PTSD & Screening for Prostae issues

[TeeJayUU]

Ok, I'm scared. Doctor visit today and he is making arrangements for me to see a specialist. I have several issues that have him worried. I do not know how to handle what is about to happen to my body! PTSD issues all night, I finally took RX to settle myself down. What do I say to this unknown doctor about ME? Do I refuse certain procedures? Do I ask for stronger meds to calm me down for the tests and procedures? I need my brain to settle down so I can sleep! Ok. I feel better just venting. It's good to "talk" to someone.

 

[ForeverFighting]

My worst nightmare. I’m so sorry. I would tell everything to the doctor. He needs to know. It is all about you, seriously. There’s a medication they can give that outpatient surgeons use that will let you cooperate with the procedure but remember nothing about it. That is what I would request. Oral surgeons sometimes use it. This can’t be the first procedure this doctor has every done on someone with PTSD. 1 in 6 of all men, right? Tell him. I told my regular doctor that even having a physical was not something I could do as a surprise. He said it is always my choice.

I recommend being completely open about it. If he can’t work with you, someone else can. You have the power. It is your choice.

Please copy this post and send it back to me if I ever have to go through that. I feel for you, my brother.

Michael

 

[WG]

I have put off getting a prostate screening for this very reason. Truly frightens me. Please know as FF said - it's your choice. Take back the power that was taken from you - speak up. Be the adult in the situation (yeah, I know, easier said than done). It's totally OK if you put off anything that has to do with YOU. My physician is a new one to me so he will need to know pretty soon - I'm 62 and will require certain procedures because of my age - not my health since I'm pretty healthy. However, I still will need to find my adult voice and say what he needs to hear. I told my first physician and he was very appreciative. Said he was sorry for what happened and that he understood if I was needing to know if and when he was going to touch me - even if it was to merely feel my pulse. I asked that he not surprise me and he didn't.
Speaking up can work to our advantage......

 

[Ceremony]

2

 

[George]

I was about 40 when I had to change doctors, my old one was a real nice guy... he never poked around back there, although he screened with the psa test for any prostrate trouble.

The new doctor (my age) was very thorough, digital prostate exam and all on the first visit. I dreaded not knowing if it would happen "this time", and it did. He did try to joke about it to put me at ease, it was over in less than a minute. Surprisingly I still had my dignity somehow, I guess because it wasn't an abuse situation, so I was ok with it. This year I know that I'll have to get a colonoscopy and will be put out for it, I think it's pretty much procedure to be put out. I think I could do it either with or without being put out though at this point.

I'm glad that my Doctor is so thorough, he caught something early going on in me that saved me a lot of pain, agony, & lengthened my life.

I never told my doctor anything about the csa or what's happened back there in the past. That is strictly on a need to know basis. I even refuse to answer the new obamacare questions about sexuality, it's none of their damn business...

If I had any anxiety that might prevent me from getting the care that I needed I would speak up though. You should probably say something Michael, this is a very important part of your healthcare that you shouldn't ignore, I'm sure they will work with you to make it as easy as possible for you.

 

[betrayed boy]

hi tj, colon cancer runs in my family and i have been getting ever invasive test there is for it and i also have prostate issues up to and including 3 prostate biopsy's, i tried to just get through them but i broke down and told my doc. he was super understanding, i didnt go into details just an in general i was sexualy abused as a child, it helped to ease things after that so it was a positive thing although dreaded at the time, i been going through these tests over 15 years now each test many times, its to your own well being if you can let the doc. know at least something.

 

[unhappycamper]

TeeJayUU and other guys:

I hit age 50 just a few years into my flashback ordeals, the age when doctors recommend regular colonoscopies. I told the gastroenterologist that I wasn't "embarrassed" about the exam but genuinely disturbed at the thought, and I told him why. I also said that I didn't want to avoid the exam, because--surprise!--I'd had painful gut problems since childhood.

He seemed to understand--I suspected I wasn't his first patient with such a concern. He also said: We can do the exam in our [cozy] clinic instead of the [nearby, enormous] hospital...and we have better drugs!

Anyway, since then I've had regular gut-scopes, some with biopsies, and no problems either with freaking out or with the guts themselves. And he was right about the drugs: no hangovers afterward!

Peace.

John

 

[cosmiccadet]

As a physician who is a CSA and ASA survivor, I understand your fears of having a rectal exam. I have had the same fears. I was assaulted in the hospital as a patient when I was in my 20s. Anyway, most urologists, GI docs and family docs have all heard the story before. Please don't hesitate to tell them. I'm never shocked when I hear the story, and often times, I've already suspected it.

 

[Ceremony]

Best wishes to you.

 

[WG]

Oh, yes, it is quite important. Our health is nothing to mess around with. I'm 62, have never had the colonoscopy-thing done and I know I need to. This is just what I needed to read - from all of you and most of all from a physician. I have told my current primary care physician about my past sexual abuse - however he isn't the GI doc that will perform the procedure so I'm guessing I'll need to let him know, too.

 

[Older1]

To all who have fears of tubes or fingers stuck into them, you are not alone. It does get easier.