Scared, confused, please help!!! - Anxiety Message Board

michaeldallas · 05-23-2005, 08:55 AM

Hi all,

I am very new to this board, hoping that this will ease my fears a bit. I am 30 in dallas, and have always been a little anxious in general.

Here is my story, and I won't get graphic. I recently (3-4 weeks ago) put myself in a sexual situation that posed very little risk for STD. I am hetero, and it was a hetero experience.

About a week after the incident, I started to get paranoid that I had something serious, like HIV. I started looking on the internet, self diagnosing. The stress was building and building, until one day all the sudden it took over. I got a major hot flash, and it was difficult for me to swallow. I completely lost my appetite, could barely swallow food for days. The following also happened:

Burning sensation in my upper arms
Pain in some of my joints (elbows mainly)
Sharp pains randomly throughout my body (fingers, feet, jaw, shoulders, legs, head, etc.)
Trembling and shaking
Nausea
Lightheaded
Fatigue
Sweating at night
etc.

My appetite has come back, and some of these symptoms are now gone--they tend to leave when i have my mind on something else. They also tend to be more pronounced at night.

I have talked to a number of people, and they all say that they are probably stress/anxiety related, but I would love to hear from some of you and your thoughts. I am extremely scared, I dont know what to do. I just hope I dont have something serious. Can anxiety really do this to your body? Please let me know, I would sincerely appreciate it!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael

mg_health · 05-23-2005, 09:15 AM

Michael, you've experienced what I and many others experience: anxiety producing self-diagnosis syndrome! I go through those phases every now and then. My blood pressure is typically around 115/70 when I'm in a no-care phase/attitude. However, every now and then, I'll start to go through the whole self-diagnosis phase and I've gotten my BP as high as 170/110 by doing so. Using information on the Web to help educate yourself, and your doctor, is one thing - using it to create more physical problems (via anxiety induced psychosomatic disorder) is another.

Think of the worst case scenario: you have HIV. From what I've heard and read, most people live long, healthy lives - thanks to very good medicines out there. If you want to find out for sure, schedule a test via your doctor. Good luck to you and stop your self-diagnosis syndrome!

index.html · 05-23-2005, 09:20 AM

Michael, honey, the likelihood of it being HIV is so miniscule that you really should put that out of your head. In your reading, what is the normal incubation period of HIV? I'm pretty sure it's MUCH longer than the time frame you are discussing.

Did you have a sore throat during any of this? I'm wondering about the possibility of mono.

Yes, anxiety, can cause many symptoms and, most likely, your friends are right with their diagnosis. Especially since you get so much better when distracted.

Good luck to you!

michaeldallas · 05-23-2005, 09:27 AM

Thank you all for the replies--I am driving myself crazy!!! I started experiencing symptoms about 9 days after the incident. The problem is, during the incident, the protection slipped off for about 10 seconds, no more. So i was unprotected for 10 seconds. It just really scares me, with all these bizarre pains, aches, etc. I know that anxiety can wreak havoc on the body, it just seems too much of a coincidence? Thank you again for the replies, would love some feedback.

Michael

aslo · 05-23-2005, 09:56 AM

Michael,
I have been having your symptoms and more for about a year now, they are very real, and have all but destroyed my life. And, I am married, which means, i dont have sex at all, (just kidding), but there is no sexual connection.
My symptoms include, burning arms, lower legs and feet, muscle twitches, heart pounding, nausea, abdominal pains... you name it. My muscular nerve symptoms are there all the time. The major hot flash was probably your first real panic attack.
I seriously doubt this has anyting to do with a STD. Some would argue that STD would be easier to deal with. Best wishes.