Depression and anxiety

[Goingmad]

Hi guy's first post on here and i suffer from depression and anxiety i might add mostly health anxiety. I amm 66 and it started 20 odd years ago after having 2 very rare tumors removed and my half brother was dying. I have tried everything for 10 years but they have seemed to plateaued out. I do have good times but as soon as i get a little bit of pain i jump to thought it must be some sort of cancer. I do get blood test every year which are ok but when I'm having a bad time my bowels seem to play up ad then i think i must have bowel cancer but cannot bring myself to have any test for it as i always think the worse

[gentlydoesit]

Hi going mad, oddly enough i'm 61 and have had bowel issues for a long time,and my GP thought I had bowel cancer after tests and horrible hospital visits.Maybe its to do with our age group,but how much can a person take before constant meltdowns!!My GP supported me a lot, organize the tests, they are embarising but lots of both men and women go thru this. Stress is always a pyhsical offset to already existing issues, even if i eat or drink some things it reacts, get the tests done, find someone to get you thru your worries. I'm far from perfect , but I got clear feedback to get thru it all.

What could be worse than not knowing, there is help. Take care and get back to me if you want.

[Helen72]

Hi goingmad,

I had viral meningitus which started with what felt like the flu so if I get a cold or the flu, I think I'm getting viral meningitus again and I'm very agitated.

Anyway now I have a plan to follow and part of that is seeing a gp for reassurance. Your digestion is so closely linked with your emotional state that your experience is not so surprising. The other thing to remember is that treatment for cancers is way better and more effective than 20 years ago.

I hope this helps.

Helen