Another hypochondriac freaking out. Should I see a doctor?

I’m not a doctor or a shrink, but it seems clear to me that you are experiencing some real anxiety, and I highly recommend that you talk to a professional that has experience with hypochondria, anxiety, and OCD issues. If you are concerned about the money this will cost, I can assure you that they money you spend now to deal with this will save you money in the future on doctor visits and late-night emergency room trips on health concerns. I have had close friends and family who have let this type of problem fester, accumulating huge debt in the process.

We are all capable of being concerned about our body and health. Anxiety, however, creates physical problems, which feed more anxiety, etc.
Good luck.

Firstly, let me tell you that I feel your pain. I used to be exactly the same, every little problem and I thought it was a life threatening disease. This would give me sleepless nights and I couldn’t concentrate during the day because I was so worried about what I thought was wrong with me. I agree with @tom_g, anxiety can create problems and you may think that you have a symptom when you don’t (ie: tasting blood) My anxiety became so bad that I pretty much became a recluse. I was so miserable with the constant fear. In the end I was persuaded to get help so I spoke to my doctor who gave me some medication for anxiety which helped a lot.

May I ask how old you are? I only mention age because I have since found out that this kind of anxiety is not uncommon in young people especially (I was in my teens when I started to get really paranoid).

@Leanne1986 I’m 21.

Unexplained bruising can happen for a myriad of reasons. The most common is that you simply didn’t feel enough pain from the impact to consider it serious. Bruises can take up to two weeks to heal if they are bad ones. You should see a steady progression of colours as this process takes place.

Bleeding gums is normal when you are flossing. It means you are doing a good job of it. If the blood isn’t still leaking from your gums a minute or so later, you’re probably fine.

Dizziness and nausea are also very common, and only accurately indicate disease when accompanied by other symptoms.

I think your problem is that you are looking for symptoms in everything that happens to you. When you get sick, it should be somewhat of a shock. What you notice should be totally out of the ordinary. Of course no accurate diagnosis is possible without a face to face consultation, but if you cannot see a pattern of problems, and there are only scattered, minor, unrelated symptoms, I wouldn’t worry too much.

I never knew that easy bruising was a sign of leukemia, I bruise easily and all the time. When I had my first operation, a couple of years ago, I learned that I did have sort of thin blood—which I think is a good thing. Anyway, all this is to say, there are lots and lots of reasons for all your symptoms, and the most likely and least frightening is probably what is going on, and not the most scary and unlikely. However, I think it is always smart to have health insurance—which then allows you to go to a doctor to check out your symptoms. And then, if you are healthy, which is the most likely result, you can begin to work on your anxiety about your health, and maybe deal with that issue (it often seems to come down to a fear of death), so you can enjoy a day at the river with your boyfriend and all the other good times to come.

@livelaughlove21 – Also, while you are getting an appointment with someone, watch for the following:

- Do not use google to assist you in self-diagnosing. A simple tooth-ache can result in inoperable brain cancer. It’s really not a healthy thing to do.
– Just observe your physical sensations and your emotional response to those sensations without judgement. For example, if you taste blood, then taste the blood. What does that sensation feel like on your tongue, roof of your mouth, etc. Then, what is your emotional response to this sensation? Are you rushing to connect the dots to other things you are experiencing, or have experienced lately? Just observe this response. Don’t judge it.
– Look out for linking words, such as the “finally” which is used in your question. In this case, you are linking a completely normal experience (nausea and dizziness) to other normal experiences (bloody gums, bruises). Sometimes nausea is just nausea. Sometimes we get bloody gums because we have not been brushing/flossing sufficiently.

If you find that you are self-diagnosing using google. Stop.
If you find non-judgemental observation to be helpful, look into mindfulness meditation. It can help minimize the discomfort of physical sensations, can minimize anxiety, and can actually increase gray matter density in some of the areas of the brain related to the good stuff.

In my experience, therapy and drugs are fantastic and can help you get through a rough spell. Like others have mentioned, it’s very common, and you will feel better if you talk to someone as soon as possible.

Certain foods will promote bruising because they temporarily thin out your blood. Garlic, for example, is ( among many other things ) a natural blood thinner. The bruising and the bleeding gums could both be due to your having eaten something that thinned your blood temporarily. Nothing to be alarmed about.

@CaptainHarley I never knew that. Interesting.

Now you know! : D

My son bruises easily. After telling our doctor about it, he suggested a supplement of Quercitin. Our son has autism, and no other condition that we know of. I rarely bruise. My mom has always bruised easily….but then again, she has fine skin to the point that you can see many of her blood vessels.

Without “seeing” you or knowing your physical condition, my best Internet advice is to write down on your calendar anything out of the ordinary. That way, when you do have money or health insurance you can let your doctor in on what you’ve noticed.

These could also be early pregnancy symptoms.

@faye That’s almost as bad. I’m currently having a normal period, so I doubt it.

Easy bruising is usually a symptom of not enough iron in the blood, i have always bruised very easily, and if before or right after menstruation it can lower iron levels making it even easier to
bruise. As far as the gum bleeding goes you can develop gingivitis at any time, even if you brush or floss. As far as my nurse training goes, i am not aware of gum bleed being a symptom of anything else besides gum disease ect. Dizziness and nausea are also symptoms of PMS, if the symptoms dont resolve after menstruation i would contact a doctor.

Low iron, not enough potassium in your diet, can both cause easy bruising. If you don’t brush your teeth at least twice every single day, your gums will bleed the first time you do brush them. The more you brush, the bleeding will stop.