Just anxiety or should I be concerned

To start off I am a really big hypocondriac and I know no one is a doctor but hopefully someone has experienced this. So the last few months Ive had some urinary issues but all tests have come back negative. This week i started worrying about if they missed anything and if it could spread to a kidney infection or sepsis. Yesterday i started feeling weird like vision wise not blurry just off. I noticed my fitbit HR was going over a 100 just from standing or walking a little. So now ive been obsessed with checking it. 100 times at least. My resting HR is 66 and when i work out its not spiking higher than usual. My ? is can me constantly thinking about my pulse cause it to spike quick from the littlest activity or should i go to the emergency room?

Hi TL12,

I will echo Lab's above input regarding anxiety/worry driving HR up. This is very common and something I have certainly experienced myself. Practicing some relaxation exercises such a Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Deep Breathing and Meditation will help. There are also biofeedback type apps for BP and HR that you stream off of youtube or download as an app that could help.

As far your first question regarding the urinary symptoms...are you having frequency and/or pressure issues? Both of these can be caused by anxiety...

...however, pain and or fever are indicative of an infection, and would need to be addressed by your doctor.


I hope that you get the answers and relief that you need soon. Work on your self help, and if you continue to struggle, set up an appointment with your doctor to talk about what you could start doing (or changing) for a good anxiety management plan.

Keep us posted so we can keep you in support!

S.C.

As a fellow health anxiety sufferer I think you need to do what you need to to feel comfortable first. Than once all negative and you can reassure yourself you can start working on your anxiety. Currently I am suffering from a stomach bug and my heart rate is increased also and checking to excess. I get it. Just keep telling yourself so far texts are negative so far and don’t be afraid to ask questions to make you feel better.

It’s definitely very possible. It’s a positive feedback loop. Have you tried regulating your breathing? If not, you can try to break the cycle by regulating your breathing first using the exercises that are in the resources thread and in turn your heart rate should follow and decrease. I like to do inhaling for 4 seconds, pause, exhale for 6 seconds, repeated until I feel more comfortable.
Do you have fever, severe pain and urgency to urinate or pain in the lower abdomen or sides? Those would be the main signs to watch out for that would be an indication of a bladder or kidney infection. The heart rate would be high with a high fever but in its absence it’s likely anxiety. One of the first major panic/ anxiety episodes I had was from a urinary tract infection that after treatment another infection took hold and no one could figure out why I was still in pain. Took several doctors to finally get them to recheck for infection. By that time I was so panicked by the situation I was convinced it had turned into a kidney infection. It thankfully had not but I totally get the panic that can run rampant when dealing with those worries.

Post Edited (Labradorite) : 3/19/2019 2:21:28 PM (GMT-6)

TaL12,

Did you look up some biofeeback exercises for lowering BP and HR yet?

This along with the coping skills like we have in our Resources will help.

S.C.