Test Results + Awaiting Specialist

kmg83 said:

I've always had health anxiety and it's at its peak right now.

Went to ER for pain (literally in my butt) and they did CT. The results showed a "tubular density" which they think is possibly a fistula.

But...not conclusive. So I have to see a specialist.

Blood work is normal, thankfully, but my brain still won't stop suggesting worst case scenarios.

I'm having a terrible time getting re-focused on work while I play the waiting game. This anxiety is like a prison.

This is the first time I've reached out for help. I don't know what to do.

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Hi and welcome kmg. Sorry you're having to post under these circumstances. How soon do you see the specialist? I agree, anxiety is like a prison but it sounds like you've got a valid medical concern. To someone without anxiety I'd suggest there's not a darn thing you can do right now to change the waiting or the results. To someone like us, with anxiety, I'd suggest the same thing knowing how difficult it is to try and just concentrate on the present and minimize any thinking about the uncontrollable future. Keep trying to focus on work and/or anything that has worked in the past for you as a distraction. We wish you the very best.

kmg83, You can't go wrong taking Triceps advice. I do and he has helped me through some bad spells. I have anxiety playing the waiting game to see what is wrong. Right now I have to wait to see a surgeon about an aneurysm and I am trying to think of other things. What will be will be and we can't change it. And remember there is usually a cure for most things. I hope you are feeling better and I pray you get good news.

kmg, you can't go wrong with any advice Rosy shares. The two of us have a tremendous number of anxiety years under our belts, dating back where nobody openly discussed anxiety disorders. Everybody back then would think you were crazy if you tried to explain the wide array of physical symptoms our anxiety can create for us. Things are getting better for discussing this disease, particularly with the advent of the internet. Again, welcome, you've reached such an understanding, caring place here.

It’s always the worst when you’re waiting to see a specialist. I went and saw a dermatologist a couple weeks back because I was concerned about something skin related. Got myself all freaked out about it, had to wait like a month to see a dermatologist because they were so far booked up. Of course ended up being nothing deadly, completely benign, and I’d worried sick for weeks for no reason at all. I guess my advice is just try to remember that 99% of the time everything is fine and if something is wrong it’s almost always treatable. Let us know when you have an update.

All the important stuff has been said above. Just wanted to say welcome, and that I wish you the best of luck. My father had a fistula - very similar pain and location. Chances are it's nothing serious, but I know how uncomfortable you must be, and how anxious you must be while you wait. Hang in there!