When I graduated high school, it was up to me to make my own
health appointments. It took me seven years to finally visit all of the
standard practitioners a person should see on a yearly basis. I went to the
dentist maybe once a year, but that was the only medical appointment I made
until I stopped going to those as well. Whoops!
health appointments. It took me seven years to finally visit all of the
standard practitioners a person should see on a yearly basis. I went to the
dentist maybe once a year, but that was the only medical appointment I made
until I stopped going to those as well. Whoops!
I started the year off with some pretty hefty goals. One of them
is to get my health in check. It took me until June, but by then I had seen
every standard practice doctor. I visited a dentist, an optometrist, a
gynecologist (if you want a laugh, I went and saw her on Galentine’s day, so
that was fun) and a family practitioner. The amount of money on copays that I had to pay
could probably fund a small village’s Thanksgiving. Nonetheless, that amount is
still minuscule compared to my peace of mind.
is to get my health in check. It took me until June, but by then I had seen
every standard practice doctor. I visited a dentist, an optometrist, a
gynecologist (if you want a laugh, I went and saw her on Galentine’s day, so
that was fun) and a family practitioner. The amount of money on copays that I had to pay
could probably fund a small village’s Thanksgiving. Nonetheless, that amount is
still minuscule compared to my peace of mind.
I wouldn’t say I have ‘white-coat syndrome,’ which is
anxiety experienced during a clinic visit, but I am a person who will assume
the worst over the smallest things. That can be very stressful to put your body
through.
anxiety experienced during a clinic visit, but I am a person who will assume
the worst over the smallest things. That can be very stressful to put your body
through.
For example, I had a lump on my upper thigh. For as long as
I can remember, it had been there and there had been no problem. Until all of a
sudden, it started hurting. Not incessantly, but enough to put me into worrywart
mode. I festered for about two months and then finally made my doctor’s
appointment.
I can remember, it had been there and there had been no problem. Until all of a
sudden, it started hurting. Not incessantly, but enough to put me into worrywart
mode. I festered for about two months and then finally made my doctor’s
appointment.
Anyway, I was pretty surprised at myself because I started
off great. I scheduled most of my appointments before the end of March!
Everything came back normal or as expected. I had a few follow-up dental appointments to make, but everything else was looking
superb.
off great. I scheduled most of my appointments before the end of March!
Everything came back normal or as expected. I had a few follow-up dental appointments to make, but everything else was looking
superb.
This did instill a little bit of hope for me when I went to
make my family practitioner appointment. Like, hey, maybe I am in good health
after all and have nothing to worry about. The only reason I stalled on that
appointment was that it was SO important to me that I go off of a good
recommendation. I finally ended up going to my dad’s doctor, which was ALL the
way across town…allowing ample amounts of tormenting driving time!
make my family practitioner appointment. Like, hey, maybe I am in good health
after all and have nothing to worry about. The only reason I stalled on that
appointment was that it was SO important to me that I go off of a good
recommendation. I finally ended up going to my dad’s doctor, which was ALL the
way across town…allowing ample amounts of tormenting driving time!
Back to my leg lump story, the doctor told me it was a
lipoma, which is fatty cell tissue bunched up into one area. Oh, and it’s
harmless. Awesome. Two months of worrying for “harmless.” As soon as he said
those words, that spot on my leg ceased to be a concern.
lipoma, which is fatty cell tissue bunched up into one area. Oh, and it’s
harmless. Awesome. Two months of worrying for “harmless.” As soon as he said
those words, that spot on my leg ceased to be a concern.
During all of these appointments, I collected baselines of
my health. There was no blood drawn from the dentist, but he did a gum baseline
and a full cranial x-ray. My optometrist took photos and scans of my eyes, and
both my gynecologist and doctor drew blood and did standard blood work testing.
my health. There was no blood drawn from the dentist, but he did a gum baseline
and a full cranial x-ray. My optometrist took photos and scans of my eyes, and
both my gynecologist and doctor drew blood and did standard blood work testing.
Honestly, the blood work was where the real anxiety set in
for me. The waiting game of what could be. “Call me in a week and we’ll go over
it.” They make it sound so nonchalant but this is my body we’re talking about
here!
for me. The waiting game of what could be. “Call me in a week and we’ll go over
it.” They make it sound so nonchalant but this is my body we’re talking about
here!
If there is anything I can tell you from this experience, it
is that you need to schedule appointments with your standard practitioners
regularly. Get your baseline going so when you go in the next time nothing is a
major surprise. Very seldom do things pop up without warning so don’t let the
unknown be your day-to-day dictator.
is that you need to schedule appointments with your standard practitioners
regularly. Get your baseline going so when you go in the next time nothing is a
major surprise. Very seldom do things pop up without warning so don’t let the
unknown be your day-to-day dictator.
Whitecoat syndrome tips:
-If its needles that worry you, be sure to tell your doctor
beforehand and don’t look! I played Bejeweled on my phone while my doctor took
my blood. Distract yourself!
beforehand and don’t look! I played Bejeweled on my phone while my doctor took
my blood. Distract yourself!
-If you’re scared to know what might be wrong, do this
mindful thinking exercise. Imagine the worst-case scenario and how you would
deal with it, then imagine the best-case scenario and how you would feel about
that, and then imagine what is the likely outcome and how that will or will not
affect you.
mindful thinking exercise. Imagine the worst-case scenario and how you would
deal with it, then imagine the best-case scenario and how you would feel about
that, and then imagine what is the likely outcome and how that will or will not
affect you.
I did get all of my results back and here what my health check-up had to say. Subscribe to have these posts sent directly to your inbox! In the meantime, I’d love to hear about your ‘white-coat
syndrome’ tips or how you take hold of your health!
syndrome’ tips or how you take hold of your health!
Let’s chat in the comments below.
One Response
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