I've Been Doing So Well - Now Health Anxiety Is Back

Hi guys, well I've not been here for a while as I've been doing really well over the last few months. My anxiety has always bothered me for years - it used to show itself as Social Anxiety, then became a more generalised anxiety, then for the past 2 years it became Health Anxiety - and that was when it was at its worse. I was totally obsessed with my health to the point I was making myself feel unwell. At one time I felt I couldn't breathe properly, but there was nothing wrong with me. Another time I had various stomach problems that included bloatedness, wind, abdominal discomfort etc, I was told it was IBS (which I've suffered with sporadically since 2002). Over the past 2 years I have been running back and forward to my doctor convinced I've got stomach cancer, colon cancer, bowel cancer, brain tumour, on the verge of having a stroke or a heart attack. Of course I didn't have ANY of these things, but wouldn't believe it even when the doctor told me!! At one particularly low point this time last year I became so bad with Health Anxiety that I was actually losing my mind, acting in a completely irrational way and thinking in a completely irrational way, but thankfully some CBT sessions helped me focus logically.

So here we are today, and after a good few months of controlled anxiety and getting on with my life, my Health Anxiety has returned out of the blue and is gradually taking over again. The reason for this is my stomach has started playing up again over the past few days - my stomach has felt sensitive when I gently push down on my abdomin, it's been gurgling and churning on and off, my bowel movements have gone out of sync (going 2 days without going then going twice in one day with occasional diorrhea), and indigestion (not chronic indigestion just normal heartburn). My stomach seems to be most distressed at night when I lie down in bed, and also seems to be worse when my stomach is empty. Eating something doesn't seem to make it any worse, in fact I'd go as far as to say it eating actually helps relieve the symptoms a tad. As much as I'm trying to brush it off as a bout of IBS my Health Anxiety is screaming "stomach cancer or stomach ulcer" and I'm really struggling to ignore it. I feel all the irrational thoughts are flooding back. I've made an appointment with a doctor for tomorrow afternoon but it's a doctor I've never be to before so I'm going to have to sit there and rattle off my past history with chronic anxiety and all its forms.

There's one other issue as well - back in January I was put on Mirtazapine 30mg to help control my anxiety and OCD. I had a couple of side effects initially I had to get through - chronic fatigue and a bout of mouth ulcers, but once they went away I felt fine on them. Then a couple of weeks ago I started to get occasional 'tremors' when I lay in my bed at night which were slowly getting worse so I've stopped taking them 4 days ago. I will tell the doctor this tomorrow but it means I'm currently on no anti-anxiety medication - I wonder if this is maybe linked to my stomach issues flaring up again?

Anyway I just wanted to come here and update you guys on how I'm doing. I'm trying to press on with daily life and ignore this but it's not working - my stomach issues are lodged in my mind and I'm thinking about it from the minute I get up to the minute I go to sleep.

I always knew my anxiety would come and go, but I didn't think it would come back with such force. It's like I'm heading back to square one again :(

Chris x

Hi Scaredy Cat :)

You are so right in what you say! It's so difficult to forget the dark anxious thoughts when you're body is suffering with physical symptoms! Even though you know the anxiety is causing it - it trys to tell you differently of course!

I think what can be really difficult too is anxiety trys to tell you that you are totally alone in how you are feeling, like nobody else is feeling the same way, so I think when you talk to others in a similar situation helps to calm the anxiety down a bit, because you aren't alone and know that you are all there to help each other.

I'll let you know how I get on with my doctor's appointment tomorrow, including what's gonna happen with my meds. In the meantime I think I'll take your advice and read over my CBT notes, because my CBT sessions have ended now.

Chris x

Hi Annie, sorry to hear you're suffering the same thing as I am! My mind too controls my body symptoms, which of course makes it near impossible to stop thinking them and concentrate on something else. I think for me the reason I go to the doctor so regularly is for the reassurance, and I'll put myself through the nasty tests in order to get that reassurance!

So I've had my doctor appointment today, and it looks like my current symptoms are due to excess stomach acid, a bit like acid reflux, so I've been prescribed Omeprazole 20mg, which works by reducing the amount of stomach acid and stops it leaving your stomach lining. It's commonly prescribed here in the UK for things like chronic indigestion, heartburn, stomach ulcers etc. As to why I've got it, the doctor reckons it may very well be my IBS flaring up, as excess stomach acid is one of the many IBS symptoms. I've also got to look at my diet and try and make some changes in order to help keep my acid level under control.

As for the Mirtazapine tablets, I've been told to come off them immediately and I'm being put on Sertraline 50mg instead, which I'll start taking in 3 weeks time.

Anyway I feel better now I've been to the doctor and been told it's simply excess stomach acid and nothing more serious - I'll just have to wait for my Health Anxiety to ease off now, which could take weeks but hey ho!

My stomach always hurts when I am upset, worried, stressed, anxious, whatever........

Maybe try doing some reading on nutrition.  You could be eating things that are making your stomach hurt.  Try some dietary changes to see if that helps.  Like eliminating certain items and then re-introducing to see if that particular food is causing the gas, bloating, etc.

Try not to worry so much.  That makes everyone feel unwell.

Gem

Your GI tract is also your largest immune system in the body, so keeping it healthy is crucial to over all well being!

Good nutrition is a great start. It doesn't need to be radical. Small changes to start, then gradually adding more of the good, and less of the bad. Moderation is a good goal! Eating the healthy choices with occasional 'treats' will keep you on track.

I am a probiotic supporter as well. I have lapsed on mine (forgetful!) but plan to get back on the acidophilus tablets. I find that they help control my stomach acid:)

Take care,
S.C.