Hello all!

[Ar1masenka]

Hi,

I hope everyone is well. Nice to meet you all. I figured I would introduce myself. I am a 31 year old male. Approximately 9-10 years ago, my ex-wife (wife at the time) began abusing me, knowing I could not retaliate and did not want to leave our newborn. Overtime, it started panic attacks. I would think I was having a heart attack and rush to the hospital for chest pain, or have a headache and think I was having an aneurysm. That mixed with the anxiety caused by the abuse, caused me to go to ERs. Doctor's would run me through the CT scanner. Rinse and repeat

8 years and 13 CT scans later, I am now worried of course that the CT scans have given me cancer.
I can definitely admit am a hypochondria at this point, and I have scheduled CBT therapy. Has anyone else ever had anxiety and hypochondria this bad, or am I the only person kicking themselves in the butt now, realizing I potentially made my health status worse. It also didn't help that I occasionally smoked on and off for 8 years, because everyone I knew smoked. I can't get any more CT scans at this point because it would not be good. Luckily I found a good primary doctor who has decided to help me through this process and has a lot of patience (no pun intended (different spelling).

Recent events: I have bronchitis which I keep fearing is lung cancer and deep bone pain in my arm, which I fear the worst for.
Pulmonologist says it's bronchitis and does't

Now I am re-married (divorced 2 years prior and had no more scans too) and happy. Now the hypochondria came back in full effect.
2.5 Years 100% smoke free and exercising more frequently (at least until the bronchitis hit).
I just wanted to share my story. I feel absolutely ridiculous for the things I did. I am just ready to be rid of this horrible mental disorder.

Has anyone else gotten this bad before? Am I the only person to unknowingly get large amounts of radiation before learning about the dangers (finally did from my PCP ER Docs never mentioned any risk)?

Anyhow, happy healing.

 

[Rinka]

Hi @Ar1masenka thank you for joining and sharing our story.
I have never had an CT, but in my early 20s I got my appendix taken out, because I was convinced that I had appendicitis. I even felt the pain.
The surgeons then told me later on they found there was no acute infection but scar tissue.
Last year, I was playing with my dog, with the hose. She loves the water and alway jumps and bites the water. Saying that, at some point she accidentally bit me in the hand. It was just one small bite, not much, it didn’t bleed, but I had to take antibiotics. Well somehow i got it in my head that I had rabies and got really panicky and called my doctors and called the vet to get information about her shots etc. Terrible feeling. I was so convinced that I would die on rabies. I went to my gp again and she checked my antibiotics and found that on particular is know to increase anxiety. Given that I’m an anxious person already, it just blow my mind. So I changed the antibiotics and it got better.
Sadly enough abuse can lead to anxiety in all its colours and forms.
Believe me you are not alone.

 

[Ar1masenka]

Thanks Rinka. I hope you are doing well. Indeed, abuse is a horrible thing, as is anxiety. I really appreciate your response. . I wish I could have taken those CTs back, that's for sure, but the past is the past.

 

[Concernedgal]

If I have said it once .. I have said it a thousand times. ... a simple blood test called a cbc or a (complete blood count) can assess cancer symptoms. How you ask? Depending on the cancer ... your white blood cell level will always be affected. Now let's assume that the worst has happened. .. you have done damage (which I seriously doubt ), well, it will show in this blood test. Some cancers cause higher white blood cell counts and some low counts. If they find a problem with your blood cell count then further test will be done and that's how cancer is usually diagnosed. Think about it. A person goes in for a regular checkup and then they get the bad news. Ever wonder how? Well... that's how . A cbc test will help you find the answers you need. Welcome .

 

[Rinka]

Thanks Rinka. I hope you are doing well. Indeed, abuse is a horrible thing, as is anxiety. I really appreciate your response. . I wish I could have taken those CTs back, that's for sure, but the past is the past.

You are welcome.
It’s a terrible thing to worry about your health especially if you think that previous behaviour might be a course of problems.
If you are really worried, then ask your doctor for a complete blood count test, as ConcernedGal mentioned.
This will help you in finding some rest, I’m sure.

 

[janemariesayed]

I have a small amount of yellow skin around my eyes. When I googled it I found that it is probably cholesterol and can lead to heart disease. I know it is my fault and I'm not surprised with all the cakes and fatty and fried foods I eat. I'm thinking about eating more healthily but I don't find healthy food interesting to eat.

 

[Ar1masenka]

I have a small amount of yellow skin around my eyes. When I googled it I found that it is probably cholesterol and can lead to heart disease. I know it is my fault and I'm not surprised with all the cakes and fatty and fried foods I eat. I'm thinking about eating more healthily but I don't find healthy food interesting to eat.

Eating healthier can do you no wrong. Pretty much the only two things we can do to combat this, is to rewrite the patterns/cycles in our brains to not think everything is wrong (usually through CBT), and to live a healthier lifestyle/diet.

 

[janemariesayed]

Eating healthier can do you no wrong. Pretty much the only two things we can do to combat this, is to rewrite the patterns/cycles in our brains to not think everything is wrong (usually through CBT), and to live a healthier lifestyle/diet.

I've made some beef and veg in a slow cooker with some herbs and spices. There was no fat or carbs in it so at least I've got a few days of eating healthy food. I've already had a bowl and it was quite tasty. Eating healthily helps with depression and vitamins can be a real mood lifter.

 

[Concernedgal]

ONE of my favorite healthier dishes is chili. I take a lean steak and ground it in the food processor until it looks like ground beef. And that gives you a healthier chili. Yum.