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Hi. I Have Health Anxiety For Starters. Im A 37
Question: Hi. I have health anxiety for starters. Im a 37 yr old female.I had a cold that started a little over a week ago. The symptoms seemed to be improving, to practically nonexisting, except for a stuffy nose & tickle in throat during the day.
My concern, and what I've been really worried about, is occassional wheezing. I checked with Dr. Google first, I knew I shouldn't have, and now I'm serious worried about something horrible like COPD. I am a former smoker. Quit a little over 6 months ago.
I haven't had any shortness of breath, fever, or anything I would consider bad. I have a cough from the cold still that sometimes has phlem. Phlem is sometimes light yellow.
My concern, and what I've been really worried about, is occassional wheezing. I checked with Dr. Google first, I knew I shouldn't have, and now I'm serious worried about something horrible like COPD. I am a former smoker. Quit a little over 6 months ago.
I haven't had any shortness of breath, fever, or anything I would consider bad. I have a cough from the cold still that sometimes has phlem. Phlem is sometimes light yellow.
I also wanted to.add that the wheezing is very light (I have to.plug my ears to listen for it) the most concerning part was a louder wheezing in my sleep last night that I woke up to. Was not short of breath. But I did start to get very anxious.
Brief Answer:
Get done PFT.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Since you were smoker, you should definitely get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
You might be having bronchitis.
PFT will not only diagnose bronchitis but it will also tell you about severity of the disease and treatment is based on severity only.
Please let me know if you already had PFT.
If PFT is normal then no need to worry for bronchitis or COPD.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Get done PFT.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Since you were smoker, you should definitely get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
You might be having bronchitis.
PFT will not only diagnose bronchitis but it will also tell you about severity of the disease and treatment is based on severity only.
Please let me know if you already had PFT.
If PFT is normal then no need to worry for bronchitis or COPD.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Ok thank you. I'm very worried.
I don't feel like im having a hard time breathing, but I know it can still be there
Brief Answer:
You are mostly having stress and anxiety related symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Possibility of stress and anxiety related symptoms is more likely.
But better to rule out bronchitis because of your smoking history.
So get done PFT.
Please let me know
1. How many cigarettes in a day you smoke in the past?
2. Do you have other stressors other then health?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
You are mostly having stress and anxiety related symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Possibility of stress and anxiety related symptoms is more likely.
But better to rule out bronchitis because of your smoking history.
So get done PFT.
Please let me know
1. How many cigarettes in a day you smoke in the past?
2. Do you have other stressors other then health?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
I was never more than a pack a day. 2 packs usually lasted 3 days.
I do have another big stressor right now. My husband left for restoration & recovery help from Hurrican XXXXXXX last Thursday. My health anxiety always seems much worse when he's gone.
I do have another big stressor right now. My husband left for restoration & recovery help from Hurrican XXXXXXX last Thursday. My health anxiety always seems much worse when he's gone.
Brief Answer:
You should definitely consult psychiatrist for anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Now I am sure that your symptoms are due to anxiety only.
I think you should definitely consult psychiatrist for anxiety.
Please let me know
1. Have you ever consulted psychiatrist?
2. Have you ever taken anxiolytic drugs?
3. What is your height and weight? I am asking this to rule out OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) because wheezing at night is also seen with OSA.
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
You should definitely consult psychiatrist for anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Now I am sure that your symptoms are due to anxiety only.
I think you should definitely consult psychiatrist for anxiety.
Please let me know
1. Have you ever consulted psychiatrist?
2. Have you ever taken anxiolytic drugs?
3. What is your height and weight? I am asking this to rule out OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) because wheezing at night is also seen with OSA.
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
No, I have not. I'm affraid of the side effects of the meds. I have never taken them. And I know they will want to put me on them. My health anxiety started after my father (technically grandfather who raised me) passed away at age 85 from CHF. That was almost 3 yrs ago. And I know it's an issue I need to finally deal with. I obsessively check Google, abut any symptoms, & get myself all worked up.
My height is 5'3 & I weigh abt 135.
My height is 5'3 & I weigh abt 135.
Brief Answer:
No need to worry for OSA.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
You definitely need psychiatrist help.
They not only give drugs but they also provide counselling which is very helpful in anxiety disorder.
And newer anxiolytic drugs are very safe, non habit forming.
According to your height and weight, you are having borderline obesity. So no need to worry for OSA.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
No need to worry for OSA.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
You definitely need psychiatrist help.
They not only give drugs but they also provide counselling which is very helpful in anxiety disorder.
And newer anxiolytic drugs are very safe, non habit forming.
According to your height and weight, you are having borderline obesity. So no need to worry for OSA.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you so much for your help!!! I will make an appointment. I feel better already :)
Brief Answer:
This is the effect of counselling.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
See, this is the effect of counselling.
I am sure you will definitely improve after psychiatrist consultation.
Avoid all stress and tension, be relax and calm.
Don't worry, you will be alright.
Do let me know your progress.
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
This is the effect of counselling.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
See, this is the effect of counselling.
I am sure you will definitely improve after psychiatrist consultation.
Avoid all stress and tension, be relax and calm.
Don't worry, you will be alright.
Do let me know your progress.
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Brief Answer:
COPD is progressive disease.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
COPD is chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease. It is progressive disease.
Without treatment, symptoms will get worse.
The most characteristic symptom is breathlessness on exertion. This is not seen with you.
And what you have done right is smoking cessation.
According to study if you continues to smoke after 40 years, chances of COPD are more.
And I have always suggested you to get done PFT first.
If PFT is normal then no need to worry for COPD.
But if PFT is showing obstructive defect then you may need treatment for COPD.
So everything is based on PFT.
Have you ever undergone chest x ray?
And can you please tell me why you google everything?
Sorry to say but we doctors are facing a huge problems with current doctors and that is this 'Google savvy patients'.
And majority of them land up in psychiatrist cabin.
Are you still awake?
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
COPD is progressive disease.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
COPD is chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease. It is progressive disease.
Without treatment, symptoms will get worse.
The most characteristic symptom is breathlessness on exertion. This is not seen with you.
And what you have done right is smoking cessation.
According to study if you continues to smoke after 40 years, chances of COPD are more.
And I have always suggested you to get done PFT first.
If PFT is normal then no need to worry for COPD.
But if PFT is showing obstructive defect then you may need treatment for COPD.
So everything is based on PFT.
Have you ever undergone chest x ray?
And can you please tell me why you google everything?
Sorry to say but we doctors are facing a huge problems with current doctors and that is this 'Google savvy patients'.
And majority of them land up in psychiatrist cabin.
Are you still awake?
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Yes, I will have the test. I guess I was looking for reassurance. I Google to find out that I'm ok, I know that sounds crazy, because it never works. I had a chest x ray a cpl years ago when I went to urgent care over a panic attack. I think it was ok, but it was a while ago. Thank you for your response.
Brief Answer:
Just remove fear from your mind.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Honestly speaking, Google will always scares you.
Google will show extremes of information which is not at all useful. And people start believing that they have very severe form of disease.
So please promise me that you don't use google for health problems in future.
Are you?
If you go on using you go on getting anxiety.
And what I perceive from our conversation is that you need to talk, to open your fears.
I think you are feeling atleast 30-40% better just by sharing and talking with me.
Am I correct?
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Just remove fear from your mind.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Honestly speaking, Google will always scares you.
Google will show extremes of information which is not at all useful. And people start believing that they have very severe form of disease.
So please promise me that you don't use google for health problems in future.
Are you?
If you go on using you go on getting anxiety.
And what I perceive from our conversation is that you need to talk, to open your fears.
I think you are feeling atleast 30-40% better just by sharing and talking with me.
Am I correct?
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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