Waiting for test results is hard. Things you can do while you wait.

In my last post I discussed that oh-oh moment. When something happens that you know ISN’T GOOD. You know, like all of a sudden you are bleeding from somewhere unexpected, or your body just isn’t behaving normally.  You know something in your life is about to change, and maybe not for the better. What do you do? Cower under the sofa? Consult Dr. Google? Call your best friend? Kick your dog?

Funny thing is, just two nights ago, I had just talked to a loved one about a friend who had some concerning lesions on imaging, and said “This is the thing that changes everything. The wake-up call. The moment that your life changes”. Little did I know, hours later, that would be my life, too. It is easier to talk about this sort of thing when it isn’t YOU.

I have noticed throughout my career in health care that people pay attention to certain things. Like blood. Blood is designed to get your attention, and in my humble experience, most of the time when patients bleed, they take action. It’s red, it is hot. It has a smell all its own. Pain? People often can ignore that, for a time, anyways. But blood drives them to get health care like nothing else.

Going down the rabbit hole

So, when blood shows up, what next? For me, it is going down the rabbit hole. As a health care provider, I know what things mean, the wide range of what we call “differentials”, the different diagnoses that can cause a particular symptom. And the possible treatments and outcomes, not all of them pleasant. That meant a couple of sleepless nights pondering the scope of it all. Then, action, calling for an appointment, urging the front desk staff to get an ultrasound going while I was waiting. And after that, turning to the world of data and recommendations out there: guidelines.

In medicine, we like to take action based upon science. You know, that thing we talk about when discussing things like climate change and the pandemic. Hard cold facts, clinical trials, bench studies. We call this “evidence-based medicine” meaning that the treatments we propose are based upon hard science and not good guesses alone. This kind of rationale was seen during the pandemic: good guesses and anecdotal evidence were the drivers of using hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin to attempt to treat COVID 19. They both seemed like they might work, but larger studies did not show a benefit and indeed, discovered harms.

Wait, we have guidelines for care?

So when symptoms started, I went for the guidelines. Medical societies, like the Infectious Disease Society of America and the American College of Gastroenterology publish these guidelines based upon available data and consensus statements for a number of conditions like diverticulitis and c diff. Because knowledge changes frequently, guidelines are often updated as new information comes to light. Many different societies and associations offer these guidelines to the public; you can google “guidelines” and the condition and find them.

Knowing what my symptoms meant, I wanted to see where I was headed. In the meantime I am waiting, as I write this, for pathology results that may be good or not so good at all. Having the data and knowing the treatment options helps me remain calm. At least I have an idea about possible outcomes. But it is still a bit nerve-wracking waiting for the other shoe to drop. And not everyone wants to read medicalese-filled geeky guidelines. What can you do while waiting for results?

Biding your time – what to do while waiting for resutls

Years ago when I was an HIV/AIDS educator and volunteer I worked with a health educator named Terrie Stewart. (Terrie – if by some miracle you happen to read this, CONTACT ME!) Terrie was a real go-getter with a wicked sense of humor. When we drew blood for HIV tests, we had to tell patients their results would take 2 whole weeks to return. Two longs weeks of waiting for possibly unwanted news can feel like an eternity. Terri had the solution: watch a stupidly funny movie. She told people to watch “Robin Hood, Men in Tights” (starring Carey Elwes, also known for “The Princess Bride”). A slapstick, silly spoof about Robin Hood. Her rationale was that happy distraction works wonders. Our patients returning for face-to-face test results confirmed this. Laughter IS good medicine!

I also turned to my journal while waiting, or really, I do anytime I have something happy or not so happy to record. I have learned by practice that getting stuff out on paper helps me manage it better. For example, often my fears are not as bad when seen on paper as they are floating around in my head like a bunch of biting gnats. Seeing things in writing helps me recognize patterns of thought and behavior so I can make corrections if needed.  And, when counseling patients about good sleep hygiene, one suggestion is to make a worry list a few hours before bedtime. Writing out your concerns out is like downloading them onto the paper, freeing your mind of the need to ruminate about them later as you’re trying to sleep. Next day, they’re there, waiting for your action.

Like to sing? Garden? Ride a bike? Do it with gusto! Physical activity especially goes a long way to dispel the hormones produced by anxiety. Plus there is the boost you get from sunshine, from a job well done, and engaging in your passion.

For some, going within is where the true peace is. After all, we are all God/Star Stuff/Peace. Meditation is one way to step away from the urgency and fear and to tap into ultimate stillness and harmony. Many practitioners suggest 20 minutes of medication twice a day. At Harvard University, they found that there are a host of benefits to meditation and prayer: lower blood pressure and blood sugar, and lower oxygen demand among others, in addition to feelings of peace, contentment and calm. I have a well-developed “monkey brain” as the Buddhists call it. It “yackety-yacks” while I’m reaching inward. That’s OK, the point isn’t to silence the mind, so much as it is to let the thoughts flow. Just say “oh well” and let them float away. Some practice mindfulness meditation, simply paying attention to breathing.

Harvard has an entire school of study that focuses on what they call “the relaxation response”, including meditation, prayer and yoga. Simple instructions are to simply find a word or phrase with meaning to you. Get comfortable, and simply repeat that word or phrase. Here is a link that takes you to their blog: Using the relaxation response to reduce stress – Harvard Health

Another thing you can do is just get outdoors. Getting a little sun (with appropriate SPF protection, right?) boosts serotonin, the feel-good hormone. So does forest bathing, standing outside while soaking in the energy the Universe offers through the trees, pants and flowers. Here is a good site that explains the Japanese art of Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. Forest Bathing – What, How, Where? A beginner’s guide | Healing Forest . Or maybe your thing is the beach, or lake, or (insert here). It’s all good.

Finally, never underestimate the ability of a good book to take you to a new place and out of this world for a while. I even re-read my favorites. I’m currently re-reading “A Breath of Snow and Ashes”, one of my favorites from the Outlander series written by Diana Gabaldon.  Engaging my brain by doing something practical like learning Spanish uses my brain cells to learn rather than ruminate about all of the scary possibilities.

By the time you read this, I will know my results, and I’ll be headed in the direction of either medical treatment or surgery. But the thing is this; I will have turned an “oh-oh” moment into a positive action to promote my health. Maybe even save my life. And that is a Good Thing.

Next post, we’ll return to c diff and its treatment options. I hope you will join me! Also, please feel free to suggest any topics you’d like to see here. Until then!

Some of my favorite books are written by Diana Gabaldon. You can also binge watch “Outlander” on Starz. DianaGabaldon.com | The Outlander Series

Dr. Herbert Benson’s Relaxation Response | Psychology Today