Annual checkup next week, anxious

[AbeLinkedIn 42]

Hey all! I hate to be back here but I have a fear in the back of my mind about a checkup I have next week. I have the actual checkup first then a week after that I visit my actual doctor. My doc's actually really awesome and helps with my fears, helped me get off another medication (Xanax) with minimal withdrawal, and always supported me so it's not so much her I'm afraid of. 

This checkup includes a blood test which is honestly what has me the most worried. Granted it's just a basic test and last year my numbers came back pretty much perfect, but this anxiety is eating at me like if they find something wrong with me despite feeling no discernable symptoms. 

For context, I'm a 32 year old male who's overweight and has high blood pressure controlled with medication. Otherwise I'm healthy insofar as I don't have worrisome symptoms. I really just need reassurance that my numbers will come back fine whenever I have my test done. 

[Ironman 199]

2 hours ago, AbeLinkedIn said:

Hey all! I hate to be back here but I have a fear in the back of my mind about a checkup I have next week. I have the actual checkup first then a week after that I visit my actual doctor. My doc's actually really awesome and helps with my fears, helped me get off another medication (Xanax) with minimal withdrawal, and always supported me so it's not so much her I'm afraid of. 

This checkup includes a blood test which is honestly what has me the most worried. Granted it's just a basic test and last year my numbers came back pretty much perfect, but this anxiety is eating at me like if they find something wrong with me despite feeling no discernable symptoms. 

For context, I'm a 32 year old male who's overweight and has high blood pressure controlled with medication. Otherwise I'm healthy insofar as I don't have worrisome symptoms. I really just need reassurance that my numbers will come back fine whenever I have my test done. 

Just make sure you do the fasting beforehand.  It clears any food-related blood changes.   Chances are good that you will be fine.  It depends on the tests being done.  

[AbeLinkedIn 42]

They said it's a basic test for a checkup, I'm just spiraling in my anxiety between this and other personal issues RN. I can't focus

It is fasting too, I checked, all my previous tests were non-fasting, which is making me even more anxious like they're actively trying to find something to diagnose me with and give me a death sentence. 

[Ironman 199]

On 7/20/2025 at 12:33 PM, AbeLinkedIn said:

They said it's a basic test for a checkup, I'm just spiraling in my anxiety between this and other personal issues RN. I can't focus

It is fasting too, I checked, all my previous tests were non-fasting, which is making me even more anxious like they're actively trying to find something to diagnose me with and give me a death sentence. 

It shouldn't scare you.  The whole reason for the fast is because what we consume affects the results.   For instance, I had eaten TWO pieces of Twizzler licorice prior to a blood test.....well, if it's made of sugar.... yep.    Cheese and tuna can affect cholesterol readings!  Tuna has "good cholesterol" but it can still affect the readings.

The result came back with a blood sugar level of 101 -  they immediately told me they were worried about pre-diuhbeetuss.  Yep - I got yelled at when I told them that I had had two pieces of Twizzler candy.  My sugar level is about 80 when I fast.

You can have coffee...but stay away from soda and sugary stuff about 12-18 hours before the test.....and have the test done in the morning as that usually helps. 

Out of all of this, it gives you a status of things that might need to be tweaked.   I even had my vitamin D levels checked which resulted that I was low in vitamin D.  My doctor told me that that is actually an epidemic - most people are low in Vitamin D and don't know it!  It's good for bones and the immune system.  

[AbeLinkedIn 42]

So in essence I shouldn't really be worried? The appointment is exactly two days from now at 9:50 AM Friday and I'm dreading it. Add to it I got some kind of throat bug which is not doing my preexisting anxiety any favors. 

[Ironman 199]

2 hours ago, AbeLinkedIn said:

So in essence I shouldn't really be worried? The appointment is exactly two days from now at 9:50 AM Friday and I'm dreading it. Add to it I got some kind of throat bug which is not doing my preexisting anxiety any favors. 

The throat bug is completely different - probably allergies.  I even get a weird throat from snoring.  Just watch that - if it persists, you can ask about it.

As for the testing, you really can't assume anything because you don't know.  The doctor can ask for specific tests.  Fasting is normal for these tests.  As I said, the goal is to get their data based on an empty stomach - it is your baseline.  

At the worst, they would either tell you to change your eating/get more exercise, prescribe meds, or do more tests (the least likely outcome).

If it is a general test, they are just getting basic data to see how you are doing.  They don't always tell you results unless there is something that concerns them......so for some docs, it's a "no news is good news" situation.

Anticipatory anxiety is ALWAYS worse than the actual event itself.

......and remember to BREATHE when they draw the blood lol.  The first time I ever had it done, I sweat profusely and nearly passed out!

[AbeLinkedIn 42]

Okay so I'm not so much freaked out about the test now, I'm confident I'm good, but now I'm worried about the throat. My voice is kinda gravelly and raspy in spots and my throat is a little sore. My breathing is fine and I really have no other signs of an infection (Besides hot flashes which have since gone)

[Ironman 199]

2 hours ago, AbeLinkedIn said:

Okay so I'm not so much freaked out about the test now, I'm confident I'm good, but now I'm worried about the throat. My voice is kinda gravelly and raspy in spots and my throat is a little sore. My breathing is fine and I really have no other signs of an infection (Besides hot flashes which have since gone)

You can still have that checked out.  They might be able to help.   I get sore throats as a precursor to a cold, but also allergies, and if I snore.

[AbeLinkedIn 42]

I think what happened was I was painting this week and had to move some furniture that hadn't been dusted in ages, so you think irritants could have played a part? It sounds like I'm getting better but still I don't want to give myself a death sentence when anticipatory anxiety is in a fever pitch

[Ironman 199]

3 hours ago, AbeLinkedIn said:

I think what happened was I was painting this week and had to move some furniture that hadn't been dusted in ages, so you think irritants could have played a part? It sounds like I'm getting better but still I don't want to give myself a death sentence when anticipatory anxiety is in a fever pitch

Dust will absolutely do it.  You're breathing it in, and likely through the mouth if you are lifting objects.  

It sounds like you are doing better.  It's positive self-talk.   Instead of taking so much on, you break down the attack into manageable pieces.  

You'll be fine.

 

[AbeLinkedIn 42]

Tomorrow's the day, the fast starts now, I'm getting my last throws of anticipatory anxiety. I shouldn't be freaking out over a simple test but my mind is making it a much bigger life or death deal than it logically is

[Ironman 199]

2 hours ago, AbeLinkedIn said:

Tomorrow's the day, the fast starts now, I'm getting my last throws of anticipatory anxiety. I shouldn't be freaking out over a simple test but my mind is making it a much bigger life or death deal than it logically is

You got it.... positive self-talk.  The doctors will point out what they are after.  This is just a regular test; you should be okay.

We are in the same time zone lol.  T-minus 7 hours 29 minutes.....

 

[AbeLinkedIn 42]

Okay so I got my results and aside from a slightly elevated A1C and Baso numbers I'm good

[Ironman 199]

3 hours ago, AbeLinkedIn said:

Okay so I got my results and aside from a slightly elevated A1C and Baso numbers I'm good

As time went on 

it was easy to see

You're lowering

your Anx-i-e-teee.

Jardiance maybe really swell

but I'm really glad

your tests went so well!     hahaha

[AbeLinkedIn 42]

So I took another look at my results and didn't look at the lipid panel and holy smokes I saw a lot of red numbers. My actual appointment is on Friday so now I'm scrambling to find a way to address this. Are normal ranges just ideal or do the red numbers in excess mean I'm diseased and about to have a heart attack at any moment and Google's not helping 

[Ironman 199]

9 hours ago, AbeLinkedIn said:

So I took another look at my results and didn't look at the lipid panel and holy smokes I saw a lot of red numbers. My actual appointment is on Friday so now I'm scrambling to find a way to address this. Are normal ranges just ideal or do the red numbers in excess mean I'm diseased and about to have a heart attack at any moment and Google's not helping 

The red numbers, I would think, would mean something is out of range.  The doctors would know how to interpret the results.  

You can't really know for sure until they tell you.  It could be anything.  I know that my cholesterol goes weird sometimes and the doc threatens to give me another pill to take, but then it goes back in-range.   

It is best not to think about things - too much to speculate on.   The doc will likely go over results.  

[AbeLinkedIn 42]

I'm also kinda freaking out about the throat, IDK if it's a muscle thing or a persistent infection or even cancer (Unlikely at my age I know) but my voice for the most part is fine, it just hurts when I talk in a higher register (I'm a voice actor for some indie cartoons) but it acts like it wants to be okay then hurt other times. 

I might ask the doc about it but I'd rather not run through a battery of tests 

[Ironman 199]

2 hours ago, AbeLinkedIn said:

I'm also kinda freaking out about the throat, IDK if it's a muscle thing or a persistent infection or even cancer (Unlikely at my age I know) but my voice for the most part is fine, it just hurts when I talk in a higher register (I'm a voice actor for some indie cartoons) but it acts like it wants to be okay then hurt other times. 

I might ask the doc about it but I'd rather not run through a battery of tests 

It's quite a stretch to call your throat issue cancer.   It doesn't just come up in one week - according to your post from last week.  Cancer wishes it was that aggressive.  If it's lasted a week, I'd bring it up to your doctor.  Infection, maybe, strep throat, maybe - there are antibiotics/penicillin for those.   It could even be stress on your voice - simple relaxation.  Again, bring that up and have him take a look - it wouldn't hurt......but don't call it cancer!  

If there are any tests, it would be the tongue depressor AAHHHH test and maybe a throat culture with one o' them Q-tips on a wooden stick.

[AbeLinkedIn 42]

You're right, it's the lipids that are concerning me, I'm overweight and already have HBP so anything like that freaks me out. 

I think my anxiety is really just the worst part, my doctor's really a sweetheart and helped me get off Xanax when I was prescribed that for anxiety and it didn't work. I think part of it is I don't want to disappoint her too since last time I saw her she was praising me on my good health considering my circumstances 

[Ironman 199]

1 hour ago, AbeLinkedIn said:

You're right, it's the lipids that are concerning me, I'm overweight and already have HBP so anything like that freaks me out. 

I think my anxiety is really just the worst part, my doctor's really a sweetheart and helped me get off Xanax when I was prescribed that for anxiety and it didn't work. I think part of it is I don't want to disappoint her too since last time I saw her she was praising me on my good health considering my circumstances 

I fight similar issues - I was on Paroxetine for years, but switched to Cymbalta due to the weight gain and bruxism/teeth clenching.  I am getting my FOURTH and final crown due to the damage done over the years.  The weight gain causes the high blood pressure.......and I jogged 24 miles a week!  It makes no sense to gain 65 pounds on Paxil, then switch to Cymbalta and lose over 25 of them, and then gain back 10.   They need to look at these meds and their side effects - they deny the weight gain to keep us on them.

It sounds like there is a possibility of putting you on a blood pressure med.  I am on one - Losartan low dose.  I am borderline hypertension normally.  I had an eye hemorrhage in 2016 that left me pretty visually impaired due to a sinus infection.  I took decongestants (should have been antihistamines) the morning of an angiogram and the doc flipped out and sent me to the ER when I had a 148/108 BP.  I was back down to my normal range while in the ER, but they still put me on the med.  

[AbeLinkedIn 42]

I'm already on an ACE inhibitor which works wonders but it's still elevated at the doctors because of my anxiety. 

In a couple of short hours I'll be at my appointment, not much I can do now except pray my anxiety settles down

[Ironman 199]

13 hours ago, AbeLinkedIn said:

I'm already on an ACE inhibitor which works wonders but it's still elevated at the doctors because of my anxiety. 

In a couple of short hours I'll be at my appointment, not much I can do now except pray my anxiety settles down

You have to provide an update.  You can't leave this thread in suspense lol.