How to Health Care Providers deal with anxious patients?

Hi Country Gal. No one should minimize your anxiety. As a health care professional, this angers & saddens me. Be as assertive as you can. Let them know that you are anxious & if they minimize your feelings, let them know what they are doing & ask them to stop. I am giving them the benefit of the doubt, perhaps they are unaware of how they come across. I would want to know if my patient felt belittled or minimized. Let’s hope they do too. Do you go alone or does a family member/friend accompany you? Having someone with you (the right person) can help ease your anxiety & help you be more assertive. You are in a vulnerable position – having a compassionate, strong person along for the ride would be beneficial.
Your feelings should be acknowledged by the medical staff & they should do EVERYTHING possible to minimize your anxiety – not minimize you. If you feel/believe that your health care providers (HCP) sincerely care about you, that will help a great deal. Calm, confidence goes a long way when working with anxious patients. If you don’t understand something or you don’t know what to expect, ask. I realize that time is always in short supply but, thoughtful answers can be given quickly if the HCP knows his/her business.
The medication you are receiving is very scary. There is not much I can say to alleviate your fears. Obviously, it is the only game in town at this point. If you didn’t need it to save your bowel & your life, you certainly wouldn’t take it.
Yes, surgery definitely complicates the matter – your body is still trying to heal & them you add Remicade to the mix. This is too much for one girl to do alone.
Given what you are facing, I suggest you talk with a counselor/therapist. I am assuming that there is someone who specializes in helping people deal with life threatening diseases & treatments at your local hospital. Call the social services department at the hospital where you receive treatment – if they don’t have someone perhaps they will make a recommendation. People facing chemo for cancer certainly share similar fears – that would be another resource). My purpose in suggesting a therapist is to help you with your anxiety – fear of the medication, fear of the disease, recovering from surgery, etc.
From what you have said,too much focus has been placed on your bowel – you are much more than Crohn’s disease. It is time your whole being was addressed. If you are not strong enough at this point to ask for help, I hope you have a friend or family member who can step up to the plate.
Bless you.