Health Anxiety - Hypochondria Of False Negative STD Tests
Dec 13, 2015
I recently got tested for all stds and stis, this includes swabs, blood work and pelvic exams. Things came back negative but I read online that tests can be false negative. Do I have any reason to keep worrying? I've called the doctors back and they said their tests are accurate and said I shouldn't worry. But I can't get over this. I have been with the same man for four years, and recently stopped taking my anti depressants and anxiety medicine. Do you think this that's why I keep worrying? I can't get in to see a therapist. And can't get this out of my mind.
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What are the chances of getting two false negative at home oraquick tests? Their website says it's only 92% accurate/sensitive in picking up a positive infected person. Exposure was 10 yrs ago. Could I be in late stage aids and not know it and possibly not producing enough antibodies? Please help I just keep thinking what if they were false and I'm dying. It says 1 in 12 could get a false negative a 8% false negative rate. I think about it everyday and I'm scared to go to a doctor. I read online articles everyday too. Its becoming an extreme fear. What are my chances?
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I'm looking for someone who understands who can give me reassurance and support as I constantly believe I am ill more so I'm scared to death of getting cancer and every niggle or pain sets off alarm bells. I have had health scares in the past such as breast lumps, abnormal cells on cervix all were treated and were ok. I have had several family members get cancer some who have died not close enough family members to be considered for genetic testing though. I am currently having problems with my kidneys the pain was unbearable I thought the worst but an ultrasound revealed a stone stuck in my ureter. After hanging on to see specialists etc I am finally having a CT scan tonight, (my worst fear) this is to see clearly the stone to determine course of treatment but of course I'm petrified that this CT is going to find cancer somewhere in my body. I particularly worry about cervical cancer although all my yearly smear tests have been ok this is an area of most concern and pains that I'm experiencing in my groin (most likely kidney stone related) worry me. This anxiety is crippling I get reassurance for one health issue then other symptom appears. So between pains from minor health issues and symptoms im probably creating myself from my anxiety my head is well and truly mashed. I hate going to the doctors for fear of what they might find. I have completed CBT which did not help so to hear from someone who is living the same hell as me would be comforting although I wouldn't wish my symptoms on my worst enemy. I have a happy marriage, kids a good job I should not be feeling as low and so preoccupied with health worries as I do.
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I'm 34yrs old, smoker and due to my problems a pretty heavy drinker typically 6+ tins every nite without fail, ironically I take them to help me but know it's doing the opposite. It's been 6/7 yrs now but the last 2 have been hell.it started with pins n needles in my face then pains in my arms and legs was convinced I was having a stroke even tho I obviously wasn't as this could happen ten times a day but I was always convinced each time. Then symptoms progressed to pains and tightness in chest, aching bones n muscles, headaches etc etc. I have self diagnosed everything from stroke heart attack and cancer sounds stupid when my doc can't find anything physically wrong wit me. Yet still 24hrs a day I'm convinced I'm dying. I'm on melds its sertraline which has definitely reduced the number of attacks I have from 10 a day to a few a week, but it's always in the back of my mine. I have a 19 month old son and 15 week old twin boys and my life, should be perfect but it ain't. Anxiety is ruining it I have severe mood swings I feel tired all the time n have no energy for anything anymore, does anyone else feel like this out there.
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I have a very bad case of hypochondria and cyberchondria !
I'm 26 years old and my anxiety is worse than ever. I've always been nervous even as a kid went through stages where I wouldn't leave the house because I was going to get eaten by a dog, struck by lightning etc. All very normal things of course! Haha.
So about 6 months ago I started working in a doctors surgery as a receptionist. And out of nowhere I began to have these symptoms and feelings that were all very new to me. And over the last few months I've diagnosed myself with more diseases than I've had hot dinners! I'd go to bed at night and my heart would be pounding and racing as if I'd just ran a marathon where in fact all I was doing was lying still. I ten began to experience pains in my left arm. Which worried me due to the connection between these 2 symptoms. Then eventually I started having the dreaded chest pains. That's it. I had heart disease and I was going to lose my life to a heart attack. This is when my life really went downhill. So I had reassurance from my dr that it was anxiety. Had a few weeks of cbt. Started to feel better. Then my therapist told me she was happy with the way I'd progressed and referred me back to my gp's care. Since stopping my cbt my symptoms have returned with a vengeance and I keep telling myself 'it can't be a coincidence of course they're back because your no longer have reassurance from a therapist' but it isn't helping. I've recently started having globus symptoms which are driving me crazy in thinking my throat is going to physically close up and that I won't be able to breath. Visited my gp who put it down to my GERD which is linked with my anxiety. I guess all I'm trying to ask is if I'm not the only one in this wicked situation. And is it affecting everyone else lives likes it's affecting and ruining mine. Am I the only one who keeps getting reassurance from therapists and GPs and still believe there's something seriously wrong with me?? Just don't want to do anything anymore. Feel like utter s**t all the time (which really isn't like me at all). Some advice also on whether you think me working in a GP's surgery is somehow affecting my health anxiety would be brilliant.
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I'm 23 yo with pretty bad OCD/anxiety and a whole lot of hypochondria. It's getting out of control. I've been obsessed with my heart for weeks now because it's always beating fast. And then of course I'll get the chest pain. And then I'll get pains in my arms and what I think are pains in my jaw which then makes me freakout and think I'm having a heart attack.... At 23 years old.
I've had a complete blood count test done to check my thyroid (mom has issues with hers) and everything came back perfect my cholesterol my triglycerides everything. Blood pressure is always perfect I eat healthy I've never smoked I could lose a good 5 lbs but I'm not overweight etc. I've had two ekgs done a chest X-ray but everyday I'm still convinced I'm going to have a heart attack or something because the aches and pains are still there. I'm starting to go crazy. I've been to the ER like 3 times this past week and have seen my regular doctor. I keep freaking myself because I tell myself "oh but you haven't seen a cardiologist". It's driving everyone around me insane and it's making it hard for me to be the mother and wife I was before all of this stuff started
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I apparently suffer from health anxiety I have chest pressure and breathless every day and also have obsessive thoughts of death I keep thinking I have cancer or i'm going to die and leave my family does anyone else feel this way.
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I have developed quite extreme health anxiety after having my baby four months ago and I feel as though I am making my husband's life, and my own, a living hell. We are currently on holiday where, there days ago I had a sharp pain in my breast and I am convinced I have breast cancer. My Grandmother had this and since. I got the thought in my head. I have been self examined almost continually to the point that I, and my family, have not left the house for three days and I have found lots of lumps and bumps that have only further convinced me. I have made an appointment for Thursday to see a private specialist when we get back. I am also having back pain near my epidural site which I am convinced is a cancer spread. Even as I write I can see how ridiculous this all is. A few weeks ago I had a melanoma scare and didn't leave the house for a week. It took three dermatologist reviews to convince me it was okay. I have seen my GP about my issues and I am due to start CBT next week but I am now worrying it won't be enough to help me. I am determined to get rid of this as I feel I am wasting so much precious time with my new family, but the irony is that this is all driven by a fear of leaving my baby to grow up without a Mummy. I cry every day about that thought and then I feel like such a bad person because I am healthy and there are people out there with genuinely life threatening conditions and I feel so pathetic. My husband is very supportive but doesn't seem to understand that I can't just 'talk myself out of it'. I don't know how to explain?
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I have the symptoms of lyme except for the characteristic bull's eye rash - chronic pain, numbness/tingling, fatigue, bad memory.
The ELISA test came back negative, I am thinking of getting the Western blot test done. Can the Western blot come back with a false negative?
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Before Aug 19th 2015 I had an exposure (oral sex without condoms and also I had shaved my genital and I felt some liquid coming out from the girl on me). I got tested with Oraquick on Dec 18th 2015 and Dec 21st 2015. Both results were negative.
My questions are:
1) Is Oraquick accurate in this situation?
2) how could I understand the accuracy of 91.7% for false negatives?
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I've practically done it 3 times and I'm trusting my status and life with it, but check this out; If it has a 1 out of 12 false negative rate, then why the hell do they sell it? and Why the hell do people say a false positive is more likely even though the percentages of that happening are quite lower than negative? I had brief unsafe sex with a high risk girl for maybe around 1 minute and a half and then I withdrew because I knew I was being stupid, I've been tested using oraquick at 10, 11, and 12 weeks after and all negative, on forums and stuff I've seen terrible posts of the test not picking up the antibodies well after the window period but people are saying 8 weeks after exposure in nearly certain of you negative result with THIS test. So basically im very lost, any input?
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I had a tubal ligation about two years ago now my periods are irregular me and my husband want a baby. so how do i know if im pregnant. could it be possible to be pregnant with a tubal ligation and have a false negative.
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High risk over 10 years ago. I didn't even think to be tested. So after thinking about it everyday I decided to get a oraquick rapid home test. The results were negative. I was fine after. Shortly after I was diag. With seborrheic derm. Which I read can be a start of symptoms in late stage. So I started to research oraquick and found its only 92% reliable. Does anyone know anything about this. Will it really give 8% false negatives. I took another one because I couldn't remember if I drank before it. This time I did it after I woke up in the morning so I could be sure. Are these tests accurate at 92% ? Could I be in late stages is that why sderm is showing up and maybe there aren't enough antibodies. What are the chances of 2 false negatives? Should I take it 9 times? Or is it falsely negative depending on the person. I don't want to think about it anymore.
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Hi just want to have ease of mind and clarification I had a possible exposure 15 years ago and on the first week of January 2016 I have some flu like symptoms and mouth problem that is similar to oral OHL or maybe it is...I tested negative with oraquick lans Feb. 2016 but then I read an article about late stage of HIV and that oraquick may produce false negative due to antibody issue...since it was 15 years ago from possible exposure do you think I need to test again? I have no strength to test again honestly i'm afraid.
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So my story goes, between 5-10 years ago I had a few(approximately 4) unprotected sexual encounters. I never gave it a second thought as I was young and invincible plus, I had no reason to doubt the women I was with. Recently I started getting worried that I may have contracted hiv at some point during that time; a highly unlikely and unreasonable fear, but none the less it has been causing me extreme anxiety. Last week I decided to take an oraquick at home test and the results came back negative, easing my mind at that time. I then began to wonder if I preformed the test to the exact specifications (I was worried I may have drank some water in the 30 minute window before testing). So again, I went and bought another test, was sure not to drink for an hour before and again got a negative result.
My mind was at ease until I read that these tests have an 8% chance of false negative; which is strange because its the same test administered in clinics with 99% accuracy. My question: are the causes of false negatives typically due to user error or testing before the window period is up? Do I have anything to worry about?
I am considering taking another test or perhaps going to get a rapid blood test. I know my odds of being positive are extremely low but I keep focusing on the what if. Please help and thank you!
P.s. already in the process of scheduling an appointment to figure out this irrational anxiety.
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Does anyone else dread Routine Blood Tests scared that they are going to detect some "Blood Cancer"? I've been looking up Leukemia and Lymphoma symptoms all morning. I'm getting a CBC for Fertility treatments.
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I am a male who received unprotected oral sex from unknown CSW status 24 weeks ago. I already did HIV test and it is negative, so basically I am asking about other STDs, should I test for any. If yes what test should I do and what will be the window period for them If I test tomorrow it will be 24 weeks post exposure.
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for about/8 months I have been suffering from diarrhea and I have found on many occasions what appears to be worms. I went to Morocco in sept 14 but this started a couple of months before. Sometimes I have to go poo immediately after I've eaten. I have done a parasite test with my GP by sending a sample of my poo off with what I thought was worms in, but the test came back negative.
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Three weeks ago I went to the emergency room after noticing some red spots on my penis while I was showering. I was very concerned since this was the first time I had seen these spots. After the ER doctor and the physician assistant looked at me, they diagnosed me with genital herpes. I was devastated and thought my life was ruined. They prescribed me acyclovir 5 times a day for 10 days, took the viral culture samples of my spots on my penis and sent them out to be tested. They told me that if the results came back positive for herpes they would call me and it would take approximately 7 to 10 days for the results. I was positive that they would call me, since the doctor and his physician were sure from their experience that it was genital herpes.
Two weeks later and I do not get a call from them. I am surprised. I decided to call them to see what was going on since for the past three weeks I was sure I had herpes. I called the lab to get an update and I was informed that the viral culture test for genital herpes and gonorrhea came back negative. I was both relieved yet surprised. I am excited my results came back negative, but if it is not genital herpes, then what do/did I have?
Here are some more facts regarding my situation:
- Whenever I had sex with my partner (I am a straight male, have only had sex with women), the spots appeared approximately 5 days later. This has been the first time I have been tested for std's. In addition to the viral culture test, they also performed a urine tests to tests for other std's and it came back negative.
- The acyclovir helped the red spots in my penis and it is back to normal now except for a small dot.
- The physician assistant told me that even though the tests came back negative, that I should follow up with my doctor, which I plan to do.
- Whenever I noticed these red spots on my penis, they did not hurt when urinating or hurt in any other way. I did not have a painful rash or pain like I have read in other websites. I felt completely normal and I do not have any other physical symptoms.
The question that I now have is, if it is not genital herpes, then what is it? Have any of you been misdiagnosed with genital herpes only to learn it was something else? While I am happy that my test came back negative, I am wondering what it could be.
My mother, who I told about this and trust about this, says it could just be an allergic reaction. Sometimes outbreaks appear on my skin, especially in the stomach and back whenever I shower with hot water. These outbreaks on my body have been happening for years, even before I lost my virginity 5 years ago.
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I'm 23 years old and I'm healthy. So they tell me but I suffer from extreme anxiety, hypochondria and depression for going on 6 years. Im at my breaking point. It completely controls and ruins my everyday life.
Lately, my whole life has been a whole anxiety attack. From the moment I wake up until I go to sleep. My life doesn't feel like it is a reality. I live in a fog. My heart races all day leaving me exhausted, I suffer from aches and pains and I always think of the impending doom that is coming to me in the coming seconds. Since I also suffer from hypochondria these things do not go well together. Anytime I feel brain fog or these feelings of Unreality I tell myself I have a brain tumor and I'm surely dying. Any pains it's a tumor or a blood clot. I convince myself that I'm dying and it causes anxiety. It's a never ending cycle and as of late has caused me to become very depressed. I can't even go to work in fear of an attack. The only time I feel safe is at home in my bed or when I'm asleep. I left work today on the verge of a mental breakdown. On the verge of admitting myself into the hospital. I am on an antidepressant every day and it doesn't seem to be doing its job. My depression is killing me. Does anyone else feel this way? I don't know much longer I can continue living this way.
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I'm a 17 year old female and over the past few years I've suffered awful social and general anxiety. I've always had hypochondriac tendencies but over the past 6 months, it's really kicked in, to the point where I'm getting incredibly down and possibly depressed. In the beginning of December 2015, I developed stomach pains and cramps and immediately alarm bells started ringing. I became OBSESSED. I spent most of my day googling, posting in forums, going to the doctors. I got so much blood taken and everything was perfect, by CBC was like 2/100 or something which meant I was incredibly healthy and everything else was totally okay. I had urine tests, once it showed a tiny bit of blood and protein but I had a later one and it was totally fine. I then demanded an abdominal ultrasound and spent a ridiculous amount of money on it privately so I didn't have to wait and it came back totally fine too, so there's obviously nothing major going on. I still get the stomach and back pain but it is better and I only really get it bad if I'm walking a long distance. From what I've heard, anxiety can really give you physical symptoms. Anyway, after realising that my grandfather passed away from colon cancer, I've basically self diagnosed myself with this. I feel awful about it because I know there's people out there who are seriously suffering. I'm obsessed with checking and tracking my bowel movements, and it got to the point where I was straining to go even when I didn't need to and this led to bleeding, hence, me going even more crazy with fear. The bleeding only happened once on my stool and once from my actual ... You know, and I'm still terrified. I have no fatigue and I'm generally eating well. Another thing which doesn't help is that I think I've lost a little bit of weight, but it's most likely due to the fact that over the last few weeks I've had an exceptionally good diet and I've drunk so much water, which would obviously make you lose weight, but because I'm already quite slim, I've been worried.
Anyway, as you can tell, I'm constantly worrying about something. A headache=meningitis, stomach pain in the right means I automatically have appendicitis and the other week, I thought I had a brain tumor because I saw spots. It's getting me down and I'm convinced I'm going to die randomly one day from the cancer or whatever inside killing me. Does anyone feel the same or have any way to help me at all? Thank you so much.
I'd also like to add that I'm starting CBT and therapy but it's not often so a lot of the time I'm at home for a few weeks just dwelling on my health.
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