Too scared to seek medical advice

[SillyBillyGoose]

3 years ago I had a really horrible experience relating to a hysterscopy.

Since then I've avoided contact with HCPs if at all possible. I had a phone consultation about anxiety a few months ago and cried i was scared.

Haven't had a smear I maybe 7 or 8 years. Never had a mammogram.
Thankfully I've been OK.

Issue is I have had a prolapsed womb for years. I was fine until last year when I developed a Cystocele. Now literally my bladder is starting to bulge into my underwear. I really struggle with incontinence and constantly feel like I have a UTI.

I know I need help but I'm too scared. I literally shake even thinking I have to speak to a medical person on the phone and my anxiety is through the roof.

I'm on betablockers to help with the anxiety. I've had CBT and private hypnotherapy.

Any suggestions, really would be appreciated.

I can hear the worry and terror in your post and it must be awful for you. What procedure/s are you concerned about? If you need further hysteroscopy you can insist that it's done under general anaesthesia, and any repair ops would be done with full anaesthesia aswell.

Can you say more about what exactly is worrying you, i.e. what scares you the most? There is a solution for most things, and especially for those who have medical anxiety, but you have to be honest with the medics and inform them of this. Your GP will arrange any consultations so I doubt you would have to speak to any specialist or surgeon on the phone, they would see you in their consultation room, and you can bring someone with you for that.

Thanks. The Dr's knew I was scared. It was really obvious as I was shaking and scared. I don't know what I need but cant actually even cope seeing a gp let alone attend a hospital app

The GPs have an email consultation form now could you use that to tell them of the problems and they can ring you back and discuss? Maybe talking it through with them first might help. I know what it's like I have anxiety after being misdiagnosed a few years ago.

I think with time it's got better but avoiding it completely won't help and you need to see someone.

There's no point doing an consult as I know i need to be examined and referred back to a urogynecologist.
The anxiety has improved but as long as I don't think about medical stuff.

I can relate to what you say, OP. I have a similar anxiety re medical appointments. What works for me, to a large extent, is breaking it down into smaller tasks, rather than thinking about the whole thing, which feels overwhelming. So for instance instead of thinking "I need to see the Dr and discuss X thing then have X done and it will be awful" I focus on thinking "just call the Drs surgery" that is all. Then when I've done that and arranged the appt, I then focus on thinking "just go to the Dr appt" and so on.
Wishing you all the best op. And try to remember that although we might be worried about something, it's usually not as bad as we think it's going to be. You are worth looking after yourself.

Thank-you. I can't actually get myself to go into the surgery.

Please do an econsult and request a referral to gynae ASAP.
Explain that you are not willing to be examined by a GP due to traumatic experience with previous hysteroscopy and as this is already a known prolapse there is no need.
When you go to the gynaecology appt, take a trusted friend or family member or your partner with you to hold your hand metaphorically and physically during the appointment and examination.
I also had a very horrific experience with hysteroscopy earlier this year and I will never have another again (and i am likely to need it in future) unless under GA.
So sorry you had such an awful experience
X

Are you at all able to see a private woman’s health physio? The going rate will be about £80. They are specialists in prolapse, they’ll do examinations on them daily and will be very well versed in the best way to do them. You won’t be in a clinical setting, but a physio centre. And they’ll have vastly more knowledge than a GP on what to do next. They can then write a letter to your GP outlining any referrals that need to happen.

Thankyou for replying.
I was diagnosed with a prolapse years ago and had physio with via the NHS so I'm familiar with the process.

I need to find a way to actually get myself to see a HCP, last time it took diazepam, betablockers and antidepressants.

They prescribed me diazepam for my last smear.

do an e consult, mention health anxiety and that you’ll need diazepam if you need to go in.

Would it help if your friend/sister/mum went with you? I have had prolapse surgery and I would be happy to hold your hand through it if you were my friend.
Meanwhile, do an econsult and spell out how bad your prolapse is and tell them how scared you are of medical things... maybe they can make it easier for you.
Good luck, OP, hope you find a solution. My surgery was very successful.

You poor thing, I can sympathise because I literally burst into tears after procedures when I’m hyper worried. Do you have a partner, friend, sister who can help you go?

Thank-you for your kind and understanding replies. I have never told anyone about any of this. I couldn't cope with anyone seeing me so vulnerable and distressed.

Used to work nursing and plenty of patients had diazepam or even IV whatever it was, I’m so old I can’t remember to help them before procedures. Fear of procedures is more prevalent than you think.