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.
This morning has been an absolute NIGHTMARE so far. It seems that my mind can't just be "happy" with one debilitating cancer fear... apparently I need 3.
Esophageal and stomach cancer has been my "thing" for a couple of months now. I have a wide array of symptoms from persistent, frequent reflux-like symptoms (that nexium has done nothing for), to weight loss, to constant burping, to swallowing issues (but it's backwards, I have trouble swallowing small stuff, not big stuff?) - You name it. And if that wasn't enough, I recently developed this mild, but constant weird burning/warm/irritated feeling in the back of my mouth and throat, a long with a little bit of hoarsness every now and then. I am well aware that throat burning in general is a symptom of reflux, but I have felt that many times before and this is differnt (Im sure you have heard that last statement many times before). I can't really explain why it is different, but it is much more of a localized feeling, and more mild, honestly. The last few days I have been tirelessly looking at the back of my throat with a flashlight in the mirror, trying to see if I can find any of the visual signs of throat cancer. I don't smoke, I don't drink, and im young (20s still), so yes, I don't exactly meet the perfect standard of those at the highest risk of developing throat cancer (or esophageal cancer, OR gastric cancer)... But omg I am so sick of this. I am exhausted with fear, ... someone please just tell me I'm not dying :'(
The worst for me is to look inside my mouth and throat, more often than not I will see something that I am 100% sure doesn't look right and I will obsess about it for days, even weeks.
I recently had 2 weeks off being dizzy constantly. I was sure it was some kind of terminal disease. It turned out to be a iron deficiency. Not bad at all and all the stress and worry was for nothing.
I am pretty sure that your symptoms are related to your reflux and something that can be sorted out easily.
Good luck and feel better soon.
Obsession would definitely be an appropriate word in my case. I cannot go into the bathroom without looking in my mouth, or feeling my neck/throat. When I was a little girl, I was convinced that I had a neck tumor, because I did not know that women too have 'Adam's Apples'. It is a vital part of the neck and swallowing process, that is just generally more prominent in women. So my adam's apple was a tumor (LOL). I worried about that for months until I learned better.
I am glad to hear that your concerns turned out to be benign. Anemia sucks though. I hope you feel better.
I once looked up my nose, lol. Don't ask me why??? The next morning I made my mom take me to the doctor, I was convinced there was some kind of growth in my nose. The doctor told me that it should be there it is just swollen because of sinus. I felt so embarrassed. So I learned not to do that anymore haha.
But believe me when I say I know how it feels to constantly worry about some illness that I am convinced I have. Only to find out it is something not to worry about at all.
It feels like I have to train my mind not to catastrophize every little ache I feel.