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ANXIETY ATTACKS IN DOCTORS OFFICES

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Posted 3/25/2007 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there everyone, wanted to know if anyone experiences panic attacks at the doctors offices? This has become a big big problem for me. I used to go to the drs alot to make sure i was alright. now everytime i go i get a panic attack. my blood pressure seems to get high and my heart beats are pretty high. Its horrible. i want to run out of there. it takes a lot to even make an appt and to get there. i can not drive lately and now i have to have my husband waiting in the wating room for me. i just went to the dr the other day. i was alright waiting, once i sat to get my blood pressure and the nurse starts with the regular questions i feel my heart pounding and then the attack comes. is there a way i can controll this. dont know how. any suggestions anyone? Please help.. thanks and God Bless
Posted 3/25/2007 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
I can relate. Please know that you will be in my prayers. God bless.
Posted 3/25/2007 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
I don't generally have a problem with doctor's offices, but a couple times I have.

First, my bloodpressure and heart rate are usually a little higher than normal. Nothing I can feel, really, but the numbers speak for themselves.

Once I was having a glucose-breath test done, and I freaked out and just left. They kept urging me to drink this strange-tasting water and I just couldn't handle it. A panic attack came on and I split.

Something similar happened while I was doing a gastric-emptying study, but I was able to hold it together just enough to stay there.

I have a big problem with the waiting room at my PCP's office. There's a bunch of sick people in there all the time, and it's almost as if I can feel their germs invading my body. A number of minor panic attacks have occurred as a result of that.

The only advice I can give you is just to keep going over what you need to discuss with the doctor. Pretend you're looking at yourself from an observer's perspective...analyze yourself impersonally. How would that observer discuss your problems with the doctor? It's sort of a mental exercise, but it actually requires quite a bit from you mentally and may take your mind off where you're at. And, of course, it may actually help you have a more productive appointment.

Good luck. I know the above isn't going to eliminate your panic problem, but perhaps it will help.
Posted 3/25/2007 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
hi greyhound and debaser, thanks you so much for your prayers, concern and advice. i really do appreciate it. i will also keep you in my prayers. hope you both  have a good night .god bless
Posted 3/26/2007 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,  I can totally relate.. I can't drive myself anywhere because I freak out.. I have become agorophobic.. I have IBS/anxiety..  I have fear of fear.. I hate it..  I have not been to the Dentist in a couple of years because I am afraid of sitting in the chair and freakin out..  I hate this.. I need help.. Can't take ssri's because of the side effects.. Doctor just prescribed Remeron.. I am afraid to take that to.. I hate having to have other people drive me places..  Take Care
Posted 3/26/2007 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ryleigh, yes i totally can relate to you. i have not been to the dentists office for 5 years now. i try to take  care of my teeth real good so i dont develop any problems. i went to the gyno the other day and totally had break down. felt like just running out of there with just the gown on. it was horrible, but kind of funny now that i think of myself running out of the drs office with the gown on and my clothes still in the office.(LOL) i have become so dependant on my husband to be with me and drive me everywhere. i hate this also, i am no longer me...i truly truly hate this....now i have to do a mamogram. this is going to be terrible again....but i know i have to do these things. i dont know why the fear of drs has come in. dont understand it. my blood pressure rises it was 168/86. dont know if this is because of the anxiety or just plain old high blood pressure. maybe the anxiety state has put me into high blood pressure problems. it is always high at the drs office. need to buy a meter for home...i hope you can over come this problem also. i am also afraid of fear and always thinking i feel weird inside and afraid of the panic attacks. i can not take ssri because i had side affects. what are your side affects. i had problems with very bad brusing. psyc dr told me i was allergic to it and that i should not take any ssris that are related to eachother.  i know what you mean about me agoraphobic i am also like that. the other day went to have a waxing done on eye brows. i was just sitting there and all of the sudden that feeling came, not being able to breathe, dizzy heart racing, shakey. i was only there for 5 minutes, but felt forever. i need help myself. keep me posted on how you are feeling. hope you do better. have a great day. God Bless

Post Edited (wannabbetter) : 3/26/2007 12:04:07 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/26/2007 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
I have a major fear of docs...I havent been to my PCP or eye doc in atleast 2 yrs my dentist I cant even remember when I last went and gyno never been...I am not sure what caused my fear of docs but I am sure I have ideas...Perhaps you could have your doc give you a list of usual questions ahead of time for the appt so you can fill em out and this might save some of the anxiety of answering...also I know when I have been to doc BP is always High to start then it comes down when/if I relax. If they take your BP when you get there usually perhaps you could ask them to do it before you leave you might be more relaxed knowing youre leaving. If I had a solution I would share it but then again if I had a solution I would be going to docs too...
Posted 3/26/2007 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Michelle, thanks for your advice. i know what you mean about answering the questions. i think thats when i start to feel the anxiety, then it the blood pressure measuring. that drives me up the wall. i get scared of that machine for some reason. i hate the way it makes my arms and head feel. i guess its a phobia. it all started at one of those wallmart pharmacys where you can take blood pressure your self. well reading the precautions scared me. it said something to the effect that you can pass out if done incorrectly. well i guess thats what first frightened me. now i really hate to take blood presure test. i know it sounds ridiculous, but i cant seem to stay calm when i see the nurse approach me with that machine. i can just feel my heart pounding and hear my pulse in my head. it feels like its going to explode. anyway the bottom line is i cant handle going to the drs office, along with alot of other things. just trying to cope with them. thanks again for your help. God Bless
Posted 3/27/2007 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!
I get anxiety at the doctors office if I have to have a blood test. I know what you mean about feeling like you want to run out of there! I can't believe you ran out with the gown on!! OMG!! I cause a big sceen and let everyone know that I'm having a panic attack so that way I can't run out of there because everyone is there trying to calm me down. I always feel so stupid after it's all over but when that feeling comes over you there is nothing you can do but ride it out.

I always try and tell myself..."this is only a panic attack and it can't hurt me and it's not dangerous"

I am now suffering from panic attacks at night time and I'm afraid to go to bed so I sit up all night in the chair. When I do go to bed I wake up in an hour dripping wet and have to change my pajamas and then I start pacing around the house trying to figure out what is wrong with me and get my wits together. It's horrible and I just want to feel like a regular person again...Like NOW!!! I have books that I read on Anxiety and phobias and I just bought a CD called "Making Things Happen" by Susan Pazak, PHD.

It's good to know that I'm not alone in this situation and it really helps to talk about it. I just wish there was no such thing as panic and anxiety and that we could all have a wonderful peace of mind!!!

Karen
Posted 3/28/2007 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
I thought of you on Monday when I went to a new doctor. Hope you are having a great day. God bless.
Posted 3/28/2007 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Greyhound, Thankyou so much for your prayers and your thoughts of me. I hope you had a good visit with your new dr.I really appreicaite your kind words and suppport along as with everyone else. what a great support group we all have here. Thank the Lord for this site, and for all the kind and loving people we have here.I have a mammogram appt tommorrow. i am dreading this. i can strat to imagine my self there, getting an xray and wanting to run and me be stuck in that machine. then the waiting, for the results for those few days. every year it drives me crazy, i usually dont asnserwe the phone because i am afraid who it is thinking it is bad news from the test. i am trying so hard to be brave. all the time it has come out good. thank the lord....but the anxiety and worry gets to me. any suggestons to stay calm ....thank you. have a wonderful day.i will have you in my prayers. God bless you and your family.  
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