It won't stop and I'm losing it.

I have not been feeling well for months. Its been a lot of things, but most consistently shortness of breath, feeling of lump or SOMETHING in throat, constant burping after eating or drinking anything, tightness right under sternum pretty constantly.

Here is who I have seen and what I have done:

Cardiologist: EKG, Stress Test, ECHO, Comp Metabolic Panel: ALL NORMAL
ENT: scope down my nose, CT Scan of neck: NORMAL
Pulmonologist: Spirometry: THINKS IT COULD BE ASTHMA/ALLERGY/POST NASAL DRIP RELATED, GAVE ME MEDS
Various GPs: ALL SAY IT COULD BE REFLUX

In the last year i've had:

2 Abdominal CT Scans (for a surgery to remove a cyst, besides that fine)
Cystoscopy (to confirm that the cyst wasnt connected to my bladder, it wasn't, and it was fine)
Chest X-ray (slight inflammation)
Urinalysis: Normal
CBC: Normal except I was in the hospital with a post-surgery infection so whites were elevated but came back down.

The CT scan of my check did show "nodules" in my lungs which my pulmonologist says are nothing to worry about and he doesn't want to do any further testing.

I feel like I am losing my mind. I know that I have health anxiety, but this is not health anxiety. I have actual physical problems. I don't dispute that my anxiety makes all of this worse, but I firmly believe there is something wrong. It may not be grave or a death sentence, but it is making me so uncomfortable every day. I'm so distracted and feel like I'm just not there most of the time.

seeing a GI doc in a few weeks. Looking for a chiropractor now. When will it end?

Just needing to rant.

Larry I have always loved your advice. Thanks from us all.

Thanks guys.

I got the GI appt. moved up to next Monday.

As far as anxiety management, just been exercising and taking xanax as needed (a lot less than I was taking it a few months ago. Maybe once every 3 days tops).

I do hope I find some relief from the GI situation. I know that once I have some guidance in that department I will be better equipped to face the anxiety. But when the physical symptoms are so pronounced it is very hard to deal with.

Thanks again.

Thanks @scaredycat. I actually have done some of that stuff. I did a good amount of the moodgym exercises.

I think GI issues are a, if not THE, major trigger for my periodic dizziness and anxiety. Seems like when I go for several weeks drinking coffee, it will hit me like a ton of bricks. The reason I think it's GI is that when I take Nexium for a few days, most of my symptoms settle down (I just have to keep away from the coffee!).

Hang in there and let us know how your doc visit goes! If you feel like sharing that is. :)

Hi M.,

I understand how you are feeling about your scan results...

...not because I think you have reason to worry, but because I would be feeling the same way. It's a part of our challenges with health anxiety.

I think that trusting your doctor is an important part of progress...but also think that a good plan might be this:

If you've not already scheduled a follow up re-check of your lungs, then I think this would be a helpful step for you.

Depending on your doctor's recommendation...3 months from now approximately...could bring you assurance in this matter.

Until then, use your positive thoughts/coping skills...and keep talking with us.:)

S.C.

...by wrong turn, you were maybe symptom searching? Yikes! Been there, done that...and the outcome is never good. ;(

Sorry this has added to your worries, but we've all been there, so know that your symptoms are simply anxiety hurdles to clear.

Next time you have the urge to search something...go to the Resources instead and work on the health anxiety self help instead!

S.C.

Thirty years ago i had a chest xray, i had nodules all over my lungs, never smoked in my life, it worried
me very much i had two beautiful daughters and a wife all i could think of was leaving them with no
income or protection.
had a different one about two years later and there was no sign of them, they gave me no explanation
i was just glad they were gone, my gp said it was pretty common so i just let it go, I am 74 now Peace

Larry ***

Give yourself a break, take a walk in the Sun, take your Wife and daughter with you,
Then make yourself a promise, that you will quit rehearsing the day of your death,
start Living, one only is required to be born once and die once, in between we are
required to Live, any dummy can die it takes no practice, it takes a real man/woman
to live, love, Rejoice! Peace

Yes, I wasted over twenty years of my life doing the same thing, 74 still here!

Larry ***

I know, it's hard S.L.

Keep doing the self help...it will be beneficial given time and practice.

...and keep posting with us. We understand, care and are sending encouragement your way!

S.C.