Panic Attacks At The Dr's Office???

[Rob_Dog19]

We've all had panic attacks in public...but has anyone else had one at the dr's office?
I had a post surgery cystoscopy done yesterday, which required me to undress entirely from the waist down, be put on an elevated table, and have my legs put up in stirrups. The dr was a male, and the more he told me to relax my pelvic muscles and bottom, the tenser I felt, until all of the sudden I realized every muscle in my body was tensed up and I couldn't breathe. I spent the entire procedure crying hysterically and unable to breathe. It was humiliating enough to have the procedure done, but it killed me to have my dr and nurse see me like that. uggh

 

[Heather]

Yes, I've had the same thing happen when I had the Urologist remove the stent. The dr. was a man. I flashbacked to when I was 11 y/o I pulled my sweatshirt over my head. He kept saying that I needed to relax and to breathe!

It was awful.

In times like that it's really important to stay grounded. Feel the table underneath you. Focus on your breathing. Name 5 things in the room.

 

[The Albatross]

I disassociate at times in the doctor's office... when I was younger I used to just pass out completely. I do though have a lot of difficulty with stirrups and am so stressed I can't relax... even though I ditched male doctors years ago and have a woman doc and a nurse in the room.

Just this year was the first time I discussed the difficulty with her... about being a victim of rapes and sexual assaults. It was a growth thing for me... and she was very understanding and accepting.

 

[Rob_Dog19]

I live in a really small town with very few women drs, and even fewer female specialists. At the clinic I go to, there are 6 urologists, all male. The nurse was female, but still surprisingly unsympathetic

 

[Gamereign555]

A lot of us probably get that way in a doctors office or visiting the hospital for someone. I'm sure many of our traumas happened just before the hospital or while in the hospital. Accidents, assaults, operations, losing loved ones, sudden illness even. And a doctor's office isn't such a stretch, I even get nervous (like ptsd nervous) while I'm at the vet clinic.

Then there's a certain authority about some doctors. Male or female, my doc is pretty nice and puts me at ease. Most my nurses have been nice but one I recall in urgent care was pretty nasty. How nice they are is one thing, but some people have real issues with being in the same room alone with anybody like that, nice or no

On the other hand I go to the doctors to get certain meds that I might be needing for anxiety I can't shake or insomnia issues so I tend to feel worse knowing that I need to go, and then more relaxed when I am arriving at my appointment.

My girlfriend gets pretty nervous at the doctors and for physicals as well, so its probably normal for most. But umm yeah the one time I got naked for a physical it was not much fun, I was definetly nervous and it just felt rather off.

 

[SimplyComplex]

I am so sorry! I have panic attacks at doctors...it doesn't have to be for "private" stuff either. I can go for a mole removal and I panic. I had a huge one with my new doctor. Female, which is scary for me. Then I had one the next visit with her and she didn't even touch me. I feel weird about going back because I am so embrassed. But...I will.

My mom had munchhaussen by proxy, so I think quite a bit of it comes from that. She was also sexually abusive, and so I really dislike being touched. I am less afraid with a man, but am choosing to pick female practitioners to challenge myself and help with recovery.

I also have had panic attacks at church, getting my eye brows waxed, the therapist's office...hey even pedicures used to send me through the roof. I guess it is getting better :) Keep working through it, it will be worth it.

 

[Rob_Dog19]

I am less afraid with a man, but am choosing to pick female practitioners to challenge myself and help with recovery.

I am so impressed!!! I wish I had that kind of courage. How scary that must be for you!!!! I also can't stand being touched, so whenever I go to my family dr (the one that has taken care of me when I'm born) I dread it...he's one of those types who like gently rubs your shoulder while he talks to you...ughh it's literally making me cringe just typing it. anyway...thanks, I'm glad I'm not the only one who has embarassing panic attacks at the drs. :whistling:

 

[SimplyComplex]

Nah you are far from the only one, my doctor looked at me like I had 4 heads when I was freaking out. But at the second visit I told her I had an anxiety disorder, that I was cutting off contact with my mom and that I am recovering from childhood abuse and she seemed very sympathetic. I think, in most cases, if you give some explanation you may find empathy instead of just confusion.

And still a year into therapy sometimes I get super anxious waiting to see my T. I know some of it is that I don't want to think about trauma-junk and that is what we will talk about. But I think if she were a he, it would be easier. On the other hand, if she were a he, I think I wouldn't be making the same kind of progress I am.

You could totally ask the doc not to rub you...thats a boundary issue. I would die if mine did. One of the things I liked about my T was her photo looked professional and not like she was touchy-feely. And she has not touched me...not even once :) woot!

 

[Rob_Dog19]

Lol. My T, thank god, isn't touchy feely either. She knows that when she calls me back, she has to walk by my side, not behind me, so I feel like I could escape...and in her office she moves her chair into a corner so I have a clear vision of the exit :confused:...However, part of my therapy is to get massages monthly...(I've succeeded only once)

 

[SimplyComplex]

.However, part of my therapy is to get massages monthly...(I've succeeded only once)

So interesting, I think I feel uneasy walking in front of my T too...but I never really thought about it

Good for you for the massages! Is it time to do another? Great way to be nurtured and nurture yourself. I have been able to get sports massages...they are fully clothed and freaking amazing (alot of stretch). I still can't believe I have been able to do those! A couple years ago I couldn't get a pedicure or get my eye brows waxed. That pesky women touching me stuff. But it is progress. I don't think I would be able to do a traditional massage yet but it is sort of an end goal...something that I hope to be able to do "some day". I bet it feels amazing!

 

[SimplyComplex]

oh, maybe I shook my T's hand when we met...I don't recall. But she has been really good at respecting my space and I appreciate that about her. And totally random, I couldn't make eye contact for the longest time walking in or out...I could in sessions but not walking in and out...or before or after the session. And I could tell she noticed too, which I think made it harder.

 

[Rob_Dog19]

I have trouble making eye contact with my T too. Actually, I have trouble making eye contact with everyone. I don't know if you have experienced this, but I find it literally painful to look somebody in the eye...my T doesn't ever push the subject, but I've had male dr's get frustrated with me because I couldn't maintain eye contact for more than a few seconds...