One of the most stressful things in our modern world is waiting for the results of medical tests. On the scale of psychosocial stressors, it's way up at the top. Being worried about your health can really rock your world, and not in a good way.
Perhaps this has happened to you _ if not, sorry to say, you can probably expect it. You go in to the doctor's office for an issue, a regular screening, or an annual visit, and the doctor does some tests. A few days later, you may get a call saying that one or two of your levels are off and that you need to come in for further testing. Most people go numb when hearing those words, and that's when the anxiety begins to take root.
The annual physical is a very good thing, and not enough people do it. One of the main reasons people give for avoiding the doctor's office is "Well, I don't want to know if there's anything real bad going on with me." This is your fear talking. Common sense dictates that knowledge is power, and the results of your tests will tell you where you need to put your focus. So, it's good to get a checkup!
It's also true that waiting and wondering about what is going on can be very stressful, and it can sometimes take days over even weeks to get definitive results. I don't care how mentally strong you are: the thought of possible negative results will seep into your mind, and you won't even realize it until you feel the anxiety in your body.
The time between getting an elevated marker in a blood test, or some other unexpected result _ and having tests repeated or going in for more in-depth testing or scans _ to getting a diagnosis is very difficult to deal with. Your mind and body are all over the place, so doing what you can to keep yourself balanced is important here. (As an example, I always give myself a couple of minutes to calm down before having my blood pressure taken, because it will be high if I don't.)
You need to be able to focus, so you can ask the right questions, but you can also give yourself a break, knowing that you can always follow up later. And again, the waiting can be the hardest part. All that and more is going through your head, so when you feel your anxiety building, just take a deep breath. It's not a huge game changer, but it does make you relax a little.
It's all about maintaining your internal emotions. Remember, you can only do what you can do and take in what you can. Understanding your medical condition, the procedures and processes, as well as your own emotions, will help you navigate and contain your anxiety as well as make any necessary decisions.
What you have to go through can be really hard. Having a wingman or woman or a good support team, if you don't have that person, can be invaluable. You will get through this, and the truth is that much of the time your numbers will return to normal in a month or so. It's just that the waiting can be so damn scary.
