Do you get nervous before your doctor appointments?

Hi Everyone,

I get so nervous before my doctor appointments. Sometimes I even feel queezy! My doctor is really nice and kind, but I still get very bad jitters before each visit. It's awful. Any ideas as to what can I do to calm my nerves?

Flower

Flower, It is not uncommon to be like you are-nervous before Dr. appts. There are many people just like you. You'd be suprised if you knew how many feel that way. Try to keep in mind that doctors are just people,just like you and me. They are in the business of trying to make their patients well. Talk to them just as you would anyone. It may be a good idea to take a small notebook with you with any questions or concerns you may have. It is a good idea,because you won't forget anything that way. I do this myself. Before you get out of your car, just sit there a few minutes and just concentrate on breathing and relaxing, tell yourself that you can do this. Try and see if any of that helps at all...
Anice

I do this too, I get so nervous and terribly sick to my stomach, I'm not quite sure why, my doctors right now are great and always listen to me. But I guess cause in the past I have met some doctors that where real jerks, and treated me really bad, I was even molested by a sleep specialist, so after experiences like mine, I guess it's only normal to get nervous around doctors.

-hellokitty

I have the same problem, and I've been going to the same PCP for 23 years and it still happens with him & pretty much any doctor. I started requesting that the take my blood pressure at the end of the visit, because they kept thinking I had high blood pressure, but it is just from the nerves. If they take it just before I walk out the door, it is almost always back to normal.

Lorie

I wrote these lines earlier in response to a question by skrape. I'll just paste them here.

Just went over some "good advice" for new patients with my neurologist in my local clinic today (we're friends and I'm a regular at the clinic).

1) See a new doctor with a positive attitude. Don't be aggressive or defensive certainly not if you had bad experiences with other doctors (we all know about those ones).

2) Be honest and open. He/She can't help you if you keep thinsg back.

3) Anxiety often makes people forget what they wanted to say or ask. Write down, well in advance, everything you want to say and need to ask. COver each topic in detail and if necessary provide your doctor with a copy so he/she can follow your reasoning.

4) Write down a list of the meds you take and hand it over, this makes mistakes less likely.

5) If you need meds (not likely on your first appointment), make a list as well for your doctor.

6) Have a detailed medical history ready, if necessary of your relatices as well. Bring your latest test results and all those of times past that might be relevant.

7) Make sure you understand what kind of treatment your doctor proposes and make sure he/she explains the risks involved. Better to ask too many questions than miss a single crucial one.

8) Should your doctor recommend serious action be undertaken (surgery for example), and if time permits (which isn't always the case in let's say cancer patients), take the time to think things over and talk it through with your close ones.

That's it. Actually we got these points from an American medical journal we found lingering in one of the waiting rooms (we were looking for coffee) and thought it might be a got idea to translate them and hang up some copies in the hospital.

Flower, I for one can say that I don't get nervous. I have been dealing with this for 11 years and have been poked, stretched, xrayed, MRIed watched, touched, etc... more times than I want to count. When I go to a DR office, I have dropped my expectations as I know that probably nothing major is going to happen. Possibly a new prescription or possibly a new question to answer. I find myself going and dealing with the anger because I have to drive an hour to the doctors office and the an hour home and I don't like my busy schedule interrupted. I am getting ready to make the trip this morning and just wish it were already over. I may be a little frustrated and that might show but here is another day. At least I can make the drive and maybe find something enjoyable to do on the way home.