurse in age care and said i am stressed out she could see it in me my cramps etc after were dissappearing but i didnt go to work today said i have gastro and said i need week off but im also worried being casual they will terminate me i havent said anything about what im feeling.with medication im on and my doc thinks he may need to up it. Im telling myself i may have asthma even though my dr would have heard abnormalities listening to my front and back. Plus going through this for so long i have done a spirometery test about 7 years ago for working away abd that was ok.

[StruggleTownPeeps]

Hey i went to dr yesterday because i wasnt coping and i now have convince myself i may have asthma. My dr said because i went to a different one to see what is going in that i have to see a psych as well as counsellor. I asked him that about the asthma thing and he said its all in my brain our brain can make us do weird things he thinks i may have GAD and some other stuff to he even put my finger in this thing to show my ixygen level and it was fine. I wish i seeked help for this years ago and actually stuck with it too because the only help i ever had was medication and even then i didnt stick to it

[Croix]

Dear StruggleTownPeeps~

I guess most of us get to the stage that we try all the tings we did not before. Having problems that stop you going to work seems a very good time to start.

Sticking to meds will shorten the period to getting on the right regime. True it may not be the first set you try - then again it may be - but by starting and continuing you are doing the best thing for you. Stating and stopping just makes you convinced nothing works.

I'm an example that meds plus therapy do work.

A psych is a good idea too. I had the full set of medical professionals and benefited greatly from it.

I've never felt like I've asthma, though great difficulty breathing in panic attacks and tension. It sounds like using that Pulse Oximeter was an excellent idea.

Do you have long to wait to get in to the psych?

Croix

[Mathy]

Hi StruggleTownPeeps,

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) has the ability to trick not only your mind, but your body into believing that something is wrong with your health (amongst other things).

I’ll explain how this has happened to me. So, my body went all weird on me, and I has a few instances of this over a period of 3 weeks. Then I went back to Uni as an Honours student and had a full on “weirdness attack”, to the point where an Ambulance was called and I ended up in Emergency at the nearest hospital. After doing their usual checks, they concluded that I was dehydrated (live in Adelaide, ‘‘twas a hot summer that year). Thought to myself “OK”, I need to drink more water.

The “weirdness” escalated to the point where I couldn’t get on a train to go home - called friend, went to Emergency - diagnosed with Panic Attack. I have an Anxiety Disorder.

What I’m trying to illustrate is the fact that things only get worse until you personally acknowledge that there is an anxiety problem there, not a health problem.

The evidence you have shown, indicates that you do not have a health problem. Anxiety really means that your mental/emotional health “self” is screaming for help, and one form of help is a combination of a GP and a psychologist - even though that might feel really scary.

Be really brave and go and see the psychologist, bestest, cheers M 🙂

StruggleTownPeeps said:Hey i went to dr yesterday because i wasnt coping and i now have convince myself i may have asthma. My dr said because i went to a different one to see what is going in that i have to see a psych as well as counsellor. I asked him that about the asthma thing and he said its all in my brain our brain can make us do weird things he thinks i may have GAD and some other stuff to he even put my finger in this thing to show my ixygen level and it was fine. I wish i seeked help for this years ago and actually stuck with it too because the only help i ever had was medication and even then i didnt stick to it

[StruggleTownPeeps]

Hey guys went to ed on sunday and had chest x ray blood tests had my oxygen tested etc. got a refferal for ultra sound on tummy but still have to take deep breaths in and if i dont i get dizzy etc but everyone telling me im fine i wake up with it and go sleep with it i at times have to yawn to increase air intake but im still veing told anxiety i went to the psych but still the same breathing through nose hold five release freaks me out