Aa
Hypochondriasis
Hi, I am twenty years old, I have had all tests done for STDS and came out clean for EVERYTHING. I did an HIV test, Hepatitis C test, Syphilis test, and Urine test for all others. However, I always keep worying about me having something because my joints mildly ache, well I don't really know how to tell the difference, but they crack very easily. I have itchy skin all over (either to do with allergies or paranoia/ stress) and this back pain on the right side and sometimes on the left. For some reason I still think there is something wrong with me! My family and friends think I am a hypochondriac because pretty much my whole life I always seem to think of the worst possible scenario these minor symptoms show... Any ideas? Could this by hypochondriasis and a combination of cyber chondriasis? How can you tell the difference between aching joints and just normal aching joints from me not exercising. I haven't exercised in well over a year. I went to the gym once this year and I live in a residence, I am 6'0 tall and about 140-145 pounds. Any feedback would be great. thanks. Also to let you know, I was EXTREMELY worried about my test results last week so for about the past week and a half I was constantly crying, and laying in bed and just generally depressed and losing touch with reality waiting for the results, could these aches and pains be a result of that?
Well, you followed all the correct protocols for the STD and HIV testing. You can certainly rest assured you are "clean." I hope you believe in your doctor and trust the test results.
As for your other symptoms........the aches and pains, the itchy skin. Some of that could be related to inactivity, especially since you were very active before. You could have injured your back somehow. You might try some "manly" lotion for your dry skin and be sure to drink plenty of fluids as dehydration can cause dry skin.
Drinking coffee made your aches go away........don't know about any correlation there, but perhaps the coffee gave you some added energy which got you moving and the activity helped the ache. Maybe you need to try getting back into the gym and see if your body is just protesting your new "lay about and eat junk food" lifestyle.
I really don't think there is anything seriously wrong with you. I'm pretty sure your anxiety is ramping up the fear and they feed off each other, I still think it would be a good idea to see your doctor or go to the campus infirmary and just talk to someone about your symptoms. We aren't doctors here, so while we can possibly reassure you a little, we can't diagnose you. Maybe you're just stressed to the max. Perhaps something simple like a nice long hike in the woods with some friends would relax your mind and work the tension out of your body.
Change things up a bit and see if that doesn't help. Going through a very stressful time can really take the wind out of our sails and make up feel like c* r* a *p.
You may just be going through a health anxiety phase, but don't ever let anybody tell you that that makes you a wimp! There are millions of us out here with health anxiety and I promise you, it takes a spine of steel to live with anxiety.
You'll be fine, but keep writing if you have more thoughts.
Peace
Greenlydia
As for your other symptoms........the aches and pains, the itchy skin. Some of that could be related to inactivity, especially since you were very active before. You could have injured your back somehow. You might try some "manly" lotion for your dry skin and be sure to drink plenty of fluids as dehydration can cause dry skin.
Drinking coffee made your aches go away........don't know about any correlation there, but perhaps the coffee gave you some added energy which got you moving and the activity helped the ache. Maybe you need to try getting back into the gym and see if your body is just protesting your new "lay about and eat junk food" lifestyle.
I really don't think there is anything seriously wrong with you. I'm pretty sure your anxiety is ramping up the fear and they feed off each other, I still think it would be a good idea to see your doctor or go to the campus infirmary and just talk to someone about your symptoms. We aren't doctors here, so while we can possibly reassure you a little, we can't diagnose you. Maybe you're just stressed to the max. Perhaps something simple like a nice long hike in the woods with some friends would relax your mind and work the tension out of your body.
Change things up a bit and see if that doesn't help. Going through a very stressful time can really take the wind out of our sails and make up feel like c* r* a *p.
You may just be going through a health anxiety phase, but don't ever let anybody tell you that that makes you a wimp! There are millions of us out here with health anxiety and I promise you, it takes a spine of steel to live with anxiety.
You'll be fine, but keep writing if you have more thoughts.
Peace
Greenlydia
Plus, they will only ache when I am inactive, and it goes on and off. For instance, I had a coffee this morning and my aches went away? haha. This ache is very dull too. So I dunno, maybe just from me being unhealthy/inactive??
Yoo, okay so last sexual encounter for possible (which doctors said was extremely low risk) was about 5 months ago and I got tested a month ago, came back negative. Got my hep C and syphilis results back on tuesday, they were fine. Did a Urine test about 5 weeks ago, they were fine. Aching joints I think have been on and off for a while, I mean I think the reason why I feel them more or less now is because of me searching for symptoms when they could easily just be me not being active and eating crap cafeteria food all day. Itchy skin, since winter started. Back pain since like January.
Hmmmmmmmm.............I am wondering what you're really asking in this post.
Of course it's possible you're a hypochondriac, which these days we call "health anxiety," same difference.
My question is why did you have yourself checked for every STD in the book? What were you worried about? The HIV test, when did you have that done..........how long after your last sexual encounter?
How long have you had the achy, cracking joints, the itchy skin and the back pain which moves from side to side?
I don't know how to tell the difference between garden variety achy joints and achy joints caused by lack of exercise, but if this is one of the symptoms you're looking up on the Net, stop. Anybody with health anxiety needs to avoid those sites like the plague!
I'm just guessing here, but I'm thinking your real concern is related to HIV. If you want reassurance and/or information about that, you will need to be a bit more detailed about the exposure you had, i.e. unprotected sex, oral sex, g/f, b/f, CSW etc.
Laying in bed for a week and a half, being all freaked out and depressed and crying could possibly leave you with some aches and pains. If you didn't shower during that time, that could explain the itchy skin, but so can allergies and cold weather, which really dries the skin.
I think it would be a good idea for you to look into some therapy for your health anxiety. Left untreated it's just going to get worse and living life as a hypochondriac really blows. Trust me, I tried it for about 25 years. Kept waiting for it to just magically go away. That method didn't really work out so real good. I wasted a good portion of my life worrying about such stupid stuff, time I'll never get back, and look........I'm still here! None of the things I lost sleep over ever happened.
Go see your doctor. Have a good check up and dicuss therapy. Be proactive in getting your head screwed on straight. Don't do what I did.
Post anytime you want to talk, OK?
Peace
Greenlydia
Of course it's possible you're a hypochondriac, which these days we call "health anxiety," same difference.
My question is why did you have yourself checked for every STD in the book? What were you worried about? The HIV test, when did you have that done..........how long after your last sexual encounter?
How long have you had the achy, cracking joints, the itchy skin and the back pain which moves from side to side?
I don't know how to tell the difference between garden variety achy joints and achy joints caused by lack of exercise, but if this is one of the symptoms you're looking up on the Net, stop. Anybody with health anxiety needs to avoid those sites like the plague!
I'm just guessing here, but I'm thinking your real concern is related to HIV. If you want reassurance and/or information about that, you will need to be a bit more detailed about the exposure you had, i.e. unprotected sex, oral sex, g/f, b/f, CSW etc.
Laying in bed for a week and a half, being all freaked out and depressed and crying could possibly leave you with some aches and pains. If you didn't shower during that time, that could explain the itchy skin, but so can allergies and cold weather, which really dries the skin.
I think it would be a good idea for you to look into some therapy for your health anxiety. Left untreated it's just going to get worse and living life as a hypochondriac really blows. Trust me, I tried it for about 25 years. Kept waiting for it to just magically go away. That method didn't really work out so real good. I wasted a good portion of my life worrying about such stupid stuff, time I'll never get back, and look........I'm still here! None of the things I lost sleep over ever happened.
Go see your doctor. Have a good check up and dicuss therapy. Be proactive in getting your head screwed on straight. Don't do what I did.
Post anytime you want to talk, OK?
Peace
Greenlydia
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