1. < Depression & Anxiety

Major Health Anxiety: GI issues

Posted by sarah60 @sarah60, May 25, 2020

Hi - sorry for the long post! I’m a 58 yo female who up to the beginning of this year was athletic, fit, felt great and as far as I knew, healthy.

I had a 5 hour surgery late last year and one week after, I started to have upper GI issues which migrated to lower GI (I’ve been diagnosed with IBS yrs ago) and by the time January 2020 rolled around I really felt something didn’t quite feel right. By then, I was getting lower pelvic/back pain. I was also getting bright red blood occasionally after BMs. I have had this for years for hemmroids but this time I got scared. Fast forward to March, and I called a GI dr requesting a colonoscopy but covid19 prevented that, so I called again complaining of pain and they did a CT scan of pelvic/abdomen looking for a rectal access. The CT scan results came back with clear colon, stomach, lymph glands,small intestines, female organs and NO rectal access. etc but found. Liver lesion - noted as hemangioma but needs evaluation and a pancreatic cyst. This started into fast descent into major health anxiety and absolute depression. Also, in addition to the pelvic and lower back on the left side I developed groin pain on the left side in the last 3 wks. I did see a colorectal surgeon right after the ct scan and He diagnosed me with a fissure.

Since the ct scan, I have turned over the care of the pancreatic cyst to a specialist at Stanford hospital I’m scheduled for a follow up mri is sept. This Dr reviewed my images and said this cyst is precancerous.

In order to address the continuous pelvic/lower back now groin pain I called another GI dr and begged for a colonoscopy which is scheduled for this Friday.

I’m absolutely terrified at this point. There is colon cancer on my maternal line. I’m not sure I’m mentally equipped to handle cancer from my colon, especially after being told I have a precancerous cyst and I have a hemangioma that requires further evaluation. In mind, I’m dying by the minute. I can’t eat and I have stopped working out. I sit in my room all day and ruminate over my health issues. I’m currently seeing a psychotherapist 2x a week, started meditation and breathing exercises. I take .25 Xanax in the afternoon and another at night.

Anyone else dealing with / dealt with major health anxiety issues?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

lilypaws | @lilypaws | May 25, 2020

@sarah60. I am so sorry. You have gone through a lot and still going through a lot. I wish I could help you. I feel bad for you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 25, 2020

Hello @sarah60 and welcome to Mayo Connect.

I can certainly understand your anxiety. You have had a lot of health problems since your surgery last year. You do not mention the type of surgery, but since you are having a lot of digestive health problems perhaps the surgery was GI related?

It seems that are doing all of the right things now. You are following up on the physical issues with your physicians and also dealing with the anxiety with a mental health professional. I admire the good work you are doing!

We do have others on Connect who have discussed anxiety. Here are links to some of these discussions,
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-in-the-present/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/nervousness-and-worry/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anxiety-and-depression-3/
I would like to invite some other Members to this discussion such as @jimhd, @gailb and @gingerw and @georgette12.

Have you had bouts of anxiety prior to this, @sarah60?

REPLY
1 reply
sarah60 | @sarah60 | May 25, 2020
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @sarah60 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I can certainly understand your anxiety. You have had..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @sarah60 and welcome to Mayo Connect.

I can certainly understand your anxiety. You have had a lot of health problems since your surgery last year. You do not mention the type of surgery, but since you are having a lot of digestive health problems perhaps the surgery was GI related?

It seems that are doing all of the right things now. You are following up on the physical issues with your physicians and also dealing with the anxiety with a mental health professional. I admire the good work you are doing!

We do have others on Connect who have discussed anxiety. Here are links to some of these discussions,
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-in-the-present/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/nervousness-and-worry/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anxiety-and-depression-3/
I would like to invite some other Members to this discussion such as @jimhd, @gailb and @gingerw and @georgette12.

Have you had bouts of anxiety prior to this, @sarah60?

Jump to this post

Thank you @lilypaws and @hopeful33250 The surgery was unrelated to GI / digestive issues.

I suffered from major depressive disorder, PTSD and GAD since my early 20s. I also get the occasional bad panic attacks. I’ve been off of antidepressants since 2005 and sort of managed things through cbt, diet exercise etc. so medication wise, I take a beta blocker and Xanax.

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 25, 2020

@sarah60 Let me add my welcome to you, for finding Mayo Connect. We are all fellow patients, family members, or caregivers, and share our experiences and support.

Thank you @hopeful33250, for tagging me! It must be so scary to hear all the information you have received recently, and knowing you already have experienced anxiety in your life, it is easy to fall back into that. Exercise is a big help to change your mindset with anxiety. Minimal to no alcohol is also good. Have you done any journaling, that is, writing down your concerns and worries. I have found for me, that it is very valuable to "get it out of my head". You can simply write everything down, or write yourself a letter expressing your concerns. Is there a good friend or a family member to share your concerns with? It's easy for anyone to say "wait until the recheck and/or further tests, before getting worried" but it sounds like that is not your nature.

I hope that wherever you are today, you can get outside, go for a walk in the sun, and feel the fresh air on your face. This truly will help to calm you.
Ginger

REPLY
3 replies
sarasally2 | @sarasally2 | May 25, 2020

I am 74 and been through tons of health problems, cancer, heart disease, precancer,etc til I developed an anxiety disorder or so I was told, I seemed to get on with things even though it was one thing right after the other for 30 years then I started having terrible vestibular problems, going to the Er thinking I was having a stroke, finally after keeping at doctors to listen to me they found a brain tumor but now I am too old for surgery so it was a wait and see thing, after a year it doubled in size so was scheduled for radiation treatment this month but with the virus things got put on hold so now I have had more time to stress, REALLY stress. I am in NC and was going to try to make it to the Mayo for a second opinion but not strong enough to make the trip and then covid stopped flying anywhere. AS long as I have to stay inside I don't have to face gamma knife surgery so I do whatever I can to stay busy without ending up flat in bed as I have vestibular migraines and have been having black outs. I take the same dose of Xanax but some days two tablets bring me more relief. I have had 11 colonoscopies, same with precancer in my esophagus, cancer runs in my family so have to get checked all the time. I could go on but I think you get the idea. I am petrified most of the time but I am an artist and when I am able to be in my studio I am in another world so I try to spend as much time as I can in there so if you have a hobby or an interest in something don't give up on it because it is your bliss. Bless you

REPLY
1 reply
sarah60 | @sarah60 | May 25, 2020
In reply to @gingerw "@sarah60 Let me add my welcome to you, for finding Mayo Connect. We are all fellow..." + (show)
@gingerw

@sarah60 Let me add my welcome to you, for finding Mayo Connect. We are all fellow patients, family members, or caregivers, and share our experiences and support.

Thank you @hopeful33250, for tagging me! It must be so scary to hear all the information you have received recently, and knowing you already have experienced anxiety in your life, it is easy to fall back into that. Exercise is a big help to change your mindset with anxiety. Minimal to no alcohol is also good. Have you done any journaling, that is, writing down your concerns and worries. I have found for me, that it is very valuable to "get it out of my head". You can simply write everything down, or write yourself a letter expressing your concerns. Is there a good friend or a family member to share your concerns with? It's easy for anyone to say "wait until the recheck and/or further tests, before getting worried" but it sounds like that is not your nature.

I hope that wherever you are today, you can get outside, go for a walk in the sun, and feel the fresh air on your face. This truly will help to calm you.
Ginger

Jump to this post

@sarasally2 thank you for providing your experience. For me the shock and uncertainty is something I’m having a hard tome with. The waiting game for tests etc is just awful

REPLY
sarah60 | @sarah60 | May 25, 2020
In reply to @gingerw "@sarah60 Let me add my welcome to you, for finding Mayo Connect. We are all fellow..." + (show)
@gingerw

@sarah60 Let me add my welcome to you, for finding Mayo Connect. We are all fellow patients, family members, or caregivers, and share our experiences and support.

Thank you @hopeful33250, for tagging me! It must be so scary to hear all the information you have received recently, and knowing you already have experienced anxiety in your life, it is easy to fall back into that. Exercise is a big help to change your mindset with anxiety. Minimal to no alcohol is also good. Have you done any journaling, that is, writing down your concerns and worries. I have found for me, that it is very valuable to "get it out of my head". You can simply write everything down, or write yourself a letter expressing your concerns. Is there a good friend or a family member to share your concerns with? It's easy for anyone to say "wait until the recheck and/or further tests, before getting worried" but it sounds like that is not your nature.

I hope that wherever you are today, you can get outside, go for a walk in the sun, and feel the fresh air on your face. This truly will help to calm you.
Ginger

Jump to this post

Hi - yes I just started to journal recently. I agree getting stuff out of your head to paper is very therapeutic.

REPLY
lilypaws | @lilypaws | May 26, 2020
In reply to @sarasally2 "I am 74 and been through tons of health problems, cancer, heart disease, precancer,etc til I..." + (show)
@sarasally2

I am 74 and been through tons of health problems, cancer, heart disease, precancer,etc til I developed an anxiety disorder or so I was told, I seemed to get on with things even though it was one thing right after the other for 30 years then I started having terrible vestibular problems, going to the Er thinking I was having a stroke, finally after keeping at doctors to listen to me they found a brain tumor but now I am too old for surgery so it was a wait and see thing, after a year it doubled in size so was scheduled for radiation treatment this month but with the virus things got put on hold so now I have had more time to stress, REALLY stress. I am in NC and was going to try to make it to the Mayo for a second opinion but not strong enough to make the trip and then covid stopped flying anywhere. AS long as I have to stay inside I don't have to face gamma knife surgery so I do whatever I can to stay busy without ending up flat in bed as I have vestibular migraines and have been having black outs. I take the same dose of Xanax but some days two tablets bring me more relief. I have had 11 colonoscopies, same with precancer in my esophagus, cancer runs in my family so have to get checked all the time. I could go on but I think you get the idea. I am petrified most of the time but I am an artist and when I am able to be in my studio I am in another world so I try to spend as much time as I can in there so if you have a hobby or an interest in something don't give up on it because it is your bliss. Bless you

Jump to this post

@sarasally2 Oh, my heart goes out to you. Bless your heart putting up with all thoses illnesses, especially cancer and then the brain turmor. I feel you could have surgery for it. My 92 year old aunt had a knee replacement. She just had to go to a Cardiac doctor to have her heart checked out, it was strong enough to go through the surgery. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Bless you!

REPLY
lilypaws | @lilypaws | May 26, 2020
In reply to @gingerw "@sarah60 Let me add my welcome to you, for finding Mayo Connect. We are all fellow..." + (show)
@gingerw

@sarah60 Let me add my welcome to you, for finding Mayo Connect. We are all fellow patients, family members, or caregivers, and share our experiences and support.

Thank you @hopeful33250, for tagging me! It must be so scary to hear all the information you have received recently, and knowing you already have experienced anxiety in your life, it is easy to fall back into that. Exercise is a big help to change your mindset with anxiety. Minimal to no alcohol is also good. Have you done any journaling, that is, writing down your concerns and worries. I have found for me, that it is very valuable to "get it out of my head". You can simply write everything down, or write yourself a letter expressing your concerns. Is there a good friend or a family member to share your concerns with? It's easy for anyone to say "wait until the recheck and/or further tests, before getting worried" but it sounds like that is not your nature.

I hope that wherever you are today, you can get outside, go for a walk in the sun, and feel the fresh air on your face. This truly will help to calm you.
Ginger

Jump to this post

@sarah60 Welcome, we are here for you, at least Mayo Connect has been here for me. I'm having surgery a Spinal fusion from T=10 to my pelvis. It's a big and long surgery, but I have done everything to now have surgery. My doctor told me I was healthy and that I needed it. The pain doctor told me there was nothing more she could do for me and that I had done everything. They tested me and I found out the surgery will work!
I have had a lot of support from being on Mayo Connect. Jeanie

1

REPLY
lilypaws | @lilypaws | May 26, 2020
In reply to @sarah60 "Thank you @lilypaws and @hopeful33250 The surgery was unrelated to GI / digestive issues. I suffered..." + (show)
@sarah60

Thank you @lilypaws and @hopeful33250 The surgery was unrelated to GI / digestive issues.

I suffered from major depressive disorder, PTSD and GAD since my early 20s. I also get the occasional bad panic attacks. I’ve been off of antidepressants since 2005 and sort of managed things through cbt, diet exercise etc. so medication wise, I take a beta blocker and Xanax.

Jump to this post

@sarah60

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.