Anyone have a partner who can't cope with clinical environments?

GoldenShadow

Just wondered if there is anyone who has any experience with this. My OH is really not good with visiting hospitals (I think this is also why he dislikes going to the dentist but its not something he really wants to talk about).

I was unwell and had to go into hospital a few times last summer and my OH had to be sent out with a cup of water and sit in a waiting area by himself. This was when I really noticed how much of an issue it was, I really needed him there to support me (there wasn't/couldn't be anyone else) and he couldn't. He says he feels dizzy and whoozy when it happens. He's less bad in waiting areas (he's waited with me for an x ray before and been OK) but going into the clinical zone where treatment is given/received he just goes white. It becomes apparent that unless you get him out sharpish he's going to faint.

He's never had a negative experience in a clinical environment that we know of. His Grandma has broken her hip and I've said shall we go visit her tomorrow and he said well I don't know when I'll be done at work. My interpretation of that is I'm too scared/don't want to go. His Grandma really isn't in the best health generally and I really think he should come with me to see her.

This is impacting on life far more than it should. Not just his going to see his Grandma, but last year when I was ill too. His parents are getting on a bit, what if they get ill and are in hospital? I can't looking forward to having kids if I know I'm going to do most of the first chunk on my own.

Has anyone got any advice/experience/words of wisdom? I know someone who had hypnotherapy for a fear of flying, but he doesn't sen to be afraid of hospitals generally its just when he gets into the treatment areas…Really don't know what to do and he seems quite happy to bury his head in the sand because he isn't sure what to do either

Person_one

It does sound a bit like a phobia, especially as he's having a physical response.

Hypnotherapy might not be a bad idea, but be careful about who you go to there are a lot of charlatans about!

He could also look into CBT, either by reading up on the techniques and trying it himself or by going to a counsellor trained in the methods if that doesn't work for him.

fashionlover10

Person_one wrote: »

It does sound a bit like a phobia, especially as he's having a physical response.

Hypnotherapy might not be a bad idea, but be careful about who you go to there are a lot of charlatans about!

He could also look into CBT, either by reading up on the techniques and trying it himself or by going to a counsellor trained in the methods if that doesn't work for him.

I agree about him looking into CBT, that was my first thought when I read about his problem.

RobotsinDisguse

Another vote for CBT. Can he visit his GP without issue? Round here you get a phone consultation offered so he could do that instead I guess.

My Dr referred me for a free course of sessions. It's really helped my anxiety and given me coping strategies.

My worry would be how he would cope if taken very unwell or in an accident... That's why I think it's worth talking to his doctor about.

sophietb

This happens to my OH to - for him it's a fear response which triggers a drop in blood pressure. White faced, shakey and passes out. He passed out when I had my blood pressure taken when I was pregnant!

We just deal with it. I go to medical appointments with my OH to listen to the advice (all the doctors we have met know of this phobia and are quite relaxed about it). When I had our DS he coped fine with the labour (too busy helping me to get worried by it all).

So far it's not been a big issue for us. I know about the problem and can advise people accordingly.

DKLS

I was similar in a way, but landed a project working with the NHS and was cured very quickly.
I wouldn't recommend it as an approach, but in my case it worked.

Alikay

I'm not great myself: I've fainted twice at the opticians and once at the dentist (I was only taking DD to have impressions done for her braces). Actual medical situations for myself have been even worse...fainting at blood tests is usual, and I once had to spend half an hour lying on the GP's couch after a failed attempt to have an IUD fitted. It's pretty embarrassing, and the only thing that seems to work is if a thing becomes temporarily "the norm" and there's a lot of exposure to it (such as during pregnancy when blood tests are frequent). After a lapse of a few years, I'm just as bad again though.