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Fear of cancer ruining my life

Posted , 7 users are following.

jason37778
jason37778

Hi I'm male 28 years old.it all started back in February when I started getting abdominal pain and I started googling 😢I'm afraid it's bowel cancer.The pain has been coming and going everyday since February which is 6 months now I've been to the doctors and a&e a lot they don't seem concerned at all,I've had tests such as:

Blood tests for pancreas,and a lot of other things tested for in total I've had 3/4 blood tests 

:Stool test shown nothing abnormal 

:ultrasound shown nothing abnormal 

I'm just so frightened there missing something. I've been diagnosed with severe anxiety and I also get a lot of chest pain and I've had about 5 ecgs this year all fine.

Is this my anxiety causing this discomfort ? I'm so scared as I have 17 month old little boy and he's my world I don't wanna miss out 

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • marleen85993
    marleen85993 jason37778

    Posted

    Hi Jason you are suffering from health anxiety which is very common on this forum.l would suggest you go to your doctor and ask to be referred for therapy.Sadly you will always doubt your test results as your mind has convinced you that you have cancer.Get the proper treatment and you will start to recover from this disorder.
  • Aspinan
    Aspinan jason37778

    Posted

    Hi Jadon, I also agree with Marleen, your health anxiety is what's at play here. For what it's worth I experienced stomach cramps when I relapsed in March so went to the docs thinking I had IBS due to anxiety, I didn't it was a symptom of my anxiety and after taking some peppermint pills it cleared up, perhaps your stomach pains are just the same as me.

    Youve had lots of tests and if you did have a serious stomach issue such as cancer it would show up in your blood tests, nothing can be missed as its a straight forward test and would have shown up, no question.

    Regarding chest pains again this is a classic anxiety symptom, I get chest pains and shortness of breath almost like asthma but I know it's anxiety which causes the chest muscles to tighten and get ready for fight or flight response it then causes pain and discomfort.

    Neil 

    • jason37778
      jason37778 Aspinan

      Posted

      Thank you.im just so worried there missing something.im on sertraline.its just ruining my life 
    • gino78308
      gino78308 jason37778

      Posted

      Hi Jason does you have had anxiety for a long time like my self our only to well of what you our taking about you say this all started in February ask your self why what is that triggered the anxiety is if work personal school and the list goes I would say to you don't do what I need and think it will just go away go see someone now it's in early stages and doctor google never gets it wright all it does is fill your head with junk 

    • mac58
      mac58 jason37778

      Posted

      I do not think anything is being missed. You have health anxiety, which is horrible. i hope the sertraline works soon.
  • jan34534
    jan34534 jason37778

    Posted

    Jason,  i'm sorry you are feeling this way but I have to tell you that the worst thing you can do is Google symptoms.  Just about any symptoms can go along with just about any condition so what you find on Google does not pertain to you and your individual situation.  FOr instance, someone having chest pain will google  it and see heart attack. When chest pain can also be caused by severe anxiety, indigestion, and many other things. You're just scaring yourself for no reason. 

    abdominal  pain goes along with many non-serious conditions.  Because of your anxiety you were thinking worst-case scenario!

     actually,  

    You need to put this into perspective. You are a young man and colon cancer is extremely rare at your age. That's why they start colon cancer screenings at age 50. 

     you have had a lot of tests that were all normal. Your anxiety is getting the best of you. 

     when I was in college, I also had severe abdominal pain along with cramping. It was all due to stress and anxiety. In fact, I get it occasionally still  when I am anxious. I have had a colonoscopy because I am over 50 and it was completely normal. So anxiety and stress can definitely cause abdominal pain. 

     if you get your anxiety under control I would bet that the pain would disappear. Trust your doctors and remember you can always get another opinion  if it gives you peace of mind. But remember anxiety turns to fear which turns to negative thinking and worst-case scenario  thinking .

     listen to some meditations on YouTube for anxiety,  negative thinking etc. there is one called a detachment from overthinking which is good. There are many to choose from and they completely calm down my mind and body and symptoms. It could help you a lot. I also got counseling for anxiety which helped me too .

     don't let fear and anxiety control your life. 

     question: do you have any back problems? My sister was having abdominal pain just like you and they could never find anything wrong. Finally, it was determined that she was having back problems. Nothing serious!  It's just that she was taking care of our mother and always lifting her in twisting her back a lot.   The pain from her back radiated to her stomach area. Just a thought. 

     

  • dee06451
    dee06451 jason37778

    Posted

    Hi Jason, as the other people who have commented have said stomach pain is a big part of anxiety, it happens to me all the time but I end up sitting on the toilet for long periods of time as anxiety play hell with my bowels too. Even people who have not been diagnosed with anxiety will tell you that when they are nervous about something they get stomach pain, it is basically the gut reacting to our fears. Just think if a child had a tummy ache for several days we would not automatically presume the worst and would pass it off as something they ate or gas in their tummy. The child does not get overly stressed by it and it goes away. As adults we have too much information to hand about all the bad things we could be suffering from. Your little boy wants a happy daddy who will play with him, read to him and give him his undivided attention so you have to learn to relax as children can sense our anxiety and often think that it is something that they did that caused it. Sorry about the long post, all your tests were clear so try to stop worrying and spent the time with your son and enjoy his early years as they grow up quickly. Take care .
    • jason37778
      jason37778 dee06451

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply.its because I've been suffering for so long that's what had me worrying.most of  The time I'm fine my bowel movements all seem normal again.i just can't stop thinking the worst 

    • dee06451
      dee06451 jason37778

      Posted

      Jason, I have been having abdominal pain for 11yrs now and I am still alive, my problem turned out to be bile salt dysfunction. After getting my gallbladder out my body started to produce so much bile that it was turning everything I ate into liquid and bowel movements were just liquid. I had to give up my job as when the pain started I needed the toilet immediately and as I was working as an interior design consultant in a store it was not acceptable to run from customers to get to the loo. I was 40 when I was let go from my job and it devastated me as I lived for my job and needed the money. I still take 8 tablets a day so that I can have some sort of life and am doing ok. It was the blood tests that picked up the problem and I just have to live with it. If the pain radiates up to the right quadrant of your ribs then get checked for gallstones as the pain from them would bring you to your knees. So basically trust your test results and believe me when I say that if you had bowel cancer or any kind of cancer you would not be posting on here as you would not be able to. My husbands mothers side of the family all had bowel cancer and all came through it with treatment and are doing fine, they had all the tests done that you had and it was visible straight away, so try to think positive, I know it is not easy when you suffer from anxiety but just a little every day and you will see an improvement. Hope you soon feel better , enjoy your son, take care .
  • jason37778
    jason37778

    Posted

    It's just literally doing my head in how one can have these pains all over abdomen and still not have it sorted just feel like I'm being fobbed off.i know I'm suffering mentally but physically the pain is real 😢I'm at my wits end 

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