Worried about medical tests

LegacyUser

I have to do some tests and I am so worried about it. Obviously not looking for medical advice, but in short, I have had bowel issues for 10+ years. I could never get up courage to mention it to the doctor. I suspected it was IBS but it got worse so I went finally. I was like a red, sweaty bumbling mess trying to tell the doctor what was wrong. She was super, and said maybe IBS but is referring me for blood tests for Celiac etc. That was grand and I was really happy, but shortly after that my symptoms changed and even knowing that self-diagnosis is bad I looked on the net and it could very well be something worse, and it wasn't a common celiac symptom, and I was up all night crying convinced it is something else and that I am going to die young, or end up with a colostomy bag or something.

If it turns out to be a food thing I will be overjoyed at this stage... my main fear, knowing myself and how I behave when it comes to doctors, if that if tests are clear I will told it's IBS and I won't have the courage to talk about the other symptoms... so I need some practical advice. Is it ever possible to email a doctor? Can you write down your issues? I don't want to look like an eejit but I could write it down and say casually "here, I wrote down a week of food, symptoms etc" . Deep down I know they see it all the time but even writing this I am welling up and have a lump in my throat. I am a grown woman and feel so stupid, but it is genuinely debilitating in the sense that I know I need help, and I logically know doctors deal with people like me, but I haven't even told my nearest and dearest I can't imagine getting the words to actually come out of my mouth. It has taken me 10 years to take this step and then I have to do it over again with another scary symptom and I will probably cry, or worse chicken out as I always do

iusedtoknow

for one thing

Stop googling your symptoms - i speak as a lifelong worrier/hypocondriac...it does you no good.

Speaking as the husband of a doctor....they have heard EVERYTHING before and been party to a lot worse things than IBS and discussing the symptoms of it. A lot of people think doctors are god's and some have that aura around them, but they're not. They (especially your GP) are there to help you manage your illness and maintain the best health you can.

If it helps you, then write it down and give it to your doctor to read (symptoms, food etc). They will look at it, and will advise you accordingly.

Understandably, most doctors try not to work over email, not only for data protection and privacy - but words can sometimes be misconstrued and medical advise is always better given in person in clear terms. The other side is - especially in today's hyper connected world - doctors need to switch off as much as any of us (more so usually).

write it out, and hand it to your doctor at your next appointment - they really will not mind and will continue to treat you with respect and look after you.

LegacyUser

OP I completely understand your predicament and am going through something similar myself at the moment. Please don't try and dwell on the fact it took you a while to pluck up the courage to go to the doc, you've done it now and thats the most important thing. You took a huge step alone in doing that and now things will only get better as you'll understand whats wrong with you and how it can be dealt with. As the other poster mentioned they have seen it all before, and if you are upset so what? The world won't end OP! Of course you are upset and concerned about your health on top of finding the whole process of getting the tests etc very stressful. They will understand it's stressful and embarrassing! I think the idea of writing down your symptoms and giving it to the doctor would be great, honestly they will probably be glad of getting accurate concise information! All you have to say is that you get anxious/forgetful/nervous and have written down a few points you wanted to bring up. Best of luck OP.

R.D. aka MR.D

I got an IBS diagnosis from the doctor after suffering and worrying for almost 3 years. They did all sorts of tests and gave me advice on how to manage it.

The change took a while as I changed my lifestyle (simple stuff like talking while eating and not chewing properly) and diet. Over a year later and I have it well under control.

You might not have IBS but finding out is the key to getting on the road to recovery. I cried loads when i was telling my doctor the problem but I have no problems talking about it now as I know it's just another illness.

All you can do is wait and work on not worrying. It's literally pointless with something like this. It'll either be IBS or something else and you can work out the next step when you find out for sure.

As an aside, if it is IBS, then worrying just makes it worse!!!

Turtwig

Which of the following articles are you more likely to read:

Foods that give you Cancer?
Foods that make you burp?

Pretty much everyone will be tempted to read about foods that give cancer even if it is a load of sht. Whenever someone Google's a set of symptoms Google makes a record of which links they clicked on. Naturally, with any symptom linked to cancer people click on the cancer link most frequently. As a result Google starts giving cancer results higher priority. That's apparently what users want to click. It's most definitely what users in those positions shouldn't read yet with each subsequent search it's what the search engine thinks is the most optimal result. This works all the way from the most morbid illness to the least innocuous cause. Chances are you'll never see the rare harmless things. You will however always see the exceptionally rare fatal stuff.

Let's rewind here a second. Being in grey medical undiagnosed territory is hell. It could be anything. This includes nothing. It's important to try avoiding guessing what this "anything" could be. Easier said than done, I know! If you have someone to talk to I'd recommend laying bare your fears to them. Let it all out, don't bottle up anything inside. Maybe show them your original post, or possibly write an even more open and confidential one that you show only to them? Sometimes it's easier to write stuff down and show it to others than it is to speak in the moment.


Regarding diaries and stuff. I walk into doctor appointments with a notebook. Sometimes its pages are filled with everything from a log of symptoms,mood and daily activities, to questions I wanna ask. Other times there's only 3 relevant bullet points. Our bodies are complicated beasts. Best provide the doctor (and yourself) with as much relevant info as possible. Just like how an individual making a budget and record of their finances may surprise them, so too might a health diary. One person's peanuts are another person's bananas. Don't assume anything. Just because a food is devoid of processing or a specific ingredient e.g. Gluten, doesn't necessarily mean it's going to mix well with you. As much as it sucks, the diary is an experiment on yourself where each negative result is one where you feel the consequences. Hang in there, vent openly when you need to, and remember it's for a greater good: A happier and healthier you.

Whatever lies ahead for you I hope you handle it as proactively and positively as is reasonably possible. Be nice to yourself, there's nothing stupid about feeling the way you do.
Wish you all the best,

dudara

GPs literally see it all. Every kind of illness, injury & malady has probably walked through their doors at some stage. They will not bat an eyelid at what you might have to tell them, and they will listen so that they can help.

OP, you are finding it hard to talk about your symptoms, but try to baseline it. Everyone has to urinate and defecate. We don't talk about it daily but we all do it. We're all human and there should be nothing too embarrassing to talk about, with the right person in the right setting.

If you are finding it hard, write everything down and bring that with you. But don't shy away from the appointment just because you're uncomfortable. Good luck with the visit and good luck in taking care of yourself.

IlmoNT4

write it down, and maybe come up with words that you are comfortable with using, rather than trying to explain to the doctor and not knowing what words to use without making you more anxious. Its a difficult topic to talk about.

Its important to tell the doctor that your symptoms have changed and you looked them up on Google and it indicated X condition and that you are worried about that.

I've gone into my GP with a list, print outs from Google...the best advice he ever gave me was to stay away from Google. I've been sick for some time and I had gotten myself into a right state after researching Google one night. Honestly, your GP has heard everything. I've been there, trying to explain something without wanting to actually say the words. In the end just take a deep breath and say what has to be said, or write it down and tell the doctor you feel uncomfortable talking about it so you wrote it down. Even just telling the GP that you feel uncomfortable talking about it, will help you feel better.

I know lots of people with IBS and its a frustrating and embarrassing condition and yet when they talk about it, the embarrassment is gone. We all have to go to the toilet

Hope you get better soon, and your doing great, keep talking to your doctor and go back for any tests they might suggest.