Health OCD: I suffer with health OCD. I’m constantly worried about getting sick and I always convince myself that the smallest hint of something could be cancer. That being said, when something really does go wrong, I completely spiral. Something has gone wrong: I have had an irregular period and intense abdomen pain for over a month. I went to various OBGYNs who failed to diagnose me with anything. I felt like either the doctors were wrong or I was blowing it out of proportion, but my gut told me I needed to figure it out because of how bad the pain was. Yesterday morning I went to a new obgyn who told me I probably had a pelvic infection. He was angered that no one has diagnosed me and I’d gone over a month with it. He put me on antibiotics and asked me to take them immediately. I am waiting on test results. My biggest fear is infertility. I’m terrified that I will either be diagnosed with cancer or that the infection has made me infertile. I can’t stop googling and reading about how pelvic infections can cause infertility. My obsessions are out of control and my fiancé doesn’t know how to react to my panic attacks. I feel very alone and would appreciate some advice on how to handle this. Thank you

Oh gosh this described me perfectly!! I also have a huge fear of cancer. To my brain, every single discomfort is cancer. I got xrays about two months ago because I've been having symptoms for about 5-6 years that google says can be either colon cancer or ibs. The x-rays came out fine but I'm still not satisfied I need to know what's going on. And just earlier it briefly switched to esophageal cancer because I had a slight discomfort there because my acid reflux has been acting up and won't go away. What I would say is, if there's a sense of urgency to know just wait it out. If everything comes out fine but you're still unsatisfied just sit with the anxiety. I know it's hard especially with people getting misdiagnosed and stuff but that's what I do. Sorry if the advice sucks but that's mostly how I deal with it.

Please stop doing internet research and focus on staying in the moment. Take your day hour by hour. Rather than thinking days, months, or years ahead like you’re anxiety will want you to. Stay in the now. Do relaxation exercises and meditation. Eat good food. Get extra sleep. Watch comforting movies. Stay busy. There’s a very good chance all of your results will be okay. Or that anything wrong will be small and treatable. Don’t cross any catastrophic bridges until you have to.

Thank you for your story, advice and making me feel less alone! It really does help to know other people deal with this, too

Thank you for your response- wise words!