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Waiting for a medical test to be done and the results to be available and interpreted can be tough, ...
More bringing worry, anxiety and other negative emotions. (Photo: Getty) (Photo: Getty) What’s your idea of fun? How about getting a medical test and waiting for the test results? Yeah, few people would take a medical test just for the fun of it or simply to “get away from it all.” Typically, when you undergo a medical test, it is to look for something in you.
And that something is usually not charm. Instead there’s always the possibility that the test could reveal something bad, something life-alteringly bad. Therefore, it is natural to feel worry, anxiety and other tough-to-deal-with emotions while waiting for a medical test to be done and the results to arrive.
Plus, a number of medical tests can be quite uncomfortable to undergo. Chances are you aren’t going to be saying, “I really want someone to stick a needle in me. The deeper, the better.
” So what then can you do to help deal with everything you must be feeling before and after the medical test? Here are 10 things. It may be tempting to do something to just cover up and ignore what you are feeling. But suppressing your emotions can be like trying to hide a marmot in your pants.
You never know what it may do, where it may resurface and what damage it may end up doing. Instead, allow yourself to feel and express whatever you are feeling. Acknowledge the fact that you are human and will experience different emotions, unless, of course, you happen to be a cinder block or some kind of AI projection.
This can seem difficult to do if you are used to having high expectations of yourself. Remember, though, feeling vulnerable doesn’t necessarily mean that you are weak. In fact, the ability to admit that you feel vulnerable can be in and of itself a strength .
Emotions can be like guests at a party in your apartment, condo or house. You don’t want to say, “I don’t know who you are or where you come from, but come on in and do whatever you feel like doing.” Specifically naming what you are feeling and trying to understand why you are feeling that particular emotion can help you better cope.
It can be especially helpful and more concrete to write down such thoughts or share them with someone who will be supportive. Make sure you get information about the test specifically from the doctor who ordered or performed ..
. More the test and not simply from some random person on the street or Google. (Photo: Getty) Ignorance may seem like bliss, but it is important to fully understand the details of your test so that you aren’t completely blindsided by what happens next.
After all, you don’t want to find yourself ever saying the words “accidentally got a colonoscopy.” Many tests do require some sort of advance preparation. Plus, when the doctor says, “You are about to feel a little pressure,” you kind of want to know what that “pressure” is going to be and where.
Moreover, don’t leave the test without knowing potential next steps. This includes knowing when and how you may receive the test results, what the possible findings may be and what might happen next as a result. Make sure you get this information specifically from the doctor who ordered or performed the test and not simply from some random person on the street or Google.
Speaking of Google, resist the temptation to keep searching and searching and searching for information indiscriminately. If you haven’t figured it out yet, social media and the Internet can be massive cesspools of misinformation and disinformation . Relying on such info can be like relying on what’s written on a public bathroom stall.
Even if the information is accurate, it may not be applicable to your case. It’s easy to find info from someone somewhere that confirms whatever your biggest concerns may be, no matter how irrational they may be like somehow believing that the medical test will turn you into a squirrel. That’s why it’s better to read up on the test far enough before the test so that you can run any concerns by your doctor in advance.
Don’t wait until after your test to panic and scramble to figure out what just happened. The other problem with Googling is that it can intensify your worries. Constantly thinking about your medical test can be like constantly holding a 9.
596 pound fruitcake in a biceps curl position. It can be exhausting. You need breaks.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to distract yourself with work or fun stuff. Distracting yourself is not the same as suppressing your emotions. You don’t have to deal with all of this by yourself.
The medical center should have people trained and dedicated to help guide you through the process. At the same time, don’t be afraid to lean on those close to you like good friends , who can listen to what you have to say and help you process your emotions. Maybe they went through similar experiences and can offer some insight.
They can help take some of the other added stress and burden off your shoulders. This can include serving as distractions like regaling with stories about how their pants fell down while playing pickleball. Speaking of pickleball, exercise can be not only a good distraction but also a way of helping you feel better.
You want your mind and body to be ready to deal with what may come next. So, practice self-care. Do things that benefit your health, such as eating well, getting enough sleep and spending time outdoors .
Self-care also means doing what you enjoy as long as it isn’t harmful to your health. This may not be the best time participate in a competitive hot dog eating contest for the first time. But surely there are other things that you can do for fun.
Don’t put pressure on yourself to be productive. There are also relaxation techniques such as meditation and getting a massage. Just make sure you know the person before you ask him or her for a massage.
Sure, waiting for medical test results can leave you with a feeling of great uncertainty. This can be tough because as humans we often want a certain level of certainty. Remember, though, that life is inherently uncertain.
You never know when life will take a sudden turn for the better or for the worse. Therefore, don’t get ahead of yourself and think about the 14,000,605 possible futures as Doctor Strange did in the movie Avengers: Infinity War . Instead, try to take things one day at a time.
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