GlassPinata
02-03-14, 00:53
So I went to the doctor today for my anxiety and depression.
He prescribed Wellbutrin and a sedative for insomnia, which the Wellbutrin will apparently cause.
He also ordered complete bloodwork: a CBC (complete blood count), a thyroid test, and a complete metabolic panel, to check liver function, etc.
The problem is, I didn't realize what all he was testing for until after they did the blood draw. They didn't explain. I wouldn't have consented.
My husband had a complete metabolic panel done over ten years ago, when he was applying to participate in a research study. His liver enzymes came back very elevated. they told him he might have a liver problem, maybe hepatitis C.
Because he is uninsured, he never followed up on this. He remains healthy and symptom free to this day (but that doesn't mean anything; hepatitis C often takes twenty or thirty years to begin to cause symptoms).
Since then, I've always been terrified about this, but I try to put it out of my mind so I can live my life.
I've always been scared, though, that if he DOES have some kind of hepatitis, I probably have it as well. After all, we're married.
Anyway, after I found out that the doctor had ordered a complete metabolic screen for me, I freaked out.
Once I got home, I called back to the clinic and told him I wanted to cancel the blood tests.
He was angry and said it was highly irregular, etc.
I explained to him why, and I told him, "I'm having such terrible emotional problems right now that I can't stand to find out that I'm physically ill as well."
I told him I did not require a refund, I was sorry I had wasted his time, I wouldn't fill the prescriptions for the medicine, whatever... just please discard those blood samples. I do not want the results! If it did turn out that I have a serious disease like Hepatitis, that could also affect my insurance status, etc. I think I have a right to decline liver function testing if I want to (albeit, it would've been better to decline it BEFORE they actually drew the blood).
The doctor still seemed highly irritated, but he finally said, "I will meet you half way. I will cancel the metabolic screen, but I still want to do the thyroid test. That's the most important one."
So I agreed, and we hung up.
But now I'm terrified that he'll forget, or he won't really cancel it.
I am supposed to get my results back in 3 to 5 days.
I am more scared than I have ever been in my life. I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR that my liver enzymes are elevated right now. I can't stand one more thing, I really can't. I honestly do plan to follow up on that, to have that test, at some point in the future (and to make my husband follow up on his irregular test results as well).
But now is NOT that time. I can't tolerate one more thing right now, I truly can't. I'll break. I just need... not to have any bad medical test results right now.
I went in to the clinic for help with a mental problem, and ended up with the threat of all these blood test results. I am freaking out! One panic attack on top of another, I'm hyperventilating, i can't cope. I feel like I am going to receive a death sentence in 3 to 5 days. i want to run away, change my name, ANYTHING so that they can't find me and tell me I have a terminal illness. I did not go to the doctor for that! I am not ready to explore that right now. I just want help with my anxiety, which had reached an intolerable level (at least I THOUGHT it was intolerable before I went to the doctor. Now it's a thousand times worse. Now I know what "intolerable" REALLY means).
Do you think he'll really cancel that blood test? He said he would. but he was very angry. What if they do it anyway? I mean, they have the blood.
Oh please, somebody give me some reassurance that they'll cancel that test.
If he said he will, then he has to, right?
ARRRGGGH. i'm going nuts. this is the worst.
He prescribed Wellbutrin and a sedative for insomnia, which the Wellbutrin will apparently cause.
He also ordered complete bloodwork: a CBC (complete blood count), a thyroid test, and a complete metabolic panel, to check liver function, etc.
The problem is, I didn't realize what all he was testing for until after they did the blood draw. They didn't explain. I wouldn't have consented.
My husband had a complete metabolic panel done over ten years ago, when he was applying to participate in a research study. His liver enzymes came back very elevated. they told him he might have a liver problem, maybe hepatitis C.
Because he is uninsured, he never followed up on this. He remains healthy and symptom free to this day (but that doesn't mean anything; hepatitis C often takes twenty or thirty years to begin to cause symptoms).
Since then, I've always been terrified about this, but I try to put it out of my mind so I can live my life.
I've always been scared, though, that if he DOES have some kind of hepatitis, I probably have it as well. After all, we're married.
Anyway, after I found out that the doctor had ordered a complete metabolic screen for me, I freaked out.
Once I got home, I called back to the clinic and told him I wanted to cancel the blood tests.
He was angry and said it was highly irregular, etc.
I explained to him why, and I told him, "I'm having such terrible emotional problems right now that I can't stand to find out that I'm physically ill as well."
I told him I did not require a refund, I was sorry I had wasted his time, I wouldn't fill the prescriptions for the medicine, whatever... just please discard those blood samples. I do not want the results! If it did turn out that I have a serious disease like Hepatitis, that could also affect my insurance status, etc. I think I have a right to decline liver function testing if I want to (albeit, it would've been better to decline it BEFORE they actually drew the blood).
The doctor still seemed highly irritated, but he finally said, "I will meet you half way. I will cancel the metabolic screen, but I still want to do the thyroid test. That's the most important one."
So I agreed, and we hung up.
But now I'm terrified that he'll forget, or he won't really cancel it.
I am supposed to get my results back in 3 to 5 days.
I am more scared than I have ever been in my life. I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR that my liver enzymes are elevated right now. I can't stand one more thing, I really can't. I honestly do plan to follow up on that, to have that test, at some point in the future (and to make my husband follow up on his irregular test results as well).
But now is NOT that time. I can't tolerate one more thing right now, I truly can't. I'll break. I just need... not to have any bad medical test results right now.
I went in to the clinic for help with a mental problem, and ended up with the threat of all these blood test results. I am freaking out! One panic attack on top of another, I'm hyperventilating, i can't cope. I feel like I am going to receive a death sentence in 3 to 5 days. i want to run away, change my name, ANYTHING so that they can't find me and tell me I have a terminal illness. I did not go to the doctor for that! I am not ready to explore that right now. I just want help with my anxiety, which had reached an intolerable level (at least I THOUGHT it was intolerable before I went to the doctor. Now it's a thousand times worse. Now I know what "intolerable" REALLY means).
Do you think he'll really cancel that blood test? He said he would. but he was very angry. What if they do it anyway? I mean, they have the blood.
Oh please, somebody give me some reassurance that they'll cancel that test.
If he said he will, then he has to, right?
ARRRGGGH. i'm going nuts. this is the worst.