I am freaking out that I have cancer.

[Kimberly N]

In my previous post I spoke about how much of a hypochondriac I am and have been for years. It has mostly gone away until last week. I was eating tacos with my boyfriend when suddenly I had a TERRIBLE abdominal pain come on. It felt like ovulation cramps but 20x worse. I had to lay down, it went away finally but of course I googled the symptoms. I found bile duct cancer. I also found that another symptom is itchiness and I cannot stop itching now. I notice it on my top part by the collar bone by my breast where there seems to be a red little itchy bump but I do not know if it is because of my necklace or a real thing I need to worry about. I do not really have anymore severe abdominal pains, except for the occasional ones but I am convinced that I am doing it to myself. As for the itching, it comes on mainly badly at night and its all over from my legs to my arms and back but I also do not know if it is me imagining it because I am sitting home doing nothing and worrying or a real thing to be concerned over. I know I have had many anxiety attacks over diseases that I think I have, but this is starting to become a real concern. My family knows how I am and thinks this is another ridiculous scare of mine, but I just do not know. I need help

 

[Kelculator]

I'm so sorry to hear that. Glad to know that your pain has gone away. Do you still have it now?

 

[Kelculator]

The itchy feeling can definitely be caused by anxiety. I can just tell myself I am feeling itchy, and now my skin is itching wjile I type this post. Try not to worry too much about the itching, I know it's really hard. I wouldn't worry about the itchy bump unless something else like that pops up or it starts to expand.
I don't really know about what can cause the sudden pain, but sometimes I encounter abdorminal pain randomly, and they go away. Maybe it was really bad gas, or your intestines were moving with food in a weird position that caused it to hurt. Tell us more about this to ease your worries.

 

[Concernedgal]

In my previous post I spoke about how much of a hypochondriac I am and have been for years. It has mostly gone away until last week. I was eating tacos with my boyfriend when suddenly I had a TERRIBLE abdominal pain come on. It felt like ovulation cramps but 20x worse. I had to lay down, it went away finally but of course I googled the symptoms. I found bile duct cancer. I also found that another symptom is itchiness and I cannot stop itching now. I notice it on my top part by the collar bone by my breast where there seems to be a red little itchy bump but I do not know if it is because of my necklace or a real thing I need to worry about. I do not really have anymore severe abdominal pains, except for the occasional ones but I am convinced that I am doing it to myself. As for the itching, it comes on mainly badly at night and its all over from my legs to my arms and back but I also do not know if it is me imagining it because I am sitting home doing nothing and worrying or a real thing to be concerned over. I know I have had many anxiety attacks over diseases that I think I have, but this is starting to become a real concern. My family knows how I am and thinks this is another ridiculous scare of mine, but I just do not know. I need help

Do you take anti depressants or anti anxiety medication. .if not..try to take a benadryl..unless your allergic to it. Try that ..get back at me..and I can provide more information from there. If my instincts are correct you are allergic to something. Maybe?? Just take the benadryl and tell me how it done. Then I can tell you for sure what's up.

 

[Michelle Stoddard]

I have some of the same problems that OP has. Usually, I'm convinced I'm having a heart attack or a blood clot in my leg. I get pains in my chest, arms, and legs. They can be incredibly convincing. Usually it happens at night and of course, it triggers a panic attack. The best advice that I have is:

1. Stop googling symptoms. I used to do this and it always made it ten times worse lol. If you need to visit a doctor than make an appointment. Don't try to be your own doctor.

2. Talk about what you are feeling with someone you trust who won't judge you. It always makes my "symptoms" go away or at least lessen.

3. Don't sit alone at home and do nothing. If you can go outside, go for a walk, if not try maybe cleaning or reorganizing something? OR do some breathing/relaxation exercises. There are plenty on youtube for free. Basically, anything that takes you out of your own thoughts and puts you in the real world. A lot of repetitive activities have a grounding effect that breaks the cycle of those thoughts and keeps you from feeling like you are completely losing your mind.

4. Avoid caffeine and naps after 2 pm. Sleep is so important for someone with anxiety. Having a good nights sleep can cut my anxiety symptoms in half. This is the piece of advice I have the hardest time following myself lol.

 

[Peacelily]

Tacos are not good to eat if you have a sensitive stomach aka IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) where the stomach lining and instestines get inflamed by fatty and spicy foods, and can cause digestive discomfort. I second the idea of going to see your doctor. If you eat tacos then get stomach pains, that sounds like IBS to me (I suffer from it, and gas discomfort can be felt in the right and left side and middle when it becomes trapped). I'm not a doctor but I think you should make an appointment.

Keep a food diary too. That will help you determine what foods cause you digestive discomfort so that you can avoid eating them. Or if you really want to eat tacos again, take a probiotic before or with the Taco, to ease any inflammation that can happen afterwards. A doctor can advise you for sure.