Doctors really can frighten us sometimes

R

Rose65

Well-known Member
Location
United Kingdom
I had a message to say make an appointment to see my GP about some blood test results. That worried me as I've not been feeling well for a long time. Couldn't get the appointment for two weeks.
Meanwhile I looked on my NHS app and saw two results were abnormal. I then did what is not really a good idea, I googled. By the time my appointment arrived I had got myself completely convinced I have a terrible cancer. Every ache, pain and symptom pointed to it.
I couldn't sleep, a dark cloud was now over my head as I imagined untold pain and suffering ahead.

When I finally sat in front of the GP I was prepared to hear the worst. Then he said the very last thing I expected to hear ' your tests came back normal, nothing to worry about'. I had to get him to explain, was he sure? The fact is, though two tests were outside normal boundaries, both the lab and he are trained to look at the whole picture, aspects only experts can evaluate.

I am so relieved, I am ok! Has anyone else here ever googled themselves like this into absolute misery?
 

I do look things up sometimes, but I never trust results because it all has to do with the search string we use. Example:
"Can a sore little toe mean cancer" vs "Can a strained muscle cause pain in little toe?" First one's gonna say it can indeed be cancer.
Actually if you're Googling symptoms, I can pretty much guarantee that somewhere on the web, there's going to be a website link that says it could be cancer. Result: freak out.
 

Case in point... (sorry, I Dr. Googled the silliest thing I could think of to prove what I said in my other post) ... Ya know those eyelid twitches we all get sometimes? I asked if that could mean cancer. Result:
A brain tumor in the temporal lobe, occipital lobe or brain stem can cause vision changes, the most common of which is blurred or double vision. Eye twitching is another clear indicator that a brain tumor might be present.
1748874748412.jpeg
 
Yeah, medical people do scare others at times. I was an RN working in an ER. A man came in with a large cyst on his rectum. The MD was going to lance it. The man was worried about drainage, so I told him it would be bandaged. But I used our terminology, I said, "We'll put a "4 by 4" there." To me, a 4by4 is a square gauze pad 4 inches by 4 inches. The guy gets all riled up and is going to leave. He's not having any of this. Turns out he's a carpenter: and to him, a 4x4 was a long piece of lumber 4 by 4inches wide- that's what he thought we were going to insert.
 
I can view my blood work results before my doctor appointment. In April, I did that and 2 results were noted "out of range" and "abnormal." Later that same day, the doctor's office called asking me if I could come in a day earlier than my scheduled appointment. I was convinced something was very wrong.

It turned out the abnormal results on 2 tests were in my favor (1) my GOOD cholesterol was high and (2) my AGAP level was low, which is also good. They only get concerned when it's high.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I can view my blood work results before my doctor appointment. In April, I did that and 2 results were noted "out of range" and "abnormal." Later that same day, the doctor's office called asking me if I could come in a day earlier than my scheduled appointment. I was convinced something was very wrong.

It turned out the abnormal results on 2 tests were in my favor (1) my GOOD cholesterol was high and (2) my AGAP level was low, which is also good. They only get concerned when it's high.
Click to expand...
Very similar to what I experienced. Once the worry sets in, there's no shifting it.
 
One point I want to make is that the thought of cancer is just so terrifying to me. I thought the bloods pointed to it. It's just I have experienced watching a loved one suffering and the dark thoughts that came to me were too much.
I even asked the doctor three times whether he is sure I am ok. He was very patient and oh the relief.
 
I went in to see my doc the other day and she said "please sit down" and then she proceeded to remove all her clothes - my jaw dropped down and then she looked at me and said " Oh NO you are supposed to do that not me - sorry"!
 
I was reading in the Society for Thoracic Surgeons and learned that the longer they make people wait for TAVR, the more chance of heart damage since the heart is working too hard. When I mentioned this to a doctor she got very snippy with me. I found a better, far more professional place, and had a successful procedure a few weeks ago. Sometimes, it does help to know the rules of the road before just accepting what someone says.
 
My younger brother who is a GP, always said that they should never allow patients to see the lab results before seeing the doctor as this is exactly what happens, you look at something out of range and you say, oh, my god, I must have this and this disease, etc. I've done it myself. I would look at my lab results, see something out of range, and there I go googling stuff and emailing my kid brother, saying oh gosh, I have these results that are out of range. This is because I can't wait for my doctor to contact me, so I bug kid brother. And every time, it has not been anything serious.
 
. . . . . . I'm still astonished that they actually asked you to make an appointment to see the doctor just to go over your "normal" blood test results! o_O Here, a nurse simply would telephone and say "we have your blood test results and they're fine". Your doctor must have a lot of free time on his hands.
 
I get upset when looking at my lab work, too. The doctor is less concerned which surprises me but I must trust him as he is an expert with my disease.

I sometimes think I should not have the notification of test results.
 
OP Tile is:

Doctors really can frighten us sometimes.

Title should be:

People without adequate medical knowledge can really frighten themselves sometimes.
-----------------

There is a huge health wise advantage in this science and technology era for those due to adequate researched knowledge, that are able to reasonably interpret their own medical conditions and medical tests rather than fully relying on that of medical doctors. I do so all the time. My 4 Kaiser Permanente doctors encourage it because they prefer those uncommon patients that can also more clearly understand their own diagnoses and advice.

​

 
Last edited:
After my son was born I was elated until the doctor entered our room with this news. Nathan had a ventral ceptal defect, and he has a 60% chance of surviving the night.

I was devastated, and later a doctor friend spent time with us to explain, that really helped. This time, yea it was me having the fear, but I think this one was the doctors fault.
 
When I have googled something strange happening to me, I get a list of possibilities ranging from simple to dire and life threatening. Being human, I focus on "life threatening." I realize the chances are usually slim that it will be dire one, but like I say, I'm human.
 
Tommy said:
. . . . . . I'm still astonished that they actually asked you to make an appointment to see the doctor just to go over your "normal" blood test results! o_O Here, a nurse simply would telephone and say "we have your blood test results and they're fine". Your doctor must have a lot of free time on his hands.
Click to expand...
That's what I think. Why waste my time and theirs as well as worrying me sick?
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top