I feel a bit stupid going to the gp when I have nothing to say? AIBU to ignore letter?

[paintandpapereverywhere]

I collapsed a couple of weeks ago and was taken Into hospital the reason was very high heart rate (150bpm).
I had loads of tests and things and the cardiologist said that I am healthy - and the heart rate was being made worse by stress and anxiety. He gave me medication to slow it . The whole thing was really embarrassing and I am sure it won't happen again...

My gp has called and sent a letter asking me to come in the end of next week to "chat" about this.

The thing is I have nothing to say. I have no reason to be stressed or anxious , and tbh I don't think there is anything at all he can do to help anyway. It's not a doctor issue as far as I can tell?

I really don't feel like talking to anyone - it's hard to describe but opening my mouth to talk even about the weather or something feels hard at the moment.

I don't want to lug myself to the gp,sit in silence and go home. I just can't face it and there's nothing anyone can do I don't think.

Aibu to just tell them I don't want the appointment I'm not sure if I HAVE to go because of these tablets. I don't want to come across as being awkward or anything ...

Sounds like you really should go.

Not feeling able to talk is a problem. The GP might be able to help.

The GP has received the hospital notes, and naturally wants to confirm for herself that you are OK. If you need further medication she will certainly need to see you before prescribing.
You needn't worry about having nothing to say, the GP will be able to start the 'chat'

It's a check up for the medication and to make sure it's nothing more than just stress. Just go. We pay for our NHS. May as well use it before it all gets privitised

It's a check up for the medication and to make sure it's nothing more than just stress. Just go. We pay for our NHS. May as well use it before it all gets privitised

Your gp will probably be concerned that your stress and anxiety got so bad it caused a hospital admission. It's great that you feel okay now but the gp will also want to look at the medication and the dose, ask about side effects and see about blood pressure etc.

They will also hopefully give you some advice about anxiety, either something you can do at home with no prescription, or a CBT course. CBT is not for everyone but it's good to look at activities or talking therapy to understand why you get anxious. I find colouring helps, it sounds a bit childish but I don't really care if people scoff when I bring a colouring book to work for my breaks.

I have anxiety and have been through a few different treatments but medication and beginner mindfulness has been a real help.

The answer phone message just said he wanted to chat about my mental health which is kind of my nightmare tbh

The tablets are called ivabradine it think I'd that makes any difference.

You say you struggle to talk about the weather lately, which says to me something is festering in your mind. Go and talk. Even if you think you have nothing to be stressed or anxious over, your body is reacting like this for a reason. I hope you get sorted soon!

If it's definitely not stress and anxiety, you need to be seen by GP, as there must therefore by a physical cause. Collapsing with a high heart rate, and then just saying" I'm sure it won't happen again" doesn't make sense. You may collapse again, possibly in a situation where you are in danger.

Only you can know whether there's any value in the statement from the hospital Dr that he feels there is a stress element. And if there is, why not get help from a GP? You can simply say something, and choose not to go into a detailed discussion with him.eg " Yes, I'm finding stress hard to handle at the moment, can you refer me to Wellbeing, or counselling ? Thank you,it's not something I want to discuss in detail with you. "

Would that be so terrible?

Did you have any chest pain OP?
If not Ivabradine is an unusual choice of drug.
Best see GP and get a complete check up in a non emergency situation.
Good luck.

People don't just collapse like that for no reason. You need to go and see the doctor. Also you say you have no stress or anxiety but this I really don't feel like talking to anyone - it's hard to describe but opening my mouth to talk even about the weather or something feels hard at the moment. Suggests otherwise. Please go and see the GP. They can help.

Maras no no pain.
I just remember getting out of he shower going to sit on the bed and then suddenly lying on the bed and I have a nice bruise on my leg where my leg hit the wood around edge. I have no idea what happened in the middle.

I didn't go straight to the hospital I went to the gp ( not my normal one) the next day who said my heart rate was fast and sent me to the hospital.

Both the gp and the hospital seemed sceptical of my description of fainting though tbh. I have no idea why I would make it up but they kept saying so no one was there to witness it and asking if I was sure I fainted.

On the discharge letter it says "paintandpaper claims to have had a unwitnessed syncope" - which I assume means faint!

So I'm feeling a bit silly about the whole thing.

Dancing - I am sure it is because of stress. I don't know why I feel stressed but I have been extremely anxious, depressed and stressed for a few months.

Cheese- it's not that I don't want to talk specifically to the gp if that I just want to sit in silence on my own.

It's 7pm now and my kids are all either in bed (baby) or watching tv in their rooms.

I'm sitting here on my own just feeling terrible and just don't want to even open my mouth to speak.

There is nothing my gp can do about that.

Actually there may be something that the GP can do. Please go to the appointment and listen to them.

Definitely go to the appointment. Even if you just show them your posts on this thread and don't say anything that's a start. How long have you felt like this? You're not wasting anyone's time- they've asked you to come on- for once the NHS has communicated well!

Josie about a year. But a lot worse in the last few months.

Not wanting to speak sounds like anxiety to me, to be honest. It doesn't always present how you would expect.

I'm sure your GP will be able to help or recommend counseling. It's obviously not normal to feel so stressed and anxious.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

Write down what you have written here and give it to your gp.

Has this happened before OP? I only ask as I have a condition called PoTS which causes these exact symptoms and is often treated with ivabradine. The symptoms are usually chalked up to anxiety and stress when actually it's nothing to do with your mental health. Just a thought!

I haven't actually fainted before but I have felt lightheaded or just "off" . A lot.

I don't really know what POTS is but the cardiologist said that the ecg was normal . The only thing they mentioned that when I was lying down my heart rate was about 80 when I moved or sat up it shot up to about 140. But they s didn't seem worried about that as long as it settled .

Glad your ECG was normal OP and they get to the bottom of it and you feel better soon

Lots of people with PoTS don't faint and ECGs are usually normal. The diagnostic criteria are a rapid rise in heart rate upon standing (of over 30bpm) as you demonstrate but if yours settles that's really good news.

Sorry I just thought I'd mention it as it really struck a chord with me and I'm on a bit of an awareness drive atm! Like I say hope you feel better soon and, if you decide to go, the doctor is useful.

Thanks