The guessing game is pretty tough to avoid when you are so desperately wanting answers. One of the biggest things to avoid - which took me some time to learn - is doing research on the internet. It's just not a good idea until there are real answers and doctors who have explained everything.
Over-analyzing has been a problem for many people (mostly women 😉) for a loooong time. Over-analyzing about health is no different.
Take, for instance, you're getting an ultrasound. It's a standard procedure for pelvic pain and other very minimal symptoms. Now, the technician HAS to ask you questions, like:
'Do you feel pain more on the right or left side?'
'Have you ever been pregnant?'
'Do you know what the doctor is looking for?'
And most of the time they have to have the radiologist look at the ultrasound before sending you home - especially if it is on rush or if the doctor asked to have a specific radiologist look.
The PROBLEM with all of the above is that MOST OF THE TIME - the technician ends up asking these questions AS he/she is doing the exam. For them it's just cutting out the awkward silence and slimming down the small talk. Now for US... We start thinking:
'Well which side do you think the pain should be coming from? Do you see something? What side are you looking at when you're asking me that question?'
Or
'Oh my god! Am i pregnant? Did i have a miscarriage and not know? Can they see if i've had a miscarriage? Why would he/she ask that right now?'
Or
'Oh my god, they saw something. This is taking forever - he/she must have seen something and they are deciding if it's serious or not. But they can't say anything. What if it's a tumor and they can't even tell me?'
Then, of course, since no results are given over the phone, your doctor calls a week after the procedure (a full week of nonstop stressing and analyzing every pain, cramp, nausea, symptom) and tells you to come in. Sometimes it's not for a month. Sometimes it's right away. And most of the time they'll have seen nothing, they just need to give you the news in person, but you've already notified half of your friends that because of what the radiologist was asking, something has GOT to be wrong!
The guessing game sucks.
My guessing game includes four sets of blood work, (including one set he ordered after seeing the results of my previous three) a thyroid ultrasound, and I still have an abdominal and chest MRI to be scheduled.... And I see my doctor next month. I have avoided the internet, I have avoided coming to my own conclusions, and thankfully this is the first time that the radiologist asked all of the necessary questions BEFORE the exam! I want to send her flowers or something but I can't even remember what she looks like.
That is the first time I have not walked out MORE stressed because of an accidental comment made by the person performing the procedure.
My guessing game wants to rear its ugly head and it is taking all of my energy to distract myself from doing more unnecessary research! I don't want to over-stress for another month!
So stop playing the guessing game and book an earlier appt if you can. Take the stress out of it. And you CAN ask your radiologist not to speak - I never have because I don't want them to think I am impolite.... But you are allowed.
Or become a doctor yourself and have all of the results forwarded to your own office. I have sincerely thought about going in this direction.