[ SECRET POST #2121 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2121 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.


__________________________________________________



02.
[Darths and Droids]


__________________________________________________



03.
[Captain America & Iron Man]


__________________________________________________



04.
[The Walking Dead]


__________________________________________________



05.
[Divergent]


__________________________________________________



06.
[SPN RPF]


__________________________________________________



07.
[Sanctuary]


__________________________________________________



08.
[Person of Interest]


__________________________________________________



09.
[Last Exile]


__________________________________________________



10.
[Hugo Weaving / Sam Neill]


__________________________________________________



11.
[Type-Moon]


__________________________________________________



12.
[Spec Ops: The Line]


__________________________________________________



13.
[Quantum Leap]


__________________________________________________



14.
[Tom Hiddleston]


__________________________________________________



15.
[Labyrinth]


__________________________________________________



16.
[Trent & Mariqueen Reznor, How to Destroy Angels]


__________________________________________________













Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 051 secrets from Secret Submission Post #303.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ], [ 1 - posted twice ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I have a bit of a conundrum.

I have a huge, horrible, overarching fear of doctors of any kind. We're talking the throwing-up-in-the-bathroom, passing out kind of fear. I've been fortunate in that I haven't had any real sicknesses or horrible things to deal with, but the thought of going and being at their mercy literally makes me ill to even think of.

I don't have any friends in the flesh around me that I could ask to drive me to the doctor to make me go. My family lives on the other side of the country. I can't figure out how to get myself to the doctor, nevermind how to find one, without self-sabotaging in some way.

Any ideas?

[oroburos69]

Make an appointment for something seriously awesome after the doctor appointment. And you only get to go if you go to the appointment.

Or, like, you get to buy concert tickets to your favorite band when you get home if you did it, or you get to read all the fic, or you get to go to the pet store and play with the puppies.

[(Anonymous)]

Being at their mercy is the problem? Hmm... in what way are you at their mercy? If you're afraid of being misdiagnosed, maltreated, or brushed aside, try looking up a bunch of doctors in the area, so you can go to another one if the first one doesn't pan out. Doctors aren't perfect and wanting a second or third opinion is completely fine. Maybe make a list of issues/symptoms you're been thinking about, so you have something to refer to if they ask and you draw a blank.

Is the problem something more along the lines of how they seem to know your body better than you? That can scare me sometimes... it might help to do some general research on the human body, health, and anatomy and suchlike, so you have a better idea what's going on when they run tests or ask you questions about symptoms.

It might help to sort of psyche yourself up beforehand. This doctor is here to serve me! He is here to listen to me and help me with my body! If he doesn't he's a terrible doctor and I will dump him and find a better one! Because I deserve it!

...I feel I haven't been very helpful, but that's all I've got. Best of luck, anon.

[(Anonymous)]

Maybe you could find a volunteer opportunity where you work with doctors and nurses and get to know a few of them a bit outside of the context of you being the patient and have a chance to watch them interacting with patients who are not you.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm in the same boat, and here's what's helped for me. I can't do much about the transportation issue as I'm a non-driver to begin with, but maybe some of this will help with the everything else.

*See if you can find a doctor who will let you schedule an appointment just to talk with them- no procedures at all, just to discuss your medical needs and how they can meet them. Save scheduling the actual check up until after you've talked strategy. You'll probably be charged for this the same as an actual doctor visit, but if you can afford it, it will be worth it.

*Whether you're going to an appointment or just a talk, spend some time beforehand thinking about what it is that sets you off. Don't do it to the point where you give yourself panic attacks or anything, but the more you're able to rationally explain what your issues and needs are- and, if you can think of anything, what the doctor can do to make things easier for you- the more likely you are to be treated with respect even when you're not rational. Also, being able to take control of the situation, even just in a little way like this, helps make things less scary.

*On that note, unless you have no other options, don't keep going to doctors who don't respect you. If they make you feel like shit because of your phobia, find someone else. You want to be treated by people who will allay the fear, not feed it.

*If you need to practice what you're going to say beforehand or write things out on notecards, that's ok. (It's also a good idea for medical stuff in general, even for non-phobic people.)

*Look into the possibility of scheduling blood draws and other involved procedures separately.

*If you can, try to schedule your appointment so that you don't have any other responsibilities that day. If you have and can spare it, consider taking a sick day. Give yourself plenty of time before and after for whatever you need to soothe yourself.

*If needles are part of your issue, look into ways of reducing the sensation of the procedure, like topical anesthetics or the Buzzy vibrating ice pack.

*Consider trying short-acting anti-anxiety medication. You'll need a prescription to get it, but it doesn't necessarily have to be from the doctor you're going to- if there is anyone in the medical field who you feel safe with (a dentist, a psychiatrist, a gynecologist, etc) they might be able to help you get at least the one dose you need to get to your general practitioner this once. If you can get to and through this one appointment, the GP can provide for you in the long term.

*Even if the meds you get/the meds that work best for you aren't safe to drive on, you can still manage it driving yourself if you can set aside a big enough block of time. Bring books or video games or something to keep occupied, show up early and take your pill/s in the waiting room, and hang around until they wear off.

*Unless you're under 18, involuntarily committed, or under guardianship, you have an absolute right to refuse any and all kinds of medical care. You may need to doctor shop to find someone willing to work with you and your insurance (if any) may give you a hard time, but in the end, your consent or refusal to consent is absolute. If you need to opt out of certain types of medical treatment, either until you feel safe in your doctor/patient relationship or indefinitely, you have the right to do so.

*Some care is better than none. And it's good to have someone you can turn to if you do come down acutely ill- as awful as regular doctors can be, urgent care or emergency room doctors are often worse. Better the devil you know. If all you can tolerate is taking your temperature, listening to your heart and lungs, and talking about any changes in your health, that's still better preventative care than not seeing anyone at all.