Psychiatrist ordered lab work...What for?

[WorriedOne84]

Okay, so I have health anxiety anyway.  I went to the psychiatrist for the first time today and he sent me for blood work and a urinalysis.  Is this standard?  What are they looking for when they order these tests?  What conditions have anxiety as a symptom?  Now I'm going to be worried about the results.  I can't shake the feeling that something is seriously wrong with me anyway.

My counselor said it sounded to her like I have GAD.  The psychiatrist didn't say that but said it's clear that I have a lot of social anxiety.  He started me on a 10 mg dosage of Lexapro to be taken once a day.

[boots460]

I have health anxiety also.  I knew I wasn't well about a year and a half ago and started seeing a doc. I knew that I was having some physical issues and the first doc told me it was "all hormonal".  I spent time seeing a councelor who sent me to a different doc who ordered a full panel of thyroid tests only to discover I have some thyroid issues.  Nothing serious, but worth treating.  Believe it or not I feel much better having dealt with my problem.  Let the doctor make sure all is OK physically, and help you with the anxiety as well.  I think it is important to be completly honest with any new doctor and let them know that medical tests and proceedures make you extremely uncomfortable.  I find that my "flight instinct" kicks in at the most inappropriate moments - like when I am in a thin paper robe waiting in a doctors office!  

Hang in there and let us know how you are doing!

[Julie359]

Trust me i understand where ya coming from, you feel like your stuck between a rock and a hard place and you dont know what to do for the better.  You want to go and get all the tests done but then again the anxiety takes over and you can't bring yourself to do them cause your panicking over all the 'what if's'.  Then in the mean time your worrying cause your convinced something is wrong with you but your imagination takes over completely and in your mind you start to think you have a terminal illness or something thats just so awful and will cause some painful long drawn out death.  Ive been there and done worn the t-shirt... i think people who suffer health anxiety all have.  It's certainly NO fun and can make you feel like your going nuts....

[WorriedOne84]

I'm honestly trying not to worry but it's not working.  I've been keeping my phone right beside me today in case the doctors office calls.  I'm afraid there is something wrong with me and my blood work will come back abnormal.  I've been having sinus and ear trouble for 4 months, which I went to the doctor about 2 months ago, and it still hasn't gone away after antibiotics.  Yet I'm too scared to go back to the doctor.  In part because I'm afraid there is something wrong or that he will want to order tests but also because I'm also concerned that everything is fine and that it's all in my head - which I know it's not.

[Julie359]

Seriously please dont worry, your psychiatrist is being thorough and is making sure you do not have any underlying medical issues that can cause mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.  Nowadays it is standard practice to check for things like thyroid (over active and under active), urine analysis to check your adrenal glands, condition of your Liver and kidneys to see if you are in a fit condition to tolerate Med's like the Lexapro as people who have kidney or liver disease have to take lower doses.  By the sounds of things he/she is taking good care of you.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

[WorriedOne84]

I hear what he, and you, are saying but right now it's hard to believe that things can actually change for me.  What do I really have to lose, besides money, by trying though?  All I know is I'm very unhappy with my life so just maybe I can improve that at least some.  So it's good that he ordered the lab work.  I have a follow up appointment in 2 weeks to see how I'm doing with the Lexapro.  Maybe I am on the path to feeling better as you said.  Thank you so much for taking time to respond to my posts.

[mammo]

He is right on with this!  It will be well worth it, trust me. He is just making sure that your anxiety isn't being caused by something else like your thyroid which is easily treated.  He sounds very caring and thorough, trust in him and relax in knowing this.  It is a bit scary at first, but every little step you take, brings you closer to feeling better.  Stay positive and take care.

[WorriedOne84]

I'm glad he is apparently being thorough.  It is just going to bug me not knowing what the test are for and when/if I will here anything about the results.  This whole day has been so stressful.  Not sure if it is worth putting myself through all this.  Like the psychiatrist said to me today though, putting myself out there - going to counseling and coming to him - while it may be uncomfortable at first, could help me have a better quality of life.  I'm gonna give it a try and see how it goes.  I'm not asking to be happy just to at least have a chance at it.  Thanks to you both for responding.

[mammo]

I agree.  Be grateful you have a psychiatrist that checks things like your thyroid before going any further.  Take care.

[beth0277]

Try not to let it worry you. I'm sure your doctor is just wanting to check simple things like your thyroid, etc. I know it is scary anytime a doctor recommends tests but I can assure you that it is just standard practice.

Best of luck :)