Scared of Hospitals/White Coat Syndrome

Re: Scared of Hospitals/White Coat Syndrome

• TheSouffleGirl member

  June 2015 edited June 2015

  I don't have a fear of hospitals per se, but I do have health anxiety, so I get nervous when in any medical space. I also suffer from awdul white coat hypertension - sometimes even up to 150/whatever!.
  
  I find that "conditioning" my environment at the doctor's helps a lot. I have started using essential oils (doterra Serenity) around home when I am not anxious, and then having a travel vial on the way to and in the doctor's can help put me into a good state. I also find familiar music and objects help, so I plan on taking a few homey things to the hospital. Also, I am Catholic, so being in the habit of repetitive meditative prayer, like the rosary, helps calm me, too.
  
  Honestly, however, my best help has been counseling. If you are really struggling, would recommend getting a good counselor who can help you work through it. I felt so much better after just five or six sessions - the money was so worth it. My counselor also recommended a free app called Stop Panic and Anxiety Attacks Now, which has helpful relaxation tracks (again, use them frequently when not afraid first), a diary that has really helped me, etc.
  
  All of these techniques/ideas have helped tremendously, and I have had 2 normal blood pressures in a row! I am hoping to carry this forward, and I hope the same works for you. Battling anxiety while pregnant s hard because there is always something you can worry about, but I also feel like it has given me the impetus to really protectively battle something I have struggled with my whole life, with increasing success.
  
  Hang in there and let me know how it goes!

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• arwestover3 member

  June 2015

  I don't necessarily have a fear of hospitals, but I am seeing midwives for this pregnancy because I feel so much more comfortable with their approach than I did with the doctors in my first pregnancy. I'm still planning to deliver in the hospital, with these midwives, but the approach this time has been so different. They listen to my concerns, and are supportive and answer all my questions! Even though I'll be attempting a VBAC, they are as excited about it as I am, not scared like the doctor I had at first and decided to leave. They've even encouraged me to get a doula!

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• arwestover3 member

  June 2015

  Also, I read Ina May Gaskin's "Guide to Childbirth," and while it made me wish that I could deliver in her birth center, it also has an approach to bringing in more of a natural mindset to labor in a hospital. It has made me so much more confident in my ability to understand my body, not be afraid, and accomplish what I want, even in a hospital setting.

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• alinic916 member

  June 2015

  As a nurse, I used to work in doctors' offices.  It is very common for patients to have "white coat syndrome" and have higher BP at the doctor's office than they do at home.  I think even my own BP is higher in the doctor's office!  I think it just stresses all of us out to think about.  I'm not scared of doctors or hospitals at all, but it's such a different experience to be a patient than a nurse taking care of patients! 

  For the OP, just remember that doctors are people too.  I treat them just like I would any other person I meet.  If it makes you more comfortable, you can always bring stuff such as your own pillow or a blanket, etc to make you feel more at home.  Make sure to take a tour of your maternity unit when it gets closer.  It may ease some of your fears to see where you will be delivering and staying after.  This also allows you to ask questions and even possibly meet some nurses you will see during your stay.

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• MrsFaust1432 member

  June 2015

  Thanks everyone for your responses. I am taking a class at the hospital next month and that includes a tour. I hope that may help me feel more at ease with the delivery.
  
  As for visits, I do notice that when I have a really good nurse who talks to me and distracts me before taking my BP that my BP is normal 120/80. Also, my husband goes to my appointments with me and I think that helps a little. I know him being by my side during the delivery will also make me feel more at ease.
  

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• VioletandRose member

  June 2015

  I had it BIG TIME before I got pregnant. In fact, I always thought to myself, what am I going to do when/if I get pregnant? How am I going to handle this? The smell of a hospital itself would make my heart race. The first few times I went to the OB, my BP was crazy high. I told them I was nervous, so they would take it again at the end of the appointment and the difference was amazing. I also had a huge fear of needles. I still get anxious, but after that initial round of bloodwork things got so much better. (I've now had A LOT of needles during this pregnancy and each time gets easier.)
  
  The turning point for me was when I had the CVS procedure. I was so nervous beforehand. There were like, 10 people in the room, including male doctors, I was on display for the world to see, and because there was a chance of a problem at that point, I was an emotional mess. Everyone was so nice, so compassionate, professional, and no one seemed phased by my crotch being in their face. In fact, that was the least of my worries. That was my first "real" medical procedure ever (besides routine stuff) and afterward I felt like if I could do that, I could do anything. I'm still (mentally) scared of labor – but no where near as much as I'd be if I didn't go through the CVS.
  
  **I hope this doesn't sound like I'm advocating for invasive medical procedures. I wish I didn't have to go through it, it was just a major tipping point for me in terms of my hospital-phobia.
  

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• MrsFaust1432 member

  July 2015

  Okay, so I originally posted about how my BP goes up every time I go in for a visit. It was high my last appointment 2 weeks ago. The doctor asked me to monitor and track my BP at home to see if it was true white coat syndrome. I bought a home monitor and check my BP almost every day. At home it never went above 133/83 (a little high but not that bad). If I went to Walmart to check it though I would get all nervous just like at the Doctor, but when my husband was there and if I took it again a second time it went down dramatically around 126/84.
  
  So yesterday I had another appointment for a blood pressure check. Like usual my BP was high when they checked it. I have the doctor my log of the BP checks that I did at home and she agreed that it was probably just white coat syndrome bc she thought I looked great. She did want to have me do a blood test to rule out pregnancy induced hypertension.
  
  About 20 minutes ago the doctors office called to tell me about my blood work results which they never do unless it's bad, but they said that my doctor said that everything from the blood test looked good but my doctor wants to see me tomorrow or Saturday.
  
  I was too in shock to ask what it was about and probably even a little scared to know what it's about! I made an appointment for first thing tomorrow morning so I don't have to stress about it any more than I already am. When I talked to my husband about it he said that my doctor probably just wanted to see me to go over my BP since I haven't seen her in about a month (we rotate to see all the OBs before we deliver). I can't help but think what of something serious is wrong. Maybe I have cancer or something!?!? (One of my fears-my cousin died of cancer not even a year ago). Or what if she wants me to come in because she thinks it's time or wants me to be on bed rest....ahhh I don't know what to think... Stupid hormones are making me jump to totally irrational conclusions!
  
  But this definitely won't help my BP when I go in tomorrow morning that's for sure!!

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