Health Anxiety over Brain Tumor. Please help me!!!!

Hi Mary, yes I have had the non-stop chronic headaches before. I have also read that it is not uncommon to have these cluster or tension headaches for prolonged periods of time. Add that to the fact that you have sore muscles in your neck, shoulders and back and it all leads up to stress-related headaches. Of course there is also the overwhelming evidence of the negative ct scan. There comes a point when you just have to make a conscious choice to believe your dr. and the test results. I had the whole heart work-up after I thought that my heart was failing a couple years back. Ekg came out fine ect...My doctor then told me that there was only one test left that he could run (echo) and he was willing to, but only for my peace of mind-he already knew it would be fine. I said no, I'm going to trust you and choose not to obsess on this any longer. Sometimes you have to cut the anxiety off at the knees!
A couple of things that you can do...progressive muscle relaxation, exercise (believe it or not, this relieved my headaches) and look into seeing a chiropractor if you don't already. Also, make sure you have a good firm support pillow (memory foam!) and get good nutrition. All of these things in combination with not worrying about this will probably see you headache free in the future.
Hope that you feel better soon!
Scaredy Cat

Mary,

It must be hard to let go and trust the medical evidence, especially with your brother's death. I have terrible health anxiety also, but a CT scan definitely trumps all my fears about what it shows. (I had one done on my lungs, and was terrified I'd have a reaction to the dye, not because I'm allergic to any of the ingredients, but just because sometimes people do.)

If your CT scan was clear, you know that anything terrible that was happening inside your head would have shown up. And you also know that there are other reasons besides cancer for having your headaches. Try to believe that even when our bodies don't feel perfectly healthy (or even 50%!), that doesn't mean some catastrophic disease has been sneaky enough to get in.

I'm impressed by your doctor prescribing the CT scan. It sounds like he/she is taking your family's health history seriously, and is definitely on your side in keeping an eye open for any sign that you're developing brain problems also.

Try to hang in there. Take a deep breath, and think about those good CT scan results.

percycat

Hello Mary,

If you are truly worried you could ask your Doctor to do an MRI looking for a tumor.  However, that being said, one  can develop a new headache from a variety of causes, including (rarely) brain cancer/tumor.  You have recently had a CT of the brain  and all is clear. Only on basis of your headaches one would look for other causes before suspecting brain cancer/tumor.

Is it theoretically possible that this may be brain cancer/tumor ? The  answer is yes, it is theoretically possible. However, is it likely that you  are dealing with brain cancer tumor? My  answer would be no. I would seriously doubt it after a normal CT scan but please remember I am not a Doctor.

It does feel to me like your Health Anxiety has kicked in and having a brother who died of a brain tumor makes your mind more susceptable to worrying about a brain tumor.  You have my sympathy at the death of your brother.

My sister died of Ovarian Cancer in 2009 and I had my Doctor run the CA-125  blood test just to reassure myself although I truly did not have symptoms but let my anxiety take over. Once I knew the test was normal I put the thought out of my mind.  So big breath and know we are here and that we care. (((Hugs)))

Kindly,

Kitt

it sounds like stress headaches or tension headaches.

try doing this :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRPITC9rxNI

i do it and it works but it takes time for it to start taking effect.

good luck !

Oh I definatly get this problem! Tension headaches can be the worst! I used to obsess over them alot too. Thought mine was an aneurysm! I was always walking around waiting to die or something. As usual for us with heath anxiety, I never came close to dieing from this. I had CT scans as well for reasurance. Eventually I just found a way to let go. Tension headaches are common especially for us as we are usually the most stressed people! And yes our necks and even shoulders can get sore. I think you are like me, just fine.

 

Hey,

I agree with Scaredy Cat about CBT, although I may be biased as I treat people with depression and anxiety using CBT!

I am sorry to hear about your brother also and can see why this could have triggered off your own fears.

Fears about having a brain tumour is very common for people suffering from health anxiety and reassurance from your GP only lasts a short while before the worry and doubt kick in again.

What can also make it worse is focussing upon our symptoms, we can end up paying so much attention, looking out for any changes which keeps our mind focussed on the worry.

Do you notice that you are tensing your shoulders or anything like that as like other people have suggested you could be holding tension there which gives headaches. Our worries can do exraordinary things to our bodies and although it may be our worry causing it the symptoms are still real.

I hope you begin to feel better soon Mary

My pain is alot in my neck and shoulders and shoulder blades. Sometimes I just cant take it anymore. Im so scared all the time. I think I feel dizzy or say the wrong tings all the time.