So scared! Please help me

This started in July/August I thought I had sinusitis. It went temporarily and then came back along with tingling sensation on right side of head. I noticed a cracked tooth and went to the dentist who then referred me to a specialist. They were going to remove the tooth but didn't because he said that my problem was something to do with the joints of my jaw. 
he said to eat on both sides. 
long story short, the tingling in the right side is there every morning and continues through the day. Sometimes I get a headache too in one place. I also get a tingling cheek on the same side. I had a massage who said that he thought my problem was stress and tension, my muscles in my neck were so tight that he couldn't move them for a while. I am a worrier and suffer health anxiety. I am terrified beyond words of having cancer. I am absolutely terrified of going to the dr incase he's concerned and send me for an mri. (I also have claustrophobia). Please can someone just put my mind at rest. I'm waking up at 2:15 every morning completely terrified! 

My daily symptoms are: tingling in right side of head which definitely get worse when I worry about them.  I am driving myself mad and even as I write this, I feel the tingling. 
 Dear God I am so scared. I just want this all to go, to end! 

  • Hiya, I do think the only way to end it all is to go to the gp and express your concerns, I'm a worrier too and health anxiety affects me so much but the only way I can feel relief is once I've seen a gp! and had the scans done! I'm currently waiting for a breast clinic appointment to come for a lump I have and I've been worried sick for two weeks so I've forced myself to get checked and feel better for the referral coming! 
    I guarantee once you've seen a gp and you have some reassurance and a plan going forward it'll ease your worries!

  • I have no medical knowledge but I cannot help wonder if your problems are caused by jaw clenching/teeth grinding in your sleep - I think its quite common for people to do this when under stress and feeling anxious. When I was going through a really stressful time, I started getting headaches, a tingling sensation in my cheek and my neck sometimes felt stiff. Then one tooth went really sensitive so I went to see the dentist - although I did have a sinus infection the tooth was ok but he thought I was subconsciously clenching my jaw in my sleep and asked if I had had headaches etc. I was given medication to help relax me at night, to break the cycle and my symptoms eased off. It might be worth talking to your GP or dentist to follow up on the jaw issue mentioned and start to learn how to reduce your anxiety

  • You are absolutely right. It makes complete sense. It always seems to be the case that if I go to the gym, walk and then have a sauna then my symptoms are a lot less noticeable the next morning. I wish I wasn't such a worrier. I am still worried about going to the Dr incase they say I need an mri to rule other things out. I'm going to try meditating in the evening as I am drifting off to sleep. Do you think that is a good idea?

  • Meditating may well help you - really anything to help you relax. I would also start trying to incorporate daily stretches into your routine - especially for neck/shoulders as from your massage it sounds like you hold tension there. It may be worth another visit to your dentist to get further information about what was meant about 'joints of jaw' and see if sleeping with a mouthguard would help. I was given medication but my daughter it would appear also subconsciously clenches her jaw in her sleep in times of stress and she was given a mouthguard before her GCSEs to prevent damage to her teeth.

  • Hi Krystalk and thanks for posting.

    I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling so scared and worried about your health at the moment.

    You have had some replies on here from other forum members which you may have found helpful.  It does sound like it would be really useful to go to your GP to discuss your worries.  Symptoms can be caused by many different things, most of which are not cancer.  Your GP will be able to talk through what has been happening, examine you and see if you need any further tests.  They will also be able to support you with your anxiety.

    You mention waking at night and describe how your worries and fear about your health are really affecting your day to day life.

    I wonder if you have had any support for this before?  It sounds like you do try different things to manage it, such as massage, and you mentioned trying mediation in your reply to the other forum members.  There are some other resources here which you might like to have a look at.  Anxiety UK is a website that has lots of ideas for people living with anxiety to manage how they are feeling.  Every Mind Matters is an NHS website that helps people look after their mental health and wellbeing. 

    Hopefully you do manage to speak to your GP and have some answers soon, which will hopefully help relieve your worry.

    Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You can also talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Take care

    Rachel

  • I came here three years ago after finding a breast lump and the support on here was amazing. Thankfully mine was not cancer and I hope that you get good news   

  • Thank you so much for your reply. No I have never had help or support. I've just gone through life worrying myself sick over one thing or another. 

  • Well I had two days with no symptoms whatsoever. And then....... I had a bit of stress last night and went to bed without doing any meditation. I woke feeling ok and had a massage (from a professional masseur), afterwards I was left with tingling on top of my head and to the right side of my head. Maybe he aggravated something. 

    For the last week or so I have been having a sauna and shower before bed and listening to a meditation cd while falling asleep. Most days I have woken with no symptoms but they did come back during the day. 
    The last two days were really good when I had no symptoms at all. Maybe this is all caused by stress? Jaw clenching and anxiety! 

  • Hey Hollie, did you ever get a diagnosis?