Hi, as a fellow health anxiety sufferer I feel your pain more than you know. I'm 36, have had chronic health anxiety since I was 19. Any symptom in my body and I become terrified. I google constantly and will be the first to admit I drive myself mad with worry. I get to the point I can barely function and then I feel so guilty on my kids. Currently I have had heartburn for nearly 7 weeks and also lose stools. I saw blood in a stool a week ago and since then I'm obsessing over them. I literally hate needing to go because I'm terrified there'll be blood. I hate that I'm obsessive like this but I can't let go of the fear that something serious is wrong. I've to leave a stool sample to the doctor next week. The fear just takes over you doesn't it

Hi ,

thank you so much for taking the time to reply . Health anxiety is so debilitating,exhausting and so consuming. When I'm in the thick of it , all I do is worry / check / worry . I'm also guilty of consulting Dr Google even tho I know this is the main cause of keeping the anxiety cycle going . I just can't help myself. I honestly don't know how I can fix myself.. I'm on antidepressants and know the basics of CBT but nothing seems to help.

im not going to settle until I get the FIT results and that scares me so much. What if they suggest a colonoscopy? I'll not be able to cope as this will totally spiral my anxiety. I really hate this part of me and feel angry that I've let the anxiety monster win again .

please please please please try and not internet search , distract yourself and focus on things you're grateful for xx 

Thank you for your reply. I am here if you ever need to chat. I honestly feel the same about further tests but I know I also won't settle without them. I feel like I need an endoscopy and a colonoscopy, but don't get me started on the fear I'd have getting them horrendous tests done! 

Do you know how long a FIT test takes to come back? I'm hoping to leave 2 samples in tomorrow. But she didn't mention a fit test for mine. One is for Hpylori and the other is a fecal calprotectin. Wonder why she isn't doing a FIT test, especially when I've had blood in my stools a week ago...

I hate that I google and learn about all the tests I want done instead of letting the doctor do her job. I hope your test is negative and you can move on from this. It's reassuring that you've no other worrying symptoms. Hopefully you hear next week 

Hi ,

im actually not sure what test was called , I just presumed it was FIT test as that's what Dr Google said . I had the hplori done before as I also had chest pain which doc said was prob a gut irritation. That was another dark period of anxiety for me . 
take one step and day at a time . 
keep positive xx