The stay-at-home mum is one of a growing number of cyberchondriacs — people who constantly surf the internet to self-diagnose real or imagined health problems.
Cyberchondriacs are people who use the internet to decide if they have an illness or not.
Laura’s online research, which can last up to three hours a day, is prompted by anything from chest pains to enlarged pupils and has resulted in her diagnosing herself with a range of disorders, from brain tumours to meningitis.
She was once hospitalised because she was convinced she’d had a heart attack but doctors said it was more likely an anxiety attack.
Laura, 34, is married to Paul, 33, who is registered disabled due to poor vision. She knows she is in the grip of cyberchondria but cannot break the cycle.
Laura, who is mum to Ben 14, Heidi, eight, Iidan, three, and Zak, two, says: “Every morning I wake up convinced I’m going to die. The first thing I do is test my blood.
Stay-at-home mum Laura Googles her symptoms regularly
“I managed to talk my GP into giving me a machine that diabetics use to track their blood glucose level.
“I’m not diabetic but if my level is high, then thanks to the internet I know I am at risk of diabetes.”
Laura, from Durham, adds: “I grew up in an old people’s home, my mum was a live-in warden. I got used to seeing the elderly admitted then die.
“But the fixation with my own health didn’t set in until the internet came along.
“The turning point was when my best friend was killed in a car accident. I was 14 and should have been with her.
“Even now, 20 years later, at the end of every day I am relieved to have cheated death again.”
Laura’s biggest scare came in 2011 when she was convinced she was having a heart attack.
She says: “I dialled 999 in sheer terror.
“I had pains in my chest, numbness down the left side of my body and I couldn’t lift my arm.
“I looked on the NHS website and found that every symptom pointed to cardiac arrest. Within minutes I was lying on an ambulance gurney with a blood pressure cuff on and an oxygen mask.
“I was convinced I was going to die. After an overnight stay I was discharged. I was told I’d had an anxiety attack.
“On another occasion I called 999 because I was sure some spots on my arm were meningitis.”
Laura’s daily routine revolves around checking her vital signs then spending hours Googling symptoms.
She says: “After I’ve checked my blood, I take my temperature. If it’s high, I know I am at risk of infection. If it’s too low, hypothermia could be a possibility.
“Recently I had persistent tingling in one of my fingers. I immediately logged on and found it could be an early sign of a brain tumour.
Laura’s health obsession does not extend to her family.
ALAMY
Experts says cyberchondriacs are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and checking them on Google makes it worse.
Stop thinking worst.
CLINICAL Psychologist Dr Abigael San says: “Palpitations, headaches or turning hot or cold are all normal bodily changes but someone with cyberchondria will convince themselves it is the sign of something more sinister. “All are symptoms of anxiety and if you catastrophise them, you will get locked in a horrible vicious circle. Worrying will only make the symptoms worse. If you have been checked out by a doctor and have been told there’s nothing wrong, try to accept that.“Try to resist the urge to use Dr Google, it will make the anxiety worse.“If you are overwhelmed with anxiety, then ask to be referred for cognitive behavioural therapy.”
She says: “I’m a normal mum and won’t wrap them up in cotton wool. I don’t want to pass my phobia on to them.
“I realise how I live my life is far from normal. I never eat on my own in case I choke. I won’t drive on my own either.
“I’ve had counselling but it hasn’t helped. My sister reckons I should try hypnotherapy, while my mum is just annoyed with me.
“My GP is concerned and wants to take the blood machine back but I’ve told him that won’t happen.
“It is mental torture having access to so much medical information yet I can’t help looking online.
“My biggest fear is that one day I really will be seriously ill and no one will believe me.
“Everyone views me as the internet-obsessed woman who cried wolf.”
Sun UK
Cyberchondriacs are people who use the internet to decide if they have an illness or not.
Laura’s online research, which can last up to three hours a day, is prompted by anything from chest pains to enlarged pupils and has resulted in her diagnosing herself with a range of disorders, from brain tumours to meningitis.
She was once hospitalised because she was convinced she’d had a heart attack but doctors said it was more likely an anxiety attack.
Laura, 34, is married to Paul, 33, who is registered disabled due to poor vision. She knows she is in the grip of cyberchondria but cannot break the cycle.
Laura, who is mum to Ben 14, Heidi, eight, Iidan, three, and Zak, two, says: “Every morning I wake up convinced I’m going to die. The first thing I do is test my blood.
Stay-at-home mum Laura Googles her symptoms regularly
“I managed to talk my GP into giving me a machine that diabetics use to track their blood glucose level.
“I’m not diabetic but if my level is high, then thanks to the internet I know I am at risk of diabetes.”
Laura, from Durham, adds: “I grew up in an old people’s home, my mum was a live-in warden. I got used to seeing the elderly admitted then die.
“But the fixation with my own health didn’t set in until the internet came along.
“The turning point was when my best friend was killed in a car accident. I was 14 and should have been with her.
“Even now, 20 years later, at the end of every day I am relieved to have cheated death again.”
Laura’s biggest scare came in 2011 when she was convinced she was having a heart attack.
She says: “I dialled 999 in sheer terror.
“I had pains in my chest, numbness down the left side of my body and I couldn’t lift my arm.
“I looked on the NHS website and found that every symptom pointed to cardiac arrest. Within minutes I was lying on an ambulance gurney with a blood pressure cuff on and an oxygen mask.
“I was convinced I was going to die. After an overnight stay I was discharged. I was told I’d had an anxiety attack.
“On another occasion I called 999 because I was sure some spots on my arm were meningitis.”
Laura’s daily routine revolves around checking her vital signs then spending hours Googling symptoms.
She says: “After I’ve checked my blood, I take my temperature. If it’s high, I know I am at risk of infection. If it’s too low, hypothermia could be a possibility.
“Recently I had persistent tingling in one of my fingers. I immediately logged on and found it could be an early sign of a brain tumour.
Laura’s health obsession does not extend to her family.
ALAMY
Experts says cyberchondriacs are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and checking them on Google makes it worse.
Stop thinking worst.
CLINICAL Psychologist Dr Abigael San says: “Palpitations, headaches or turning hot or cold are all normal bodily changes but someone with cyberchondria will convince themselves it is the sign of something more sinister. “All are symptoms of anxiety and if you catastrophise them, you will get locked in a horrible vicious circle. Worrying will only make the symptoms worse. If you have been checked out by a doctor and have been told there’s nothing wrong, try to accept that.“Try to resist the urge to use Dr Google, it will make the anxiety worse.“If you are overwhelmed with anxiety, then ask to be referred for cognitive behavioural therapy.”
She says: “I’m a normal mum and won’t wrap them up in cotton wool. I don’t want to pass my phobia on to them.
“I realise how I live my life is far from normal. I never eat on my own in case I choke. I won’t drive on my own either.
“I’ve had counselling but it hasn’t helped. My sister reckons I should try hypnotherapy, while my mum is just annoyed with me.
“My GP is concerned and wants to take the blood machine back but I’ve told him that won’t happen.
“It is mental torture having access to so much medical information yet I can’t help looking online.
“My biggest fear is that one day I really will be seriously ill and no one will believe me.
“Everyone views me as the internet-obsessed woman who cried wolf.”
Sun UK