Ever been nervous to undergo a medical test/exam?

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Not sure why, I’m not normally skittish when it comes to exams, etc…but I have never had a need for serious examinations before, other than a MRI for a herniation in my neck years ago.

I will be 40 next month, and I was supposed to have a baseline mammogram done like uh…six months ago.😊 Not sure why I keep putting this off. I was chatting with a few women at work, who are Breast Cancer Society sponsors, and I now contribute to their cause (they just finished a 60 mile walk a few weeks ago) and they were telling me not to be afraid, etc…and to just make the appt to get the mammogram done.

I don’t know why, but I’m nervous about this. Breast cancer does not run in my family, and a lot of the other high risk factors don’t seem to pertain to me…so why am I nervous?:bighanky: I guess because it seems like every time I turn around, someone my age, or younger is being diagnosed with it.

So, I’m going to schedule for when I have off with my kids during Christmas break. My husband is dreading a colonscopy, which he will be turning 50 in a few months, and it’s the beginning year to have such a test done.

Curious–do any of you, men or women, feel apprehensive with any medical tests/exams? :o If so, what goes through your mind?

Any prayers that you can suggest that I pray to get over such fears (and if you could pray for my nerves to calm would be great too!!) would be appreciated.
 
Hi WG…

January of 2007 I had started a whole battery of tests…

It started with a Cardiogram that looked funny…then a cardiac halter monitor that looked even funnier…then a stress test and sonogram of the heart (results were ok) finally a cardiac MRI. That took 1 hour and I had an IV for dye to be introduced. Thank goodness it wasn’t dark in there, and I had head phones for music.
The results were fine.

Then Ob wise I had an overly cautious OB, who didn’t pay attention to what I said…and believed me to be a higher risk for cancer. So she sent me for a pelvic sonogram, that found an ovarian cyst that was misdiagnosed as a “hemorrhagic cyst” sonogram was repeated 3 times. Everything fine.

Finally, I had the mammogram, and truthfully not that bad at all, it goes by really quick, and I think they take just 4 images altogether. There is the discomfort of getting the “girls” put in a funny position, but not physically uncomfortable…I felt silly for lack of a better word.

I then get a form letter that says for me to “urgently contact” the OB to discuss results. The results were fine, silly office worker checked the wrong box.

Oh and now that I’m pregnant…I have to do other cardiac tests…but they are just routine…

So, my advice is to not worry. Tests aren’t too bad…what I would improve is some doctor patient communication.

The Cardiologist I saw…I would give a A+ the OB I saw would get a D-. (I have a new one now)

Sorry for the rambling.
 
I really get upset when doctors offices miscommunicate, and cause such angst. :rolleyes: But, glad you found someone new. I appreciate your sentiments. I just need to go, and have it done. I pray that I never end up with cancer. I know God doesn’t want us to worry…I will have to pray to lose this phobia I’ve been holding on to. :o
 
The answer for most of us is, of course, yes. But I’ve found that the techs who work with the patients in these kinds of tests are a particular kind of angel. They are gentle, funny, calming and sincere.

Don’t put off this scan. It is important to get a base-line for future reference. After the fact, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s such a non-event (especially if you’ve had kids–what else compares to that?!) You will feel relieved and owe it to your family to do all you can to detect and prevent a more serious condition~particularly since there is so much that can be done if anything is ever detected–the earlier the better.
 
So, I’m going to schedule for when I have off with my kids during Christmas break. My husband is dreading a colonscopy, which he will be turning 50 in a few months, and it’s the beginning year to have such a test done.
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I had one of those when I turned 50, and it ranks right up there with a root canal. It’s awful, especially the 24 hour prep, where ya gotta drink that stuff.

I wasn’t having any problems, but the doc said that is a good time to have one, so they get a good baseline. I still have have few more years before my 5 is up, and I gotta do it again.

I feel the same way about my prostrate exams. Having to wait a couple of days for the results is terrible. I don’t know how you relieve the anxiety of waiting for your test results. I wish they could tell you something before you leave the building.
 
I’m the biggest baby about going to the dr/dentist 😊 I’ve successfully put off wisdom tooth removal for 9 years (back when my parents would have paid, silly me!). And I have an u/s today that I’m anxious about it being not good news. I think it’s just because I associate it with pain and bad news. I have put up with a lot of blood tests lately though so maybe I’m getting better (and blood tests are quite a struggle given my veins are firmly buried deep in my arm:rolleyes: )

The sooner you get it done, the sooner it’s over and you can move on!
 
Yes-I had heart palpitations and had a funny EKG so I had to have an echocardiogram- everything turned out just fine, but I was so nervous that my BP was up there when they first started the test- it came down to normal after the test was done.
I was so nervous thinking there was something wrong with me and I had two little boys to care for (this was 6 years ago)
I should have thought of the verse I always teach my kids:
1 Peter 1:57 -Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you(NIV)
It gets worse if I think there’s something wrong with one of my boys- then I have to try again the above verse.
 
BamaRider said:
I had one of those when I turned 50, and it ranks right up there with a root canal. It’s awful, especially the 24 hour prep, where ya gotta drink that stuff.

I wasn’t having any problems, but the doc said that is a good time to have one, so they get a good baseline. I still have have few more years before my 5 is up, and I gotta do it again.

.
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I had my first colonoscopy a few years ago and it was fine. I was even awake for it, although they did give me Valium to relax me. I was able to watch the whole procedure on the monitor. But, the prep was the worst. Drinking that awful stuff was the pits.

I have no problems with my mamograms.They say if you are smaller they tend to be more uncomfortable so I guess that is why I had no discomfort. This year I also had a breast sonogram to look at a cyst I had. I also had a pelvic sonogram two years ago. That was uncomfortable in more ways than one, but necessary.
 
I get a bit nervous with the exams but it’s waiting the results that I really find stressful. So, over the years (I’m 57), I place myself in the Garden of Gethsemane while I wait. Jesus and I wait together.

Also, when I pray my daily Rosary–when I pray the 1st Sorrowful Mystery–The Agony in the Garden–I always offer it up for those who are awaiting test results.

Micki
 
Nervous??? I was ‘scared spitless’ :eek: !

In August 2005 I had uterine bleeding. Not having any insurance (then or now) it-thinking it had something to do with approaching menopause-I didn’t do anything about it till it got real bad in January 2006. I was continually running to the bathroom at work because of the bleeding.

To make a long story short, my older sister got me an appointment with a woman gynecologist, and after a D&C, I found out I had ENDOMETRIAL CANCER! I almost fell off the exam table in hysterical tears! I had to undergo a whole month’s worth of pre-surgical tests…which included a mammogram. When I saw the machine, I got so frightened-it looked like an instrument of torture-that I became very emotional and broke down in tears.

I had a laproscopic hysterectomy in February 2006; the cancer was in Stage 3, but the doctor felt he got it all out.

But I have not had any further treatment or followups-still have no insurance, but have $18,000.00 worth of medical bills that I can’t pay!

And I still HATE GOING TO DOCTORS!!!
 
OH YEAH! I have been putting off seeing my gyn for uhm a few months now…I am terrified…uterus cancer runs in my distant family, but even though it’s something that terrifies me over and over…😦 Esp since I have been trying to lose weight now for 4 months and instead of losing it I have gained 5 lbs, I exercise at least 3 days of the week and watch what I eat…Well one of my friends let me know what it could be and she told me she had it, that it was no big deal but it has to do with your ovaries! I almost had a panic attack! She had to just about jump on top of me to calm me down! I couldn’t help it! When it comes to health I freak out! Every time I hear something is wrong with my kids OMG I fall apart. I am sorry my close family has even bigger issues, high blood pressure, strokes, cancer, heart attacks, diabetes…And my father’s great aunt died of a brain tumor about a decade ago… 😦 It’s just frustrating! I don’t want to have a mamogram but I think next year after I am 31 I will be ordered to have one unless I am pregnant then you know? But GOD knows…The best thing to do is to just pray, try to pray as much as possible and bring GOD closer to you.

That’s all the advice I can give you because I will cry and beg and pray to GOD for His help all the time I enter a doctor’s office. It’s the worst feeling in the world to feel so helpless…and believe me health wise I feel it big time!! 😦
 
Oh yeah! I’ve had two major surgeries and an assortment of tests and a simple blood draw still makes my stomach clench.

If you’re nervous, take DH or a friend with you. They’ll help keep you distracted anyway. Don’t pysch yourself out–you’ll be glad to have the baseline screening.

I’ve found that all of the staff were so nice to me, in every case. The nurses, the techs, the docs, were just fabulous. That really helps too.
 
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