Doctor's office anxiety

[guynfl2chat]

I went for my annual checkup this week and I always get anxious going for this checkup. I have accepted the fact that I have medical anxiety. In the past, I have had high blood pressure episodes coupled with an anxiety attack while at the office. Not fun! I have been going to this same office for over 15 years and this has only happened to me in the last 3 years. So this visit is usually a high anxious event for me. They made me wait almost an hour in the waiting room, but I thought I was doing ok. The nurse goes to take my blood pressure and I get this look of... oh thats not good. So of course I begin to panic. My labs were spotless (which I knew before the visit because I did them before seeing the Dr). So the doctor comes in and talks to me about my bp and does not tell me my number. I am thinking the worst and of course feeling more uncomfortable. She then goes to take it again and its still not down. She tells me that I should not get readings like this even with WHITE coat syndrome. Then she listens to my heart and "thinks" she hears something and asks me to lie down. Now whats important to understand is... THIS has happened before and I have tests done just 2 years ago to make sure nothing is wrong. She then takes my bp a third time and still high. I finally asked for the reading. It was 140/104. They do the usual EKG and of course I am having trouble relaxing while its trying to take a reading. As I said I have been going to this office for 15 years and they know I have panic issues for the past few years. The doctor walks back in with the EKG and says its normal. I said do you need to see me again soon .. she said no, but please monitor your BP at home (which I do). I go home I take my bp and its completely normal. I took it twice!! (130/80 and 127/75) I emailed her and she said all is good! The point of this long story is why cant doctors understand that sometimes anxiety can cause this elevated bp levels in the office and not make us feel like we are getting worse. I said to her.. this is how I am and you know this.. Usually she gives me 15 mins and talks to me and it drops, but this time she made more anxious. I feel like I have to explain it all over again!! Can anyone relate to this ? I do take bp meds and they do work.

[HearYou]

Well, I don't know if you have a health or medical anxiety at all. As a person with several chronic and unusual medical issues, I take a page with explanations for each, current list of med, previous list of meds, etc. and give it to the doctor or nurse to to save time and avoid having to explain my oddities, such as why I am on blood pressure meds when my blood pressure is normally low. I also explain if an IV or other thing involving a needle isn't done correctly on the first try, I will be leaving, as that is differently a concern (anxiety) for me and a sign that God doesn't want me there that day, and I have actually left, If they learned on a peach or lime successfully, but miss my vein, it is not going to be a good day. I schedule a different day to come back.

[guynfl2chat in reply to HearYou]

Thank you for the reply. I do have bp issue, but the meds keep it in check. I have been on and off bp medication for most of my life. The main issue is that understanding that this is situational increase of my bp and it has happened many times in the past. Most of the time it goes back down while I am at the office, but she made more anxious with her continued questioning of my elevated bp. She even went as far as to say that anxiety can not be blamed for everything! I am not sure where that came from, but i was explaining the temporary spike. I sent her several readings (as she requested ) over the past few days and they all have been relatively normal. So I win! lol

[HearYou in reply to guynfl2chat]

And that deserves a mighty loud "Alleluia"!

[hypercat54]

I think your doctor is only doing her job and a very good one too it sounds. She has to find out how you are even if it gives you anxiety and she sounds very thorough.

Maybe she was having a bit of a bad day herself and don't forget she is only human too. x