[Anonymous]

For months I've been having the following symptoms:

-Tiredness even if I get lots of sleep
-Sometimes feel really achey
-Get out of breath very easily
-Headaches quite regularly
-Dizzy spells sometimes
-Also, don't know if it's related but I also get cramps and pins and needles really easily, like if I'm sitting cross legged on the floor for even a couple of mins.

I thought it could possibly be anemia but I don't look pale, I actually have quite rosy cheeks. Can you still have anemia and not look pale?

Anyway, my problem is I have been wanting all week to go to the doctors, but I'm really scared of going! I don't know why. I think it's because I went once before for similar things and I had tests done and they found nothing wrong, so I'm embarrassed of going again, only to find nothing wrong and feel embarrassed for wasting their time. I only had 1 lot of tests though, because I didn't want to go back.

I think I'm also scared of them thinking its all in my head because they couldn't find anything before.

Well I don't even know what I'm asking for help on, guess I just need some reassurance or something.

[letsdothetimewarpagain]

It is better to be safe than sorry as you don't want to risk there being something wrong and not finding out. Doctors will be used to people going in more than once and if they didn't suspect something to be wrong then they wouldn't do the tests.
Your doctor will be fine with you going again and there is nothing to be embarassed about at all.

:-)

[leala4628]

Could be a number of things-your symptoms are quite similar to mine but mine was a mixture of anxiety, allergy and migraines :-S i'm also terrified of the doctors-i feel terrible just thinking about it. You should go though as it could be a sign of something such as diabetes or vitamin deficiency. Let us know how it goes then you have a reason to get checked!

[belis]

Generaly speaking the more wague symptoms you have the lower the likelyhood that there is something seriously wrong with you (and I am saying that in a reasuring rather then patronising manner). However it is worth checking even if just to put your mind at rest. Worrying about your symptoms will only increase the anxiety and create a vicious circle.

You are notgoing to be wating anybody's time. Majority of people who present to GP do not have anything seriously wrong with them. However is is GPs role to make sure that this is the case and pick up the few that have a problem. If they make you feel guilty or embarrased about coming with your concerns then change a GP.

[martin101]

Iatrophobia (fear of going to the doctors) is really common - I have it and Im going to be a doctor lol! Its quite natural to be anxious about going to see a doctor who can potentially give you life changing news. Its important to realise however that probably 99 times out of 100 what people go to the doctors for is far less serious than they think.

Your symptoms are fairly scattered and I wouldnt think its possible to make any sort of diagnosis online. I think you should bite the bullet and just go!

[xwardax]

I had the same-ish symptons and had anaemia
Im absolutely terrified of the doctors ..actually the needle that they always seem to refer me to. So i didnt go for months and started to feel worse. So glad i went now i feel better.

So had my blood test done for the 1st time in my life, i was crying like crazy before she took it. So if your scared of that, dont be. Its sooo much better than having an injection.

Just got my cervial cancer injection letter today back to crying for me

but back to the point.. go to the GP, its better to sort it out than suffer through it. Think of it this way

you go the the doc, the prob is solved
if you dont go it could get worse, and (i really hope not) it could get serious and you could end up in hospital

so pweeezz go to the doc!

[Nick_000]

Originally Posted by martin101

Iatrophobia (fear of going to the doctors) is really common - I have it and Im going to be a doctor lol! Its quite natural to be anxious about going to see a doctor who can potentially give you life changing news. Its important to realise however that probably 99 times out of 100 what people go to the doctors for is far less serious than they think.

Your symptoms are fairly scattered and I wouldnt think its possible to make any sort of diagnosis online. I think you should bite the bullet and just go!

I'm petrified of going to see the Doctor and I don't know why.

I realise its completely illogical and irrational. Nobody I tell understands!

I've been really ill over the last week and wouldn't go see the doctor and just waited until I eventually felt better. I have done this many times.

Do you have any advice? I would go see the doctor but...

[martin101]

Originally Posted by Nick_000

I'm petrified of going to see the Doctor and I don't know why.

I realise its completely illogical and irrational. Nobody I tell understands!

I've been really ill over the last week and wouldn't go see the doctor and just waited until I eventually felt better. I have done this many times.

Do you have any advice? I would go see the doctor but...

Well the definition of a phobia is an irrational fear. There are multiple theories about how they arrise, but generally a memory of anxiety that is never challenged compounds leading to phobias. What you need to do is to challenge your phobia. This can be in the form of cognative behavioural therapy (CBT) which professionals do, or you can do a simplified version yourself. This basically consists of thinking about what makes you feel anxious and how it exactly makes you feel, writing these things down, and retrospectively analysing your behaviour. The goal is to sort of teach your subconcious that your fear is totally irrational.

Of course the other way to challenge your fear is to actually bite the bullet and just go and get it over and done with! This is my prefered method, but it will only work if you have steadfast resolve, or you could combine it with a bit of CBT

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys, I guess I will just get on with it and go! At least if I go and theres nothing wrong then I can start exercising or something to get less tired!

[leala4628]

Originally Posted by Nick_000

I'm petrified of going to see the Doctor and I don't know why.

I realise its completely illogical and irrational. Nobody I tell understands!

I've been really ill over the last week and wouldn't go see the doctor and just waited until I eventually felt better. I have done this many times.

Do you have any advice? I would go see the doctor but...

I know that feeling so well!! It's terrible that no one understands-my doctor's notes are so thin i hadn't been for about 5 years until the other month when i hadn't been feeling well for a while and i went cos i thought i had glandular fever-he said i might have but to try antibiotics before going back for a blood test if i wasn't feeling better-i still didn't feel well but i didn't go back and was tired and ill feeling for 2 months. Stupid i know :-( my mum says i should definitely just go for a check up to get over my fear but i daren't!

[FoxboroHotTubs:)]

I know how you feel. I am petrified of the dentist. I mean really, really, really ridiculously scared.

[smellslikemarmite]

I'm scared of the dentist and it took a long time for me to be able to go on my own. Now I've learned that they are there to help you, they don't want to cause you pain, and I know exactly how to deal with pain after I've had a procedure done (taking ibuprofen while the anaesthetic is still wearing off = good times).
You just need to learn that the doctors are there to make you feel better, not worse.