Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi.. I have posted previously in the costochondritis forum as i have had pain for 12 weeks and this is what the docs have come up with.
When the pain started I was convinced I had pancreatic cancer, then eosophagal cancer... I've had at least 4 rounds of bloods taken, chest xrays and abdo scans-all have been clear.
The problem now is the pain tends to be more on my upper back, lower back now and then and my hips... Im now concerned I have spinal cancer. I can't shake the feeling of constant dread. I'm just looking for some reassurance that after 4 separate rounds of bloods (cbc and crp) that if I had anything that sinister it would've shown some irregularity in the results? I have just started an online CBT course but atm I'm still struggling with my demons daily
Thankyou in advance
0 likes, 7 replies
rosie91216 Elmo79
Posted
hi emma, just wanted to comment, im no doctor so cant help with the pain your feeling , but want you to know yiur not alone in how you feel, i am waiting for chest x ray results and driving myself mad with worry and anxiety, i suffer with bad health anxiety, always assume the worst case , and i make myself ill with worry!
explain your worries to your doc, i always find if i tell them exactly what it is im worrying about they take me more seriously . also maybe get a second oppinion just to put your mind at rest, i would say you have had all the relevent tests so your well covered , but i know how your mind works , and its not easy to be told otherwise ,keep busy and always ask again if uour still worried thats what i do , good luck x
emma94982 rosie91216
Posted
Thankyou Rosie. I hope all your results are good news.. Im sure they will be, thankyou though for reassuring me that I'm not alone x
stephen79-1 Elmo79
Posted
Hi Emma
Back pain is more likely associated with many typical ailments before you get to spinal cancer...
It could be chostondritis, muscular, bulging discs/dehydrated discs etc etc
alsp there could be simple explanations, like your posture or how you sleep.
what i recommend is, go and get a good deep tissue massage and focus on your back. i had similar concerns for a long time...
i do have a dehydrated disc but was getting upper pain in my back, as well as lower and chest pains...
i was amazed that how long id been thinking i had a heart problem, or potentially chostocondritus that i felt great after the massage for a few days. this told me that my issue is likely to be muskoskelatal in nature.
you havent mentioned lots of other symptoms thst would potentially accompany back pain of it was spinal cancer... like loss of sensation, change of bowel habits, tingling in arms/legs etc....
dont let your mind find these symptoms no ive mentioned them... your mind can easily play tricks especially when you are anxious. if you concentrate your mind on a particular part of your body you can start to feel allsorts, so dont fall for this.
be kind to yourself Emma! i know its hard to not worry but consider how many other people post on here with similar concerns. its so so very unlikely that everyone on here has the ailments they are concerned about... thats what anxiety does... so rest assured that others also feel physical symptoms that are nothing serious.
also keep in mind how rare spinal cancers are. something like 10000 people a year will get it, out of 325 million people in the US.
we also hear lots of stories these days about people getting ill and the internet has a wealth of information, but so many ailments have similar symptoms(and the internet is not a good place to self diagnose), including very simple things that can be fixed with things like posture...
sending you best wishes Emma.
emma94982 stephen79-1
Posted
Thankyou Stephen. I keep telling myself exactly what you've said, tell myself the doctors have shown no major concern and for days I'll believe it then it hits me again!
Thankyou for your reassuring words though, I will come back and read this when I'm having a wobble 😊
jan34534 Elmo79
Posted
The demon u are referring to is called FEAR!The mind is a very powerful thing and when you even suggest to it that you might have this disease or that disease, it definitely responds by allowing fear to take over your mind and
inflate it to the point where you almost can’t function.I have been there and I know how horrible it is.
The thing with fear is that it is not based on reality or fact. it is things that your mind makes up that are very scary but not true. So being aware of that fact is a huge first step in managing the fear. The awareness is so important.
yes, with the testing you had done, surely something would have shown up if there was a problem. Don’t jump from one body part to the next to the next because you will make yourself absolutely miserable for nothing.
I did that for over 20 years and I wasted all of those days of my life with anxiety and fear. I definitely do not recommend it! I cannot get back one of those days. Please don’t do that to yourself. I know I have the attitude of I will get my regular yearly check up and if everything is OK I will get on with my life and enjoy it! If something happens to come up then I will deal with it at that time but no sooner.
we need to develop an attitude of gratitude. Be grateful for everything you have and that the testing was OK. Don’t allow negativity to have you thinking what if what if what if. It does absolutely no good. You are fine! ❤
nina87533 Elmo79
Posted
I was very lucky that my anxiety didn’t make me believe I had cancer much, probably only one or two small worries within the years but nothing major.
I’ve known people that their anxiety would make them believe they had every cancer possible, and it controlled their lives.
Something you need to understand is (and this is what helps me from worrying as well) is that if you did have cancer most of the time you’re going to have more symptoms then what you think. Second of all, you’re seeing a doctor regularly which makes your chance of catching anything super early is very, very good. Everyone I ever known who had cancer (which is a lot) caught it early, and had awful awful symptoms for quite awhile. The only person I ever known to have cancer and caught it too late was my aunt, who didn’t like doctors and didn’t see any. But she was very sick for 5 years or more.
Just keep your doctor up to date with anything you’re feeling, and they will give you the reassurance you need.
nicole101681 Elmo79
Posted
ive been feeling this also... but first i started getting pains upper middle and left abdomen.. it radiates to my chest.. if i lay down a certain way i feel pain in my chest and even underarms and under breast.. its mainly left side.. i keep thinking its my pancreas BUT i have really no symptoms of pancreatic problems! i have upper and lower back pain.. abnormal bowels.. pain all over.. headaches.. sharp pains in arms and im tired alllllllll the time! i was suppose to have a CT but my husband switched jobs so waiting to get insurance .. my anxiety is so bad and my mind doesnt stop.. "thinking" .. which leads to depression because i think its C and i have kids which stresses me out and its a never wnding cycle.. ive always had abnormal bowels but now its non stop.. and i started getting dry mouth lately .. idk if stress can do this to you but the way i feel its the worst its ever felt.. hope you get some answers .. im working on at least getting blood drawn.. and try to go get CT.. having depression/anxiety has ruined me.. but im determined to try and get better ..
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