GP appointment on Wednesday, dreading it, please make me feel better

 

Today I took the brave decision to book an appointment with my GP for this Wednesday afternoon. The reason for the appointment is that I suffer from occasional stabbing pains under my left ***, over my ribs in the side. I have had these occasional pains for a very long time - at least 6 years. They sometimes happen when I laugh, change position, or breath in deeply. They rarely happen when I exercise, and mainly occur at rest or during gentle movement.

Last year I went to the GP about aches in my sturnum, which I also sometimes get, and she reassurred me there was nothing wrong with my heart. My blood pressure was healthy, and while she noticed my heart was beating fast ( I get palpitations when anxious, which I did tell her), the beats were regular. I left feeling as though a great weight had been lifted because I was worrying that I was going to have a heart attack.

My anxiety is mainly health related, but I also get anxious about social situations, the general stresses of life, and a multitude of things going wrong. I often hyperventilate or breath too fast, and I aware that all my bodily tension can create aches and pains. But my anxious half worries that there could be something wrong with me, however unlikely.

I am hoping the GP visit will confirm that the occasional stabbing pain in a localised part of my rib cage is simply anxiety. It is not always there, comes and goes, but sometimes I go days or weeks with no such pain, and then I have a few days where it happens with some frequency. I do not have any other worrying symptoms other than a fast heart rate.

I have read about something called precordial catch syndrome, and reckon that this is what I might have. It is the most common cause of pain caused by anxiety, and occurs beneath the left ***.

I am going with my support worker. I have a fear of doctors. I think I will explain that I have Asperger's - I told the receptionist this - because information has to be very concrete and precise.

I welcome your words of reassurance. Please say something that calms my nerves Foot in Mouth

Parents
  • But yes, precordial catch syndrome matches my symptoms exactly.

    On Tuesday night I got the sudden pain while watching TV in bed, and upon changing posture. It was there for a few minutes, but then resolved. I had no further such pains on Wednesday. But on Saturday evening, while standing and talking to my mum, I suddenly got the stabbing pain below my left *** again. I had to leave the room and take a few deep breaths, before it went away. On Sunday, the pains seemed to come and go, more in the side this time, and my side felt tender, achy and sore in general. I feel the same this morning, which is why I phoned the doctor. I had no pains when I was relaxed and lying in bed, before I got up.

    The pains prevent me from going out because of fear that I have something wrong with me. I just want the doctor to give me answers, not, 'oh, it's just anxiety'!

Reply
  • But yes, precordial catch syndrome matches my symptoms exactly.

    On Tuesday night I got the sudden pain while watching TV in bed, and upon changing posture. It was there for a few minutes, but then resolved. I had no further such pains on Wednesday. But on Saturday evening, while standing and talking to my mum, I suddenly got the stabbing pain below my left *** again. I had to leave the room and take a few deep breaths, before it went away. On Sunday, the pains seemed to come and go, more in the side this time, and my side felt tender, achy and sore in general. I feel the same this morning, which is why I phoned the doctor. I had no pains when I was relaxed and lying in bed, before I got up.

    The pains prevent me from going out because of fear that I have something wrong with me. I just want the doctor to give me answers, not, 'oh, it's just anxiety'!

Children
No Data