Settling back into what is now my new normal, I decided I would create a Do and Dont list for the next time Im faced with the deafening silence of waiting on test results: Dont Sit still. The anxiety of not knowing can be all-consuming. Pray for the physicians, laboratory technicians, nurses, and health care providers that will be involved. Even with potentially serious chronic conditions, like HIV or diabetes, once your condition is under control, you may only need to see a healthcare provider once a year. Delaney KP, Hanson DL, Masciotra S, Ethridge SF, Wesolowski L, Owen SM. A 14bn plan to reduce NHS backlogs caused by Covid is failing to meet targets, with cancer waiting times at their worst-ever levels, parliament's spending watchdog . Anxiety is a normal response to the feeling of being threatened. Offer to chauffeur or even attend appointments. Better to ask, Do you want to talk about how you feel, how having cancer is affecting you? Dont offer information about unproven treatments or referrals to doctors with questionable credentials. Anxiety and worry that accompanies the period of time before undergoing or receiving the results of a medical examination. Give me the courage to go through all the required stages, procedures, and entire processes. Cut out caffeine as it overstimulates the nervous system and can increase panic, nutritionist Rosie Mansfield says. Don't ask what you can do to help or say, "Let me know if you need anything." 8 Ways To Support Someone Dealing With A Health Crisis Nancy Irwin, a therapist and clinical hypnotist, has six suggestions for people who are waiting for test results to come back. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Double-check that the imaging center or lab has your providers correct information on file. Y | Think about practical strategies to simplify your life. What do you say to someone expecting results? Time is not a thing that passes it's a sea on which you float.. May all the glory be ascribed unto your holy name. Coping While You Wait For Medical Test Results - EmpowHER 2022 Mighty Proud Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Say Get Well in a way that's personal and sincere. It's important for you to know that the feelings you might face are all completely normal. Not everyone is comfortable reaching out when they could use some help, Pandapas said. D | Sometimes the angry feelings can be channeled into something productive, like advocating for yourself or a loved one. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Everlasting God, I surrender my anxiety to you and ask that you overwhelm me with your love. Lord I thank you for your strength, your love and your peace, all glory belongs to you, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Hebrews 11:23 NIV By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents and they were not afraid of the kings edict. What an interviewer wants to hear when they ask for a list of weaknesses? Stress effects on the body: Nervous system. I ask that you give my doctors what they need to know through my blood sample. Clin Infect Dis. In the end, may I have every reason to glorify your name. Youve made it through the work day. God uses waiting to change us. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. How do you help a cancer patient emotionally? Waiting for test results. 2. If a friend or family member reaches out to you while they wait, you may find yourself at a loss for words. They can also leave a voicemail message requesting you return the call.. Thinking about you today and hoping its a good one for you. Also, imbue the medical personnel who are conducting his tests with the wisdom that comes from you. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Please be with him at this crucial time. You may feel flooded with feelings of anxiety, dread, guilt and worry. So your main task during this waiting period is to manage your anxiety. It is always okay to ask your healthcare provider about treatment guidelines or why a test or appointment is being recommended. Therefore, I ask that you bless me with the fruits of my labor. As much as they would like to voice their admiration and love for someone, theyll go an extra mile to suppress those very emotions. Do Realize that all of our planning, cancer or no cancer, is based on the assumption that were going to be around in the future. Why You May Need a Healthcare Provider's Appointment to Get Your Lab Results. Easing Stress When Waiting for Test Results - Fox Chase 150 Words of Encouragement - Encouraging Words To Lift You Up - Parade Common Feelings When Waiting for a Diagnosis - Verywell Health Sending you lots of feel-better hugs. How Do You Get Rid Of Hiccups In 5 Seconds? When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Thank you, Loving God, because I know you will spare my family and me the stress of a severe diagnosis. And because you did not allow me to spend my money running further medical tests or buying drugs to manage an ailment. Dear Heavenly Father, as I sit waiting for my chest x-ray results here in the hospital, may the findings turn out good, even better than I expected. Try viewing your time waiting for results as an exercise to practice being patient. Don't wait. Here's what they had to say: 1. Waiting for results | Cancer Chat What do you say when someone gets a bad diagnosis? Basically, waiting is not fun. Please show the doctors what they need to see and give them the ability to fix my bones in the proper position so that I will be relieved of this pain. Yes, it does! However, if you are not sure of the diagnosis, some information can be confusing and upsetting. Sometimes the uncertainty leaves you seemingly without an anchor. If you are asking, How do you pray for medical healing?. "The doctor may be waiting for test results before being able to treat you." "We need to see people with life-threatening problems before those who do not appear to have such serious problems." "Because this is a teaching hospital, we have our physicians and residents talk with you and examine you which also takes time." M | You can also encourage your friend with comforting words like: I will be right here for you, regardless of what the test results reveal. You may feel impatient with your spouse or friends. Waiting For Test Results: What NOT To Say! - Kirsten and co So, what do you say to someone awaiting medical test results? Anxiety, as with these other emotions, can carry over into other areas of your life. Were told that at this present moment, it is the focus at the heart of the meditation/mindfulness movement that promises to end mental anguish. So you make the call and once again, youre waiting. S | How do you stay calm when waiting for medical results? Lastly, Father, strengthen me as I wait and grant me faith to hope for the best. Or maybe you call for your results, and youre transferred three times and then put on hold for a half hour. A cortisol blood test is one of the most commonly used blood tests. News of a new diagnosis should usually be given face-to-face. X | Even though I am getting older, you know I try to take care of myself and live my life according to your commands. She faced 33 rounds of radiotherapy and decided to wear a different dress to each one, then documented it on a blog (33dresses.com). We know you will again come out with flying colors. Check her story out in the book, A Letter to My Mom.. Now youre sitting in the waiting room, surrounded by other people who are just as nervous as you are. Don't Stop planning for the future, including what you're going to have for dinner. I hate it when my favorite people get hurt. It can divinely turn around the outcome of any medical test when waiting for the result. God Works While We Wait Something actually happens while nothing is happening. Waiting for the results of a medical test, or for a diagnosis, can be agonizing. Litchfield IJ, Bentham LM, Lilford RJ, Greenfield SM. Trisha Torrey is a patient empowerment and advocacy consultant. You won't know whether you're fine or the results were somehow lost or not properly communicated to you. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. What To Say To Someone Waiting For Medical Results Offer to spend time with them and keep them busy. They had an uncanny sense of timing. They have a tough job. In fact, according to the charity Breast Cancer Now, some people say waiting for test results is the most worrying part of the entire process, regardless of the outcome. How do you comfort someone waiting for their results? What do you say to someone who is nervous about surgery? I know there are so many people who need their attention. True love is bound to reveal itself sooner or later.". Psalms 84:11 NIV For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. After all, it may not feel "safe" to release your frustration with the clinic where you are receiving care (you might want to be seen as a "nice patient"), so you may finally let it go when your spouse forgets to pick up milk at the grocery store. Ask God for the courage to go through the rigorous procedures involved with medical tests. When you're waiting for medical test results or a potential diagnosis for yourself or your baby, time seems to come to a grinding halt. Were looking to feature moments in which someone interrupted their busy life to lend a hand to someone they didnt know. Mental health support can be a crucial pillar of cancer treatment to improve quality of life and even physical treatment outcomes. I hope you're feeling better now, and I can't wait to see you get back to your normal routine. Waiting Quotes Quotes tagged as "waiting" Showing 1-30 of 787 "If pain must come, may it come quickly. Do all test results require a follow-up appointment? 1. J | Once you begin that train of thought, it can go on and on. Thank you also because I trust you will strengthen me to receive the results. It is part of the fight or flight reaction designed to protect us from danger. #1. "Things will be better after your surgery." Because I have a life to live, and I need to live it in the best way possible. May this good news be so amazing that it will be like music to my ears. In other words, pitch in by taking an everyday task off their to-do list, like doing the laundry, making sure the bills are paid and mailed off or having dinner ready for the family. Amen! Waiting on Test Results: Be There for a Loved One or Friend 8: Be alert and of sober mind. Whatever the tests outcome, we will pray it to God together. Get off your butt and put your body in motion. If you feel like talking Im here to listen. I bind every spirit of error in any stage of the procedure. . 2. But, on the bright side, here are some of the lovely things I've heard in the past few weeks, all of which would be AWESOME things to say to someone who is anxiously waiting for test results: "YOU WILL BE FINE." "Call me if you need ANYTHING." "I think we need to fill up that empty wine glass of yours stat!" "Can I do anything for you?" When Health's at Stake, Waiting Is Hardest Part - The New York Times - Well I have provided some for you. Hence, I need to undergo some medical tests to ascertain if Im ill. Consider talking to someone who is willing to listen and to be compassionate, like a friend, counselor, a clergyperson, or a peer in a support group. If you decide to use the healthcare provider, be sure to review the Terms of Agreement included in any intake documents you sign. What To Say To Someone Undergoing Medical Tests Do healthcare providers call you if test results show bad news? Pray effective prayers for good medical tests and favorable results. What do you do? Nor do they want your overly optimistic, if well-intentioned, prognosis, stressed Rachel Soper Sanders, who suffers from chronic pain after a serious car accident. Sometimes, after youve waited days or weeks for test results, you just cant wait any longer. Family Practice. Either way is okay, and dont press people who dont seem ready to talk about it. May the MRI be successful. You or your loved ones might fear burdening each other and may not always feel comfortable expressing frustration, impatience, or anxiety. By the time I return to the doctor for the report of my diagnosis, may I receive normal results and hear everything looks good.. . Therefore, I ask that you calm my nerves and overwhelm me with your peace throughout this standard procedure. Soothe his anxiety with the knowledge that nothing can be against him because you are for him. "Waiting is not the problem, worry is," said Paula H. Finestone, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center. The longer you have to wait, the more you may have ups and downs, and the more intense your feelings may become. Immediately upon leaving the mobile scan machine, it was once again 2009 and I was walking out of my first CT scan trying to read the faces of the technicians who had monitored the process. Fill out this form to share your experience. Ultimately, underneath it all, when you're waiting for that scary results (potential bad news), you're wondering if you're going to die. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Waiting for medical test results? Calm your nerves with this prayer Prayer for a Good Result God my Healer, as I'm awaiting the results of this lab work, I ask in the Name of Jesus that I receive a positive report. Depending on the type of test, it could be a few hours to a few weeks before the results are ready. I hope you recover as quickly as . Quotations About Waiting For Someone. It can help to learn about the condition you might be facingbut don't rush that processyou will be ready to know more when the time is right for you. If this is something you or a loved one is experiencing, consider . Its bad enough that it took forever to schedule an appointment that started an hour late, but now all you can do is go home and stare at your phone, waiting for it to ring. It allows us to deal with situations out of our control with more grace and less stress, which is good for our mental health as well as our physical health. In some cases, a visit isn't all that necessary. Healthcare providers order lab tests for four main reasons: The test results may be simple and straightforwardsay, positive or negative. There are people who have even been relieved to get a bad diagnosis, because at least then you can start doing something to face the diagnosis. I miss having you around. The word of God in James 5:16 says The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. It depends on your age, health, and the type and stage of your cancer. May they vanish from my body and bloodstream without any trace in the mighty name of Jesus. Unfortunately, its also inevitable that well all deal with this kind of situation in life. Have you ever had a chance encounter with a stranger who showed you some unexpected kindness or help at a moment when you really needed it? Although each person with cancer is different, here are some general suggestions for showing support: Dont say I know how you feel because you cant possibly know. , I wish I knew what to say, but I care and Im here for you. All rights reserved. Please surround me with your grace today as I await favorable test results. Waiting for Medical Test Results Prayer - Prayer Ideas Telehealth appointments may be a good compromise between delivering results in person versus a phone call, letter, or secure message. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. E | We have found when we call patients about lab results, they give us better patient satisfaction scores. Trish is the Cancer Editor at The Mighty. Also, try to be comfortable with silence: Dont try to fill blank space with chatter about yourself, she said. Or simply offer to go for a walk in the fresh air, so that he or she can open up and vent if need be. Whatever youre feeling is okay. Terms. Any sort of health crisis signals a huge change in your life, and its frightening, said Melodie Winawer, a neurologist and neuroscientist at Columbia University. What to Say to a Cancer Patient "We'll get through this together. 85 Quotations About Waiting For Someone | Quotes to Spark Dont Stop planning for the future, including what youre going to have for dinner. I heard you're doing well after surgery. If youre facing a possible life-changing diagnosis, the waiting can be especially stressful. Time until emergence of HIV test reactivity following infection with HIV-1: Implications for interpreting test results and retesting after exposure. You need someone to listen to you and remind you of their love and presence in your life. Australia 1590, 0-9 | Follow-up appointments for going over test results are appropriate if you're just being diagnosed, monitoring treatment effectiveness, or trying to manage chronic illness. Mark 4:40 NIV He said to them, Why are you so afraid? "It is the opposite of fixating on yourself, for you have done everything you can and now it is time to release. May they discover what is really going on with my health. Pandapas said her friends continued to show their support throughout her recovery, which was very meaningful to her. Exercise to Ease Restlessness in Your Brain. Merciful God, thank you for providing the doctors who treat and heal illnesses and diseases. You are in my thoughts and prayers every day. Part of HuffPost Wellness. Waiting for results | Macmillan Cancer Support Check out the dos and donts below: No matter what, it is better to say something than nothing, said Ron Blake, a sexual assault survivor who has experienced post-traumatic stress disorder.