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Could it be?

Kl223
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Please does anyone have a similar story and it be positive and not where my mind is at right now?

Back info for context… I have extreme severe anxiety, especially around health, my children and death. I am on the highest dose of sertraline they can give me before seeing a psychiatrist. I have had counselling as a teen due to a traumatic upbringing, but it never worked and I hate speaking to people. Anyway, this has now progressed and my main anxieties are around cancer and it consumes my every day life. A small rash, I think cancer. Anytime my kids get a common illness, I think cancer.

My mum had breast cancer and beat it. My dad received a terminal diagnosis of lung cancer in 2021 and fought a very hard, short battle and passed. His passing was so traumatising and painful, despite receiving all the treatment and drugs he was offered, it’s made me even more scared of cancer and since 2021, my mind is in overdrive. I’ve also had pancreatic, breast, prostate, bone, brain cancer in the family.

Fast forward to 6 months ago, I woke up with severe excruciating pain in my right side of my neck. This was causing migraines that I couldn’t get out of bed. I went to A&E and they did a brain scan, which showed it was clear so they sent me home and said it was a trapped nerve. I have since contacted the GP as daily, I have deliberating pins and needles all down my right hand side, especially in my fingers and feet. Alongside daily headaches. They’ve referred me to physio but that was 4 months ago and still nothing. Past month, I have felt like there’s something in my neck again. It’s painful and I’m very hyper aware of my neck. I’ve been feeling daily and nothing. Yesterday in the shower, I’m 99% sure I found a lump. I can’t find it again not wet, but I know somethings there. I’ve also been suffering with extreme fatigue that I need to have naps, and I’ve lost 7lbs this week without trying. My bowel habits have changed too.

I do have multiple health issues such as Coeliac disease, bile acid malsorbtion, IBS, reactive gastritis, PCOS, folate deficient, non alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Could this be anything else or is it really it? I have an appt but not until the 27th.

I can’t leave my babies, they’re only 5 and 6   they’re both on the pathway with such high needs and I’m the only one who understands them x

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    Hi KL223, 

    oh it sounds like you’ve had a lot to deal with. Sending you a big hug! I can totally understand why you’re feeling so anxious, having lived with bad anxiety myself it’s so easy to go to a bad place! I think it’s always good to listen to your body but also remember when you’re feeling anxious your body will react differently. The weight loss and bowel Changes could be from the anxiety . I suffered with bad shoulder/neck pain on one side and it turned out to be all related to anxiety and how I was holding myself when anxious. I think because of your anxiety and family history I would go to the doctors and ask to see a specialist who could do an MRI which would help ease your worries or confirm if there is anything untoward. In the meantime try and do mindfulness etc or anything that makes you a little less stressed. Mindsmatter really helped me , I did the talk therapy and I’d highly recommend it. Just remember all the symptoms don’t automatically means cancer but on the other hand your doing the right things by not ignoring your gut feeling . Wishing you well xx

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    I am so sorry to hear about your situation and your anxieties.  Whatever the results of your appointment on May 27, I would still suggest counselling again.  I know you didn’t find it useful the first time you tried it but there is lots of different kinds of therapy out there eg CBT, EMDR, and it’s just a case of finding the right one for you.  Also finding the right therapist with whom you feel a connection.

    Maybe it would also be useful to see a psychiatrist, who is obviously much more of a specialist than a GP.

    I Try and get as much support as you can from others eg with your children to lighten the load in as many areas of your life as possible.

    I hope that’s useful.  Let us know how you get on.

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