for the past 3 weeks i have had stomach pains, and a dull ache in the center of my chest also with fatigue....ive had 1 bad panic attack in the last 4 years but im always worrying about something...ive seen my dr. 4 times in the last 3 weeks, he did an abdominal ct scan and everything was normal...i used to be on celexa, but got off of it because i THOUGHT i beat this stuff...he put me on lexapro last week and now i feel calm, but really weird, i guess its the side effects....im going to see a gi dr. today because im still freaking out that i might have some terrible disease....3 weeks ago, i weighed 183lbs, today i weigh 177....i JUST got my appetite back 2 days ago and have been eating better....the past 3 weeks i ate nothing but chicken noodle soup and salad when i could because i was so nervous and worried..i mean, it was an ALL day battle and im still dealing with it today...i ate pretty good the last two days and when i got up this morning and weighed myself it said 177!! i started to freak and my fiance' had to calm me down.....she said, "calm down, you arent going to gain all your weight back in two days!!" i feel like im going insane!!everything i read on the internet about weight loss as a symptom usually points to some bad disease, not to mention i have a cancer phobia....does anyone think this weight loss is serious? i mean, i go see the gi dr. today, but what is everyones opinion? this board has really helped me since i found it this morning...please reply!!

someone please answer!!:confused:

First and foremost I want to point out the doctor said nothing is wrong now we all understand that you will feel like you are mis-diagnosed (we all do) and just dwelling on that will make you life boring so learn to accept the anxiety and not fight it.

Second weight loss that happens with some illness almost always comes in an unexplained way. An example would be you start eating more and not any more active that what you normally are and start to lose weight, that is generally what the weight loss is about. Now as you stated you only started eating chicken noodle soup and salad don't you think you should lose weight, expecially if it is a lot less than normal.

Also the best advice I can give you is don't look for stuff on the internet. I, along with many other become a hypocondriac and don't allow something we have to be mild - we have to find the worst thing it can be. Such as I had a headache for 2 weeks (although mild) of course I go and look at things like brain tumors and signs of strokes now being only a teen there is little chance of either. Funny thing is is that I am sure now that the headache was just from being bored and not leaving the house due to anxiety attacks.

Last don't be nervous about going to the doctors they are only there to help. Think of it this way, you don't find out what you have (if it is something serious and truthfully it isn't likely) and live a lot less and maybe even not enjoy the time as much as if you go and get it treated. Finding out things you have shouldn't change your life besides make you have the time you have more enjoyable I mean really if you have it and can live life without knowing it why can't you enjoy atleast as much.

HI...Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. Anxiety can at times become a vicious cycle. You can deal with it, even though sometimes it seems very overwhelming. The brain has a hard time focusing on more than one thing at a time, so try to focus on something that is good in your life.

I have found some very concrete ways to deal with my anxiety and panic attacks, which may or may not work for you. Praying, listening to my favorite music, aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes, deep breathing exercises, taking calcium & magnesium, and last but not least--talking to my husband. So don't give up, OK? You can do it!

thank all of you for responding...i feel blessed to have found this board even though the reason i was on here was to look at the bowel disorder forum...im glad i looked here...like i said, my big concern is the weight loss and i keep trying to tell myself that when you go from 2,000 calories a day to 500, you will lose weight...however, being how i am, i cant accept that...ive only been on lexapro for a week, so hopefully it will start to kick in.....i just wonder if i could have given myself an ulcer from worrying too much

From what you have said...the weight loss obvioiusly sounds normal! I have anxiety pretty bad (worse at times) and there are times that I will lose up to 10 pounds in one week. Sounds good at first...but you will worry about it, obviously. I am sure that you dont have a disease...it's just anxiety. People with anxiety normally lose weight...goes along with it!!!! Take some deep breaths...relax....read up on these boards (they help). You'll be fine. GOOD LUCK!

Personally I think you would be better off trying to deal with the anxiety without medicine since you've only had it 3 weeks. Although I am a teen (so I don't have as much stress as someone 20+) I was able to almost eliminate it entirely without medicine. If after a few weeks of trying you honestly think you can't get over it though I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try medicine. Just remember I understand what you are going through although if your doctor thinks the medicine is the best way keep listening to him\her.

Also I just want to remind you tons of people on here understand what you are going through on not being able to accept it being just anxiety. As your anxiety gets better trust me the feeling of some horrible disease happening will get better so learning to accept the anxiety will help. I used to spend entire days (Hey it's summer time!;) ) looking for horrible things I could have just for stupid things like an arm pain that lasts a minute or so.

Also I had 'cardiophobia'(not diagnosised with it but I fit the discription) and even the slightest bit of raising my heart raise could set off an anxiety attack! Now, after forcing myself to do soccer, which I signed up for before my anxiety attacks started, I am able to go all practice without worrying at all although I will admit the first few days were tough.

Trust me you will get over it but spending all day sitting at home thinking about it makes it worse and worse so just start doing things even if it is simple things everything that keeps your mind off of it will help.

thanks for the encouragement:) the reason the dr. put me on lexapro was because a year ago i was on celexa for anxiety because of severe panic attacks...i took celexa for about 6 months, felt great and got off, thinking i could beat it...well, then this happened...i went to the gi dr. yesterday and like you have said, he thinks and pretty much knows the stress and anxiety caused my weight loss, but he also thinks i have an ulcer...i have to have an upper endoscopy next friday, so now i have to deal with being nervous about that...he said that i wont feel a thing because they will knock me out, but you know how us hypo's are!! im worried about what they might find!! he put me on nexium, so i hope that helps...i cant believe im 29 and i have this many problems with anxiety!! once again, thank you for talking to me...i will keep you updated on my condition and if i can help you with anything, let me know!!