Sore Throat Meltdown

Nothing seems simple anymore when it comes to symptoms this year, so it's no wonder we panic. But what I've read recently anxiety can cause your body to feel almost any kind of symptoms. I never thought sore throat was one of them but I guess the nervous rapid breathing can cause irritation or dryness. The more we focus on it the more it is there.

I have animal dander and dust mite allergies (still own a cat and eat antihistamines constantly), probably some form of allergic asthma and also have suffered from hives since last fall. No pollen allergies though I think...

I got through the last covid wave here in finland pretty well without too much panicking even though my allergies (sneezing and such) made me feel like coming down with something. A few of my coworkers had some flu like symptoms and chest stuff but nothing happened and nothing spread.

Now these past weeks I haven't been doing at all well since the second wave has come. I work as a cleaner in a laboratory/office building, the place has been open through the whole pandemic so I haven't been able to stay isolated at home. Only recently started wearing a mask in public transportations when the government suggested us to do so.

I can't really tell what is allergy related anymore and the fact that no one should come to work if they're feeling any symptoms makes it so damn hard when the worplace also causes allergic reactions in me (mostly hives). Last week at first I had migraine attack, didn't go to work. Next day went to work and sneezed a few times and my nose was a bit runny, then some phlegmy feeling in my throat. Called my supervisor to ask what should I do, she didn't sound pleased, said I should be able to know difference between flu and allergies. I still decided to call a nurse who said it sounds like allergies I can be calm at work. My coworker wasn't pleased so I decided to contact a doctor through this digiclinic system we have. His opinion was more like mild viral infection. Got covid tested negative day later. I was feeling quite okay during the weekend and the doctor said I could go to work. I was feeling like I was exaggerating. Awful guilt for not being at work and thinking my supervisor hates me.

Well... This week I've had terrible time at work, feeling like my chest is tight and my throat is sore, feeling like wanting to cough. I ended up thinking the test was false and I'm here infecting everyone. Crying hysterically in my cleaning closet trying to figure out what the hell should I do. Called the doctor again, got an appointment for someone to check my lungs and throat. Got covid tested again with some blood tests and strep throat just in case. Now that I have managed to calm down a bit the sorness of my throat and tightness of my chest have decreased. Haven't gotten test results back though from covid. Trying not to think about the horrifying possibility that I've gotten people sick, I could not possibly go back to work ever again and my life would be over. Nobody has complained about any symptoms, not my fiancee or other family members. Too afraid to ask my coworkers. Been so worried that I have barely slept or eaten in these past days. It's a nightmarish circle the mind goes around.

This isn't the first time I've totally lost it.
Last year I was convinced I was pregnant even after many negatives because my intrauterine device was expiring, I had no period, I couldn't t sleep or eat and felt swollen from my breasts. Had to go to the doctor to get me calm down. After that during summer I was convinced I have lung cancer or COPD as my left chest felt tight from very occasional smoking. My heart was racing and I had abdominal discomfort when I ate, nonstop feeling of hunger.

So I guess I should realize I have some sort health anxiety.

Sorry for the long reply, just wanted throw all this crap out there

akweber83 said:

Last night I fell asleep on the couch for about an hour, when I woke up and had a sore throat and instantly began to panic. I mean I went from 0-60 in about 2 seconds. I am so completely terrified that I am going to get Covid-19 that I can barely function. I am driving myself and my husband nuts. I am beyond worried that I am going to get Covid and it will end up killing me or someone else that I pass it to.

I honestly can’t take this anymore. I feel like I am losing my mind with panic. I try so hard to talk to myself through it logically. You don’t have a fever or a cough, you are a little congested it is probably just allergies. I maybe feel better for 5 minutes and then I am right back to the same place. Somebody please tell me I’m not the only one who feels this way, because I’ll be honest I’m the only one who struggles with this in my family and it is a very lonely place to be in.

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I feel like when COVID first started I was paranoid thinking I was gonna get it too. It was all over the new day and night causing so much anxiety I even told must that this was freaking me out. Just try to wear a mask at all times and when you have visitors wear a mask too. You just never know. I was just sick recently too and I was freaking out fever and all but it happened to be allergies and I was freaking relieved! I was like I was freaking out for nothing . But I hope you fell better because It’s not a good feeling !

akweber83 said:

Last night I fell asleep on the couch for about an hour, when I woke up and had a sore throat and instantly began to panic. I mean I went from 0-60 in about 2 seconds. I am so completely terrified that I am going to get Covid-19 that I can barely function. I am driving myself and my husband nuts. I am beyond worried that I am going to get Covid and it will end up killing me or someone else that I pass it to.

I honestly can’t take this anymore. I feel like I am losing my mind with panic. I try so hard to talk to myself through it logically. You don’t have a fever or a cough, you are a little congested it is probably just allergies. I maybe feel better for 5 minutes and then I am right back to the same place. Somebody please tell me I’m not the only one who feels this way, because I’ll be honest I’m the only one who struggles with this in my family and it is a very lonely place to be in.

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Its ironic, you say your in a lonely place, but you have family around you that do not deal with this situation. The best thing to do is talk to them about it. Even if you did get Covid19, look at how many people recovered from it compared to deaths. Of those people that did not recover look at their circumstances. Its possible to not have it at all, and it is just a minor symptom of a cold. When colds are caught from someone else the symptoms are more minor and less frequent. Just saying.