New - health anxiety, cancer survivor

[delio]

Hi, just joined the forums. I have been having significant health anxiety over the past few months. I've always been somewhat hypochondriac, but then almost 3 years ago my worst fears came true and I was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 33. Thankfully I'm in remission, but since then have suffered from two life-threatening complications from the cancer treatment (pulmonary embolisms), the last one 3 months ago. I was mentally doing pretty well up until that last one, thinking everything was behind me, but finding myself back in hospital really rattled me. Since then I've been going through a revolving door of doctors and specialists as I'm now paranoid every little symptom I experience is something deadly. I spend half my day googling symptoms. I just had a gastroscopy last week due to a constant lump in the throat sensation. I was convinced it was throat cancer. After nothing was found, the gastroenterologist (who was the same person who diagnosed me with bowel cancer in 2016) sat me down and gently explained the common symptoms of anxiety, which include a sensation of a lump in the throat, and suggested I talk to someone. Right now I am feeling short of breath, which I am trying to tell myself is just another symptom of anxiety. I am going to speak to my GP tomorrow about the shortness of breath and about professional counselling, but I am hoping to connect with some other people on this forum who are suffering from anxiety and hopefully learn how to overcome this and be able to think about my health more rationally. Thanks for listening!

[Croix]

Dear Delio~

You certainly have had a hard time, and I really hope that the remission becomes permanent and your problems lessen.

The symptoms of breathlessness and a lump in the throat can be a result of anxiety, I've had them too, but triggered by different things to you.

When you look at your situation you have faced real illness, and the possibility it might reoccur - or the complications continue - is there, though hopefully not great. As a result there is some foundation for your fear.

The problem is how to deal with it, as at the moment it seems to be taking over your life. That revolving door of tests is a sign of you worry. I've had many too, all negative, though I've sometimes found that hard to accept.

I'm glad you are seeing you GP tomorrow, that's sensible. I'd suggest a long appointment, and have a pretty clear account of how your illness has been affecting your mental state - write it all out first point-form if necessary and hand over the paper. That way nothing is missed and it is easier.

It does take therapy, and maybe medication, to get anxiety under control, the therapist explains and most probably sets exercises, you do them and things gradually improve.

There is a lot of information here, a couple of starting points might be:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/treatments-for-anxiety

and AGrace's htread:

Forums / Anxiety / SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING ANXIETY

I also use a free smartphone app to stop the mind racing in circles, it's called Smiling Mind and works though it does take practice at the start.

Good luck with tomorrow, please let us know how you go

Croix

[geoff]

Hi Delio, and a warm welcome.

It's horrifying to know that you've had bowel cancer and that is not being a hypochondriac but pleased you are in remission, but what it can do is start a chain reaction and this is where anxiety comes into it, and please this is no fault of yours, it's quite understandable.

More questions race through your mind, especially when you start googling the net, and you're not alone, I think most of us do, me included, and this could be health anxiety, again a doctor will have to determine this, and it's important that you have this diagnosis, so all the available help can be provided by medication as well as counselling with a psychologist.

Please let us know how you are feeling.

Geoff.

[delio]

Thank you both for the warm welcomes! And for the useful resources, I will check them out. I spoke with my GP who was not too concerned about my shortness of breath and agreed it could just be anxiety. She also referred me to a psychologist who I'll be seeing in a week.

It has been a bit of a rough few days. I've been feeling like I have a constant adrenaline rush and my heart is racing. So far I've only confided in my partner how I'm feeling as I didn't want anyone else to worry, but on Friday I decided to tell my family. They've been really supportive, and my brother revealed he's also had issues with anxiety in the past and was giving me some tips about coping techniques he has used. It feels really good to get this off my chest and speak openly about it with my loved ones.

[Croix]

Dear Delio~

I'm very pleased with your news, proper medical help (not Dr Google) plus being able to let others know what you are facing. Trying to deal with everything by yourself when others around you are continuing on with their lives as before and often having expectations of you that are not practical can make one feel very alone, sometimes even a feeling of failing.

In some ways your brother's revelation is a blessing. In the short term he will as you say be able to give you practical advice, however I'm thinking in the longer term where you may be able to supply the support he might need at times. There is nothing like having someone who has traveled the same path.

Please let us know how you go

Croix