Anxious About The Doctors

[Holz]

Hey,

So I've just moved to a new area and registered at a new doc. Two things are worrying me as I've had some really bad experiences when abuse has sent me to the hospital. I now panic everytime I go and can't talk, I only freeze.
As a new patient they will wanna do a new patient health check and I want to be able to talk to them, but just tend to panic. Also to help get some support in the area to talk to someone to try and help with my symptoms I want to be able to ask this. Secondly, as Im ripe old age of 25 they will want to do a smear test. Have any women been through this? Coped? I don't want to sacrifice my health because of this but need some guidance how to deal with the panic and not just freeze or run away.

Thanks for listening all advice welcome!
H

 

[digger]

I now panic everytime I go and can't talk, I only freeze.
As a new patient they will wanna do a new patient health check and I want to be able to talk to them, but just tend to panic

Perhaps writing down the things you want them to know - either in bullet points as a starting point to be able to discuss them, or in more detail if you are concerned that you won't be able to talk at all and think there are things that are important for them to know? You can explain at the start of the writing why you have needed to write it down for them.

Afraid I can't offer any help on the smear test as I just refuse them, but I'd say cross one bridge at a time and address the other issues first. If they ask you at your intake appointment about it, it is fine to say you would like to address that at a later date as there are other things you feel need to take priority first.

Do you have anyone you trust to go with you to support you?

 

[new gamma rays]

A written statement before hand might help a lot. You can explain the link between hospitals and anxiety if you want. I sometimes like to get the new patient paperwork from the office days before so I can fill it out at home, and not right before the appointment. I also have a big fear of going to doctors, from a similar experience. Maybe just don't imagine it as a the doctor could ask you whatever he or she wants, but is just going to ask if there are any existing problems. You can try mentally coaching yourself for something that will probably be straightforward. 80% of the very sensitive things that I imagine being a problem discussing in a doctors office don't come up. Doctors tend to be not that curious or investigatory I've found. They want a concrete a problem and a solution, and are not going to pry into your personal live.

 

[illusionist]

I can relate to what you are saying. I've changed doctors a few times and dread the initial meeting after registration, I tend not to visit after that unless absolutely necessary. Does your practice not ask you to fill in a form regarding general questions about your health,? This takes away some of the pressures. The last time I changed doctor, a year ago, all they did was take my blood pressure and weigh me....the rest I answered on a form. Regarding smear test......I cannot preach what I don't practice, except I've maybe left it too late..don't let it be you.

 

[desiderata310]

Do you have a therapist yet? Sometimes they can communicate for you about the PTSD.
You can certainly mention it in the extensive forms we have to fill out to be seen by a new physician. I have gotten into the habit of doing that.

Pap smears are hard. Just plain hard for me. I refuse to "scoot down" till the nurse is in the room and paying attention. The doc has to take extra time to make sure that he/she knows I am aware of what is about to happen and sometimes I have the nurse just hold my hand.

 

[illusionist]

In the UK the forms are not extensive, kept to a very minimum. Maybe you can state your worries along with the forms. My doctor knows of my past and comes up as an alert on the screen.....I was shocked to see it but it should alert any doctors to my obvious anxiety.

 

[Friday]

Strong 2nd for writing pertinant things down, and doing any paperwork ahead of time.

I've had to have quite a few surgeries (cervical cancer, at 23, so I'm a big proponent of the smear test! No family history and I tested negative for HPV, just some quirky gene), so while I didn't have rape stuff messing with my head for PAP smears (been raped, the PAP smears simply never caused any problems), I ended up with a whole lot of "Oh. Hell. No." in connection, anyway. Direct connection. Shrudder. :wtf: Sigh. And it's a good reminder. I'm past due for my own test.

Valium, oh Valium, thank you God for Valium.

Ahem. Otherwise known as my OB/Gyn started Rx'ing me an anti anxiety med to take 30 minutes before procedures. Lovely woman. Lovely, lovely woman, my doc!