Fear of doctors!

Callie22

I have the same problem, to the point where I will end up in tears if I have to wait too long in the surgery, and throughout my appointment I'll be visibly shaking. I avoid going to the doctors - I haven't been for over ten years - but I do have to visit the nurse fairly frequently to get repeat prescriptions of the pill and it's an absolute nightmare.

I ended up having to have an ambulatory blood pressure test (where you wear a cuff for 24 hours) because the practice nurse was so concerned about my blood pressure, which was practically at stroke level every time I was in the surgery. Turns out I have a text-book case of white coat hypertension as I'm on the low side of normal when I'm not at the doctors, it just shoots through the roof when I'm anywhere near medical personnel ...

I've never found a sympathetic GP and the problem is made worse as there's no choice locally in terms of surgeries. It's impossible to explain to anyone 'medical' what the problem is as they just don't understand how anyone can have such a problem with their work and working environment. I really do need to sort it out but I have no idea where to start.

lostinrates

Callie22 wrote: »

I have the same problem, to the point where I will end up in tears if I have to wait too long in the surgery, and throughout my appointment I'll be visibly shaking. I avoid going to the doctors - I haven't been for over ten years - but I do have to visit the nurse fairly frequently to get repeat prescriptions of the pill and it's an absolute nightmare.

I ended up having to have an ambulatory blood pressure test (where you wear a cuff for 24 hours) because the practice nurse was so concerned about my blood pressure, which was practically at stroke level every time I was in the surgery. Turns out I have a text-book case of white coat hypertension as I'm on the low side of normal when I'm not at the doctors, it just shoots through the roof when I'm anywhere near medical personnel ...

I've never found a sympathetic GP and the problem is made worse as there's no choice locally in terms of surgeries. It's impossible to explain to anyone 'medical' what the problem is as they just don't understand how anyone can have such a problem with their work and working environment. I really do need to sort it out but I have no idea where to start.

Try using the term iatrophobia or saying 'I am iatrophobic, so I get quite stressed in this situation'.

Works for me.

Goldiegirl

I'm so glad it's not just me!

I'm very frightened about going to to doctors, and will only go if I absolutely have too.

I didn't go to my GP's for about 20 years. I had a bad experience with a (female)doctor back in the early 1990's. I had been nervous about going to the doctor, but this experience really made me doctor-phobic.

I don't mind the dentists or the opticians. My mum had glaucoma, so my optician is always very thorough with my eye tests. A few years ago, the optician was concerned about the pressure in my eye, so I had to be referred to a consultant. I had to get my GP's surgery to do the referral...... Even phoning them made me anxious!

When I eventually saw the consultant I was very nervous. But he was lovely, and really put me at my ease.

But I still have a fear of going to the GP. I even dragged myself to work when I had flu, because I couldn't face going to the GP get myself signed off work.

I managed to avoid the GP's surgery until 2011. My hairdresser notice I had bald patches, so I knew I had to go to the GP. I saw a different doctor but I was terrified..... And when I had my blood pressure taken it was off the scale. I was given steroid cream for my scalp and sent for blood tests. Which I was fine about, as I don't mind needles.

My hair grew back, so I didn't go back - until last Friday.

For a few weeks, I've been having a lot of trouble with my right ear, it is very blocked and I've had bouts of tinnitus.

I was putting olive oil in my ear as I thought it was wax. It wasn't improving, and I was trying to brace myself to go to the doctors, but kept on thinking, I'll give it a couple more days.

But on Thursday afternoon, is had the most terrible tinnitus ever - it was like a vacuum cleaner in my head.

It was so bad, the first thing I did was to phone the doctor for an appointment - my fear of going was over-ridden by the terrible noise in my head

I got an appointment for the following morning. Fortunately, the worst of the noise subsided after a few hours.

But I attended the appointment, which took less than 5 minutes. He looked in my ear, told me I had no wax, and told me to do steam inhalation for three weeks.

I'm carrying out the instructions, but with no real improvement yet - I still have a blocked ear, and tinnitus at various levels, but it's always there.

I'm not confident the steaming will get rid of my problems, so almost certainly going to have to go back. But I think not going back will be worse. I'm still very unhappy about the thought of returning, but I know I will have to do it, because I want to get better.

jackyann

Can I suggest that you make an appointment with the practice nurse? If you don't want to go tell the receptionist, say you have some anxiety about check-ups and would like a chat with her.
Nurses are used to this. They can talk you through what is vital and what can wait. They can give you good information, and at most surgeries (though it is variable) can do some counselling themselves, or refer you to someone who can give you some exercises to help.
Good luck

heartbreak_star

Oh Gigervamp, I could cry reading that post. I am so sorry.

I had smears as regular as clockwork and had to have treatment to remove potentially cancerous cells last year. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, never mind what you're going through.

Please, hazyjo, visit a few practises and see how you feel.

Would definitely second a visit to the practise nurse for a chat as well. Ours is lovely

HBS x

Adora-Bell-Dearheart

Thanks Givervamp youve just given me impetus to book myself in tomorrow. I am TERRIFIED already- but that is nothing to what you have gone through. My first smear was awful- detached gp who made me feel filthy for having sex unprotected, despite being with my (now) husband for 5 years- really spoke down and tutted at me. But trying to think the 'only you can let others belittle you' mantra- its been 5 years since last one so need to, thinking of you. X

System

I'm not so much afraid of doctors, but with my health problems I need one who has decent knowledge about mental health, so I usually have to do my research before settling on one. I have had some horrendous doctors who have been horrible to me (for example during one suicidla episode the doctor didn't listen and just chucked some sleeping meds at me and told me to sleep it off, despite the fact I'd just told him how I was planning to kill myself!)

Dentist on the other hand? I am petrified, I haven't been in 7 years. I made an appointment a year or two ago but have a full blown panic attack and missed it. tbh I really need to go but I know that I'm going to need a lot of work and will most likely need sedating just for the initial appointment let alone any treatment.

Georgiegirl256

Another one here who is so logical when it comes to other people, but then when it comes to myself, I get the same feelings that a lot of you have listed above. I get so nervous and sometimes just want to cry. I think sometimes it's not so much getting the procedure done, but more what they might tell you.

For me, it's a combination of having gone to the hospital a lot when I was a child (from the age of 8), and more recently, seeing my parents suffer a great deal due to various serious illnesses including Heart attacks and Cancer, the latter of which is terminal. I wish I could face things with the courage and what will be will be attitude that they do, and I guess in a way I do, but my emotions nearly always get the better of me.

I have a fear of opticians too. On numerous occasions I've burst into tears and nearly walked out.

I think you're far from alone OP. Good luck with everything.

lostinrates

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Another one here who is so logical when it comes to other people, but then when it comes to myself, I get the same feelings that a lot of you have listed above. I get so nervous and sometimes just want to cry. I think sometimes it's not so much getting the procedure done, but more what they might tell you.

For me, it's a combination of having gone to the hospital a lot when I was a child (from the age of 8), and more recently, seeing my parents suffer a great deal due to various serious illnesses including Heart attacks and Cancer, the latter of which is terminal. I wish I could face things with the courage and what will be will be attitude that they do, and I guess in a way I do, but my emotions nearly always get the better of me.

I have a fear of opticians too. On numerous occasions I've burst into tears and nearly walked out.

I think you're far from alone OP. Good luck with everything.

Hahaha, you've reminded me, I hate eyeclinic. Its relatively inoffensive really, and people are surprised I hate it so much but I find the whole thing quite difficult. From the waiting room where patients are rude to staff and staff are terse too, through to step one of the eyedrops being dropped from above so they pummel the eye. On reflex I have been known to dodge, which makes the nurses very short with one, and its very difficult to explain I already am expending a lot of attempt at self control because they have been so rude and the stress of waiting is so extreme that I feel a little low on self control and the blink is hard to avoid!

Then the eye tests, where its hard not to do your best and the disablement of not looking left or right for visual field tests is so alien.

Its always a long stressful afternoon, even though its the least offensive 'thing' I do practically I think.

picklekin

I don't fear doctors but I am with you on the pestering side of things, I am another one who used to avoid smear tests and.. heaven forbid, I used to smoke, I also like the odd glass of wine. I used to get bugged about this every time I went, and it just made me not want to go. Whilst I hear your story Ginger and can't imagine what it must be like to go through this, I think we can receive the information and make up our own minds. Not be nagged at like a small child when we go to the doctors.. I now have my smear and don't smoke, but neither of these things were done because a doctor nagged at me!