Thomasthetank

My anxiety over my health has gotten pretty bad, if i'm full I think it's ascites, I've spent the last week googling spider naevi because of a red blotch on my stomach. I sometimes stare into my eyes to see if they look yellow, which they do because I'm stood right under a very bright light.

I'm not sure why this has happened. I'm healthier than I've ever been. I've had tests. I think I'd gotten to the point where I was so convinced I was going to die this way, that my head hasn't adapted to being fine.

I'm pretty embarrassed, plenty of times friends or family have walked in on me staring at a blank desktop screen after quickly deleting the several pages of google doctoring I'd been doing. I'm fairly sure they probably think I've developed a porn addiction haha.

It's in my head, but the stress is real.

Tom.

Soberwolf

Hi Thomas its good to check up on the body every 6 months or so

it is never good to Dr Google you know that

hope you have had a good day today my friend

SoberBeast

Put the keyboard down and step away from the google.

HappyBlue

Tom I hear you. I'm on day 23 and I'm doing the exact same things. Even though I got labs done earlier this week and they came back normal I can't stop obsessing over it thinking I went too far this time. The anxiety is driving me nuts. I'm doing a lot of the same thing you have been doing. I've been taking pictures of my face and eyes a few times a day, obsessing over my stool color because it has been light brown, and googling way too much stuff which just makes my anxiety worse. So I guess what I'm saying is that I totally relate.

Hollyanne

I have diagnosed myself with a full length aortic aneurism.

Too mock my hypochondria,
My sister likes to stretch out her arms, making one longer than the other and exclaim,
"Look! one arm is longer than the other!"

Dee74

I think a lot of us suffer from it. I couldn't believe I'd made it out with so little damage...

Stay off Google.
If something is seriously wrong you'll know about it.

Enjoy your second chance Thomas

D

NHTransplant

If you can't stop worrying why not reach out to your doctor and set up an extended appointment. Then come in with your Google list of deadly diseases and all of your 'symptoms' and just go through the list with them. You need to address the anxiety in a constructive manner, otherwise it might make encourage a relapse. I did this with my doctor and it was very therapeutic.

Thomasthetank

I thought about this but was worried I might be wasting their time. But I suppose if I explain my anxiety and drinking are connected and it's causing me stress they'd understand.

MythOfSisyphus

A checkup isn't a waste of time! Remember, if we all had every disease we feared we had everyone would be dead already! Probably you're worked up over nothing but if it will set you at ease have your GP give you a workup.

George89

I haven't began long term sobriety but during periods where I have stopped, I have noticed getting more ill in the first few weeks. As others have said, probably related to the immune system coming back maybe too strongly after you take away alcohol. Keep going and it will get better.

Lenina

Thomas, I think it's pretty common to have a touch of the hypochondria in early recovery. I don't know why. Maybe we notice all the aches, pains, rashes, bumps and bruises we didn't see before or attributed to drunkenness.

Best to get a check up by a reliable physician and set your mind at ease.

Love from Lenina

Sulu1

I managed to convince myself I had Leukaemia once, baffling.

Dr Google is not your friend.

DoubleBarrel

I had it too. Go to the doctor, get checked out top to bottom, deal with any issues, and go back for follow up.

I was cleared of all sorts of imagined maladies. It takes a long time to settle out and get back to normal. A lot of what you are feeling is probably recovery based.

JanieJ

I've noticed more aches and pains since being sober but have put it down to recovery.No harm in getting checked out Thomas, that what doctors are there for.

Meraviglioso

Tom, I was, and I guess I still am to some extent, convinced that something was/is wrong with me. In the past year I have had full blood work about 5 times. I have had blood work specific to my liver, my thyroid, cancer. I have had sonograms of my breasts and of all of my major organs. I have had an MRI for my brain, an ECG for my heart, EEG on my brain to test for epilepsy. I went to a sports medicine doctor to have a sonogram of my legs to check my veins (like, whaaaaatttt???)
It turns out the only doctor I have really needed to see was my psychologist.
If it will make you feel more relaxed, go to your doctor and ask what tests you can have, I am sure they will understand and it is never a bad idea to get a full check up. But if it is becoming and obsession, maybe consider seeing a psychologist as well.