Dear Dr. Vicki
Dear Dr. Vicki,
This is not something I would normally talk about, but I noticed blood in my stool. I knew I should have brought it up in my annual physical, but the doctor never asked about my bowel habits so I decided it must not be that important. Should I just hope it’s temporary and forget about it?
Call Me Embarrassed
Dear Embarrassed,
I’m so glad you asked! You may have saved your life by noticing this.
In my practice, I’ve learned there are five taboo subjects that many patients find awkward or challenging to discuss with their physician. I call them the 5 P’s:
- peeing
- pooping,
- procreating (sex),
- paying
- psycho-somatizing (physical pain brought on by emotional causes).
Blood in your stool could be caused by anything from hemorrhoids to cancer. Your doctor needs to know about this immediately so s/he can make a proper diagnosis and initiate the right treatment.
Here are words you can use to bring this up this sensitive subject.
1. Call your doctor’s office and say, “This is embarrassing for me, and (not but) I want you to know I have noticed blood in my stool. When is your earliest appointment so I come in to have this checked out?”
2. Next thing you can do to help your physician is to pay attention to body. Have your bowel habits changed? Are you having greater or fewer number of bowel movements each week? Is the diameter or texture of your stool different? You might even keep a “bowel chart” in the bathroom that’s nothing more than a piece of paper in which you record this information. Are you having any pain? How is your overall energy? Do your clothes fit the same?. The more measurable details you give your doctor, the better.
3. Most importantly, promise yourself that you will attend to this despite the embarrassment. Ignoring the body’s “red flags” can be dangerous to your health and your life is much too precious to put at risk.
My best,
Dr. Vicki
WARNING
If you have blood in your stool and hemorrhoids, DO NOT assume that the blood is coming from your hemorrhoids. If the bleeding is caused by colon cancer, you will lose the chance to make an early diagnosis. |
Dear Dr. Vicki,
Since I started a new medicine for high blood pressure prescribed by my doctor, my sex life just hasn’t been the same. This is an important part of my marriage that my husband and I both enjoy, but now I’m just not interested. Do I have to resign myself to this?
Wondering about the Dry Spell
Dear Wondering,
You deserve a healthy sex life.
Good for you for realizing you don’t have to suffer in silence. More patients like you should take responsibility for their health care instead of quietly struggling with symptoms that are compromising their quality of life.
1. Call your doctor’s office and say to the nurse, “I’m having some unacceptable side effects from this new medicine.” Be sure to have the name of the prescription and the dosage ready to give. Then say, “May I have a five minute phone appointment with my doctor to discuss this?”
2. The nurse or doctor may suggest you come in for another appointment so you can be re-evaluated.
3. Or, they may reassure you that the side effect will go away after taking the medicine for awhile. If so, ask,” How long before I’m back to normal?” If the projected time feels like too long, ask, “Could we please discuss other options? Are there other medications that will regulate my blood pressure without these side effects?”
4. Remember, there are always choices in medicine. If your doctor does not offer you choices, speak up and ask for them.
My best,
Dr. Vicki
Did you know that….
If all the air sacs of your lungs were opened and flattened, they would cover half of a football field. |
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