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How To Deal With Hypochondria Related To Heart And Kidney Disease?
Question: I have had some problems with high blood pressure, and am on medication for this since 2009. Medication works perfect. My bp is at 130/70. Every 12 months I need to send in a digital renewal for my prescription, and since I am an extreme hypochondriac with fear of doctors/hospitals I always panic when doing this. I always hope that my doctor will just click the box to renew my prescription, but fear, more than death, that she well call me in for some form of test taking. Doing tests (and waiting for results) is my worst phobia. I always think the worst, and that I am going to die. She mentioned sometime the need for checking kidney function in relation to my medication, but I get so scared of that test (that it will show something dangerous) that I don't know what to do!
Brief answer....don't worry and get your kidney function tests done.
Detailed answer....
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
I have read your query and understand your concern.
I do agree with you that a person is filled with unknown fear of investigations coming wrong and bad.
But let me assure you that there is very very rare chance of getting a bad kidney function test ( KFT ).Blood pressure medicines like ACE inhibitors and ARB's can sometimes cause increase in potassium levels of blood and rarely can deteriorate kidney functions.
It is only to detect early changes in kidney functions,that doctor orders KFT.
Your doctor would never want that you get affected by the medicines and hence a yearly assessment.
In case some deterioration in KFT is found in some people,either the dose of medicine or type of medicine is changed.With change of medicines KFT becomes normal.
So this exercise of getting KFT done every year is beneficial for the patient.
Just go and get these KFT done.Let me assure you that everything shall be all right.
I hope it helps however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks
Detailed answer....
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
I have read your query and understand your concern.
I do agree with you that a person is filled with unknown fear of investigations coming wrong and bad.
But let me assure you that there is very very rare chance of getting a bad kidney function test ( KFT ).Blood pressure medicines like ACE inhibitors and ARB's can sometimes cause increase in potassium levels of blood and rarely can deteriorate kidney functions.
It is only to detect early changes in kidney functions,that doctor orders KFT.
Your doctor would never want that you get affected by the medicines and hence a yearly assessment.
In case some deterioration in KFT is found in some people,either the dose of medicine or type of medicine is changed.With change of medicines KFT becomes normal.
So this exercise of getting KFT done every year is beneficial for the patient.
Just go and get these KFT done.Let me assure you that everything shall be all right.
I hope it helps however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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