Here we go again

Hello Wanna,

I am sorry that you are having a bad time. Now ypur doctor calling you in is not always a bad thing. Most places now will not give test results via phone due to security breaches and such.

I know the 21 seems like ages from now but it will come rather fast and all will be just fine I am sure.

Keep posting we are here for you.

Hi guys. Thank you for your answers.
Misty, yes I have high levels of anxiety. Yes I also had an EMG done, Dr that did the test said it looked good, so I was happy! Then I did my MRI, and got the call to come in, so now I'm extremely scared and my anxiety has rocketed. I have pain and twitching in all my limbs, I also have the buzzing sensations you've described. My eyelids twitch like crazy sometimes. I'm a mess, and I don't want to be a mess:-(
I'm soooo fed up of feeling like crap all the time!

Thanks SC. I know everything you said is true. I just panic anyway! I feel stupid, I try to stay calm, bit when I'm scared, it's hard for me to stay calm. I'm trying to keep busy, going to work and doing stuff. Again, thanks for the support. Like usual you guys are my Angeles.

I realize this is going to sound repetitive, but,.....yep, I agree with the others. Now-a-days, many doctor's offices will not give results, of any type, over the phone. In my PCP's office, they post a sign saying as much, and asking patients to please not call the office for results....that they will notify us and make an appointment to come in and discuss the results. (This goes for lab work as well as diagnostics like MRI's etc.)

I know it's frustrating because more often, we just want to hear, right away, either way. Waiting is often more difficult than hearing the results!

This is where deep breathing comes in handy, and mantras. Part of meditation is focusing on being in the present. Do you know how hard that is to do? Well it's pretty gosh-darn hard, it is!

Often we're ruminating about our past,....worrying about the future,....all the while missing what's going on right in front of us.

If you take even just 20 minutes to focus on your breath, and to choose a mantra that works for you....sit in a quiet place, repeat your mantra, and focus on your breath as you're breathing. When your thoughts wander, gently regroup and bring those thoughts back to the conscious in-and-out of your breathing.

Even if your mantra is just "Now I'm breathing in,.....now I'm breathing out,...." That's fine too! But it's interesting to do because it gives you insight into how easily our minds can distract us,.....IF we let it!





M.

Hi WannaFeelBetter,
You've gotten a lot of good advice that I am taking for myself as well. Waiting without worrying is so hard for those of us that live with anxiety. I do al lot of "catastrophizing" and "awfulizing" when I don't know what is going on and sometimes I just feel like I can't turn my brain off and I spiral myself up in to a frenzy. Distraction is really the key for me. I am hoping that you are able to find enough distraction and peace to make it through until the 21st with as little anxiety as possible. It will be the 22nd before you know it.

--kate

If it was bad they would've got you in right away&some doctors don't like to read any kind of results over the phone,and may fee that any questions can be answered face to face. Best of luck to you.

Deep breathing. You are ok. Can you get some air?

It's quite possible that you are indeed hyperventilating, or shallow-breathing....both of which will increase anxiety considerably.

S.C. has posted links previously to specific breathing exercises, and they can be found in our Resources. When you focus intently on your breathing, on correct breathing, allowing your body time and the ability to maximize oxygen, breathing is an extremely powerful tool!

My favourites that I utilize the most are Divided Breath and Square Breathing. You may well be surprised that just several minutes of focused breathing can interrupt the panic cycle of hyperventilating! :)



M.

You may be hyperventilating if you're over breathing and feeling light headed. Try getting a paper bag and breath in and out with it over your mouth a few times. That can help correct the imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide that cause the lightheadedness.

There is only so much we can take before we have to let something out and if that is crying, than it is ok! I understand feeling weak when feeling like this, but you are not weak. I am awaiting test results myself and the only thing keeping me together right now is distraction. Nights are the worst and I am a wreck then, so I truly understand what you are feeling as my doctor, who has previously given me results over the phone, is insisting I come in. My fear is that the results won't indicate what is wrong and I will have to wait even longer for additional tests and specialists. It is absolute torture for me and so as I said, I am where you are and we are there "together". Please be gentle with yourself.

WFB,

Why do you feel weak? I think what we,-- those of us with anxiety and panic,-- can easily forget, is that we are not alone, we are not the only ones who have ever felt this way, and chances are, we have felt this way before in our lives, and we've come out the other side,....and here we are!

If a 200lb footballer said he was having pain in his chest,...would you think he was weak? Would you "hate him" for having these feelings? Let's be honest with ourselves,....regardless of what the painful sensations are that we are experiencing, we're still experiencing them. It doesn't make you weak to feel pain. It doesn't make you weak to experience fear.

These are the very attributes that have kept our species alive and thriving. So in essence, you're of strong and hardy stock, since the ones who did not have that "fight or flight" awareness weren't around for very long.

Try treating yourself with as much compassion as you may show your child, your Mother, a grandparent,..... Chances are you wouldn't be harsh with them for these feelings, right? Right!



M.

You can vent all you want, no worries. And no offense taken.

Personally, when I made the comment about the footballer feeling anxious, and if you'd think he was weak, it was merely to demonstrate a point.

That everyone, from all walks of life, all shapes, sizes, fitness levels, from everywhere in the world,....they all have these moments of feeling weak and scared and anxious.

I was hoping to point out that sometimes it's easier to be compassionate towards someone else with the same symptoms, than it is to be just as kind and gentle with yourself.

We all want to be "normal" again, but I believe our keys to healing is learning a "new normal" and making that newness stronger than ever before!

Please feel free to share, that's why we're here. We all help each other! And you're welcome to vent! :)



M.