HyperBallad

I have 2 uterine fibroids. Have not bled heavily since before I stared BC pills 6 years ago (have not been taking in last 6 months), but I’ve been experiencing strong cramps in between periods. I was alarmed to learn about them, but also learned it’s extremely rare that they are cancerous, and aren’t life-threatening (unless they are very large or are interfering with fetus development).

Long time no post... Had a blood panel done last week (free at work), results were mostly good. Have had elevated cholesterol and AST liver enzyme levels in the past, but these numbers have now dipped back down to normal levels. Reading into AST to ALT ratios, I’m now concerned that my ratio of 1.2 could be “highly indicative of liver damage or disease”, or even cirrhosis if hepatitis is not present. Even though both numbers are within “normal” range (AST 21, ALT 17), I’m confused and concerned as to how these results are measured. I have been a moderate drinker for years so this isn’t a huge surprise, but am otherwise healthy. 30 y/o female. I have no primary doctor. Extensive history of health anxiety. Anyone else here been troubled by blood work findings such as this?

Throat issues... my "HA of the week." I had a bad cold about 4 weeks ago (fever/aches/chills/etc.) and had persistent coughing & clearing of throat for a week or two. Now I've noticed in the last week or two that I feel a "fullness" in my throat most of the day, no pain when swallowing but I feel the area between my thyroid & larynx feels slightly constricted, and it feels like there's a big lump in the front of my throat when I swallow. No visible swelling or enlarged lymph nodes that I can tell. I have been a singer in a band for the last 6 years, and when I am singing & doing a lot of shows I get this same "fullness" feeling and have had anxiety about vocal nodules in the past. Tightness in the throat has also been a common symptom of anxiety for me, but I haven't been stressed or particularly anxious in recent weeks. But I haven't been singing much lately... just unsure if this could be lingering from a cold I had a month ago, or if I should get checked out by an ENT :/ (I had my thyroid checked for unrelated issues a few months ago, and all my levels/numbers came back normal.)

Even if I know deep down that I am okay, posting about whatever HA crisis I am gripped by any given week and hearing someone tell me that I'm fine or that they personally can relate makes a world of a difference. The affirmation reminds me that I tend to obsessively ruminate over "worse case scenario" at all times. Even when my anxiety isn't firing on all cylinders, just a simple thought that "you won't stay happy and carefree for long!" can make me feel like I need to be on guard and prepped for the next crisis, health-related or not.

Experiencing sharp pains when I inhale on the left side of my chest, feels like it's in my ribs, between my heart & breast. I spent most of yesterday nervous/wound up because I met the CEO of a company for a job I've really been wanting, and spent most of today nervous & nauseous, waiting for feedback. I got the offer I've anxiously been awaiting, and I'm really excited, but these chest pains are distracting me and I am not in the mood to celebrate. I am 29 y/o female, history of anxiety and no known heart conditions. I have a home BP machine, and my BP is normal, 117/68 but my pulse was at 106/minute. Feeling more worried than happy at the moment ?

I also take .25 mg of Xanax as needed. Have never tried any other Rx.

I normally get 1 or 2 every year, normally along the front of my bottom gum line. Last month I got one on my soft palate (near back of throat) and I felt like I was swallowing glass for 7-10 business days, and I also had a stiff neck and a couple nights of cold sweats. Slight fever & tenderness are normal symptoms, but I normally don't ever experience those.

I had an irrational HIV scare about 11 years ago when I was job-shadowing a dental hygienist. She was cleaning a mouth that had a lot of blood dripping while she scaled with a sonic tool, which sounds like a tiny drill, and can cause fluid to spray a tiny bit. The hygienist had masks covering her face, and I stood behind him and watched the cleaning in a mirror in front of his face, and was so scared in the following weeks that there could have been spit or blood droplets that landed on my arm or face, and if he was HIV+, I was exposed and could have gotten it. Lots of crying in the shower, obsessively checking my lymph nodes for swelling, taking my temps, waiting for the night sweats to begin, etc, it was awful. Based on facts and info on transmission, even if he was HIV+ there's no way I could have been infected. Been there, done that. You're fine!

Usually my HA is centered around one concern at a time, but when it's really in high gear, my fears span a variety of illnesses in a very short amount of time. So far this year, I have had fears regarding colon & breast cancer, liver problems (I suffer from periodic gallstone pain) and heart issues, for which I had an EKG & bloodwork to rule out last month. I am currently not particularly bothered by anything right now... we'll see how next month goes.

Sometimes I feel like my heart rate is faster after eating an uncomfortable volume of food. There are many reasons why eating very large meals should be avoided - try to stick to frequent small meals as much as you can.

I've always gotten canker sores periodically for as long as I can remember, usually along my bottom gum lines and never any other symptoms beside local pain. Woke up Tuesday with one on my soft palate (behind wisdom teeth, not quite back of throat), never had gotten one that far back before, but I also have headache, tender neck, & upper body stiffness to go along with this, not to mention swelling around the sore and painful swallowing. I read some extreme symptoms like fever & diarrhea can accompany canker sores, but I am wondering how some canker sore spells can feel much worse than others? I haven't been sick or had one of these sores in a while. HPV is always a dormant fear of mine since having a 4 yr period of bad pap smears and procedures to remove cervical dysplasia. Been clear of dysplasia and HPV for over a year, so trying not to let my head go there.

I feel this way a lot. Whenever I'm riding a good wave in the ebbs and flows of life, I feel like I could be caught off guard at any moment with the next setback/diagnosis/catastrophe, so anticipating this makes me feel like I am in control and ready to deal with whatever life situation presents itself. The last time I got a raise at work, I "celebrated" by going out shopping for new work clothes, and I was in such a good mood while trying clothes on, and then out of nowhere I thought "none of this would mean anything if I or someone in my family got (terminally) sick," and my heart start pounding and I felt dizzy in the dressing room from this thought. How nice it would be to go an entire day with no anxious thoughts or "what-ifs" popping up when I am most happy...

A few weeks ago I went to a walk-in clinic after work because I had been experiencing a few palpitations each day for a while and was feeling particularly on edge and nervous that day. They listened to my heart & did an EKG and bloodwork to rule out vitamin deficiencies or thyroid issues, and he wrote me another Rx for Xanax. Everything came back normal, and while I haven't been feeling them anymore since I stopped taking Folic Acid, my HA has taken on a new form, digestive issues :/

I had abnormal paps for 4 annuals straight... Moderate dysplasia & HPV in 2012, followed with colposcopy & LEEP. Exams in '13 and '14, mild dysplasia, HPV still present. Moderate dysplasia AGAIN in 2015, followed by colposcopy & 2nd LEEP, same as 2012. Statistically, about 90% of those with HPV (vast majority of adults in US at some point in their lives) get rid of the virus within a year or two with no treatment, but a small percentage of those with HPV just can't shake the infection within a "normal" time frame without treatments. October 2016 was my first NORMAL pap in almost 5 years, HPV test was negative (one year after I began dating current b/f). Almost didn't believe my Dr! My annual exam "seasons" brought me great stress and anxiety each year, and after a few years of abnormal results, I was convinced I was doomed for cervical cancer... I'm 29. Neither of my gynos ever brought up hysterectomy, but they did say they see less & less infections as their patients are married for a while & start having kids, as monogamy & regular check ups are two huge factors for prevention. My mom was on the brink of cervical cancer in 2001, had most of her cervix removed, since then carried 2 more healthy babies and has had normal pap smears for many years now. You might just be going through something similar to my experience. I know several women who have dealt with HPV for years, and no longer have abnormal paps. I'm kind of nervous about my next exam in Oct, but have good reason to believe I might be in the clear again. Good luck!

Thanks so much for your feedback Diane! That's so funny you mention the tourniquet thing... before the tech drew my blood, she wrapped the tourniquet and had me squeeze hard for a minute with my arm below my heart level, left the room for a minute or two to get a smaller needle, and took another minute or so to locate a vein so I did a lot of squeezing and was wrapped tightly for a few minutes before the blood was drawn. I would not even have guessed this could have anything to do with potential erroneous test results.