POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: Optimistic on February 28, 2007, 02:00:51 pm
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I am going to get my lab results in about 3 hours. I always feel anxiety around this time. For those of you who feel anxiety and worried, how and what do you do to cope with it?
Thanks,
Justin
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Always. Can u come back and tell us what your results were.
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I have a doc appointment next week and one tomorrow with my primary. I always get nervous, I think it's a normal reaction. Some people equate doctor visits with bad news but it isn't always that way. I pretty much know that my visit with the id doc will be to start meds.
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I do not get nervous anymore... I just clench my teeth and get real angry!
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For some reason this never makes me nervous, and to be honest I can get nervous plenty easy. I think I know that I take all my medication on schedule and maintain a good routine otherwise fairly healthy so if something is horribly wrong with my numbers it's just a bit out of my hands. I think I tend to worry more AFTER the appointment if my labs are wildly off, but not before. Save your "worry powers" for when you actually need them, not waste them on the slight possibility that you will need them which may turn out not to occur.
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Nervous- oh my YES! I usually start getting nervous 1-2 weeks before I get my blood drawn and then worry for the next two weeks before I get my results! I just do not think I am normal though! ;)
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how and what do you do to cope with it?
I find a couple of stiff ones do to trick.(as in drinks the other stiff ones are what led me here to begin with).
I kind of with philly on this. As long as I have done what I was supposed to do, I really can't help what the results are going to be so why worry.
Hope they are good results,
Woods
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Thanks for the reponses everyone...
Philly and Woods, I will try not to worry too much as I have done what I am suppose to. I will post my results later today.
Best,
Justin
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I would rather go to the Dentist than the doctor. It's the fear of not knowing but at this point, if I am following Doctor's orders and have my questions ready, then I've done what I can. Worrying and the accompanying stress are not productive.
Wishing you a successful doctors visit !
Tom
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I've been to so many doctors and been through so many tests that it doesn't even phase me. Maybe being in the medical field helped. :)
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Being in the medical field doesn't help me! I think of all the obscure shit that could go wrong with me...
I definately get nervous around appointment time, and in the consultation as well. I have to make sure that I write everything down that I want to ask and make sure I don't feel rushed.
I'm definately aware of being more keyed up in the days/couple of weeks even before an appointment. I think the most important thing is to be aware of it, acknowledge it and what it means - you're concerned about your health. I find that if I try to ignore it come out in other ways: a couple of previous posts mention anger, and me and my bf have had a couple of hum-dingers around appointment time. That's not helpful. And sometimes it gets turned into being self-destructive: eating shit and skipping the gym mainly. Oh, and not doing the washing up. Grrrrr.
Matt.
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I used to get pretty nervous... but I'm getting more used to it now, so it's quite a bit easier.
Of course, usually a couple days before the damn appointments, I get a little "off." Perhaps not so happy-go-lucky... but not where I used to hide out for twenty-four hours beforehand.
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Not so much nervous, as anxious. But actually I feel quite comfortable going to the doctor, It doesn't bother me.
Ray
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havent been nervous since early 90s. as JRE says, its nice to have someone to talk to. No one except my wife knows of my +, so my Dr. is the only other person I can talk to in person. I look forward to appointment but hate having to wait in the fucking waiting room for over an hour. I have found it best to schedule early in the day or be the first after lunch. Never ever schedule right before lunch or late in day. HIVers are high maintenance and after a couple of hours every Dr. seems to be running over an hour behind.
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I don't get nervous for my doctors appointment at all really but that is purely because I always ring up to get my lab results a week before I go. Waiting for the lab results however I get very nervous!
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Oh!! Great thanks,,,,I am going for my lab work this week and have a Doctors appointment next week. I did not think I was nervous about it. But now I start thinking about it and I am starting to freak out.
I am feeling better than I was, I have an appitite again, but now I am getting worried. I was saying that if my CD4's are above 200 I would be happy, if my viral load is down I will be happy. If I could get off Bactrim I would be thrilled.
I know I know relax, guess today was just a bad day.
Yeah I get nervous before visiting the doc.
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I'm waiting for labs to come back right now. It doesn't bother me. I learned a long time ago not to sweat the numbers.
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Not to sound like a smug veteran, but trust me. Once you have a couple hundred visits under your belt, you won't be nervous. I am seeing my doc tomorrow, and I am looking forward to it. Got stuff to talk about, y'know.
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I was very nervous in the waiting room today. The doc took especially long to see me today and I was thinking to myself...man, I hope he's not trying to avoid seeing me and giving me news that I don't want to hear EVEN THOUGH the wait was only 5 mins longer than usual. But 5 mins when you are nervous seems like an eternity. Once I got to chat with the doc and asked all the questions I wanted to ask, I felt a lot better. I know this cycle will start again the next time I go for a check up.
Justin
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If Justin is the optimist, I, after 20 something years of this, am the patient ready to find out that despite taking meds. as required, on time, etc., this time will be the time that, out of the blue, things change. My anxiety is focused solely on being undetectable, the cd4's and ratios, at this point, being too many numbers heard too many times. Win
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I don't get super nervous, but I have a friend who always goes with me for support. He has a very calming demeanor about him, and it really helps me keep cool.
My doc is really nice, and I can ask her anythiing. Once I had a question about my penis, and she said. "Can I see it?" I diidn't think much of it, and just whipped it out. She told me it was fine, but her hands were cold. So, I think that the level of comfort with the doc is very important. She is very good at telling it like it is, but with a very positive outlook. I like her very much. Even when she kinda tells me to stop worryin' so much.
rob
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When you have five doctors gathered around you in Intensive Care, all working at the same time, and a nurse says "I can't get a pulse".....That was something to be nervous about!
No, I don't get nervous anymore for routine doctor visits. Like JK says, get a few hundred (or thousand) visits under your belt, it becomes second nature....
;)
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I do get nervous and the nurse always comments on how my pulse is racing and blood pressure is a tad high. i only relax when the doctor tells me i'm still okay
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I don't get nervous any more. I also don't forget to take my meds so why sweat the small stuff. Your numbers are going in the right direction and you've only been on Atripla for a couple of months. Try not to worry cause there really is no need.
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Glad to hear the visit was a non-event ..
Also, nice bump in your percentage ... :D
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I am glad everything went well. A 5% increase in CD4 in one month...WOW! I get nervous when going to have my blood drawn. I have to be ther between 8.00 and 10.00 am. Traffic jams, no parking, needles...
My appointments with the Dr. are now very short and at a decent hour: 13.00 so no traffic jams and plenty of parking place. I stopped asking him questions two visits ago. I donīt really know what to ask him anymore. This website has helped me so much I donīt need to ask him anything.
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Op, glad you made it through and in addition came out with numbers going in a good direction.
I always bring something with me to read so I can concentrate my thoughts elsewhere than on my fears and concerns. When I am not checking out the medical assistants and hoping for which one will do the pre-doctor rundown. ...Anything that helps you get through...
Cheers,
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Right or wrong I have not told anyone (with one or two exceptions) about my hiv status and living in a relatively smallish town/community everytime I go to the Clinic for a check up it is a drama as I never know who might be waiting in the waiting room.
I wish I was able to be checked in a more private and anonymous place instead of the present obvious hiv related specialised Clinic.
At least the treatment is free and in general quite good just not private enough.
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Tee Hee! I, like Jonathan, look forward to my visits, but by his confession, my Doctor is the one who gets nervous when I am scheduled for an appointment. He said he always has to check up on all the latest studies, drugs, and therapy options that are either in the stream of science already, or on the horizon. When we are done with the boring physical stuff, he always gives me 15 or 20 minutes to discuss science if I want, or need it.
Personally, I haven't been nervous since my first visit back in September of 1983.
Love.
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Nervous..?? why ??? this is the one place where you could/should feel comfortable...personally my Dr is absolutely the one that saved my life...It is a pleasure to go see him and has been for more than 12 yrs.....he has become a stable and reliable source of information..maintains a professional and at the same time very friendly relationship...if anything shows up in the results of blood draws he calls immediately...fortunately haven't had any calls in a couple of years....
Congrats on your results...heading in right direction....calm down stick with your program and you will continue to improve...get to know something about DR . doesn't have to be too personal but maybe family /BF/GF/ children....anything to connect on a social level...he/she is a person as well as a DR.
Nick
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LOL, you don't want me to answer this one. I'd have a better shot going sky diving! Then again, with my luck I might not risk it again since I lived through the bungie deal ; ) Do I dare tempt fate again? : )
Eh, no I don't get nervous about going. I'm more concerned about mistakes, oversights and incompetence.
I do get way anxious waiting on tests and their accuracy. I'm sure this will fade with more time and now that I already got a technical AIDS diagnosis I don't think much more could freak me out now.
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Levity..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHSK1h2JmK8
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Hey there,
I'm always nervous when I go... I hate going but I know I have too.
Joey
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I'd have a better shot going sky diving! ...................... Do I dare tempt fate again? : )
I already got a technical AIDS diagnosis I don't think much more could freak me out now.
Hey Austin,
Hell, go ahead and do the skydiving. I started to, but got to the plane and didn't go any further. Not because I was scared, but because I was getting out of the Army in two weeks and didn't want to screw that up with a borken leg. Otherwise I would have done it.
Welcome to the AIDS club, I have been in it for 12 years and started out with 20 and am now at 650. It works and soon you will work through your issues with HIV and start to work on enriching your life experience. Life is not a dress rehersal, and we don't get re-dos, so it is our goal to live with as much gusto and fullness as possible. HIV is a part of you, not who you are.
Just my thoughts.
Love.
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Justin: The first few years, I would get an elevated pulse before reviewing my results with my Clinician. Years ago.
Writing out a couple line of short specific notes for discussion for my Clinician, the night before my appointment helps alleviate any anxiousness (I check stuff off as she covers my points). Also, I enjoy my "face time" with her. I tend to sleep like a baby the night prior. I guess worry is balanced by proactive enjoyment of being a partner in my health and health decisions.
Bad news, like good news, still effects me. Bulls and bears. You can't get better and better all the time. Sometimes we're just going to get worse. Usually I keep it in perspective.
8) -megasept
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Hey Austin,
Hell, go ahead and do the skydiving. I started to, but got to the plane and didn't go any further. Not because I was scared, but because I was getting out of the Army in two weeks and didn't want to screw that up with a borken leg. Otherwise I would have done it.
Welcome to the AIDS club, I have been in it for 12 years and started out with 20 and am now at 650. It works and soon you will work through your issues with HIV and start to work on enriching your life experience. Life is not a dress rehersal, and we don't get re-dos, so it is our goal to live with as much gusto and fullness as possible. HIV is a part of you, not who you are.
Just my thoughts.
Love.
Hey Moffie,
Thanks for the welcome ; )
Actually, now that I've started the meds and (fingers crossed) no side effects really yet I am for the first time going to be looking forward to going back to the labs and doc in a month. I have complete confidence I'm gona see a major turn around.
Thanks for your words! Maybe I just will go skydiving!
Wesley
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I never get nervous. I just go every 3 months give them blood then call the 1800 number a week later to hear my results and go on with my life as usual. It's no big deal to me. I've got more important things to worry about like getting these kids thru college and out of my house.
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I would get the pre-anxiety knots in the waiting room in the beginning, and still do sometimes, but it has definitely lessened as the years have passed.
Plus my doctor is fucking awesome so that helps a lot...
Mike ;)
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This is an interesting one. I used to hate going to the docs, it is full of potential anxious moments concerning health and bumping into people you don't want to, esp students. Being a lecturer I ain't that keen all on all my students knowing etc. I used to find it very difficult and though I had it sussed until recently when I had my bloop pressure taken when I was having a check up to find it was through the roof. I bought my own machine and checked every day at home and it was normal so either I had relaxed having taken some time off work or I had white coat BP. Next visit to the doc I took a reading before I went and also had one taken at the docs which was considerably different so I guess that was the evidence to suggest that 13 years on I still get anxious about going even though I don't feel it.
Ant
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No Justin.....I don't. I don't sweat the small stuff....and I don't stress over numbers.
I have drooled over a few doctors however
How about you? :P
Good luck, Good Buddy.......
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I ALWAYS get nervous. I try to schedule my appointments for first thing in the morning so that I can get it over with and get on with my day.
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No Justin.....I don't. I don't sweat the small stuff....and I don't stress over numbers.
I have drooled over a few doctors however
How about you? :P
Good luck, Good Buddy.......
I have not drooled over doctors before.....I must be going to the wrong clinic...where do you guys go with the good looking docs? =)
Justin