What are the consequences of ignoring embarrassing medical questions?
Your body is designed to give you feedback to keep you healthy and in balance. When you ignore the messages you lose the chance for an early intervention. You know what happens when you’re hungry and don’t get something to eat or ignore your full bladder. The key to successful medical treatment is early diagnosis, a door closed if you ignore symptoms that cause you embarrassment. How do you manage embarrassing medical questions? • Feel the fear and push forward. Say to your doctor, In my family, bowel function was a taboo subject, so this is embarrassing. It’s important that you know I have a change in my bowel habits. • Write your doctor a note if it’s too hard to say the words out loud. Tell someone who can tell your doctor. • Know your doctor has heard it all before. I promise. Your doctor won’t laugh at you or tell you that you’re crazy. • Teach you children anatomically correct words, and talk with them honestly about how their bodies work. Books and Internet resources can help yo
