Wrong! As you get older and words like heart
failure, diabetes, hypertension and arthritis become a part of your vocabulary
you start to realize that your doctor is your best friend.
I found an article in an old
issue of Arthritis Today called “Fibbing to Your Physician,” by Polly
Campbell. Although patients rarely
intend to lie or mislead their
doctor, it happens. In fact, nearly half
of us fib to our physicians. Sometimes we just plain forget but other times we
just want to tell our doctor what we think he/she wants to hear.
Why do patients fib? Most people
tend to omit facts because they are too embarrassed to talk about delicate
subjects, or feel too guilty to admit non-compliance with in regards to
medications, diet or exercise. Sometimes you just forget. It is easy to forget when you are anxious and
feeling stressed. I know that unless I
make a list I am sure to forget to ask about the issue that bothered me the
most. It is a good idea to take a list of all questions and concerns with
you so that you can refer to it often or put the list of questions right into
your doctor’s hand.
Aside from health hazards,
withholding information thwarts your physician’s ability to come up with the best treatment plan for you. Go ahead; confess that you sometimes forget
to take your pills. Most people forget
to take a dose once or twice a week so you aren’t alone here. If you say that you have been taking your
medicines as prescribed but you aren’t, you may end up with an increased dosage
or something new and even more costly.
While you are thinking about your next appointment and what you are going to
talk about, focus on you ways to make your visit more meaningful and less
stressful. These tips were provided by
Alison Johnson (Seattle Times, 3-30-10):
- Leave early for your appointment; if you are
running late you will feel stressed out before you even get started.
- Expect to wait; take a book or a craft project
and do some deep breathing to settle your nerves.
- Bring someone with you. It will make the wait more fun and it is
always good for a senior to have someone along who can interpret and
advocate for them.
- Communicate your fears; your doctor will not be
surprised if you feel nervous.
- Try not to be embarrassed. You may feel uncomfortable but your
doctor has likely seen and heard it all before.
It is important that you find a doctor with
whom you feel comfortable talking openly and honestly with.
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