When you are having a health issue that is significantly impacting your life, most people go to the doctor to get a diagnosis because no one wants to live in pain if they have to. Most doctors want to help their patients, but sometimes people make it difficult by leaving out important symptoms because they don’t think they matter or think they’re embarrassing, so they don’t bring them up. It will be very difficult for your doctor to understand what you have been experiencing and accurately diagnose you if you’re leaving out half our symptoms because your doctor can’t help if you are only giving them half the story. It’s your doctors job to help you improve your health and how do you expect them to give you the right diagnosis if you are leaving out important details because it makes you a little uncomfortable. What should you not be embarrassed to talk about with your doctor? In this post, I am going to share a few things that people sometimes don’t bring up at medical appointments because they feel embarrassed that you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about.
Changes in your bladder or bowel function- Bladder leaks and constipation are embarrassing because these types of issues smell and can run your life if they are severe. I live with bladder and bowel problems because of my disability, and talking about bladder leaks and constipation is not at the top of my list of things I want to talk about. If I notice bladder changes, I always tells my urologist because they want to know how much I am peeing, what it looks like, and if there is any pain while going to the bathroom. These can all can be signs that something is not working properly and can be serious if left untreated. You should never feel embarrassed to talk about your bladder leaks with your urologist because I promise you that you are not telling them something they haven’t heard. It’s their job to treat conditions like these, and whatever symptoms you think is gross, I can guarantee will not gross out your doctor. You are probably not the first person who has been experiencing symptoms like these, and they have probably seen things way worse. Don’t feel embarrassed to talk about bladder and bowel changes with your doctor because it’s so important you tell them so they can accurately diagnose you.
Changes in your menstrual cycle- If you are experiencing severe period cramps, bleeding through pads in an hour, or aren’t getting your period and are not in menopause, it is so important to bring it up with your gynecologist. Talking about periods can make some people uncomfortable because period pain is often dismissed, but it is so important that you talk about any changes in your menstrual cycle with your doctor. Severe period cramps that leave you bed-bound for days are not normal and could be a sign of medical conditions such as endometriosis that need treatment. Don’t ever feel embarrassed to talk about changes in your menstrual cycle with your doctor because although changes in your period could be nothing it could also be signs of a medical conditions that should not be ignored.
When you have a fall– As a physically disabled person, I am more prone to falls because I can’t catch myself as easily as a non-disabled person can. I am fortunate that I don’t have serious falls very often because I was taught how to fall as a child, which has helped prevent so many injuries that could have been serious. If you had an embarrassing fall and think you broke a bone, sometimes people are hesitant to tell their doctors about their fall. It is so important that you be honest with your doctor when you have a fall so they can better understand how you got injured. You don’t have to show your doctor a video of how you fell and you can say something as simple as “I slipped on water and hit my wrist.” Don’t be embarrassed to talk about your falls with your doctor because it happens to everyone and is not something to be ashamed about.
If you haven’t been talking your meds- Some patients will be prescribed medication that they will tell their doctor they are taking when they’re not. Doctors sometimes will yell at you when you’re not taking your medication, but it is so important that you don’t lie about. There are ways your doctor can figure out if you are taking your meds, such as ordering blood work, and sometimes it’s better to be honest than be caught lying. Don’t lie to your doctor and tell them you are taking your meds when you’re not, because if you are having health issues, they will assume your meds aren’t working and put you on something else. Everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes we forget to do things that we know we should be doing, such as taking medication, and that is nothing to be embarrased. I listen to my doctor and take my medication as often as prescribed, but even I sometimes slip up and forget a dose or two.
If your mental health takes a hit- When you go for a yearly physical, they often ask you questions about your mental health to try and figure out if you are depressed. The questions they ask at your primary care visit is pretty generic, and you could easily lie, but even though you can do something, that doesn’t mean you should. If you are struggling with your mental health, it is so important that you talk about that with your doctor before your depression gets serious because you don’t have to suffer in silence. Mental illness is something that you should not be embarrassed to talk about with your doctor because therapy saves lives. Some people may not believe mental illness is real, and it is so important that you don’t listen to these people because that kind of mindset is what causes people to ignore their poor mental health. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and you should not feel embarrassed to talk about your mental health concerns.
If you see noticeably changes in your weight- If you have lost weight and have been making healthier choices and exercising, it’s probably nothing to be concerned about. Weight loss is often considered good, and weight gain is often believed to be bad, so people sometimes think nothing of it. If you have lost a lot of weight and aren’t trying, or are gaining weight while dieting, it might be something you want to bring up to your doctor. Weight changes can sometimes be uncomfortable to talk about and are not always a sign of healthy eating. Weight loss or weight gain can sometimes be a sign of a serious medical condition like cancer, and you should never ignore it.
If you are struggling with your health, it is so important that you be honest with your doctor, even if your symptoms make you a little uncomfortable to talk about. Your doctor should not make you feel embarrassed for your bladder leaks, and if they do, they are probably not the best person for you. It is hard to talk about personal health problems with a doctor you met five minutes ago, but lying harms your health and often leads to a misdiagnosis. Sometimes you have to move past your own discomfort and talk about personal health issues you wouldn’t talk about with anyone else to see improvement in your health. Don’t ever feel embarrassed to talk about changes in your health with your doctor because it may be nothing, but it could also be something. The symptoms you think are gross are likely not going to gross out your doctor because they have dealt with worse problems. Don’t ignore changes in your health because that is how serious medical conditions progress to the point they become untreatable. What symptoms do you feel embarrassed to talk about with your doctor? If you liked this post, please leave a comment below and share with your friends.
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