000 -fear - doctors @yahoogroups. com. i am subscribed but i cant seem
to get on line . when i put in the name it says doesnt exist? thanks.

Hello fellow doctor-phobics!  My name is Alice and I am 28 years
old.  I am TERRIFIED of doctors.  I did manage to have a son, who is
2 years old and went to all of my appointments.  Let me assure you
that the first half of the pregnancy I was freaking them out good
with my blood pressure of 180/100 as I have white coat syndrome.  In
the end, I developed pre eclampsia and had to have an emergency c-
section.  This was the most terrifying thing I think I have ever been
through.  I actually went into something of an emotional shock-type
state when they told me what they were planning to do to me.  They
strapped my arms down and that was that.  I know they had to do it or
my son would have died...and that was the only reason I didn't get up
and run!

Currently, I have been having problems with my stomach.  I have had
abdominal pain about once a year for the past eight years.  I chalked
it up to gall bladder and went on with life.  I, as many of you,
treat myself at home.  Well, about a month ago I got this pain under
my ribs and it would not stop.  It got so bad I couldn't even take
care of my son!  I finally went to the emergency room (my husband is
a nurse there, lol).  It has to be BAD to go to the ER as I have not
been there in probably 15 years.  I was SURE it was my gallbladder.
I had elevated white blood cells, but no stones showed up in the
ultrasound. Can you believe that?  They couldn't find anything wrong
with me.  I think it is gas!

Problem is, they told me I MUST find a doctor (the only doctor I have
is my OB/GYN and she won't handle stomach problems).  I do not have a
regular GP.  They told me I need to have a hide-a-scan done where
they put radioactive dye in your blood and scan your organs.  They
want to see if my gallbladder is working at all.  If it isn't, well
of course they want to remove it.  I don't think so!  To make matters
worse, my uncle is a doctor and he has scared me to death by speaking
of my needing scopes, etc.  This is just not going to happen.

I don't know if I really have a problem or if I am just suffering
from anxiety.  I feel like I need to swallow a lot and I feel like I
need to burp all the time.  I just don't know...I am miserable but I
cannot go to the doctor.  I just can't.

I am not only terrified of what doctors do to me, but I am terrified
of them telling me I am going to die of something.  See, many of you
want to know if you have something wrong so you can get it taken care
of.  However, I have the irrational belief that if I don't know about
something, it won't exist.  I know this is nuts, but that is the way
I am.  I am afraid they will tell me I have cancer or something and
then I would die for certain worrying.  And would not enjoy the last
part of my life.  Oh, I just don't know what to do at all!

Anyway, I am just happy that I could tell you all this and not feel
like I am being viewed as insane.  People get so frustrated with me
and it makes it worse.

Thanks for listening,

Alice

Happy holidays from me too!
Hope everyone is doing good!

:)
Judy

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and all that!

-Sue D.

Well friends, from the guy who said he would never, under any circumstances
go to any doctor, my infected toe (6weeks) and girlfriend convinced me to at
least see a podiatrist.  Figured a podiatrist is
REALLY limited, and I would only let him look.

One of my colleagues gave me some tranquilizers before leaving for the doc.
It didn't help at all.  The podiatrist and I had a 10 minute argument
because I couldn't understand why he wanted me to take off my left shoe,
since the problem was with my right foot.  Girlfriend nearly killed me so I
acquiesced.  Let me tell you it feels really strange sitting there in a
suit,  tie and barefoot.

Anyway he looked at it, said it was pretty badly infected but he's seen much
worse.  But, since it hasn't healed for over a month he said I HAD to see a
wound care specialist (obviously a friend of his).  I said, in no uncertain
terms, that that would not happen.  He looked kind of stunned (especially
after the argument over the other foot), and said that he couldn't treat me.
I said fine and began putting my shoes back on, (sock on the infected toe
w/o bandage), when my girlfriend jumped out of the chair and grabbed me by
the neck
again. As the Doc. stepped out of the room, she said, you idiot, tell him
you're going to go to the wound doctor so that he will give you an
antibiotic, and then if you want cancel the appointment.

So that's what I did.  He gave me an oral antibiotic, some cream, and took
an X-ray (no infection in the bone). I will be cancelling the "wound care"
appointment this afternoon.

Now, folks, that is the last time I will ever go to a doctor or dentist.
Period--Finito--Kaput!

RJS

I doubt it. But if you did go to a shrink, you could get a special referral,
with
notes, etc., for the predicament you are in. I wonder if you miscarried or
something. I think I have done that, also.
I'd still go to women's clinic, staffed with all women or somethng. They are
cheaper, sliding scale, they use nurse pratitioners, and they are mostly women
just
like us. We just all wanna stay healthy. They also have books about exams, for
women
that have been truamatized, etc. They have pamphlets, and they used to have a
book
about how to give yourself an exam. It cannot be such a mystery. Ya know? I can
defintily tell, for instance, if I have a sore in my mouth, ya know? I also knwo
sort of what to do about it. Like use Listerine or somehting, rinse it, keep it
clean, etc.  I just dont' see any mystery about vaginas. You just check out the
anantomy, and keep it clean, ya know? Betadine douche is always good, if you
think
you have an infection but are not sure.
Birth control pills are not geat for you, actually . They increase the risks of
some
other problems, but not by much, though. I get bloated on the pill. I hold water
weight, like, I stay in a PMS state, sort of. I also bleed less, too. I like
being
normal, better. I like weighing less, and knowing that I am "flushing" anythng
bad
out of me. Oh, as far as pregnancy, I went to all my appts for my first baby. 
It
was such a bother. And I was naive then I used to trust doctors. My second kid,
I
went once, for the preg test (they weren't on the market as preg kits, yet) It
was a
urine test only, you just bring the urine in. And I went when the baby came.That
was
it. I kept myslef healthy. That was it. When I wasn't sure if the baby had
gained
amy weight, during the first 2 weeks of her life, I took her to be wieghed. She
was
2 weeks old, and had gained 2 lbs. On breastmilk, only, too. Well, I just needed
to
know. When they asked if "I" had been checked, I always lied and said, yes. It
isn't
their body.
I swear, that if you go to a GP, there is a possibility that you can come out
with a
flu or something.
So may sick people go there.....; its not a place I can go to very easily.
I also glad to know I am not alone, regarding this stuff,  too.
-SD

Ncrnation@... wrote:

> This has really been great for me to hear from all of you.  thank you.
>
> i too don't go to the Doctor unless it's an emergency.  i haven't had
> a regular physical since i went to college at 17 and that's almost 10
> years ago.
>
> 2 years ago i started having trouble with my legs.  tingling and
> weakness to the point where last year i could hardly walk.  my best
> friend finally dragged me to a neurologist (her fearing i had MS).
> three doctors later it was diagnosed that i had a spinal cord tumor
> and it had to come out asap.  luckily for me, my mother took over
> then.  basically setting everything up so that a week after the
> diagnosis i was scheduled for sugery.
>
> everything went brilliantly and with a minimum of fuss.  of course i
> drove the nurses crazy when i insisted i walk the next day (no bedpan
> for me) and that i get out of bed by myself.  but that was a year ago
> and i have all the feeling back in my lower body except for a little
> numb patch on my belly.  i was supposed to go for several follow ups,
> but of course i went for one to get the stitches out and that was it
> for me.
>
> now i have to go to the gyno. true, i want to go on the pill because
> i don't ever want to have kids (think of all the doctors visits
> there!) and i want to feel safely protected from pregnancy, but also
> my last two menstrual cycles have been different.  first i thought i
> was pregnant (which started this whole thing)  but i've done four
> pregnancy tests at various times (i believe in being thourough).  and
> i also got my period, but it was very different, nothing like it's
> been for my whole life.  a very bright red flow and a lot of little
> pains.  i think i might have Pelvic Inflamitory disease or a cyst.
>
> will a dr. really give me a sedative to go to the gyno?  i usually go
> to those 24hr immedicenter type places, they ask fewer questions.  i
> really think it's the only way i'll be able to go.
>
> thanks for being there!
> --- In 000-Fear-Of-Doctors@egroups.com, "R.J.S." <rnode@w...> wrote:
> > Dear SD-
> >
> > I am helped by these e-mail exchanges.  Thank you, and thank you
> too Judy.
> >
> >  Before I turned 40 last year, the thought of dying never occurred
> to me.
> > As my father died in his late 40's I began to realize my own
> mortality,
> > and began experiencing symptoms such as headaches, chest tightness
> etc.
> > Any normal person would have gone to a doctor and had it checked--
> > particularly since I come from a genetic cesspool of hear disease,
> > diabetes you name it.
> >
> > The fear is so consuming and paralysing, that a shrink (for some
> reason
> > they don't scare me) who I consulted about this specific problem
> told me
> > that it my phobia was so severe that it would probably take a "major
> > event" to get me to a doctor or hospital.
> >
> > Like you SD- I also haven't seen a dentist in at least 20 years,
> and it
> > sure hurts when I eat or drink something cold.
> >
> > One thing is for sure, in my opinion, people without the phobia
> can't help
> > us.  There are no antidepressants or anxiety pills strong enough to
> let me
> > have someone take my blood pressure or--god forbid actually draw
> > blood--yes I would rather die.
> >
> > RJS
> >
> >
> >         eGroups Sponsor
> >
> >
> >   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >   000-Fear-Of-Doctors-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>                       eGroups Sponsor

>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> 000-Fear-Of-Doctors-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>

This has really been great for me to hear from all of you.  thank you.

i too don't go to the Doctor unless it's an emergency.  i haven't had
a regular physical since i went to college at 17 and that's almost 10
years ago.

2 years ago i started having trouble with my legs.  tingling and
weakness to the point where last year i could hardly walk.  my best
friend finally dragged me to a neurologist (her fearing i had MS).
three doctors later it was diagnosed that i had a spinal cord tumor
and it had to come out asap.  luckily for me, my mother took over
then.  basically setting everything up so that a week after the
diagnosis i was scheduled for sugery.

everything went brilliantly and with a minimum of fuss.  of course i
drove the nurses crazy when i insisted i walk the next day (no bedpan
for me) and that i get out of bed by myself.  but that was a year ago
and i have all the feeling back in my lower body except for a little
numb patch on my belly.  i was supposed to go for several follow ups,
but of course i went for one to get the stitches out and that was it
for me.

now i have to go to the gyno. true, i want to go on the pill because
i don't ever want to have kids (think of all the doctors visits
there!) and i want to feel safely protected from pregnancy, but also
my last two menstrual cycles have been different.  first i thought i
was pregnant (which started this whole thing)  but i've done four
pregnancy tests at various times (i believe in being thourough).  and
i also got my period, but it was very different, nothing like it's
been for my whole life.  a very bright red flow and a lot of little
pains.  i think i might have Pelvic Inflamitory disease or a cyst.

will a dr. really give me a sedative to go to the gyno?  i usually go
to those 24hr immedicenter type places, they ask fewer questions.  i
really think it's the only way i'll be able to go.

thanks for being there!
--- In 000-Fear-Of-Doctors@egroups.com, "R.J.S." <rnode@w...> wrote:
> Dear SD-
>
> I am helped by these e-mail exchanges.  Thank you, and thank you
too Judy.
>
>  Before I turned 40 last year, the thought of dying never occurred
to me.
> As my father died in his late 40's I began to realize my own
mortality,
> and began experiencing symptoms such as headaches, chest tightness
etc.
> Any normal person would have gone to a doctor and had it checked--
> particularly since I come from a genetic cesspool of hear disease,
> diabetes you name it.
>
> The fear is so consuming and paralysing, that a shrink (for some
reason
> they don't scare me) who I consulted about this specific problem
told me
> that it my phobia was so severe that it would probably take a "major
> event" to get me to a doctor or hospital.
>
> Like you SD- I also haven't seen a dentist in at least 20 years,
and it
> sure hurts when I eat or drink something cold.
>
> One thing is for sure, in my opinion, people without the phobia
can't help
> us.  There are no antidepressants or anxiety pills strong enough to
let me
> have someone take my blood pressure or--god forbid actually draw
> blood--yes I would rather die.
>
> RJS
>
>
>         eGroups Sponsor
>
>
>   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>   000-Fear-Of-Doctors-unsubscribe@egroups.com

eGroups Sponsor

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
000-Fear-Of-Doctors-unsubscribe@egroups.com

And I don't go either.
No, I don't take it badly.
I need to be medicated to see a dentist. I don't know why this phobia is not
addressed more. We are too phobic to talk about it. I would never go unless it
was
life threateneing. Do you know that? Well, my boyfriend knows that. He is the
same
way.
I did have bad symptoms one night recently, very bad pains in my  pelvic area.
It
may have been an infection or it may have been  some strain. But it was so bad,
I
went to the ER. I though, if I had an exploding ovary, I wanted it the hell out
of
me.
I do have a problem with dying right now. I don't have time or it, AND, I don't
want
to die because of something stupid, when it is not in my plans.
They kept asking stupid questions. like when did I have my last tetnus shot
(when I
was 7 years old?).
But it was posh, and empty and I was the only one there. I pick my ER's out
carefully. No student idiots working on my firneds.
The doc checked me, saw nothing serious, gave me antibiotics, and sent me home.
I
think sleep cured it. but they yelled at me for being anemic. So I started iron
again. I didn't neeed them to tell me I was anemic. I told them I was anemic. I
don't care much about it. I bought some rather expensive iron, (cheap ones had
been
making me sick) So maybe I don't need as much heat this winter?
But I have heard about weird pelvic infammatory diseases, and toxic shock
syndrome
killing people in less that 2 hours, and all. So I went to see if that is what I
had. It wasn't. Even though it was sudden, intese, unexpalined (neve had it
before)
pain, equivalent to labor. I was rolling around on the bed, yowling. Had to
smash up
a pain pill (1 vicodin) just to get normal enough to talk. If may daughter
ahdn;'t
een home, I don't know how I would have gotten help. She called my son, who had
a
car. They voted that I go. I wouldn't have. But I was disabled from the pain,
and
did not know what it was. A normal hospital would have had me in the hallway, or
in
surgery or something.
But prescriptions for birth control, are stupid, inho. -SD




russellandjud@... wrote:

> RJS......
> Thank you thank you for putting it into words!
>
> I , also mean no criticism to S.D......
>
> Nature taking its course, no matter how you see 'nature', is the best route
> for me also.
>
> Thank you!
> Judy
>
>                       eGroups Sponsor

>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> 000-Fear-Of-Doctors-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>

RJS......
  Thank you thank you for putting it into words!

I , also mean no criticism to S.D......

Nature taking its course, no matter how you see 'nature', is the best route
for me also.

Thank you!
Judy

-----Original Message-----
From: S.D. [mailto:suedarnell@...]
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2000 8:39 AM
To: 000-Fear-Of-Doctors@egroups.com
Subject: Re: [000-Fear-Of-Doctors] have to go, but don't want to

Well, you can find or request a female doc,
Go to a ladies clinic and request a female,
Order what pills you want from England or Holland (Netherlands?),
Go to Mexico and get pills,
Or make an ugly face. It'll be over in 15 minutes.
Forget relaxation, though. Just try.
Oh, you will be all covered up with drapes, (sheets)_,and only a couple of inches
are exposed at a time.
It's not that bad.
Worse comes to worse, tell him or her, you want to know exactly what he is doing,
everything, before he does it. And tell him/her to talk to you about why you are
required to have an exam.
I mean there ARE a few people that have cervical cancer and don't know it.
So an exam (it is minor) is an altermative to death, for sure.
You would want that cr-p out of you.
It would ususally be obvious, though. Visually with an internal look.
The only part that hurts, is the pap smear. And that is really a split second. Like
a little pinch. I always make an ugly face,  make fists, and grit my teeth anyway
for it. Relax? Maybe if you can bring your "partner" with you". I mean, he might as
well see what women have to go through.
I'd stick with the condoms, myself. Are they breaking? There are alternatives to
intercourse, and you can use them with the rythym system and not even use condoms,
actually..
They tell you not to douch before an exam but that is crazy, too.
They wish they could douch, imho.
-SD


Ncrnation@... wrote:

> it was so nice to find this site.  i feel so much less alone.
>
> i too am terrified of going to the doctors.  for me, i find the whole process
> very violating.  to them, it's just another body so seeing it naked or just
> grabbing at it is no big deal.  but to me, i just want to crawl up and die.
>
> i have to go to the gynecologist.  i'm 26 and have never been.  and have
> recently become sexually active for the first time since i was a teenager.  i
> was ok with just using condoms then, but i was stupid then and now i want a
> little more assurance.
>
> the thought of going though, of letting someone i don't know violate me, puts
> me into hysterics.  i've read up on what happens during the exam, but it says
> you have to relax and for me, that's not possible.  any ideas?
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> 000-Fear-Of-Doctors-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>



To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
000-Fear-Of-Doctors-unsubscribe@egroups.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Ncrnation@... [mailto:Ncrnation@...]
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2000 5:07 PM
To: 000-Fear-Of-Doctors@egroups.com
Subject: [000-Fear-Of-Doctors] have to go, but don't want to

it was so nice to find this site.  i feel so much less alone.

i too am terrified of going to the doctors.  for me, i find the whole process
very violating.  to them, it's just another body so seeing it naked or just
grabbing at it is no big deal.  but to me, i just want to crawl up and die.

i have to go to the gynecologist.  i'm 26 and have never been.  and have
recently become sexually active for the first time since i was a teenager.  i
was ok with just using condoms then, but i was stupid then and now i want a
little more assurance. 

the thought of going though, of letting someone i don't know violate me, puts
me into hysterics.  i've read up on what happens during the exam, but it says
you have to relax and for me, that's not possible.  any ideas?

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
000-Fear-Of-Doctors-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Well, you can find or request a female doc,
Go to a ladies clinic and request a female,
Order what pills you want from England or Holland (Netherlands?),
Go to Mexico and get pills,
Or make an ugly face. It'll be over in 15 minutes.
Forget relaxation, though. Just try.
Oh, you will be all covered up with drapes, (sheets)_,and only a couple of
inches
are exposed at a time.
It's not that bad.
Worse comes to worse, tell him or her, you want to know exactly what he is
doing,
everything, before he does it. And tell him/her to talk to you about why you are
required to have an exam.
I mean there ARE a few people that have cervical cancer and don't know it.
So an exam (it is minor) is an altermative to death, for sure.
You would want that cr-p out of you.
It would ususally be obvious, though. Visually with an internal look.
The only part that hurts, is the pap smear. And that is really a split second.
Like
a little pinch. I always make an ugly face,  make fists, and grit my teeth
anyway
for it. Relax? Maybe if you can bring your "partner" with you". I mean, he might
as
well see what women have to go through.
I'd stick with the condoms, myself. Are they breaking? There are alternatives to
intercourse, and you can use them with the rythym system and not even use
condoms,
actually..
They tell you not to douch before an exam but that is crazy, too.
They wish they could douch, imho.
-SD


Ncrnation@... wrote:

> it was so nice to find this site.  i feel so much less alone.
>
> i too am terrified of going to the doctors.  for me, i find the whole process
> very violating.  to them, it's just another body so seeing it naked or just
> grabbing at it is no big deal.  but to me, i just want to crawl up and die.
>
> i have to go to the gynecologist.  i'm 26 and have never been.  and have
> recently become sexually active for the first time since i was a teenager.  i
> was ok with just using condoms then, but i was stupid then and now i want a
> little more assurance.
>
> the thought of going though, of letting someone i don't know violate me, puts
> me into hysterics.  i've read up on what happens during the exam, but it says
> you have to relax and for me, that's not possible.  any ideas?
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> 000-Fear-Of-Doctors-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>

I wish I could help you...I havent been in 18 years myself...
Just know that you are supported in your fear and not alone!!
Feel free to email me anytime!

Take care,
Judy

it was so nice to find this site.  i feel so much less alone.

i too am terrified of going to the doctors.  for me, i find the whole process
very violating.  to them, it's just another body so seeing it naked or just
grabbing at it is no big deal.  but to me, i just want to crawl up and die.

i have to go to the gynecologist.  i'm 26 and have never been.  and have
recently become sexually active for the first time since i was a teenager.  i
was ok with just using condoms then, but i was stupid then and now i want a
little more assurance.

the thought of going though, of letting someone i don't know violate me, puts
me into hysterics.  i've read up on what happens during the exam, but it says
you have to relax and for me, that's not possible.  any ideas?

I just found out, that my daughter's (she's 15) friend's youngest
brother died of meningitis, when the doctors told them it was the
flu. SHe said, that the child was reported to have had, the character
teristic signs of broken blood veessels, that look similar to
bruises, just beneath his skin, and a high fever.
My dughter was upsetk, just hearing aobut htis, because she had
another friend, whose baby had the same thing. The clinic told them
to feed the child soup. My daughter knows better, and (she was 13 at
the time). And my daughter insisted that they take the child to the
local Childrens Hospital (San Diego). It was there, that they IV'D
her and saved her life. 2 year old Mary Jane is now 4 year old Mary
Jane.
WHY DONT THEY TEACH FIRST AID AND MEDICINE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?
I ask this, because I prived the American Red Cross's class prices.
For my duaghter to take 1st Aid, and Infant/childrebn CPR, they want
$55.00. I'm barely making my rent payments, as a single Mom. This
price  is bullshit. WHY do I even SEND my kid to PUBLIC SCHOOL?
BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TUTORS!
-Sue D.

For myself.....i will go for a injury (its got to be pretty bad)
Thats about it..no checkups...although i moniter myself and my health very
closly.
Weird, I know.

Judy

THis is just a quick question/survey to those who may still be monitoring
this listserve; is your fear of doctors all paralysing, in that you can't go
under any circumstances, or is it a fear that can be overcome, akin to
public speaking jitters?

Just curious.

RJS

Dear Catfanatik:

Welcome to this rather quiet albeit important list. I may be the original
doctor phobe (if there is such an expression), but obviously we are not
alone.  Therapy doesn't appear to be the answer.  However, since you are
even able to get into the doctor's office you are quite a bit more advanced
than I am (an apparently some others, as well).  Perhaps you could obtain a
prescription fro some valium or xanax to deal with your panic, prior to
going to the doctor.

Good luck, and lets try to keep this list alive, since I don't think anyone
else understands the depth of this fear.

(by the way I like cats myself, though I still consider myself a dog person)
RJS

welcome to the list!
I am new also..it is pretty quiet on here!
I dont react the same way you do to dr's...i just do not go...ever. My fear
..after some thought came up about 15 years ago.
i hope you ( and i!) find the encouragment you need!

Take care
judy

Hi. I'm new to this list.  I'm glad I found it .. hope I'm in the
right place.

I also have a fear of doctors. I do not know where it comes from.
Currently I am having some kind of muscular problems, have been to 4
different doctors. With each one of them, I always start crying when
I describe my symptoms. Sometimes it turns into more than just a few
tears.  Once I start crying, I can't stop.  Like a 5 year old.  I do
this EVERY time.  Most doctors seem to think my reaction is a bit
extreme.  Last time I could barely even catch my breath.
If the doctor just trys to ignore it, then I eventually stop. But if
they make a big deal of it, I become more upset.
Now, I DO have a history of clinical major depressions, but I am not
in one now.
The crying in the office comes from some kind of fear. I know it.
But I don't know what the fear is, or where it comes from.  Why am I
so afraid to talk about my own symptoms?
How can I get over this?  I think after the first visit, I become a
little less credible to the doctors, I wonder if they think I just
over-dramatize everything.

- Carol

Dear Judy;

No, nothing weird about it at all.  I don't think therapists understand it
very well, however I think it is different from their phobias.  If you are
afraid of flying, or afraid of bridges (more common than I thought), you can
pretty much go about you life avoiding these things, or at least working on
the at your leisure. If you have chest pain, or some other serious
condition, this phobia may kill you.  Strange how the fear of doctors may
even be stronger than the fear of death.

As a confirmed atheist, faith doesn't provide much help to me.

Well I wish you the best of luck.  Some people can probably live to 90
without ever seeing a doctor.

I know I have never known why....I cant even understand it myself..I do know
however I cannot go! weird, huh?
I have been to therapists...they cannot help. They dont understand either. I
rely on my faith. Its all I have!
I honestly am very healthy so far though! lol

i hope you find some peace!
Please take care,
JUdy

Were you ever able to figure out just where your phobia or fear comes from,
and why?  I don't understand mine.

hi..
Im new. My name is jUdy..I too have a horrible fear of doctors and will never
go to another again...
While I know this is difficult, it IS wonderful for me to be around others
like me!
Im sorry..please know Im not trying to take away from you pain...I just
really understand!
Take care,
Judy

I understand your fear and frustration.  I too am doctor phobic (male), and
despite disturbing symptoms will NEVER go to a doctor.

  You might be able to explain your symptoms to someone willing to diagnose
without probing, and then perhaps give some medication a try to see if it
alleviates your problem.  Good luck.

I am a virgin who needs a proper diagnosis from a gynecologist.
Currently, I suffer from pain on my left side after every bowel
movement, frequent urination as it gets closer to my menstrual cycle,
and very painful menstrual cycles.

Everytime, I go to the doctor I shut down, due to the fact that none
of these doctors seem to care about my sensitivity of the exam.

They never explain what they are going to do or what is necessary in
the exam.  I have a constant fear of just trusting them, because for
some strange reason, I feel that they will just tear my hymen due to
carelessness.

Currently, I don't know what to do!!  I need an exam, but am tired of
failed diagnosis.  What could I do to get the courage I need?