Real problem or hypochondria? Need reassurance.

Hello. New here and in need of some help. I'll start with a little background info, hopefully that will be helpful.

Ive had rare episodes of anxiety since I left home at 18 (30 now). Never health related buy definetly related to personal saftey. After having my first child at 25 I developed post partum hyperthyroidism that was originally misdiagnosed as post partum anxiety. It took a year for me to feel close to normal again. It wss a fairly horrible year too. I did well after that for a while. Went to culinary school, worked out regularly, had a part time job and graduated school 9 months pregnant with my son. I just like the first pregnancy i developed hyperthyroidism at 3 months post patrum. This time is was recognized immediatly but i still suffered terrible symptoms that caused me to quit my job and made me miserable.

My son is now 2.5 and while my thyroid levels are finally normal (only since April) Im still stuggling. I'm constantly scared. I'm scared of every ache and every pain. I'm scared to be alone with my kids in case something happens. Every day is a struggle to stay calm. Even if I do I still stare at the clock waiting for someone else to come home.

A few weeks ago I woke up with dibilitating fatuige and depression. It scared me (of course) but not enough to cause a panic. It continued for over a week. Horrible fatuige, nausea, loss of appetite, depression, chills, headaches, mucle aches and pains, hair loss. So I went to my doctor and she said it sounded like classic hypothyroidism symptoms and the my thyroid probably got burt out from all the years of being hyper. So we did blood work. Thyroid tests, CBC both came back totally normal.

Of course my next step was to gooogle my symptoms.. and of course heart attack was the one that seemed to most fit my symptoms. I got convinced it was my heart. My doctor did an EKG and said it was normal. He did blood tests for my heart, said they were normal. He went over the result of a recent event moniter I wore for palpitations and told me everything looked great except for some skipped beats that were probably caused by stress.

The issue is that I feel like im having every symptom I've read I should watch out for.Jaw pain that comes and goes. Aches and pains in my arms, left shoulder, irregular heartbeat sometimes when I lie down at night. Numbness in my chest that comes and goes. Sometimes my heart rate drops to 55 when im not moving. I've had almost every symptom I have read about to some degree. The only one I havent gotten is chest pain. Ive read that many women dont get chest pain so it doesnt calm me at all. Add all of that to my original symptoms of fatuige and nausea and im pretty terrified.

Im having so many panic attacks this week. I can barely sleep. Im terrified that my doctor is dismissing me because of my age and I'm terrified that something is really wrong with me. I just don't know what to do or how to feel anymore. I want to believe my doctor and move on with my life but since he told me my heart was fine I have only become more certain that something is wrong. For some reason I just cannot believe that anxiety could possibly be the cause of my issues. Mostly because I panic becasue of my symptoms instead of my symptomss being the product of my panic (if that makes sense).

I want to add that I had been going to a therapist but it wasnt helping at all so im not sure where to go from there. My therapist told me that I am out of control and act like a scared child and pretty much tells me that my anxiety is rediculous and makes sure to point out all of my personality flaws so that I often leave the office crying and feeling terrible about myself.

Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this..

Hi and sorry you have been having such a tough time!

Wow, your therapist should be fired from practice if that's the advice they gave you, in my humble opinion! They are supposed to help you to help yourself to feel better, NOT worse!

I had the same issue, afraid the Docs were dismissing my chest pains because I was a woman and down-playing it. But you got tests which show your heart is fine!!

There are some really good resources tacked at the top of this forum that help with health anxiety. I am trying this one out now:

www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_id=53

Check other threads here, many feel the same way you do!

Your friends here at healing well are always around, so you won't be alone. :) I work from home so I check in here often.

Please check the resources at the top of the forum, I found that reading them could be a wonderful distraction and helped get my mind and the "what if's" under control.

Do NOT do "Dr Google"! The only way that helped me was IF I typed in solution-based searches, not symptom checking.

You'll be ok, we've all been there. Hugs... :)

Hi Cianna and welcome!

As you can see, you are not alone, and have come to a place full of understanding and support.

Many of us here know exactly what you are currently going through, so please allow us to be of encouragement that things can get better.:)

I myself went though this, and have come so far from where I once was!

I would encourage you to re visit the therapy if it is a possibility. CBT has literally given me my life back in terms of how I feel now as compared to when I was overcome by health anxiety and panic attacks. It can seem to take a really long time, and appear not to help initially...but sticking with it can bring the desired results, and it is worth the wait!

Another thing you can cosider and get started on right away is self-help! Here is the link to our Resources. Inside you will find all sorts of anxiety management skills...including specific help with health anxiety.:)

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

Keep talking with us as well. We can empathize with what you are going through...and are here to listen anytime.:)

Scaredy Cat