My Overactive Imagination

I don't usually bring up things like this because I don't like to admit that I have an overactive imagination, but I do. For those that didn't know, I went into the doctor 2 weeks ago just to get some refills on my allergy meds etc. I was almost out of there when the doctor said. "wait a minute, it's been a while since we've done any blood work." I did make it almost 3 years without a blood test so I suppose my luck couldn't hold out forever.

Everything seemed fine to me until the next week. I got a call from the doctor's nurse saying that I had a high blood platelet count and that they wanted to refer me to a Hemotologist. That's were my imagination kicked in. What could cause a high blood platelet count? What is it anyway? The nurse called me back with an appointment to go to a hemotologist 3 days later. That's when I found out that his office is in a cancer center. That kicked my imagination into high gear. What was it that the nurse didn't want to tell me?

Over the next 3 days I made the mistake of surfing the web. I found out that there were multiple causes for a high count. Many had other symptoms that I didn't have (until I starting thinking about them of course) It doesn't take long for me to come up with a symptom once I think about it. I had everything from headaches to stomach pains depending on my current research topic. Angie helped with my research. She actually managed to talk me out of a few of the worse options. (Thanks again) By the time my doctor's appointment came around I was fairly convinced that I didn't have Lukemia or Hodgkin's disease, but everything else was still a possibility.

It really didn't help me to go to a hemotologist that is also an oncologist. That cancer center was scary. They made me fill out all sorts of forms and meet with an insurance specialist before I even went to an exam room. The nurses didn't help either. One said "you seem nervous...don't worry that this is a cancer center. This doctor also deals with blood diseases and disorders" Not something I needed to hear. By the time the PA came in to fill out a patient history I was convinced that I had some blood disease that I hadn't seen on the web yet and started to wonder about things like beneficiary forms.

To make this long story a little shorter, the doctor came in and basically narrowed down the options to 3 based on his review of my previous tests. 1. an actual blood disease Thrombocytosis, 2. chronic inflamation due to my allergies and tonsils or 3. iron deficiency. Not exactly any choices to make me too excited.
For a change I actually convinced myself that choice #2 was it. (Multiple doctors have suggested that I get my tonsils out but I keep saying no.)
They did more blood tests and told me they would be in touch when the results came back to decide what to do next. Iron pills? Allergist? Ear Nose & Throat specialist? Yuck! Tests would take a week to get back.

Surprise! Surprise! by the end of this week I was convinced that I needed a tonsilectomy and allergy tests. Some days I really wish I could keep my imagination under control.
At least the doctor called me before I started doing too much research into allergy testing and tonsilectomies.
Turns out I have an iron deficiency. Real easy fix. Iron pills and come back in 4 months. Wish I had known that 2 weeks ago. It would have saved me alot of stress that's for sure.