Health ocd

Does anyone have an issue with health ocd that causes physical issues. I have been dealing with this off and on for five years. First it was a brain tumor, next a heart attack, next colon cancer and now I am on to fearing I have pancreatic cancer. I was able to control this for about two years but it came back a month ago after my wife had to be hospitalized and a couple of other family members complained of health issues. I also stopped taking my meds maybe a year ago. I thought I could handle it but I slowly couldn’t control it until it unleashed on me a couple of weeks ago. I had a sore back, not a big deal as I had a sore back for years, but for some reason I felt a compulsion to go into an urgent care, my pcp retired and I couldn’t get an appt with my new pcp for months. At urgent care they told me I had trace blood in my urine and that I might have a kidney stone. I spiraled. Urgent care wouldn’t return calls or schedule the ultrasound correctly. I freaked out. Finally got the ultrasound and it said something about my pancreas, turns out it isn’t a big deal but I had no one to talk to. My pcp was gone urgent care wouldn’t call. I freaked out. Now every time a test comes in I invent a new way I might be sick. I started to get an itch sensation on my forearms lower legs and face and scalp. I freaked out again thought it was cancer again. Every day the pains change location to fit what I googled. Has this happened to anyone else? What did you do to help?

Lisa85

Date posted: Yesterday

I experience physical symptoms with my health anxiety and my OCD makes me hyper aware, then I fixate and it makes my sensations and symptoms worse. I’m currently in the thick of it, so I wish I had some advice for you. Just know you’re not alone!!! We got this! 💕

DerekFran

Date posted: Yesterday

I can absolutely relate to this. It has gotten a bit worse for me the past year or two, I guess because I am getting a little older is part of it. I was actually at Urgent Care tonight as I have been feeling a bit of pressure around my neck and ear, and I automatically think the worst. The Dr. Said there is no infection in my ear and it may just be allergies. I was kinda hoping it was an ear infection because then I would feel better knowing it wasn't something worse, now I am left with hoping it's just allergies but not really knowing for sure. That's how my OCD works. Trust me, you are not alone, better yet, we are not alone.

petec09

Date posted: 19h

Yes it’s incredibly hard to deal with. I’ve had the same exact fears and have been to the dr more than I should. I’m just trying to learn that these things can possibly happen but not worry about it until I have to. The ERP responses are taking time but the medicine helped as well. I went off of it for a bit and my spirals became way worse. Also you have to stop googling it eats me alive when I do that. No amount of googling will reassure you or “confirm” what you have. I have had every listed symptom of a disease and when I went to a dr they said nothing was wrong and each symptom was something separate causing it that was no big deal.

mjt1616

Date posted: 17h

@petec09 Have you ever worked yourself up so much you forget to breath/clench your jaw? I’ve been doing that lately and it makes me nauseous

petec09

Date posted: 15h

@mjt1616 I’ve had experiences with tmj where my jaw hurt and got tight it’s not fun.

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