I may be 20-something, but cool Band-Aids always make it better.
I find that sometimes I’m not really honest with my doctor. Not for anything that I need to take seriously, but I tend to pride myself in not getting sick (or at least sick enough to call off work).
But what I don’t do is take care of myself very well. I mean, I eat all right. Everyone could use more veggies and fruits. I’ve been working up my exercise routine thanks to knee surgery and continuous post-op pain. I’ve always had problems with insomnia, and I’m usually pretty stressed.
Whenever I go to the doctor for routine check-ups, I never really talk to them about what’s going on with me. I’m paying for health insurance, and co-pays and waiting there as they’re late coming to see me. Why wouldn’t I be honest? Plus wouldn’t I want to feel better?
It took me awhile to bring up the fact that I would wake up in the middle of the night with jumpy legs. Turns out I have restless leg syndrome. Yes, that makes me a 90-year-old, but it’s really easily treatable.
Last week, for my annual check-up, I decided it’s worth just saying something to my doctor about things I’ve been noticing lately. I actually thought it might be allergies because my sister was diagnosed with a handful of random allergies awhile back. But the doc thinks it’s all tied into anxiety and stress, something which I took meds for in college. Just getting back on those meds may make everything go away. Simple.
I was thinking about it after I left, and I can’t figure out why I act this way at the doctor. Is it fear that something will be horribly wrong with me? Is it because a lot of the issues I’ve struggled with for awhile (insomnia, daily headaches, migraines, jaw probs) haven’t ever been cured so I just gave up talking about it? Is it that I don’t want to be judged?
I don’t have an answer. Maybe it’s a mix of everything. And maybe I’m not the only one.
I thought I read something about this in the news recently, so I did a quick Google search.
According to WebMD survey, 45 percent of patients lie to their doctors. What do they lie about? Following doctors’ orders, diet and exercise, smoking, symptoms, pain, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual history, and more.
At least I’m not alone.. right? But I find a lot of solace in the fact that I would never lie to my doctor about most of the things on the WebMD survey list. I wouldn’t want to mess around with something important. But then why do I hide minor symptoms and pain? Who knows.
If my family and my doctor is reading this, I’ll try to be better.
Have you ever lied to your doctor?
I’m saddened that people don’t feel comfortable being 100% honest with their doctors! What does that mean? That they are seeing the wrong doctor? I’m glad you’re not lying about the “important things” and that you are being more open now and getting treatment for those ‘minor’ issues!
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