Hypochondria Support Group
Hypochondria refers to excessive worry about having a serious illness. Hypochondria is often characterized by fears that minor bodily symptoms may indicate a serious illness, constant self-examination and self-diagnosis, and a preoccupation with one's body. Many individuals with hypochondriasis express doubt and disbelief in the doctors' diagnosis.
I posted about a month ago that I was worried about symptoms I was having, including abdominal pain and feeling tired all the time and was worried about cancer. I mentioned that would go to the doctor but I haven't yet because I'm scared. Lately though I have been aware of new symptoms that are very alarming and point specifically to pancreatic cancer.
I still have the bloated and hard upper abdomen above my belly button, and discomfort when I lay on my back too long. Lately I've also noticed that the sharp pains tend to be on the left side of my ribs, or a cramping sensation in my middle stomach that I've usually only felt when I've had the flu. Ive had abdominal trouble for as long as i can remember, but it usually tended to be the lower abdomen.
Other things that I normally wouldn't pay any mind have caught my attention like darker urine and stool that floats. My pee is usually very dark, almost orange in the morning or when I haven't drank enough water, and gets lighter when I drink water, but sometimes even then it is like a light very slightly greenish yellow and I can't tell if its just the lighting and I'm over reacting. Also some of my stools have been floating, though they're not clay coloured more like a medium orangish brown (sorry if this is tmi). These worry me because I read that fatty stools and dark pee are signs of pancreatic cancer.
I've also had a weird bump near my thigh that felt like a pimple but didn't go away, it felt and looked almost like a blood blister and it was itchy and painful to touch. One day I scratched it and it bled, after that it went down in size and stopped hurting me, almost like I had a blood clot? I recently read that blood clots are also a sign of pancreatic and stomach cancers. I havent had any more signs of bloods clots that ive been aware of, though sometimes I feel spots on my legs that hurt like a bruise when I touch them but are not visibly bruised. And both sides of my ribs directly under my breasts are killing me like they're bruised but don't look bruised at all. could they be blood clots??
So far I have not had any other symptoms that they list for pancreatic cancer like jaundice, itching skin, or diabetes (that I know of) and I am not in the risk group for it as I am only 25. Does anybody here have any experience with or know somebody who had pancreatic cancer? Do these symptoms sound like it? Is it possible for me to have it at my age?
Thank you for taking the time to read this, I am very scared and any insights will help.
edit: i forgot to add that I have gerd and my heartburn lately has been so bad it is making it difficult to sleep, I have been popping tums some days like they are candy.
I am also dizzy a lot of days, I feel sometimes when I lay down like the room is spinning, and I feel like my eyes cannot focus. I've always been a bit of a clutz but lately my balance has been very bad, I bump into things and lose my balance a lot. I am borderline anemic so I thought this could be the cause but I've been so for a long time and the dizziness is new, within the last 6-8 months. Are these also signs?
This time I said 'enough is enough' and I finally went to my GP...and also had my regular Gyno appointment...and I was totally open and honest with them about my fears. Although I have had health anxiety all of my life, I also go years without any issues so these docs were not aware of my problem. They were both very reassuring and also very quick to send me for the tests necessary. I will also be grateful to the way they hurried the results back to me to save me one more unnecessary moment of anguish. As the "normal" me would have predicted, all is fine....and once I knew that most of my bothersome symptoms (achy back, heartburn) seemed to vanish. Why? Because they were stressed induced, I am sure.
So, I told you all of that to say: When I read your story, I could feel your pain...and could also see your desperate attempt to find reassurance without going to see the doctor- exactly what I wanted too. However, that will not work for long because you will then find something else to worry about. GO TO THE DOCTOR AND ASK FOR EVERY AND ALL TEST YOU NEED TO HAVE FOR YOUR PEACE OF MIND!
Of course, that is not a long-term solution because sooner or later some other vague symptom will show up and off you will go again. THAT is something that needs to be addressed through anxiety management and/or therapy, but what you need right now is an answer to the acute panic you are in.
Hope that you will get the answers you need. God Bless!