My new doctor doesn't understand I am TERRIFIED of Drs and tests?!
Question: I am reposting this in other categories to get responses. I just moved to a new city a few months ago. Just before I moved, I was dx with hypothyroidism. Last week, I needed to have my thyroid rechecked to renew my Rx. I found my new Dr. based on an ad that said how friendly the Dr was, "we treat you like family" etc. I fear nothing so much as I fear illness, medical tests and doctors, but I absolutely had to go because without my thyroid Rx I am a total mess. So I go to this Dr. last Tue. just to have my blood panel done. I told the Dr. how afraid I am of drs. and how much anxiety I have about medical tests etc, and he says "Oh I don't blame you, it can be scary. I'll try not to hurt you when I take your blood and you won't have to see the needle" etc. But needles and and blood are NOT my fear at all, (an anomaly?)- I am just afraid of the information they are gleaning ab my health when they do the tests, not the means in which the test is done.
Answers: I am reposting this in other categories to get responses. I just moved to a new city a few months ago. Just before I moved, I was dx with hypothyroidism. Last week, I needed to have my thyroid rechecked to renew my Rx. I found my new Dr. based on an ad that said how friendly the Dr was, "we treat you like family" etc. I fear nothing so much as I fear illness, medical tests and doctors, but I absolutely had to go because without my thyroid Rx I am a total mess. So I go to this Dr. last Tue. just to have my blood panel done. I told the Dr. how afraid I am of drs. and how much anxiety I have about medical tests etc, and he says "Oh I don't blame you, it can be scary. I'll try not to hurt you when I take your blood and you won't have to see the needle" etc. But needles and and blood are NOT my fear at all, (an anomaly?)- I am just afraid of the information they are gleaning ab my health when they do the tests, not the means in which the test is done.
You need to tell MD you have an anxiety disorder & that you obsess about test results & fear what they will be. You need him to tell you things to reassure you.
He was doing a comprehensive initial exam...which is good.
Take the anxiety meds before bedtime. I'm assuming you aren't taking them because you're afraid of drowsiness. That should lessen the longer you take them.
You only need to go back to him tomorrow & then get a new MD.
You can also ask your psychiatrist to speak to MD for you.
You don't exactly sound afraid of MD's ,but of the news they can give you.
Do you also get especially anxious about your husband being away?
Try to do some deep breathing: inhale thru nose; exhale thru mouth; rest. Each for a count of 3. Do for 5 minutes at a time. Make sure your stomach inflates & deflates when you're breathing...this ought to calm you some. Works better with practice.
Then think that by this time tomorrow, it will all be over.
If he had found anything on your EKG, he would have already told you, so that's one less thing to worry about
Good luck
It appears as if you have an HMO and can't interview doctors but must instead accept whichever doctor you are assigned.
Try paying for the doctor rather than using an insurance company and you'll be more careful in your selections than will some faceless corporation that really doesn't care at all about you.
If you actually can interview doctors, that can be quite expensive! But you can glean a lot of information about the type of care you'll get by the manner and kindness (or lack thereof) exhibited by the person who answers the phone. After all, if he/she's unhappy working for the doctor, you'll be unhappy under his/her care.
As to your anxiety, I suggest committing a minor crime and get yourself sentenced to a county jail for about a year... Living in the freeworld after that will become more dear to you and these little things that loom so large in your mind will seem insignificant and you'll be a happier person.
Of course, you'll then have a criminal record which could be difficult.
Instead, take a flight down to Haiti for a couple of weeks and don't stay in the hotel except to sleep. Spend your two weeks walking around the city and meeting the locals. You'll come home with a renewed appreciation of your station in life and your terror over the trivial will vanish.