Severe anxiety over pancreatic cancer

[Hypomania]

Hey everybody,

Was hoping some people could share some similar experiences/stories that may be similar to mine. Having a bit anxiety, and I'm better than I used to be with these situations, but any support would be appreciated.

So, I had an appointment to see a new GP two Saturdays ago to have a physical done, which ended with some blood work (typical blood work I'm guessing, the tests weren't specified, nor did i ask), and I left without concern (after all, I went in for a general check-up as I was registering with a new GP, not because I was concerned about anything) as the doc said everything seemed fine based on the physical.

So, yesterday while on vacation (overseas for the next week) I seen that I had two voicemails from the doctor's office, one on the following Wednesday after the tests, and another follow up call on the Friday. The first message was "hi this is the doctors office, we have a message regarding your blood test results, please call us back", the second was the same. That's it, no mention of results or what the problem is, just to ring them up.

I have a history of severe health anxiety, so these things always set me off, although I'm handling this much better than I usually would. However, I still think about what the results could be quite often, and tend to worry about whether or not it's a serious or urgent thing. I always imagine that maybe they found an extremely high white blood count indicating some cancer or something serious like that. Even though it seems unlikely (no symptoms of any kind), and the call didn't really sound urgent (also, they only tried to call me twice, I feel like if it were something very serious they wouldve have called sooner and more often,instead of 4 days after the test and then waiting another 2 days for the follow up call), I still can't help but think of the "what if" scenarios. It's driving me nuts, something I didn't want to deal with on vacation haha.

Anybody have similar stories regarding a call back for blood tests? Should I be worried? Do docs usually call only if it's bad news?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Carys]

Hiyer,

They won't mention on the phone if anything is 'serious' or 'minor', thats the way of these things - you'll get a standard 'hi, call us back about your results' no matter what they want to say.That's what they are trained to do.

I can entirely relate to your fears though, as a 'call back' would send me into a flat spin too. Two weeks ago I had a voicemail from the surgery asking me to call - I was sweating and shaking ringing them back, but all it was was to make an appointment to review a med I've been on for ages.

You know what, it could just be that they are calling to tell you that everything has come back fine? It could be that you are slightly anaemic and need some iron? It could be that a vitamin or mineral is needed? Lets be honest, it could be anything, but in a HA state we always jump to that absolute worse case scenario. As you said yourself, you feel well, you have nothing physically that gives any cause for concern and they did very standard bloodwork....so whatever the results are, even if there is something the needs addressing...it sounds like something 'standard' and minor from what you are saying. Doctors surgeries could call back for any number of reasons, and no its not always 'bad news' but very minor news like potassium is low eat some more bananas lol Your thyroid results weren't quite right, can we do some repeat tests? (or the like)

I will say this...why not just call them back? The agony you are putting yourself through is worse than anything they could tell you, to my mind. Also, the idea behind having bloods done is to screen and find things that needed treating, before they become a problem, so even if something minor has been picked up, thats what those tests are for. Why not call today, I know you are on holiday, but its going to be spoilt with you worrying every moment and analysing/looking for reasons and logical events to backup your theories.

[Hypomania]

You're absolutely right. My logical brain tells me similar advice to yours (could be anything) and that real urgency would result in more attempts at contact. But my irrational side is screaming CANCER. For every moment of lucidity, I go down a rabbit-hole of what ifs to shoot down my rational side. One crazy example: despite the fact that if something really serious came up, I'd probably get a ring from the doc the same day, or on the Monday at least, my mind begins to think that maybe the tests were delayed by days and days or that the doc got the results and sent them to a cancer specialist and didnt call until after she heard concern from an oncologist or something. It's a pretty insane rabbit hole. It comes in waves.

I think it's just the sheer possiblity of something serious no matter how remote, that drives me nuts, which is funny, because I dont apply this flawed logic to anything other than my health.

I had a similar situation with an ultrasound on a lymphnode on my neck years ago... a few days go by and I get a VM from the docs office. I go cold immediately thinking that it was bad news (I always thought no news was good news when it came to medical tests), but they just wanted to confirm it was swollen from an infection and still within normal size range.

I hope it's not a potassium issue, I'm allergic to bananas haha.

Also, I called back yesterday, but they're closed until Tuesday (it's a long weekend in Canada). So hopefully it's nothing...

[Carys]

Ohhh you've tried to call, bless you, that was a strong step to take to then end up with finding out they were closed. Well, maybe it is potassium then if you aren't eating bananas LOL Wow, allergic to bananas, is that an unusual allergy?

All of the cancer scenarios just aren't likely AT ALL, to have gone to all those stages before they rang you. They don't send things off to cancer specialists like that based on basic blood tests - well not here in the UK anyway. They aren't completely diagnostic of anything, just clues to things and those things could be 'other things' - if you see what I mean. Even if there were some changes in blood cells, they'd want to have you in to do other checks - or arrange scans and so on and so forth, or refer you to an oncologist.

Nobody wants to imagine that they are going to get 'bad news' from tests. However, you can spin the way you think about that around on its head, for future responding to unexpected test results (I'm good at saying it, not so good at applying it myself lol). Surely, its actually 'good news' if something was found by a blood test from a new doctor, as it is early, can be treated and saves you from illness. I'm not thinking you will find that comment helpful, and maybe its too challenging - but I think the fact that you are so well, and nothing is showing at all in physical exam is a really good sign. As you've found out from your lymph node check before, something they just want to tell you some minor things and confirm things. Don't do that massive cancer jump thing - I've honestly never heard of someone having had a standard blood test come back showing something that serious, when they are presenting and feeling well.

I know you must be feeling absolutely dreadful, and I really hope you are able to get through to them tomorrow, until then just stay calm and reassure yourself that you don't feel unwell !. I'll be here to listen to what you find out.

[Hypomania]

Haha very well could be low potassium since I dont eat bananas. Yeah it's a pretty rare allergy, and it only developed in the last few years.

Oh definitely, it all sounds so far fetched, but such is anxiety unfortunately.

I may have to call them back myself, as I only get reception by the beach (currently in Tangiers and for some reason my phone will piggyback on a Spanish carrier but not a Moroccan one.)

[Fishmanpa]

When I was going through the diagnosis process, It started moving pretty quick after the CT Scan, ENT visit and initial diagnosis. They booked an appointment before I left the office and then moved it up a couple of days because the results came in.

I do understand how this would set you off. That being said, you're creating worst case scenarios. Again, from my personal experience, docs don't mess around when they think or know something is up. Carys gave some good advice and insight and I'd read those again. I understand it's difficult to quell the thoughts but keep repeating what you said yourself;

"Even though it seems unlikely (no symptoms of any kind), and the call didn't really sound urgent (also, they only tried to call me twice, I feel like if it were something very serious they wouldve have called sooner and more often,instead of 4 days after the test and then waiting another 2 days for the follow up call)"

Positive thoughts

[axolotl]

Hey everybody,

Was hoping some people could share some similar experiences/stories that may be similar to mine. Having a bit anxiety, and I'm better than I used to be with these situations, but any support would be appreciated.

So, I had an appointment to see a new GP two Saturdays ago to have a physical done, which ended with some blood work (typical blood work I'm guessing, the tests weren't specified, nor did i ask), and I left without concern (after all, I went in for a general check-up as I was registering with a new GP, not because I was concerned about anything) as the doc said everything seemed fine based on the physical.

So, yesterday while on vacation (overseas for the next week) I seen that I had two voicemails from the doctor's office, one on the following Wednesday after the tests, and another follow up call on the Friday. The first message was "hi this is the doctors office, we have a message regarding your blood test results, please call us back", the second was the same. That's it, no mention of results or what the problem is, just to ring them up.

I have a history of severe health anxiety, so these things always set me off, although I'm handling this much better than I usually would. However, I still think about what the results could be quite often, and tend to worry about whether or not it's a serious or urgent thing. I always imagine that maybe they found an extremely high white blood count indicating some cancer or something serious like that. Even though it seems unlikely (no symptoms of any kind), and the call didn't really sound urgent (also, they only tried to call me twice, I feel like if it were something very serious they wouldve have called sooner and more often,instead of 4 days after the test and then waiting another 2 days for the follow up call), I still can't help but think of the "what if" scenarios. It's driving me nuts, something I didn't want to deal with on vacation haha.

Anybody have similar stories regarding a call back for blood tests? Should I be worried? Do docs usually call only if it's bad news?

Any help would be appreciated.

I had a similar panic recently after a repeat full blood test because my liver enzymes had been very slightly high on the first one. I was told if I heard nothing "no news is good news", but got a text saying I needed to get back in touch with them to make a GP appointment. I had a full-blown panic attack, I'm not sure they appreciate what these things do to those of us with health anxiety.

The upshot? My liver enzymes were back fine (most likely I'd just forgot and had a drink too close to the first test), and uric acid levels were very slightly high so they just want to keep tabs to make sure I don't get gout. That was literally it.

[Hypomania]

Thanks everyone. I know my rationale is pretty distorted, but HA is such a beast. You think it's gone, but pops back up once in a while. I'm just happy that I had my anxiety issues treated along time ago, otherwise I think I'd be having full blown panic attacks

[Carys]

I'm just happy that I had my anxiety issues treated along time ago, otherwise I think I'd be having full blown panic attacks

Well done you ! Fantastic to hear that such large positive changes were made by having anxiety treatment, sounds like you are doing much better than you might have done. Respect to you. Yep, HA, is a darned @>?K@_{ !

[Hypomania]

Well done you ! Fantastic to hear that such large positive changes were made by having anxiety treatment, sounds like you are doing much better than you might have done. Respect to you. Yep, HA, is a darned @>?K@_{ !

Thanks, but sometimes it doesn't feel like it. Really hate having to deal with this anxiety, even if I've made incremental improvements over the years. Slowly but surely I guess. Ideally I'd like to be able to take these things in stride