It never ceases to amaze me how any doctor is able to accurately diagnose patients. With as little information as they are able to get from the patient, it’s kind of a miracle that things turn out right…What am I talking about?

Well, I have a friend who was recently hospitalized (in ICU even) for a urinary tract infection that had spread through his body. Fortunately he got better but in the last month and a half has proceeded to tell me (of course, "as a friend - who just happens to be a doctor" - yeah right) bits and pieces of information about his past and even his current condition (he had to self-catheterize himself - putting a tube in his own bladder four times a day to get the urine out and he got another infection) than i’m sure any of his doctors know. And I’ve listened to him a heck of a lot longer than the 15 minutes your doctor might have with you. The things he tells me he didn’t think were IMPORTANT to tell the doctor - or they were things that he thought of when talking to an old friend. In fact, he must have talked to everyone about it and told everyone his symptoms EXCEPT his doctor. Then he wanted to know how I could have told him some of the stuff I have when I’m a thousand miles away and his local doctors aren’t able to tell him these things….just amazing…

But each time I get off the phone with him I realize that this is what real life is all about and that’s why it’s so important for each of you to keep a diary of your past medical history, your past procedures, your medicines and as importantly, your current symptoms. Then make sure you take that diary with you. You should even transcribe your symptoms onto another piece of paper to give the doctor. Summarize things - "I’ve had abdominal pain above my belly button and under my right rib cage for about 3 weeks now. It seems to come and go and it’s so very sharp that it doubles me over and I have to continually walk around until it goes away. I throw up several times while I have the pain. It even goes to my back and my right shoulder sometimes. Nothing makes it better - it just goes away by itself. It usually comes on about 4 hours after dinner though, especially when we’ve had greasy stuff. etc."

If you take that summary out of your diary, put it on a sheet of paper and give it to the doctor, he can extract so much information from it and can then ask more pertinent questions - rather than having to start from scratch and be like a dentist - pulling teeth!

Be thankful that your diagnoses are correct as many times as they are..and help your doctor along the next time.

Terrie

Great article on how to talk to your doctor about embarrassing medical problems - Dr. Vicki Rackner has the same sense of teaching patients how to take charge of their own health and care as I do - of course, she’s much younger and seemingly more energetic so Bravo to her for championing the cause! Check her out.

The realization hit Natalie like a ton of bricks. Her mother, Joann, had literally died of embarrassment! Joann had noticed blood in her stool almost a year before she was diagnosed with colon cancer. At first she told herself it must have been those beets she ate. Then she thought it was most likely her hemorrhoids, although she had not had a flair-up of hemorrhoids since Natalie’s birth 52 years earlier.

The truth was that Joann was embarrassed to talk with her doctor about private topics such as her bowel habits. She didn’t raise the concern with her doctor until she had bloating, cramping and abdominal pain. This led to the diagnosis of colon cancer that ultimately took her life. Natalie’s brother-in-law, who was a nurse, wondered whether Joann would still be alive if she had told her doctor about the blood in her stool when she first noticed it.

Let’s face it; certain topics are embarrassing to talk about with your doctor. I call them the 5 P’s:

• Peeing
• Pooping
• Paying
• Procreating
• Psychic moaning

Although at first blush the challenge of talking with your doctor about embarrassing medical topics seems simple enough, for some people, it can cause significant suffering.

Hillary, for example, had what’s now called a shy bladder. She had not used a public restroom in over 20 years. She was too embarrassed to talk with her doctor about this; instead, she remained a prisoner to her bladder.

Ed was laid off from work and could no longer afford his asthma medications. Instead of talking with his doctor about it, he decided to do without He wound up in the emergency room with an asthma attack that could have been avoided with regular medication.

Tom had some sexual side effects from his blood pressure medicine. Instead of talking with his doctor and getting a different medicine, he just stopped taking it. The doctors wonder if this might have contributed to his heart attack.

Jerry noticed his loss of appetite and sleeping problems as his caregiver responsibilities for his aging father mounted. He wondered if he might be depressed, but dismissed the thought because real men don’t get depressed.

Imagine how each of these stories might have been different if these individuals who suffered in silence could have talked with their doctors.

Here are 6 tips that can help you talk with your doctor about embarrassing medical topics:

1. Own the embarrassment.

Say to your doctor, “This is a taboo topic in our family, so it’s hard for me to ask. Is it normal to have a funny smell coming from your belly button?"

2. Find the words.

Your doctor speaks a specialized language acquired through years of training. Sometimes patients are embarrassed because they don’t know the “right words" or have a hard time describing the problem.

Remember that your job is to communicate. You don’t need to know the fancy words to do that. If a patient said to me, “Dad had an operation on the dingle-ball thing at the back of his throat", I would know just what he meant. And, the patient would seem relieved when I said, “Oh, you mean the uvula."

The best way to make sure you and your doctor understand each other is to use anatomically correct words. Get a basic anatomy atlas. Use anatomically correct words with your children.

3. Practice saying the words.

Sometimes embarrassing words can be hard to get out of your mouth. Gertrude, a 90-year-old patient said to me, “You youngsters don’t understand how much things have changed. When I got breast cancer in the 1962, the words ‘breast’ and ‘cancer’ were not uttered in polite company." Some words are still embarrassing to say. Practice saying these words out loud when you’re alone! That will make it easier to say them at the doctor’s office

4. Find the right person to ask.

You may have an easy rapport with the nurse or physician’s assistant at your doctor’s office. You can bring up the sensitive topic with them. Say, “Trish, could you please give the doctor a heads up. I want to know why I should say no to those steroids my buddies at the gym are offering me. I would love to look like they do."

5. Find the right way to ask.

Maybe it’s easier for you to drop a note or a cartoon to your doctor rather than ask in person. Find the style that works best for you.

6. Remember that your doctor is there to help you, not to judge you.

Your doctor has heard it all before. I promise! Your doctor will not think less of you for asking an embarrassing medical question; in fact, your doctor with think more of you for overcoming your fear and helping you take charge of your health.

Dr. Vicki is a board-certified surgeon who left the operating room to help families take the most direct path from illness to optimal health. Her book, “The Personal Health Journal", can save your life today by helping you understand your health story. Empower yourself with the tips and tools that will help you direct your story and partner with your doctor more effectively at: http://www.drvicki.org/drvicki-store-health-journal.html 

Great article on how to talk to your doctor about embarrassing medical problems - Dr. Vicki Rackner has the same sense of teaching patients how to take charge of their own health and care as I do - of course, she’s much younger and seemingly more energetic so Bravo to her for championing the cause! Check her out.

The realization hit Natalie like a ton of bricks. Her mother, Joann, had literally died of embarrassment! Joann had noticed blood in her stool almost a year before she was diagnosed with colon cancer. At first she told herself it must have been those beets she ate. Then she thought it was most likely her hemorrhoids, although she had not had a flair-up of hemorrhoids since Natalie’s birth 52 years earlier.

The truth was that Joann was embarrassed to talk with her doctor about private topics such as her bowel habits. She didn’t raise the concern with her doctor until she had bloating, cramping and abdominal pain. This led to the diagnosis of colon cancer that ultimately took her life. Natalie’s brother-in-law, who was a nurse, wondered whether Joann would still be alive if she had told her doctor about the blood in her stool when she first noticed it.

Let’s face it; certain topics are embarrassing to talk about with your doctor. I call them the 5 P’s:

• Peeing
• Pooping
• Paying
• Procreating
• Psychic moaning

Although at first blush the challenge of talking with your doctor about embarrassing medical topics seems simple enough, for some people, it can cause significant suffering.

Hillary, for example, had what’s now called a shy bladder. She had not used a public restroom in over 20 years. She was too embarrassed to talk with her doctor about this; instead, she remained a prisoner to her bladder.

Ed was laid off from work and could no longer afford his asthma medications. Instead of talking with his doctor about it, he decided to do without He wound up in the emergency room with an asthma attack that could have been avoided with regular medication.

Tom had some sexual side effects from his blood pressure medicine. Instead of talking with his doctor and getting a different medicine, he just stopped taking it. The doctors wonder if this might have contributed to his heart attack.

Jerry noticed his loss of appetite and sleeping problems as his caregiver responsibilities for his aging father mounted. He wondered if he might be depressed, but dismissed the thought because real men don’t get depressed.

Imagine how each of these stories might have been different if these individuals who suffered in silence could have talked with their doctors.

Here are 6 tips that can help you talk with your doctor about embarrassing medical topics:

1. Own the embarrassment.

Say to your doctor, “This is a taboo topic in our family, so it’s hard for me to ask. Is it normal to have a funny smell coming from your belly button?"

2. Find the words.

Your doctor speaks a specialized language acquired through years of training. Sometimes patients are embarrassed because they don’t know the “right words" or have a hard time describing the problem.

Remember that your job is to communicate. You don’t need to know the fancy words to do that. If a patient said to me, “Dad had an operation on the dingle-ball thing at the back of his throat", I would know just what he meant. And, the patient would seem relieved when I said, “Oh, you mean the uvula."

The best way to make sure you and your doctor understand each other is to use anatomically correct words. Get a basic anatomy atlas. Use anatomically correct words with your children.

3. Practice saying the words.

Sometimes embarrassing words can be hard to get out of your mouth. Gertrude, a 90-year-old patient said to me, “You youngsters don’t understand how much things have changed. When I got breast cancer in the 1962, the words ‘breast’ and ‘cancer’ were not uttered in polite company." Some words are still embarrassing to say. Practice saying these words out loud when you’re alone! That will make it easier to say them at the doctor’s office

4. Find the right person to ask.

You may have an easy rapport with the nurse or physician’s assistant at your doctor’s office. You can bring up the sensitive topic with them. Say, “Trish, could you please give the doctor a heads up. I want to know why I should say no to those steroids my buddies at the gym are offering me. I would love to look like they do."

5. Find the right way to ask.

Maybe it’s easier for you to drop a note or a cartoon to your doctor rather than ask in person. Find the style that works best for you.

6. Remember that your doctor is there to help you, not to judge you.

Your doctor has heard it all before. I promise! Your doctor will not think less of you for asking an embarrassing medical question; in fact, your doctor with think more of you for overcoming your fear and helping you take charge of your health.

Dr. Vicki is a board-certified surgeon who left the operating room to help families take the most direct path from illness to optimal health. Her book, “The Personal Health Journal", can save your life today by helping you understand your health story. Empower yourself with the tips and tools that will help you direct your story and partner with your doctor more effectively at: http://www.drvicki.org/drvicki-store-health-journal.html 

This is a pretty cool post from Dr. Levister on Black Voice News Online.

Choosing a Doctor You Can Talk To

Dear Dr. Levister:  I get frustrated when I have to see my doctor. He’s usually in a hurry. The communication is always one way. He speaks I listen. Is it time to find a new doctor?  D.C.

Dear D.C. How well you and your doctor talk to each other is one of the most important parts of getting good health care. Poor communications is the number one driving force behind race and sex based health disparities. Unfortunately, choosing a doctor you can talk to isn’t always easy. It takes time and effort on your part as well as your doctor’s.

In the past, the doctor typically took the lead and the patient followed. Today with the complexities and costs of health and managed care, a good doctor, patient relationship is more of a partnership with patient and doctor working together to solve medical problems and maintain the patient’s good health. Becoming a strong  advocate for your own health is essential.

If you are not at ease with the doctor you currently see, now may be the time to find a new doctor. The first step in good communication is finding a doctor with whom you can talk. Having a main doctor (often called a primary doctor) is one of the best ways to ensure your good health. He or she can help you make sound medical decisions and can communicate your health needs with other specialists and health care providers you may need.

Decide what you are looking for in a doctor. Identify several possible doctors. Consult reference sources. Learn more about the doctors you are considering. Make a choice. Don’t be shy about asking questions. Talking about your health means sharing information about how you feel both physically and emotionally. Knowing how to describe your symptoms, discuss treatments, and talk with specialists will help you become a better partner in your health care. Taking an active role in your  care puts the responsibility for good communication on both you and your doctor. 

This is a pretty cool post from Dr. Levister on Black Voice News Online.

Choosing a Doctor You Can Talk To

Dear Dr. Levister:  I get frustrated when I have to see my doctor. He’s usually in a hurry. The communication is always one way. He speaks I listen. Is it time to find a new doctor?  D.C.

Dear D.C. How well you and your doctor talk to each other is one of the most important parts of getting good health care. Poor communications is the number one driving force behind race and sex based health disparities. Unfortunately, choosing a doctor you can talk to isn’t always easy. It takes time and effort on your part as well as your doctor’s.

In the past, the doctor typically took the lead and the patient followed. Today with the complexities and costs of health and managed care, a good doctor, patient relationship is more of a partnership with patient and doctor working together to solve medical problems and maintain the patient’s good health. Becoming a strong  advocate for your own health is essential.

If you are not at ease with the doctor you currently see, now may be the time to find a new doctor. The first step in good communication is finding a doctor with whom you can talk. Having a main doctor (often called a primary doctor) is one of the best ways to ensure your good health. He or she can help you make sound medical decisions and can communicate your health needs with other specialists and health care providers you may need.

Decide what you are looking for in a doctor. Identify several possible doctors. Consult reference sources. Learn more about the doctors you are considering. Make a choice. Don’t be shy about asking questions. Talking about your health means sharing information about how you feel both physically and emotionally. Knowing how to describe your symptoms, discuss treatments, and talk with specialists will help you become a better partner in your health care. Taking an active role in your  care puts the responsibility for good communication on both you and your doctor.