Please save Me from Myself and My Health Anxiety!!

Sure.

Let's just run with the idea you DO have cancer, because quite frankly, we ALL do. Several hundred cancerous cells at any given time. That's normal. Our bodies handle / wipe out cancerous cells hundreds of times every day.

Let's pretend your tests didn't come out normal like they did. Let's pretend instead your do s left the room, came back looking grave, you were immediately admitted to the hospital for more tests and to discuss options.

(Now, none of that happened... You were told 'Dont stress this is pretty normal, come back in a few weeks... But let's really pretend I stead of being at home, you're currently inpatient on an oncology ward.)

Then what?

Surgery. Radiation. Chemo. One or more of those. Which suck.

And then what?

You live.

The vast majority of people with cancer live.

And then you have to get tested for awhile. Maybe you have to do another round, maybe you stay in remission.

Most cancers are highly treatable with great percentage rates these days. You have a FAR greater chance of dying in a car accident than you do of dying of cancer even if you HAVE cancer.

Ahem.

STRESS affects your immune system (and all other symptoms). It SHUTS OFF your immune system. Which means you'll have low WBC counts. Low WBCs is USUALLY AN INDICATOR OF STRESS, not cancer.

I am as in to holistic health, and alternative paths to wellness, as anyone can be. I, too, like to monitor blood work for clues as to what is going on within.

That being said, most (not all) blood work is a snap-shot of *that* particular moment in time. I like to keep a lab file to spot trends, rather than worry alot about a particular result which can be skewed by numerous factors and even differences in labs.

It sounds like you're obssessing. Why? Is there something else in your life that's bothering you, and this is a way to avoid it (not that you're doing it consciously)? I would probably seek help from a counselor to sort through what is going on, if anything.

Let's pretend you're completely correct, and something horrible is happening. What next? If you're not confident in your doc, get another opinion! Perseverating on doom and gloom won't change anything one way or the other.

I would seek out some counseling, as well as a 2nd opinion. I would also look into alternative ways to handle anxiety (I love acupuncture).

Good luck - hugs.

I can totally relate. And to al those that say ' think happy thoughts' it's really not that easy! This is an anxiety disorder and should be treated like one. If this is the only time you do this, I hope you get through it and it never happens again. If you do this all the time.....as I do....then it is time to arm yourself with a plan.

Get professional help! Get books on anxiety and health anxiety. Start googling hypochondria instead of your symptoms if you must google anything.

I wish I truly had a magic answer for this is something I have been battling for years. In fact, in the last 3 days I was going to have a heart attack from the zpack I was taking and then had cancer due to a pain in my neck. There are super bad days....like the last few for us....and better days. But I say my days with no anxiety are few and far between. I wish I could take meds for it...but taking new meds is a hard fear for me to overcome.

I know that what did help me is know that WORRYING WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME. It will get you No where. Try doing relaxation tapes at night. Start a journal. And do not google! Do not watch news. Do not let people discuss health issues with you.

I also know that my health anxiety is at is worst when I have other stresses in my life. Such as your upcoming vacation. I know vacation is supposed to be fun....but who does all the planning and packing....us. So this is your minds awful distraction for this stress. It happened every time to me before a vacation and it is so hard t o enjoy the vacation while you are worrying.

Before you go....right now....set up an appointment with a therapist. Make that first step. And message me if you want. Know that i am right there with you and this is a daily battle to control.

Eta: any...and I mean any...symptom including your WBC to decrease....can happen to your body just because you are worried or stressed by it. Even if it just gives your that anxious pause. Your body can start having the symptoms....so do not give them any credit. Your symptoms mean very little.

Too bad I cannot live by all the words of wisdom I just told you. It is so much easier said than done!

This is doing something for you but I don't know what. STOP. Give yourself a physical vacation and a brain vacation. Look at my profile. I did have cancer. And if you had cancer and if your head is falling off and your wrists are growing green hair it is going to happen when you come back, too. And why are you spending all this time doing your internet research when you should be getting ready to go on vacation? I give you permission to toss out your anxiety right now and promise you are allowed to resume it right as soon as your vacation is done. Then you can dwell on it, get depressed and continue your research. Or you can live life. now and forever. Did I worry about my children? Of course. And I sweat all the time even after I had cancer. Get ready for your vacation and make a note to yourself that you will just have a good time. Take a pen and paper and everytime you are feeling like this mark down what you are supposed to worry about after you come back. And please see a person about Obsessive compulsive disorder. You don't have to repeat things like tapping and counting to have it.

Please calm down. My neutrophils were very low a few years ago - lower than yours - it was picked up during a routine physical when I felt completely fine. They retested - still low. After about 2 weeks, they suddenly bounced back to normal.

All anyone could tell me was that I probably had a very mild virus, and when the virus cleared, my neutrophils went back up. I never felt sick at all, so I don't know if I had a virus or not, but in any case, it definitely wasn't cancer or anything else to worry about.

Start researching other things on the internet the power of positive thinking, the power of yoga for healing, meditation for healing, prayer for healing,
make sure your doctor knows how stressed you are, mention the crying, sleeping problems, worrying. You may need a prescription to help you deal with the stress and worrying.

I can totally relate to a certain extent!!! My short answer: you need to get a hobby!!! Seriously!! Getting your mind on something else really helps. Sounds to me like nothing serious is wrong. Is it possible you're going thru menopause? You sound relatively young but menopause can happen at any age!! Ask your M. how old she was and grandmother. For me, it started early. Just a thot!!

Trust the doctors and quit getting so worked up about all the numbers!!! That's going to drive you even crazier than you already are!!! lol!!!

Go on vacation and focus on your kids and making sure they're having a good time!!! Your stress is going to rub off on them and they're going to start acting as paranoid as you!! And I don't think you want that happening!!! Trust me, kids sense EVERYTHING!!!!

Good luck!!

Zebras again. Only this time, you went out looking for hoofbeats.

Night sweats are easy: the ideal temperature for sleep is 68 degrees (lowering your body temperature stimulates your body's natural tendency to lower its own temperature during sleep). Your thermostat is set at 80? There you go. Turn it down to 76; I'll bet you sleep better - you sweat to cool yourself down, and lowering your body temperature is something your body does when it sleeps. Help it out a little.

Of course you bruise easier than you did a few years ago. My M. and I bruise easily, too, and we are both finding that as we get older, we bruise easier than before. So it makes sense that you would bruise a bit easier than you did a couple of years ago. You are now a couple of years older.

And this is starting to sound like an anxiety disorder. If you really did have any of the diseases you were worried about, then you would be advised to get mental health counseling. You might want to do that anyway?

My grandfather was one of the most stressed people I had ever met. Until he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Suddenly, there was nothing left to be stressed out about - the worst had happened, and he became cheerful AFTER his diagnosis. What I wonder about is this: are you worried more that you ARE sick, and are losing your good health? Or are you worried that you AREN'T sick, and will have to keep waiting, sort of like, it's going to happen eventually, can we just do it now and get it over with?

Please, don't take your computer with you on your vacation. Please get a professional to talk to when you get back (NOT on a computer!). And you might as well spend your vacation like it's your last one, anyway. Come to think of it, we should ALL spend EVERY vacation that way. That's what vacations are for, right? In a nutshell, enjoy it.

Let me get this straight. The doctor said stress can cause these fluctuations and the PA told you she sees these fluctuations all the time and yet neither one of them told you definitely that it was cancer(sounds like they didn't even remotely hint that it was either)??
You seriously need to calm down! I mean that sincerely, but firmly!!
This is the enemy filling your head with these fearful thoughts. God does not give us a spirit of fear, satan does that. Whenever you feel yourself getting on edge you need to stop those thoughts even if you have to shout it out loud. Make yourself think positive thoughts. Get a devotional. Spend time in prayer or meditating on God's Word. Stay off the internet!! There is so much misinformation on there, it truly just ends up scaring people. Listen to your doctors and nurses. This is their field of expertise. If they don't give you an inkling that you have some hideous disease, then dismiss it. I totally get being worried about getting terminally sick and leaving young children behind. I have that fear too. I think all parents do, but you are doing your family a disservice by living your life acting as if you have one foot in the grave! Nothing that you wrote in your post worries me. I have Grave's Disease so my thyroid has to be regulated with synthroid. My levels fluctuate from time to time. Try eating a diet full of antioxidants, like lots of green, leafy vegetables and colorful fruits. That should help increase your vitamin levels. Be proactive about this and tackle it head on! I think it is all in your head. Don't let worry rent space there. Kick those thoughts to the curb and live your life to the fullest!!
P.S. Your thermostat was on 80? Oh my word! No wonder you had nightsweats! My husband would melt. I am always cold, but we keep our thermostat around 71 and I sometimes wake up hot and sweaty. I think you are going to be fine. I think stress is doing this to you.
HTH,
A.

Been there, done that. I had some issues and after 2 weeks I made an appointment. Earliest appointment was a 3 week wait so I made the appointment and wrote it on the calendar.

Now I have a little background in medical stuff having worked in the insurance end of it for 20+ yrs. I know better BUT I googled my symptoms. It was either something minor so stage 4 cancer. So I spent 3 weeks just knowing that I had stage 4 uterine or ovarian cancer. Didn't sleep more than 2 hrs at a time, so upset I could hardly function, put on 10 lbs from stress eating, etc. The outcome? It was a uterine polyp that was removed and solved the problem.

The problem with Dr Google is that it's full of information but without the knowledge learned in medical school there's no way to figure it all out. I know it's hard to not worry but if you can find a way to put this aside until you see your doctor please do. All the panic and worry doesn't help at all and won't change the outcome.

I think you need some professional help. How do you function? There is nothing to be concernd about. If you did blood work every day there would be variations. Please do not sweat it and go on vacation. I am sure you are a very healthy individual.

My first suggestion is that you find a good counselor to talk to, you need to get to the bottom of this obsession. I rarely ever go to a doctor, I have no idea what your alphabet soup is all about. You use all those letters and everyone is supposed to know what you are talking about.
Second start looking at alternative medicine and holistic methods for healing.
Thrid make sure you are eating a healthy diet and getting moderate exercise and taking care of yourself.
Fourth stop worring, when we worry about something we bring it closer to us.

I know it is easier said than done, but tyr looking at it this way. It is out of your control, and worrying won't change it, so why worry?

Say a prayer and let it go...

Next - listen to your doctor... if there was a reason to worry he would tell you.

My Gram used to tell me Dont Borrow Trouble, we all have enough of our own...

Good luck!

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Set up a therapy appointment immediately.

It sounds like you should get some professional help. You deserve it!!

Whoa, Robyn! Slow down!

Your doctor said to check back in two weeks. Close all of the browsers on your computer and go start packing for your vacation.

The PA was right- don't stress until you need to. Your focus right now should be on getting your family and yourself ready to go on a vacation! Don't sabatage this time together by stressing over this right now. Give the supplements a chance to kick in and then go back and get checked again.

I admire you for doing your research, knowledge is power, but you are overpowering yourself right now, sweetie!

Where are you going on vacation? Focus on that. Give us an update in two weeks, okay? (((hug)))

did you know that your white blood count can change every hour.. my M. was in the hospital for some illness and they were drawing blood 3 times a day.. the numbers were all over the place.. she had an infection so the white count was high.. then getting higher.. then coming down... all int he matter of a day.

ther eis nothing wrong with your numbers..if you cant stop obsessing over this you should seek help.