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Health Anxiety beating me down this morning.

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Posted 1/23/2011 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
Was out late last night. No drinking but probably smoked a few more cigarettes than normal. Wasn't particularly cold outside and spent most of my time inside at a friend's house. Got home at 3am, immediately went to bed.

Woke up a little before 9am and was feeling well though I could tell it was one of those nights that I snored a lot. I have a digital recorder. Sometimes I don't snore at all; other times I snore a lot and very loudly. Last night was obviously the latter. Anyway, when I have a night like last night it's not even a sore throat that I wake up with, exactly. I'm not sure how to describe it but I can tell I snored a lot and that feeling goes away in 20 or so minutes. Same thing today.

Only difference is, while brushing my teeth I squeezed my neck for some reason. One of my lymph nodes was swollen. In my head I know this can mean a whole bunch of different things. It's not necessarily the flu or strep throat or whatever. A minor head cold can cause it. Minor injury like a skin abrasion can even cause it.

But while I'm in the shower, I cannot stop thinking about the swollen lymph node. I become obsessed with the thing, feeling of my neck to make sure I wasn't mistaken. No, I wasn't. I have poked at it enough now that it's quite sore. Normally at this point I'd be finding other symptoms to let me know that I'm sick. And if there aren't any my anxiety would create them. So far this hasn't happened, really, but it's not for lack of trying. The only thing I notice is that my ears are a little stopped up/sore.

Took my temperature, and it read 97.4 degrees. Being a smoker, I sometimes have a little cough that comes and goes during the winter. I think I coughed once or twice right after getting out of bed and that's it. Even though I have sinus problems, not today. They are draining a little but there's no discernible congestion. No headache. Not feeling fatigued and I slept well.

I'm just not sick, but in my mind I am sick. Am worried that being so worried about this will cause me to be sick. My anxiety tends to affect my stomach a lot. So far that's not happening but if I cannot get this out of my head then it's only a matter of time.

The lymph node is swollen for some reason. Maybe a little cut or scratch. Maybe it's my ears. I don't even know what an ear infection feels like...I can't remember ever having one. I was vaccinated against the flu. There was a pretty vicious head cold going around my house mates and friends a week or two ago, but I never got it.

It would seem to me that if some disease were causing my lymph nodes to swell, then by the time I'd notice that I'd have other symptoms. So my logical mind KNOWS I'm not sick. I'm pretty sure I've had this before, too, and just didn't obsess over it.

So this whole lymph node thing is ruining my Sunday morning. The irony is, usually when I wake up I DO feel crappy. It's always something, and usually that something is sinuses. But today I feel great and yet part of my mind is telling me I'm sick. Hopefully I'll have forgotten all about this in a few hours. It's just so strange. I went out last night and ate party kind of food like pizza and chips and stuff. Don't even have acid reflux. If it wasn't for this stupid lymph node I'd be having one of the most peaceful and best mornings that I could ever hope to have.
Posted 1/23/2011 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
You said that you smoked more than normal and I have a feeling that this is the culprit. I had quit for a month and didn't have any of the drainage at night. But I started again and the same thing happens.

Try not to worry about this today. There is nothing that you can do to change it. If the lymph node doesn't go down, I would talk to the doctor. But for now chalk it up to too many cigarettes. It does effect the sinuses a lot.

Best wishes to you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 1/23/2011 6:35 PM (GMT 0)

Too much smoking will absolutely cause lymph nodes to swell...like Karen said it effects the sinuses which in turn causes the node to swell.  Try not to worry and what ever you do....Just say No to Google...LOL!  If it continues to worry you, contact your doctor but I have had that happen also.

Donna

Posted 1/23/2011 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks. I'm sure it's nothing. You know how anxiety is, though.
Posted 1/24/2011 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry that you had a bad morning D.B. Sometimes the A/P brain is like a deranged dog with a bone-it just won't let it go!!!! I have had the same kind of worries swirl around in my head, and it's maddening. One minute you feel kinda okay about it, and then the next, you're back to feaking out!

I once had a swollen lymph node behind my ear after I colored my hair.(I'm pretty sure that's not the case with you-lol) It turned out to be an allergy, with an irritation on my scalp. So it doesn't take much to get those little guys all worked up. At least we know our immune systems are going strong eh?

Hope you are feeling better tonight/tomorrow, and better lay off the late night parties...at least for a few days;)

Take care,
S.C.
Posted 1/24/2011 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
No, I've gotten worse as the day has gone along. Definitely sick. The thermometer reads 99 degrees but that's after drinking something cold, so I'm positive there's a fever. I don't know what it could be. I was vaccinated against flu. I've had mono. Except for feeling like I've been hit with a ton of bricks and this swollen lymph node, the only symptom I have is loss of appetite. I'll get a bit queasy if I eat anything. Even saltines.

While ago I started to feel better. Except for my neck I'd go so far as to say I felt pretty normal for maybe half an hour. Then it came back and just a few minutes ago was worse than ever. It's let up a bit. Anyway it's been a long time since I've had a prolonged fever. I'd forgotten what it is like.

Anxiety comes back now and then. I suppose that's because I don't know what the illness is. Well that makes everything worse.
Posted 1/24/2011 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Flu shots only vaccinate for the most common strains of flu for that particular year - you may have picked up a less common strain. It could even just be a cold. Don't let it get the best of you debaser.
Posted 1/24/2011 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks. I actually checked the State's epidemiologist website. No strains of flu have shown up around here except for what's covered in the vaccine. You're right, though...it's still possible it's a flu. Only thing is I am still largely asymptomatic and influenza usually comes on fast and hits very hard. So I kind of doubt that's it.

I have no cold symptoms whatsoever. It feels like Mono but not quite that bad, and I've already had that. Supposedly you only get that once.

It's not getting the best of me. I just have my moments, and that's only because I don't know what it causing it. Pretty much 100 percent positive it's nothing major, but I am self-employed and travel a lot for business. Scheduled to leave tomorrow and I don't know if it's a 24 hour thing or if it will have me out for days, which would not be good for me financially. Another business that I am a partner in is also getting audited by the IRS. I haven't been worried about that, but you do have to be prepared, and I have been busy. That nonsense will be here before I know it. You can see now where the worries and stuff are coming from.
Posted 1/26/2011 7:34 AM (GMT 0)
Debaser,
Is there any way you can focus on something outside of yourself that is regenerating or relaxing? You seem to have a lot of stress in your life right now. It isn't surprising that you feel ill. Please pamper yourself as much as possible. I hope you feel better soon.
This may sound stupid but it really helps me. My doctor has me keep a pain level journal so that I can feel justified when I feel like freaking out over my illness symptoms. The scale goes from 1 to 10. 1 is no pain, 7 is giving birth and 10 is passing out from pain. Today was a 5. I lost about a 1/2 cup of blood through intestinal bleeding and inflammation. I made it through work by gritting my teeth. I am on a nice pain killer now.
My disease is considered a disability but it is next to impossible to receive a disability income in America for diseases.
Sometimes I think of going home to Canada just so I won't have to try and always keep a stiff upper lip at work.
Posted 1/26/2011 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Subzero,

Nah, there's nothing around here that's regenerating or relaxing. It was/is a simple ear infection that freaked me out because I was unfamiliar with it. I've been feeling better since yesterday morning, though. A fever will always cloud my mind and throw me way off my game. Anyway, the stress. Yeah. Ever since the economy went bad I have had a major struggle financially. It's probably wearing me down.

Get an attorney to handle your SSDI. I know a couple people who are on it and neither of them even need it. They used lawyers. They make the application process extremely difficult because there is so much fraud in the system. If you need it you should be able to get it, however. It may take time and money and the money you get may not be a whole lot, but it is out there.
Posted 1/26/2011 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning Debaser,

I am sorry to just get to your post now. It is OK to worry some about the swollen lymph nodes as long as you keep putting it into perspective and you seem to be doing that quite well.

Years ago when our youngest son was 10 months old he had swollen lymph nodes in the back of his neck which freaked me out. We were finally referred to Mayo and the dx was noninfectious swelling of unknown etilogy. At least my spinning thoughts quit once I knew he was fine. In many instances, a definitive cause for swollen lymph nodes may not be determined even after performing through examination and testing.

I know you are aware of this but just to help you remember swollen lymph nodes on the side of the neck or under jaw are the most common. Most of the causes of swollen lymph nodes in this area are benign. Your lymph nodes, also called lymph glands, play a vital role in your body's ability to fight off viruses, bacteria and other causes of illnesses.
Stress can always make us more aware of our anxiety problems as well as causing our immune sytem to go into overdrive. Glad you are feeling better and coming here and sharing your feelings always feels to me like it helps you to keep your OCD under control.

Thinking of you,
Kitt
Posted 1/27/2011 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Kitt. I've been feeling much better. Very close to 100 percent now.
Posted 1/28/2011 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
I have health anxiety too and it's so hard to overcome. But of all the times you've imagined something awful behind whatever illness you've had, how often was it? Never, right? It's just some quirk that goes off in people like us, especially under stress or when we're really experiencing joy, some form of selfpunishment I'm guessing. :)

I take Immpower and I have to say, it knocks the crap out of any cold that comes my way. Google it. And do take the advice of the previous poster, don't google your symptoms, that has prolonged my anxiety and I have to fight the urge to jump on the computer to search because it causes all-out panice. Google loves fatal diseases and you know what, page rankings are driven by the number of vistors a page has so it's human nature to think the worst, I'm guessing. :)

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 1/27/2011 8:59:03 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/28/2011 5:25 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think I ever gave any indication that I thought I had something awful. I just don't like mysteries, and later on as it became apparent that I was sick, I became worried that I could miss a few days of work this week. That was a very legitimate concern at the time, but anxiety made it worse.

Anyway, I had an ear infection...not a cold. This time, at least, Google was helpful because I hadn't had an ear infection since infancy. My symptoms matched ear infection, and when that mystery was solved much of my anxiety was alleviated. The key is to ignore the worst of what Google or whatever comes up with, which in my case was lymphoma. As something of an anxiety veteran, I knew better than to click on those links. The internet is still a very good tool when it comes to health information, so I don't feel like people should stay away from it even if they have anxiety. People with anxiety just have to be much more careful about what they read, and perhaps familiarize themselves with the concept of Occam's Razor.

Oh, and Google page rankings may be influenced by traffic, but believe me, there are many other factors. My old anxiety site had a higher ranking that the National Institutes for Health. Never could figure that one out.
Posted 1/28/2011 10:30 AM (GMT 0)
Those that are negative thinkers are highly recommended to stay away from being a cyberchondriac, if a little level of optimism is present maybe it's not so bad
regardless what I believe is we can truly never diagnose ourselves simply because we are not quailed too, thats what doctors are for
Posted 1/28/2011 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
Anytime you make a decision on whether to go to a doctor when you're sick, you're engaging in some form of self-diagnosis. "Self-triage" may be a better term for it, but if you want to get technical only doctors and nurses are qualified to tell us when to come see them. The real world just doesn't work that way, and the internet can be a good tool when a person is deciding whether or not they need to go to the doctor or let their bodies heal themselves.

I used to get all worked up by what I saw on the internet, but after several years and quite a bit of effort, my anxiety disorder has improved in general. Now I can look on the internet for basic health information, even when anxious. In fact, a lot of what I read actually calms me down. The thing is, there's lots of stuff we need to know about, such as how to control cholesterol and a million other things.

I do have health anxiety and it wasn't that long ago that I couldn't look at WebMD or whatever, so I understand that a lot of people here aren't yet at the point at which they can utilize this information. But there is hope for them. I dislike labels like "cyberchondria". It's a perfectly valid concept, but the problem with labels is that they tend to stick. We are all trying to free ourselves. Cyberchondria is just one aspect of health anxiety, which is just one aspect of an anxiety disorder. It doesn't deserve its own label. If a person makes progress with their anxiety in general there's no reason they cannot someday visit health websites, which do offer valuable information on how to take care of our bodies.
Posted 1/28/2011 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
yeah you have a point, it can be a useful tool but I'm speaking from experience you know? found this and that and told my doc and it wasen't any of that, like when I just had gas I thought it was appendicitis because of webMD and I wasted money going to the ER for it
I say fump it ( we can't curse on these forums right?) before I had anxiety any little pain or something I'd brush it off and go on, I remember one time I worked out so intense I threw up hardcore and was blacking out big time but I didn't sweat it AT ALLL now with anxiety dude I'd be calling 911 so fast I'd break the speed of light
I'd rather, if it's allowed, not worry about it anymore and just take care of myself the best I can, like I used to and I'm certainly not going to get there googleing a little redness on my hand or a stuffy nose accompanied by a headache in the back of my head or something
Posted 1/28/2011 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that certain people do better not googling if they do not understand what they have read. However, we have members that see their physicians and come here for advice on whether their Drs. know what they are talking about.

I’ve done it, you’ve done it… we’ve all done it. We’ve consulted Dr. Google about health problems. Before we had Dr. Google we had Dr. Spock

Gathering information from sites you can trust is not a bad thing for everyone.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a wonderful parent-friendly site.

Many of the clinics maintain their own websites.

Another site that is helpful is http://www.healthfinder.gov/

Each person should take what they read with a grain of salt.

Take care all and I have to agree with debaser, I do not like labels.

Kindly,
Kitt
Posted 1/29/2011 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
I guess I just don't personally have luck googling symptoms. I do agree it can help at times but with the anxiety I have, I try not to do it anymore because once something sticks in my head, it's very hard to turn directions for me. I'm glad you're feeling better.
Posted 1/29/2011 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
mentalcompass

You are absolutely right, some people do not do well googling and if it is not for you that is OK. Each person is different and I will admit in my line of work I know a fair amount of a lot of medical issues so I don't get overwhelmed.

Your input is greating appreciated.

debaser, So glad to hear things are going better for you.
Posted 2/1/2011 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder what everyone's health anxiety triggers are.
For me it is normally pain.
Head pain - I worry about aneurysm, brain tumor, etc.
Left arm pain - I worry about cardiovascular issues.
Chest pain - Most worrying of all!!
Stomach pain - Cancer?
When the pain goes away, the anxiety goes away.
I still google symptoms because I believe it is better to go to the doctor's office armed with some knowledge instead of none...

Pinks
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