Anxiety due to health issue? Please respond!

[WorriedOne84]

Hey, everyone. I'm a 26 year old female that had been in good health up until about 8 months ago. Okay, so I've been battling some stomach issues during that time. Actually found out that I had a gallstone in November and had my gallbladder removed in December. Prior to this I'd never had any medical issues except basic stuff (strep throat and ear infection) and hadn't been to a doctor in probably 6 years. In fact, I had made it 25 years and never even had blood drawn, seriously! Never had any broken bones, stitches, never been to the hospital except when I was born.

I've always had a fear of going to doctors. Even over basic stuff I was always afraid they would find something wrong with me and it would be incurable. Crazy and irrational, I know. Well, I had 3 gallbladder attacks in less than a month and I knew I had to do something about it because the pain was so severe I thought I was doing to die.

Now on to my present problems. It's been almost 4 months since my surgery and I'm still having problems. Abdominal tenderness, burping, hiccups are a few symptoms. Plus, I'm getting somewhat severe upper abdomen and back pain after consuming alcohol. I know there is still something going on with my health and I'm very scared and worried. Went back to the surgeon that removed my gallbladder a couple months ago and he said my symptoms sound like acid reflux and a hiatal hernia. Haven't had any tests done to confirm this.

The thing is now my health is ALL I can think about 24/7. I'm having difficulty focusing on my job and much of anything else. When people are talking to me I'm looking at them but not really hearing what they are saying. I've always loved watching sports but I don't even find that enjoyable anymore. Also, I've been online doing research on what all could possibly be wrong with me and that is stressing me out. Now I don't know if the symptoms I have are really real or I'm only feeling it because it's something I read. For the last couple months I'm having a really difficult time sleeping which I've never had before.

I do have an appointment with a gastroenterologist in 2 weeks but I get so nervous I don't feel as though I do a good job adressing my symptoms or asking questions.

Does this sound like anxiety? If so, what should I do to help get it under control. Please, someone respond! I just really need someone to talk to who may have experienced something similar to this before. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[kjbutcher]

oh and if you are anything like me, you will be trying to compare symptoms, feel free to pm me.

[kjbutcher]

it sounds like two different things, neither of which deadly!  lets start with the actual physical things that are going on with your stomach.  I had my gall bladder removed several years ago.  I also know several other people who have had the same.  One day I complained that I was getting the beginnings of a gall bladder attack and it just never got as bad as it did when I had my gall bladder, but still very uncomfortable to the point of crying.  I remember telling them that I didnt think that the gall bladder was the problem. they ALL confirmed that you get phantom pains after the removal of the gall bladder.  Last December was 8 years since I had it removed and I still get about 2 attacks a year.  At first I would get maybe two a month and it gradually decreased.  
Chances are there is nothing horribly wrong with you.  Your best bet is to go to the doctor and have them check you out and tell you the problem and how to fix it.  Sounds like the two ideas of what it could be are rather simple.

Now on to the anxiety...ABSOLUTELY it sounds like anxiety.  Something else I am all too familiar with.  First...stop looking on the internet for illnesses that fit your symptoms.  You will quickly learn that it is easier and less painful to go to the doctor than it is to look it up and be ill about it.  Second, everything you describe about people talking and not being able to listen to not being interested...all symptoms of anxity.  soon you will be trying to sleep any chance you get so you dont feel the pain.    The pain is going to continue until you go to the doctors.  You need to do two things, go to your family doc and get on meds.  I personally think that lexapro is great.  Works quicker than the rest, and was not hard to stop taking.  The second is to get the stomach issues taken care of so there are no lingering fears.  And trust me, both are necessary.  if you get the stomach stuff taken care of and not the meds you will either not believe the doc or you will find new symptoms.  
My anxiety started out with minor "red dots" on my husband and I.  Apparently everyone has them.  swore for TWO YEARS that I had HIV.  I even took a test, came out negative and could not feel better.  Finally after almost hittig rock bottom, I went to the doc.  got lexapro and after about two weeks was feeling back to normal.  I could not believe how long I had gone feeling that bad.  After about a nine months of the meds, I stopped taking them, felt great for almost two years and another major life change happened to trigger it again.  This time I immediately went to the doc, let him tell me I am crazy, got back on meds and felt better again.  Now once a year I have my "I have symptoms" appointment and the doc laughs at me and gives me my prescription.  (I have a great relationship with my doc now)  Once you know how to take care of it, know the symptoms are starting and know they will go away and will go away immediately if you go to the doc immediately, it is certainly managable and you will be and stay normal.  

Currently I have a lump in my throat.  It has been there for three months.  I have been to three doctors for it.  NOthing is wrong.  I went to my family doc to get lexapro again and he informed me that anxiety can cause the feeling of a lump in your throat.  Anxiety does a ton of crazy things.

Also aniety is triggered by major life changes...such as your gall bladder attacks.

Make a doctors appointment tomorrow for both issues and you will be feeling MUCH better by may1st!