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Child health anxiety

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Posted 12/19/2018 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
Does anyone suffer from this?

My son has very mild ulcerative colitis and all I do is worry it gets worse.

The forum on here seems to be full of decent people however the majority are severe cases.

It drives my anxiety wild However only diagnosed last year so will get better with time hopefully:
Posted 12/19/2018 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Sorry to hear about your son.

It sounds like a natural worry to be worried about him as most parents would but you have extra anxiety on top of that so I'm not surprised you are suffering with anxiety.

Are you getting treated for your anxiety? Such as medication or talking therapy.

We have some good self help links in our resources so take a look especially the health anxiety ones.

Keep us posted we are here for you.

Hibee
Posted 12/19/2018 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
N.,

I too am sorry to hear of your son's dx. However, as you said, his is mild, was caught early...and with good care and maintenance, he should do really, really well.

My hubs was dx'd Type 1 Diabetes 10 yrs ago. It is scary to have a loved one with a chronic AI issue...but you learn to manage it and the prognosis is so often really good when you follow the procedures needed for optimal health.

As Hibee said, you will also want to seek ways to manage your anxiety challenges...in order to feel your best and offer the best support to your son...

...and we will be here to support YOU...so post whenever you need to!

S.C.
Posted 12/19/2018 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
I am annoying everyone, my son is so healthy but all I do is worry. Him having an illness I can’t fix was the worse thing to happen to me.

He has a mild version but that don’t matter to me I have researched the illness and all the worse outcomes to the extent I know everything, well mostly negative.

Not on any meds the now however been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder.

Do meds help much ?

Is it really all in my head ?
Posted 12/20/2018 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there! Sorry to here you are going through such a rough time with your son’s dx. Can I ask how old he is? I have Crohn’s disease which is similar to Ulcerative Colitis so I can relate to what your family is going through. It’s always tough to adjust to a new diagnosis and what goes along with it. Have you looked into support groups in your area where you could connect with other parents? Many who post online about these conditions are in the middle of flare of the disease so it gives a disproportionate view of bad times versus good times but with proper management flares can be minimized
Posted 12/20/2018 6:23 AM (GMT 0)
This...all this^^^ that Lab mentioned!

Yes to a possible support group for parents of children with AI...or specifically UC!

Also, it's a great point that what you tend to read are some of the toughest, most challenging times that people go through...since it is natural to seek support during those periods.

As far as your questions regarding medication for anxiety. Yes, it is a helpful tool, an one made stronger in combination with therapy and/or self help practices. It is an entirely personal decision however...so it is a good idea to read up, get informed on your options/needs...then have a conversation with your doctor.

We are here anytime...keep posting. smile

S.C.
Posted 12/20/2018 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Yes read my mind I have to quite my cubicle job because I am afraid my baby will catch a cold or flu and might be a life threatning situation. I am trying to seek professional help to deal with this. I currently have a cold and am having issues breathing and I am terrified of passing it to my baby. She is my world.
Amy helpful tips or resources out there to help put my mind at ease?
Posted 12/22/2018 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
My children are not only not young adults but at their ages I was already well established as an "adult" however I never realized I would be so focused on their health as well as all issues in their lives. You never stop being a parent.....
Posted 12/23/2018 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
I think I will go and see the doctor about my anxiety.
Posted 12/24/2018 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
N.,

Always a good plan! While there you can discuss your treatment options, and together make an informed decision on how to proceed and get a plan to feel your best. smile

For now, work self help coping skills daily (see our Resources at the top of the main forum page if you haven't already, and keep posting with us for support!

S.C.
Posted 12/24/2018 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
I know this doesn't help, but, worrying won't change anything. If there was something more you could do, and you were going to take action, it would be one thing, but you can not control a chronic illness. The best you can do is be aware, research, seek the best GIs for if there is a flare up, follow doctor's instructions, keep him insured so he can afford the medication he needs, listen to him, be there to help if he needs it, and let him be a normal kid... I think you should see someone and see if there's something you can do to minimize your anxiety. Your son will be okay. Things are mild, and statistically, it's likely they will stay that way. Even if they didn't, people can live a full life with severe cases, even in the case of surgery... I am sure he will never get to that point but it's good to realize even the worst cases can have positive endings. Please try to enjoy being in each other's lives, and spend time doing things that make you both happy. Sitting around worrying is only going to cause you anxiety and make him stressed. I totally get it though. If I had children, I would never be able to relax. I'd be worried every moment. It is one of the reasons I've never wanted children.
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