Posted , 7 users are following.
Hello!
I've been suffering from a lot of anxiety during the past year, mostly about my health and death.
About 3 weeks ago I had a disturbing dream in which I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Being the anxious person that I am, I used Google and read that there are many cases where people had cancer dreams which prompted them to see a doctor and then turned out to in fact have it. This scared me a lot.
I then started to worry immensely about having esophageal cancer and again used google to see if I had any of the symptoms. "Coincidentally" I began to experience the typical symptoms associated with the cancer: difficulty with swallowing (food getting stuck in throat constantly while eating) and chronic indigestion (burning in stomach). I have never had acid reflux/GERD so o don't think it's that. Because of my history with anxiety, I'm trying to convince myself that it's my anxiety and hypersensitivity causing the symptoms. I'm totally freaking out!
Oh and I did talk to my GP. I have a barium swallow scheduled for tomorrow and he also referred me to a gastro specialist who I assume will perform an endoscopy.
Any wise words? Can this really just be my anxiety ?
0 likes, 8 replies
tiffanie14269 kim00708
Posted
From someone who always worries about cancer and struggle with health anxiety. Yes googling symptoms can trigger real symptoms because you are focused on those symptoms and they will become real. Just breath and stop looking up symptoms and I'm sure you will be fine
kim00708 tiffanie14269
Posted
I'm trying to remain calm. I really hope it's just my anxiety acting up. Thank you for the wise words.
Italia06 kim00708
Posted
Health Anxiety is brutal and the list of symptoms caused by anxiety appears endless as it affects EVERY single system in the body. A while ago I found a great medical article on what anxiety does to the different systems of the body and was astonished. Keep in mind that anxiety is so convincing in the symptoms that it presents that many, like yourself, believe they have life threatening disorders.
I've struggled with it for over 20 yrs now and I can honestly say, I'm still amazed at new symptoms that arise when I'm stressed for a period of time. Anyway, good luck. Oh and to answer your question, yes anxiety can cause you to have some many unique symptoms, even the most comprehensive of lists doesn't cover it.
kim00708 Italia06
Posted
Tour reply made me feel better! I really hope it's just my anxiety.
emily40717 kim00708
Posted
Oh Kim I am exactly the same as you! So please don't feel alone, lots of us have these health anxieties.
I have these symptoms and I'm seeing an ENT consultant. I have had an MRI scan, an ultrasound, blood tests, stool tests and a nasal scope. All came back clear. I have taken acid medication for 4 weeks and no real difference in my throat.
My GP says it's all down to anxiety. ENT thinks acid, anxiety and muscle tension. I have tried Sertraline for the anxiety but it gave me a bad stomach so had to stop it.
The only advice I can give is to try and relax and remember that it's VERY unlikely to be cancer. It's great your GP is getting these tests for you.
Good luck and let us know how you get on
kim00708 emily40717
Posted
Thank you so much for the reply! it makes me feel better that I'm not alone. this happens to me a lot where weird symptoms appear due to anxiety. This time I just got way more freaked out since I had the dream. I hope all my tests come back clear!
seek19785 kim00708
Posted
reading this brought me to tears.. bc i can so relate.. it got so bad for me, even after having test,. talking with a specialist.. still in my mind.. i felt strongly something was wrong. that damn google.... but of course i was okay tho. its a bit comforting knowing im not alone .. and someone understands my anxiety.. huggs. its all our anxiety and our mind literally will trick us into the signs we read off of google then boom. we all of a sudden are experiencing it . its just your anxiety.. huggs
Kileen kim00708
Posted
I'm sorry you're going through this but its also reassuring to know i'm not the only one. Over the past year i have drove myself crazy worrying about my health and dying. I dont know what triggered it but something did and for the past year i have had every test under the sun. I have suffered with stomach issues, back issues and for a period of time heartburn and acid. I have had a chest xray, abdominal ultrasound, pelvic ultrasound, multiple different blood tests, an ECG and a stool sample. Everything has come back clear, i'm wondering if the symptoms i've been having are all from my anxiety and stress because if there was something medical then surely it would have come up on my many tests. I have googled so many things and got myself into some serious states over the past year. I dont have an answer for you, but just know you're not the only one dealing with this.
Join this discussion or start a new one?
New discussion Reply