Extreme anxiety after blood test call

KatieDee

Hi everybody,

I am sure this belongs on the health board but I think I'm looking for support rather than a diagnosis, so here goes...

I had some blood tests on Friday which were ordered after a visit to my GP. He said he would test me for everything including a general blood count, hormones, liver and kidney function.

Today I received a voicemail asking me to call the surgery in relation to my recent blood tests. When I returned their call, I got through to a very sharp woman who advised me that I needed to book in a routine appointment with my doctor to discuss the results, as the blood tests were shown as "abnormal". Working full-time, I knew for a fact I wouldn't be able to get an appointment for at least a week so I asked for some more information over the phone. She said she couldn't discuss the results and I would need to call in the morning to speak to a doctor.

I am now beside myself with anxiety. I cannot stop worrying, my heart has been racing since I got off the phone (which can't be healthy as this was about 2hrs ago!). My mind is racing and I'm worrying what could possibly be wrong with these results.

I'm dreading having another blood test as the past three I've had have been seriously uncomfortable and I can't keep taking time off work to attend doctors appointments - the only alternatively is waiting three weeks to see my doctor!

I'm actually away this weekend visiting friends and now I feel the weekend will be overshadowed by this ambiguous news. I'm angry because I was called by a receptionist who couldn't give me any further information but also called me at a time where I couldn't speak to anybody who could. Why not call me in the morning when I can speak to my GP who can elaborate? She was also very rude when I was politely asking for some more information, as though I should know the procedure?

I don't know what to do, I'm assuming the worst and I can't stop. I have to wait until tomorrow morning to speak to the surgery, will probably struggle to get through before work, then spend the entire morning in a stooper waiting for them to call back. I'm nervous in case he asks me to go in for an appointment as I won't be able to do this until next week.

I was even considering asking to start late at work so I could speak to the doctor and possibly see him on the day but my manager wasn't around so I couldn't. Not to mention it's incredibly short notice!

Any words of wisdom or advice?

swingaloo

Don't get this out of proportion and worry yourself sick.
They have said to make a 'routine' appointment, not an urgent one.


I had blood tests done 4 months ago because I had been so tired, achy, out of sorts and was sick of being told 'its a virus' etc. they did a full range blood test and I was called to say I needed to see the doctor as soon as possible.


The result showed I had a Vit D deficiency and needed daily Vit D tablets. that's all it was.


Recently I had the tests done again to check the levels and again I was called into the surgery. This time it was to say my thyroid function had changed and to change my daily thyroxine.


The receptionists are not supposed to give you the results but some are better at helping you 'not worry' than others.


It is most likely nothing at all but you need to see the doctor if a prescription is needed.


Id also mention that if your blood tests are causing you discomfort then that's probably down to the person doing them.
I have a MASSIVE needle phobia and at my last doctors I hated having blood taken and would put it off if at all possible. Ive had it done several times at the new surgery and don't even think twice about going now. The first time the nurse took blood at this surgery I probably went way overboard telling her how wonderful she was!


Please don't worry too much, its probably nothing but a routine thing.

KatieDee

swingaloo wrote: »

Don't get this out of proportion and worry yourself sick.
They have said to make a 'routine' appointment, not an urgent one.


I had blood tests done 4 months ago because I had been so tired, achy, out of sorts and was sick of being told 'its a virus' etc. they did a full range blood test and I was called to say I needed to see the doctor as soon as possible.


The result showed I had a Vit D deficiency and needed daily Vit D tablets. that's all it was.


Recently I had the tests done again to check the levels and again I was called into the surgery. This time it was to say my thyroid function had changed and to change my daily thyroxine.


The receptionists are not supposed to give you the results but some are better at helping you 'not worry' than others.


It is most likely nothing at all but you need to see the doctor if a prescription is needed.


Id also mention that if your blood tests are causing you discomfort then that's probably down to the person doing them.
I have a MASSIVE needle phobia and at my last doctors I hated having blood taken and would put it off if at all possible. Ive had it done several times at the new surgery and don't even think twice about going now. The first time the nurse took blood at this surgery I probably went way overboard telling her how wonderful she was!


Please don't worry too much, its probably nothing but a routine thing.

Thank you for your reply. She did seem to emphasise the "routine" part but then offered me an appointment on Friday (which I can't actually make) which seemed quite soon. When I told her I was quite anxious about the results, she seemed to get a bit annoyed and said "If you're that anxious, you'll have to call the doctor first thing and speak to him" which I thought was slightly insensitive. Not that I expected her to reel through all the issues in great detail - I would have just appreciated an idea of what the issue was.

I could spend all night worrying about this and still won't know an outcome until tomorrow morning. Doesn't stop me worrying though.

valk_scot

If it was something that you might drop dead of before next week they'd have made sure you knew to get medical treatment before that, believe me. Given that you were told you needed to book a routine appointment I think anything urgent is unlikely. The most likely thing is that one of the tests hasn't performed properly and needs to be repeated.


Yes if you're going to spend the week in a tizz then it's a good idea to call first thing in the morning and ask for a telephone consultation asap.


It you're going to be a total wreck at work for a week then I'm sure your manager would prefer you took enough time off to get yourself sorted out and then came to work with a clear head, no?

Mojisola

KatieDee wrote: »

I'm angry because I was called by a receptionist who couldn't give me any further information but also called me at a time where I couldn't speak to anybody who could.

If it was serious, you would have been given an urgent appointment or you would have been called by a GP.

swampduck

I had the same scenario as you - blood tests because I was feeling wiped out, no energy etc etc. When the results came back as abnormal - all it turned out to be was that I was officially undergoing the menopause which had flagged up whatever it is that shows when hormones go up or down and so on.
Two years on I had blood tests for a UTI infection that wouldn't go away and was called back for a discussion on my cholesterol levels!! Nothing major to worry about and I suspect this will be the case with you too.

Just book your appointment and put it to the back of your mind until then.

Swampy

sassyblue

I had a similar call when pregnant after bloods were taken, that was nerve racking it turned out to be a B12 deficiency which required injections every day for a few days and now one every three months. Other than that it's not a problem.

The receptionist was rude though to leave you worried.

KatieDee

Thanks guys

Following on from what valk_scot mentioned - the nurse really struggled to get the last bit of blood from me and she said she thought there would be enough but wasn't too sure. It could always be that this test needs repeating!

I will call tomorrow, speak to the doctor and try not to worry. Going to work might actually take my mind off things.

I did have a B12 deficiency and was taking supplements for this prescribed by my doctor. I stopped taking these after around a year as my levels had returned to normal. It could always be this? Who knows!

comeandgo

Can I also try and reassure you. My husband had tests that the results were bad and the doctor phoned him that day to get him into hospital, I get blood tests and am told the results at a normal surgery so the urgent ones are dealt with differently.

McKneff

Mojisola wrote: »

If it was serious, you would have been given an urgent appointment or you would have been called by a GP.

This above., so stop worrying about it.


I find it unlikely that the receptionist would say to you that something on the test was 'abnormal#


It is probably something trivial and you will kick yourself tomorrow when you are told and you haven't slept all night.

KatieDee

comeandgo wrote: »

Can I also try and reassure you. My husband had tests that the results were bad and the doctor phoned him that day to get him into hospital, I get blood tests and am told the results at a normal surgery so the urgent ones are dealt with differently.

Thank you for your reassurance comeandgo, and I hope your husband is well again now.

I do understand that the receptionist isn't trained in results and is probably told not to disclose any information - I just couldn't believe how sharp she was! I often deal with customers who ask me things I simply cannot go into detail about but I'm expected to respond in a polite and sympathetic manor. I don't think somebody with her attitude is necessarily suited to a role where she may be working with some very sick people.

When I last had a blood test and some of the results were abnormal, the receptionist was nice enough to tell me that one of my measures was slightly out but it was nothing to worry about - I suppose I was expecting something like this to help me manage until tomorrow.

McKneff wrote: »

This above., so stop worrying about it.


I find it unlikely that the receptionist would say to you that something on the test was 'abnormal#


It is probably something trivial and you will kick yourself tomorrow when you are told and you haven't slept all night.

She literally said "Something on your recent blood test is showing as abnormal, so you need to book a routine appointment with your GP to discuss them"

I am well aware I'll probably feel like a plonker tomorrow...doesn't help me right now though