hypochondriac and terrified about physical tomorrow
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Anonymous
I'm a nervous wreck. I'm getting my mammogram and physical exam tomorrow and I'm scared to death. I always have a fear of the what if in worse situations. how do I get through this? because of my anxiety disorder I feel like I have made things worse. part of me doesn't even want to go but my driving force Is my 6 year old son 
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Anonymous
| Tell your doctor tomorrow and get some Xanax. Get like one prescription for 20. Take it only at these times, maybe for the few days leading up to the appt. LIFESAVER. Also consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I have the same thing PP so I feel ya. |
Anonymous
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Can you talk to your physician about your anxiety either beforehand or at the beginning of the physical?
Hang in there, OP! |
Anonymous
| first PP again - if you are getting your physical FIRST, ask them if you can get some xanax samples to take prior to your mammo (or maybe you can run downstairs and fill it if there is a pharmacy close?) - at least that would chill you out for that. |
Anonymous
| OP here. thanks I actually already do have xanax and plan on taking it tomorrow, and my doctor's fully aware my anxiety disorder. it's just that I go through this every single year. I've had an incredible amount of stress this year and I just feel like I'm not myself. constantly anxious, mind racing, irritable. so afraid of it being something worse |
Anonymous
OP, I used to have a terrible time with anxiety about driving, especially on the freeway. I'm mostly over it but what I do when I feel anxious again is that I remind myself that this has been going on for 30 years and I've never had an accident. Also that I tend to do really well in emergencies and only feel anxious when everything is going well. Yes, you can't control whether you'll find out something horrible at your physical but remind yourself that a) the chances are that you don't have a health problem and b) even if you do, you can manage it. You'll be okay. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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OP, I get like that too when I am inundated with stress. Glad you have xanex I take a xanex the night before a medical test if I am really scared. If there isn't a lot of stress in my life I don't need the meds. I just remind myself it's best to catch things early and we all face our challenges. The results are out of my hands, but I can use those results to make changes and improve my health. Before mamos I take some advil so it's less physically painful. Pain sets off my anxiety.
I have a family history of various cancers, some pretty scary and deadly, but I have been fortunate in so many ways and I focus on what I can control-screenings, etc. |
Anonymous
Well, how did it go OP? 
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Anonymous
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Went fine. Mammo was good. Just waiting on routine bloodwork, then I can rest
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Anonymous
OP again. Thank God for Xanax! |
Anonymous
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OP, in the future you might want to get your blood drawn a few days before your appointment so you know when you leave the appointment that you are done, and will receive your results there.
You also may want to get some CBT or try medication (as in an SSRI, not a short term fix like xanax) to deal with the underlying anxiety. You are in a cycle where you generate this anxiety and then you have relief after the appointment, which actually reenforces the anxiety. I've been there and it just makes it worse for the next time. Your anticipatory anxiety will kick in earlier and earlier. If you deal with the underlying anxiety you will be amazed at the improvement in your life. |
Anonymous
OP here. Thank you. My doctor prescribed Zoloft. Does anyone have any experience w/that? I may post a separate question for this. |