Spirit of Women magazine is a national publication presented to women by hospitals and their physicians. The magazine provides up-to-date, evidence-based healthcare information and promotes our hospitals as leaders in women's health excellence.
Issue link: https://spiritofwomen.epubxp.com/i/655065
17 w w w. s p i r i t o f w o m e n . c o m S P R I N G 2 016 S P I R I T O F W O M E N SHUTTERSTOCK E ven if your physician is the epitome of compassion, there may be some questions you can't ask without turning into the equivalent of a blushing, stammering preteen. Unfortunately, if you don't ask what you consider embarrassing questions, you could be jeopardizing your quality of life or even your health, say physicians. For example, excessive hair growth, which isn't something you want to dwell on, could signal infertility, according to Dr. Rachel Dickerson, internal medicine and pediatrics, who is affiliated with St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. To get past that awkward stage of introducing a squirm- inducing topic, try these five easy steps that can help reduce your discomfort. Understand that you're not alone. Conditions that mortify you most likely are shared by thousands of other women and discussed with their doctors. Anything that has to do with sexual health, for example, can generate awkwardness, according to Dr. Carol DeWeerd, a family practice specialist with Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial, Fremont, Mich. But if you're experiencing pain or bleeding, it's very important to bring it up, she says. Incontinence—bowel or urinary—is also hard to talk about. "Some women think it's something women have to live with, but it affects the quality of life. There's a lot doctors can do to improve or eliminate the problem," explains Dr. Dickerson. In addition, being overweight can be an obstacle to seeking support. "If you get on a scale and your number passes the limit, that's embarrassing. Or, if you can't get up on the exam table, that's embarrassing," says Dr. Dickerson, citing evidence that women who are significantly overweight tend to avoid seeing their doctors. So keep in mind that whether it's frequent trips to the ladies room or a shadow on your upper lip, your doctor is unlikely to be stunned by the revelation. "Your care provider has talked to many people about health issues and is not likely to be shocked by your concern. I sometimes tell patients it takes a lot to shock me," says Dr. DeWeerd. Don't worry about using the correct medical terms. "Use your own language," says Dr. Teresa Dean Malcolm, OB/GYN practice lead and regional medical director for specialty care at Banner Health, Phoenix. "We're not expecting you to speak at a high clinical level. Our job is to take the information you give and then translate it into advice." When you're in the exam room, let the doctor know how you feel. "Be honest. It's OK to say you're embarrassed," says Dr. Malcolm. "It can help your physician understand what you're going through. [And] you may find that the doctor allows more time." Write out your questions in advance. "Once you're in the doctor's office and the doctor is in front of you, you can get very uncomfortable. If you have it [your problem] down on paper, you can't lose your thought," says Dr. Malcolm. "I've even had patients hand the list [of questions] to me," adds Dr. DeWeerd. Bring along a friend or relative to help. If you can't give voice to your problem, then your best friend, the one who has heard everything, can be your support. "If you have some trouble expressing your thoughts, your buddy can pick up and continue," says Dr. Malcolm. • When your personal safety is at risk Although your health questions are probably focused on how your body is functioning, your physical and emotional safety are also of concern to your physician. The conversation may start with the intake form you fll out before an annual exam. Along with questions about your medical history, the form might include a question about your safety in your relationship, according to Dr. Carol DeWeerd, affliated with Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial in Fremont, Mich. "It can be very broad, about safety in the relationship. It allows for an opening," she says. The issue of abuse, however, is one that women are most reticent about, she adds: "That's where I'm most likely to give out literature." Although you play an active role in your young child's physical exam, he or she will also be included in the conversation from an early age. Your child may be asked about staying dry overnight, or about lumps or bumps on his body that worry him, says Dr. Rachel Dickerson, affliated with St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfeld, Mo. Younger children tend to be less embarrassed than their parents are about many bodily function issues, according to the pediatrician. But after her patients are age 11 or 12, she provides them with private time to discuss how they're feeling and how their bodies are changing. Sometimes she even becomes the go-between for sensitive issues, such as a preteen who wants to get ftted for a bra but whose mother isn't willing to buy one yet. These discussions are confdential unless the patient's safety is at risk, adds Dr. Dickerson. When your child has an embarrassing question n d ! 1 2 3 4 5