London 2012- K1s from NOA2 to interview thread

[Azsara 110]

You'll be fine. I had breakfast before I did my medical and a drink of coca-cola about an hour beforehand too, and I was so nervous that I found it hard to walk because my legs were shaking/like jelly.

Though honestly, if I knew it'd be an exact repeat experience of last time, if I had to do it again, I doubt I'd be even half as nervous. They were all extremely professional, kind, helpful and seemed like they were there to help you rather than big scary doctors trying to catch you out. My Dr was trying to hold my interest chatting away while she did her tests so I felt comfortable.

I was worried too that my blood pressure might cause problems, because one girl in there was told she had to re-take her blood pressure test because it was so high. She was literally flushed in the cheeks though and looked like an absolute nervous wreck. My heart was thudding against my ribcage while I was waiting for them to call my name and I was trying breathing techniques to calm down, then she did my blood pressure check not too long after and it was fine. I think it's only if your blood pressure is -through the roof- that they ask you to re do it.

Thank you that is very reassuring!

I am worried about my blood pressure but I know i can control it if i stay calm and dont psyche myself out

[Anna Grant 169]

Thank you that is very reassuring!

I am worried about my blood pressure but I know i can control it if i stay calm and dont psyche myself out

I had the same problem. I just asked the doctor to let me sit quietly for 30 minutes and test me again. It had gone down sufficiently to pass. I stopped having caffeine for a couple of weeks beforehand- so no cola just before the medical!

[lost_at_sea 995]

I had the same problem. I just asked the doctor to let me sit quietly for 30 minutes and test me again. It had gone down sufficiently to pass. I stopped having caffeine for a couple of weeks beforehand- so no cola just before the medical!

+1!

You can google for other temp fixes too. BP is lowest in the morning. BP goes up after you eat, so refrain. etc. etc. Aspirin can apparently give a short term lowering (like 2 aspirin half an hour before a test), but I'm not so sure about that one.

Reducing salt in your diet is a better long term fix (I have been trying to, but it's so hard!).

I think the best thing is to arrive a little early so there's time to sit quietly and relax a bit after your journey.

Edited August 11, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Azsara 110]

I had the same problem. I just asked the doctor to let me sit quietly for 30 minutes and test me again. It had gone down sufficiently to pass. I stopped having caffeine for a couple of weeks beforehand- so no cola just before the medical!

Darn so would u recommend no coffee just before i get there? I make take a couple of aspirin just in case

[Anna Grant 169]

Darn so would u recommend no coffee just before i get there? I make take a couple of aspirin just in case

I drank decaffeinated coffee for a while. A mild diuretic can also help - like the water retention tablet you get.

Mostly, just try to relax as best you can and practice deep breathing to reduce your blood pressure (a friend of mine couldn't believe that I managed to reduce my blood pressure when under such pressure!)

[Azsara 110]

I drank decaffeinated coffee for a while. A mild diuretic can also help - like the water retention tablet you get.

Mostly, just try to relax as best you can and practice deep breathing to reduce your blood pressure (a friend of mine couldn't believe that I managed to reduce my blood pressure when under such pressure!)

Thanks for the advice think i may just try the breathing exercises then go get a large Latte after!

[QueenOfBlades 224]

You'll be fine. You're just like me, worrying over nothing most of the time .

[Azsara 110]

You'll be fine. You're just like me, worrying over nothing most of the time .

Thats so true lol

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Thats so true lol

I was worried about the mental health part of it and am still worried about the chest x-ray, just hoping I don't get a call tomorrow. If I didn't have those to worry about, I'd have worried about blood pressure too. We'd both always find something to worry about because it's just in our nature. Worry about one thing, that resolves, worry about the next thing. I hope I can stop worrying about my medical tomorrow if I don't get a call back, then I'll worry about my interview. Then I'll worry about getting all my stuff over to the US and solving my stuff here. Then SSN. Marriage licence. Then AOS. XD

[Azsara 110]

I was worried about the mental health part of it and am still worried about the chest x-ray, just hoping I don't get a call tomorrow. If I didn't have those to worry about, I'd have worried about blood pressure too. We'd both always find something to worry about because it's just in our nature. Worry about one thing, that resolves, worry about the next thing. I hope I can stop worrying about my medical tomorrow if I don't get a call back, then I'll worry about my interview. Then I'll worry about getting all my stuff over to the US and solving my stuff here. Then SSN. Marriage licence. Then AOS. XD

Haha! I caught myself worrying about how much i was worrying in case it increases my blood pressure - ugh it must be a woman thing

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Haha! I caught myself worrying about how much i was worrying in case it increases my blood pressure - ugh it must be a woman thing

It totally is a woman thing. That was me in the waiting room. Omg OMG OMG *Puts fiance's hand on my chest so he can feel how much my heart is thudding* AAAAAA! And he's going "Calm down, if you don't your blood pressure will be high!" and I'm like "THAT MAKES ME WORRY MORE!".

The doctor took my blood pressure and was like *Looks* 135 over blah blah.. That's fine *Carries on with exam*.. *Thinks to self* "Well that was a lot of worry over nothing"

[Azsara 110]

It totally is a woman thing. That was me in the waiting room. Omg OMG OMG *Puts fiance's hand on my chest so he can feel how much my heart is thudding* AAAAAA! And he's going "Calm down, if you don't your blood pressure will be high!" and I'm like "THAT MAKES ME WORRY MORE!".

The doctor took my blood pressure and was like *Looks* 135 over blah blah.. That's fine *Carries on with exam*.. *Thinks to self* "Well that was a lot of worry over nothing"

Hahah bless him he was trying but definitely not saying the right thing! yeah 90% of the stuff I worry about was so insignificant that I even forget it had previously been a worry! But when that 10% actually materialises into something that was right worrying about it reinforces my worry for next time

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Hahah bless him he was trying but definitely not saying the right thing! yeah 90% of the stuff I worry about was so insignificant that I even forget it had previously been a worry! But when that 10% actually materialises into something that was right worrying about it reinforces my worry for next time

Everyone I dealt with at Knightsbridge seemed really relaxed and professional. The most serious looking person was probably the receptionist for me. The X-ray guy was very jolly and made jokes, saying how they'd splashed out on medical robes with a belt at the back and he helped me put it on because I couldn't find the belt, he had to give me an elastic band to put my hair up (make sure you tie your hair up before you go!) and I couldn't do it and took me a few minutes, then I'm like "how is my hair" and he's like "oh it looks very chic" or something XD. Oh and he came and sat with me and another woman in the other robed waiting room (not the main one) and talked about how he likes to wind up the American spouses talking about why the White House is white.

Then the female doctor (she might have been Australian? I dunno, she had a slight accent but it wasn't the younger German doctor lady) was all smiley and shook my hand, very pleasant and friendly, and we spoke more about me and my fiance and our hobby for video games than medical stuff.

I'm sure you'll be fine, you might even enjoy it! Lol.

Edited August 11, 2013 by QueenOfBlades

[Azsara 110]

Everyone I dealt with at Knightsbridge seemed really relaxed and professional. The most serious looking person was probably the receptionist for me. The X-ray guy was very jolly and made jokes, saying how they'd splashed out on medical robes with a belt at the back and he helped me put it on because I couldn't find the belt, he had to give me an elastic band to put my hair up (make sure you tie your hair up before you go!) and I couldn't do it and took me a few minutes, then I'm like "how is my hair" and he's like "oh it looks very chic" or something XD. Oh and he came and sat with me and another woman in the other robed waiting room (not the main one) and talked about how he likes to wind up the American spouses talking about why the White House is white.

Then the female doctor (she might have been Australian? I dunno, she had a slight accent but it wasn't the younger German doctor lady) was all smiley and shook my hand, very pleasant and friendly, and we spoke more about me and my fiance and our hobby for video games than medical stuff.

I'm sure you'll be fine, you might even enjoy it! Lol.

Thanks so much

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Thanks so much

You'll be great . I know some people on here have said don't volunteer information and only answer what the doctor asks; but honestly, I volunteered the info about my overdose as a teen, she jotted some stuff down and didn't seem overly bothered by it, and it helped me to feel like I was being fully open. It just really felt like a down to Earth, relaxed chat and I didn't feel pressured or interrogated at all, and I felt able to be open and ask questions if I needed to, which I never thought in a million years I would've, because on the way there and in the waiting room, I was scared to death.

You'll be the same on Tuesday evening.