In Business Since 2001 We accept Paypal
Home for Writers for Publishers Article Directory Article Search Contact
 
Products & Services
Article Distribution
Ghost Writing Services

Multiple Traffic Streams Report
Redneck Product Creation

Article Marketing Ebooks now available at: WritingPuzzle.com

Site Navigation
Home
+ FAQ

FAQ

+ Contact Us
+ Article Software

Use one of our Software Plugins to receive Articles from our site:

WordPress Content Plugin

Article Dashboard Content Plugin

+ About Us
+ Ebooks
+ Blogs
+ Social Media
+ Extra Pages
Search Tools
+ Search Our Articles
Article Directory
+ Authors
+ Articles
thePhantomWriters Blog
Get RSS Feed

Did Google Finally Kill Article Marketing Forever?
Early Indications Are That Google Farmer Update Loves Quality Syndicated Content
Detailed Insight into the Cooks Source Magazine PR Debacle
Increase Your Profits From Google Page One
Understanding How To Be Successful With Article Marketing
Temporary Issue with Article Distributions
Computer Upgrade
New Service Upgrades in Place
Are You Paying Too Much For Traffic? Increase Clicks 40-Fold With This PPC Strategy
How To Use Disinformation To Foul Up Your Competition In The SEO Game
Recommended Sites
Live Marketing Chat (Free) Saturday 8pm EST
Register for Notifications

 

 



Medical Advice: How to Talk with Your Doctor about Embarrassing Medical Problems

Copyright (c) 2006-2012

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:

1. Peeing

2. Pooping

3. Paying

4. Procreating

5. 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.


About The Author:
Dr. Vicki Rackner 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

Follow "The Phantom Writers" on Twitter (@phantomwriters)
to be notified when new articles are made available.


VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >> 0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 << Excellent Article

Tell our authors what you think about their article.


Top-Level Category: Health and Wellness Articles

10 Most Recent Articles Written by Vicki Rackner MD

All of Author's Articles on this site:

Most Recent "Health And Wellness" Articles

The Powerful Antioxidant You Cannot Eat Or Drink
Written by: Nate Rifkin | Distributed: 2011-07-20 | Word Count: 499 | Page Views: 375
There's no need to eat or drink anything to activate your body's powerful antioxidant to prevent free radical damage. You'll end up healthier inside and looking better on the outside as well.

3 Bacterial Vaginosis Remedies You Can Start Using Today
Written by: Louise Endago | Distributed: 2011-07-20 | Word Count: 867 | Page Views: 395
Very few women are successful at treating bacterial vaginosis using one treatment alone. The secret lies in using a combination of treatments that complement one another. In this article you will discover 3 such remedies that give excellent results.

Encouraging Healthy Children with Outdoor Play Sets and Activities
Written by: Giana Briggs | Distributed: 2011-03-17 | Word Count: 410 | Page Views: 678
Having a play set in your backyard can be a great way to get your child off the couch and out into the fresh air. With childhood obesity on the rise, we need to do what we can as parents to get our children active and enjoying playing and interacting with each other children again. Being able to go out in the yard and have something to do is just one small step in the right direction.

How to Recognize Anxiety in Children and Adolescents
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh | Distributed: 2010-12-28 | Word Count: 836 | Page Views: 741
Problems with a too-high level anxiety can start in childhood with children and adolescents worrying to a greater extent than their peers about all sorts of things. Some behaviors are an indication of a fussy and over tidy child. When we go just a little bit over fussiness and we have entered the realm of an anxiety disorder.

How to Tell if You Have Anxiety Disorder
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh | Distributed: 2010-12-23 | Word Count: 1093 | Page Views: 721
If you're someone who can never earn enough or have enough money to relax about it, and to enjoy spending it, you may have underlying anxiety problems that you haven't had to face, or you haven't wanted to face.

How to Tell the Difference Between Anxiety and Normal Worry
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh | Distributed: 2010-12-21 | Word Count: 979 | Page Views: 653
Anxiety is a normal feeling people experience when faced with threat, danger or stress. Feeling anxious can sometimes be a good thing. Occasional anxiety is part of normal life. However, for some people anxiety is a constant factor in their lives. When a person has anxiety problems, it interferes with their ability to function normally on a daily basis. Anxiety disorder can cause people to feel intense, long-lasting fear or worry, in addition to other symptoms.

How to Treat Your Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh | Distributed: 2010-12-16 | Word Count: 742 | Page Views: 716 | Votes: 2 | Rating: 2.50
Next to Depression, one of the most common disorders which affects an estimated 2.4 million people in America alone, is anxiety disorder. Anxiety can manifest as a generalized anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety and agoraphobia. Anxiety disorder can be mild or so totally disabling that the person is confined to her or his home. All forms of anxiety can be extremely frightening to those who experience it frequently, but many individuals have found comfort in the fact that anxiety disorders can be treated.

Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks: How Cognitive Behavior Therapy Can Help You
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh | Distributed: 2010-12-09 | Word Count: 748 | Page Views: 731
In your journey to conquer anxiety and to eliminate panic attacks from your day-to-day life, no one approach will be totally right, but Cognitive Behavior Therapy can be a very powerful part of your recovery. In this short article, I want to explore what's involved in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, so that you can make a decision whether or not you'd like to explore it with your therapist.

Losing Weight - The Addiction of Comfort Food
Written by: Larry Tobin | Distributed: 2010-11-04 | Word Count: 863 | Page Views: 1017 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 0.00
Its very name is appealing - comfort food. What could be more wonderful than a food that helps us feel better? Almost everyone can name something that they eat when they're just feeling sour or sad. Of course, we know that food can't be the solution to our problems, especially the problem of trying to lose weight and keep it off. So why do we find ourselves trapped in the eat/feel better/feel worse/eat some more cycle?

Understanding the Roles of Respite Caregivers for Seniors
Written by: Bob Fischer | Distributed: 2010-11-02 | Word Count: 582 | Page Views: 836
Caregivers for seniors are typically paid providers but they may also be volunteers from a government or nonprofit organization. Where care is being provided in the home there is often a mix of formal and informal care provided. And the trend is towards using more formal care since, unlike the past, more informal respite caregivers are employed. Read on.

Most Viewed "Health And Wellness" Articles

Bone Density and Your Well Being
Written by: Kamau Austin | Distributed: 2006-06-15 | Word Count: 685 | Page Views: 47510 | Votes: 39 | Rating: 2.69
We spend a lot of time and energy thinking of ways to reduce our weight but we need to think about the bones that form the basic structure of the very same body. Bone density is an important factor in helping us stay young and on our toes. Bone density needs to be checked as we age and if found low, adequate measures need to be taken to improve it.

Losing Weight Without Gaining Stretch Marks
Written by: Kamau Austin | Distributed: 2006-12-11 | Word Count: 579 | Page Views: 13503 | Votes: 35 | Rating: 2.66
Few things can make us as elated as seeing the pounds melt way through our efforts of eating less and exercising more. We gain new confidence and vitality as we watch our waistlines reappear and become reacquainted with the tops of our feet. But as the weight falls away we can be plagued by a new assault - one we did not see coming - stretch marks.

President Given the Cure for Herpes and Cold Sores ?
Written by: James Kaylon McIntyre | Distributed: 2006-11-09 | Word Count: 404 | Page Views: 12752 | Votes: 14 | Rating: 2.57
Viraway was founded by a man who is in his 70s today. As a Young man he suffered from acute cold sores. The discomfort was so severe that he thought they would never go away. A native American Indian gave him a tribal mixture of herbs and told him that this mixture would eliminate the cold sores with in two weeks...

Two years after 60 Minutes - Is Authentic Hoodia Available?
Written by: Dan Nessel | Distributed: 2006-10-25 | Word Count: 733 | Page Views: 10847 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 3.22
In November of 2004, 60 Minutes praised Hoodia Gordonii for its ability to suppress appetite. Within days of the segement, everyone and their mother were claiming to have "real" hoodia for sale. The question remains - is any authenic Hoodia available?

Oyster Extract Improves Men's Sexual Health
Written by: Stephen Kavanagh | Distributed: 2008-06-26 | Word Count: 851 | Page Views: 10624 | Votes: 33 | Rating: 3.33
Description of the benefits of taking oyster extract powder for good sexual health in men and women. Details of the features and benefits, the different brands, the alternatives and advice on choosing the right oyster extract product.

Is Retinol Good for Your Skin?
Written by: Craig Elliott | Distributed: 2007-10-04 | Word Count: 576 | Page Views: 9666 | Votes: 25 | Rating: 2.52
These days, whether you have wrinkles or you are certain that you will get them in the near future, it is hard to ignore the hundreds of new anti aging products on the market. With retinol and AHAs, BHAs and vitamins, it's hard to tell which products are actually going to work and which ones are will not. While a lot of the success rate depends on the unique qualities of your skin, there are scientific studies that have shed light some of the more popular skin treatments.

Flax Oil And Gynecomastia
Written by: Will Brink | Distributed: 2006-06-06 | Word Count: 678 | Page Views: 8116 | Votes: 18 | Rating: 2.39
Q: Dear Will, I remember in your book "Priming the Anabolic Environment" you recommended flax oil as a possible way to treat gynecomastia or "bitch tits" in men and I know you recommend flax oil losing fat and general health also. Would flax have equal benefits for athletic women like me who lift weights and do you still think it helps with gyno?

Causes for Yellow or Dark Brown Poop - Symptoms of Healthy Poop - Dr Oz's Tips to Diagnosis Yourself and Self Help
Written by: John Khu | Distributed: 2009-12-29 | Word Count: 545 | Page Views: 7274 | Votes: 11 | Rating: 2.00
Now the question arises how to detox your body? Body toxins are accumulated due to improper food consumption; sedentary lifestyle also causes digestion problem and heavy metal toxins to accumulate in our body. Therefore, in order to avoid bowel problem, your body needs to heavy metal detox.

14 Causes of Constipation
Written by: Howard Richman | Distributed: 2008-12-02 | Word Count: 1642 | Page Views: 6915 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 2.43
For people who know all about drinking liquids and eating fiber but still have never been able to break free of their curse of constipation, this article offers many other considerations that will help the reader find solutions to lifelong constipation.

Non- Surgical Options for Treating Hair Loss
Written by: Robert M. Bernstein M.D., F.A.A.D | Distributed: 2007-10-01 | Word Count: 1088 | Page Views: 6789 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 3.00
The search for new ways to help those suffering from hair loss has captured word-wide attention. Some new techniques and products have been proven to be of benefit, while others have simply played on the emotional strings of those who suffer from the problem.

Highest Ranked "Health And Wellness" Articles

The Role of Antioxidants in Good Health And Healthy Living
Written by: Cheryll Rice | Distributed: 2008-01-24 | Word Count: 718 | Page Views: 1236 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 4.20
Everyone has heard about the importance of a balanced diet for maintaining good health. Similarly, everyone knows that they should be getting exercise - or at the very least adding more activity into their days. Getting a good night's sleep is essential - without it, you'll find that your immune system starts to slack off a bit and you put yourself at a greater risk for catching a cold or coming down with the flu. We all know what we should be doing, but let's be honest: we don't do it...

What Makes Tea So Effective At Preventing Heart Disease?
Written by: Jon M. Stout | Distributed: 2007-02-02 | Word Count: 812 | Page Views: 1412 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 4.00
Many bodies of research have shown that tea is effective at preventing heart disease in several ways. Tea prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol into plaque, the hard substance that clogs our arteries, making us more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes. Tea is also thought to have an anti-inflammatory effect, which helps the heart in its overall function.

Which Full Face CPAP Mask is Best for You?
Written by: Chris Vasta | Distributed: 2009-09-01 | Word Count: 690 | Page Views: 3178 | Votes: 10 | Rating: 4.00
If you've been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, you are undoubtedly trying to narrow the choice of masks. If your mouth opens during sleep, one option would be full face CPAP masks. The full face CPAP mask is used to deliver pressure through both the nose and mouth. Trying to decide which full face CPAP mask to use can be complex and expensive. The number of mask options available is confounding. Based upon comfort, fit, good seal, and durability, we recommend the following three full face CPAP masks.

Neurotransmitter Testing: How It Help Depression, Anxiety and More
Written by: Anne Arthur | Distributed: 2006-08-03 | Word Count: 663 | Page Views: 1986 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 3.86
Millions of people suffer from bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic attacks, depression and ADD/ADHD without a known cause. If you or someone you know suffers from anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, mania, ADD/ADHD or even panic attacks, you owe it to you to find the real cause of your problem. There are many natural treatments available that effectively combat these diseases.

Concocting the Perfect Body Detox Plan
Written by: John Khu | Distributed: 2009-04-21 | Word Count: 588 | Page Views: 1087 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 3.86
If you have recently made a committed resolve to stick to a body detox program, then it is best to get very well prepared for it. Otherwise, you might catch yourself doing some last-minute enjoyment and drowning yourself in your favorite food and drinks.

Want To Try Body Detox?
Written by: John Khu | Distributed: 2009-08-25 | Word Count: 595 | Page Views: 827 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 3.86
Ever since more and more people became aware of the harmful effects of improper diet and toxins to the body, body detoxification also became very popular. Although it is a fact that the body can detoxify by itself, it is also a fact that without the initiative of a person's mind to reinforce more action aside from the organs' functions, then the detoxification process will take a long time, or worse, not work at all.

What Do You Recommend For Male Pattern Baldness?
Written by: Will Brink | Distributed: 2006-05-30 | Word Count: 430 | Page Views: 1637 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 3.83
Q: Hello Will, I am a bodybuilder who has been experiencing typical male pattern baldness for the past few years. A: Dear Josh, In fact, there is a single formula for hair loss, or male pattern baldness (MPB) that has virtually everything I would recommend and them some!

Heavier Weight Sometimes Equals Smaller Jeans
Written by: Kamau Austin | Distributed: 2007-02-07 | Word Count: 1005 | Page Views: 1419 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 3.83
A concept many women sometimes have difficulty understanding is that a smaller weight does not always indicate a fitter body. Muscle mass is more dense than fat tissue. This means two women of the same height, weight, skeletal structure and body type may look drastically different.

Get a Great Night's Sleep
Written by: George Esser | Distributed: 2007-05-15 | Word Count: 597 | Page Views: 1187 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 3.83
Reasons why we need magnesium supplements to get a great night's sleep. Research points to reduced restless leg syndrome and other sleep disorders.

Colon Cancer: Risks and Prevention
Written by: Abel Travers | Distributed: 2007-12-13 | Word Count: 785 | Page Views: 1002 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 3.80
Cancer: it's not a word that anyone really wants to hear. While not necessarily a death sentence, cancer is an illness that does have a high mortality rate depending on where in the body it strikes. Read on as we examine what can be done to head-off Colon Cancer, the third most common cancer.







Article Reprint Rights
Creative Commons License

This work is
licensed under a
Creative Commons
License


You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
Article Publishing Tools
Print Article
Email-to-Blog
HTML Source Code
Text Newsletter Format
Link Back HTML

Blog Publishing Tools

Internal ID: #3429
Article Statistics
Word Count: 809

Total Views: 806
Views This Month: 6
Views Last Month: 21

Article Rating: 2.57 of 5
Votes Cast: 7

Author Overall Stats:

Times Viewed Overall: 805
Author Rating: 2.57 of 5
Votes Cast Overall: 7

More Articles By Author:




Article Title Search:

Widow Search
Right Blinker
Google
Yahoo!
Zuula
Bing
Cuil

Last Distribution Date:
2006-08-23 11:36:00






All Articles are Copyright © 2001-2012 of the Defined Authors.

All other material and images on this site are:
Copyright © 2001-2012, ThePhantomWriters.com

Local Marketing Consultant