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No one is listening

Anxiousone24
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Hi everyone,

I'm a 28 year old man, who works as a Junior Doctor. I also have a history of Anxiety and OCD.  Over the last 8 weeks I have had a persistent, worsening cough with some weight loss.  I've developed shortness of breath very quickly over the last 5 days to a point where Im short of breath just doing normal things. I'm being referred on a 2 week wait to Respiratory. I've been to A&E twice and because all the blood tests and chest xray was normal they did not do anything. 

 

Essentially my whole family, friends, and some Doctors have told me everything is fine when I know it is not. I feel so, so alone. I'm not scared of cancer or death, but I am currently without any support ie medications to help me with these symptoms and my family will not believe something is wrong. I'm sorry that I am ranting here but I don't have anyone else to turn to. 

 

I hope you all have more luck than me.

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    Hi,

    I'm sorry you are experiencing this. Have you tried therapy? I had severe health anxieties and had to see a psychologist to find ways of coping. Good luck to you.

    Laura xx

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    Hi

    I'm  sorry that you are feeling alone with your symptoms. I can't offer any advice as to what it could be, of course as I'm not medical. Obvious causes could be Covid and long covid, if you have had that. Also, I don't suffer with severe anxiety, but I know some people can have difficulty breathing when they are in a panicked state and is there any chance your cough could be a nervous cough? Is there anything else you are worried about other than your health? ie something that may be manifesting as health anxiety? I'm not saying your symptoms aren't real, but it is just things to consider. 

    Try and find some reasurrance from the X-ray and blood tests. Another possiblility could be allergies. It depends on the type of cough you have etc. 

    I hope you can get to the bottom of your symptoms and start to feel some relief. 

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    Hi there,

    Sorry to read you are experiencing such anxiety.  As you are a Dr yourself I'm sure you can tell yourself that because of your age and previous tests you will almost certainly be fine.  The trouble is with anxiety, all rational thoughts can go out of the window!

    You feel like this not because you're ill but because of the anxiety so if you try to accept that it may help you.  Do you have reflux?  It can be exacerbated  by stress and can cause chest infections and breathlessness.  Likewise if you've had covid, symptoms may be persisting for you.  My son has had it twice and as he's someone who is pretty fit, it really affected his fitness for about a year.

    There are lots of rational explanations to how you feel but that won't address your underlying anxiety.  You must speak to your GP.  The trouble is if you soldier on thinking it will get better, it probably won't without some help.  You're probably pretty busy and tired too being a junior dr and everything can seem worse when you're exhausted.  
     

    Look after yourself, you will get through it and will be absolutely fine.   Do reach out to your family again and tell them how much this is affecting you.  Good luck and I hope you feel better soon. 
     

    Mary 

     

  • Offline in reply to LauraP

    Hi Laura,

     

    I appreciate your response. I do have a therapist, although he is not a specialist in health anxiety by any means. Thanks for your well wishes.

     

    Take care,

     

    Oliver

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