The Top Ten Lies I KNOW You're Telling Me

There are 18 pulse positions in Chinese Medicine.  Each position tells me if you ate, if you are sad, if you have no energy, the condition of your lungs, your mood...even what the sex of your fetus is (I'm 13 for 15 on this one at the present time).  The face provides a plethora of information about a person's organs and general health condition.  So, when a patient comes into my office and I am checking their pulses & observing their visage, I am never surprised when a person is telling a 'little white lie' about their overall health.  It's really too bad, because they always get 'found out' at the end of a session and moving forward know that they are free and safe to tell all.  Face it folks...when you fib to your physician, you're only cheating and hurting yourself.  The more information you give to your healthcare provider, the better you can be served, the healthier you can become and serious illnesses can be avoided.  Everyday Health just posted a piece on the 10 Top Lies That Physician's Hear and I've heard them all.  Read the following and when you get to one or two or more lies that you tell, just think of this....we KNOW you're lying, so just give it up!

Lie No. 1: I quit smoking months ago.  Never mind that you stink of nicotine when you walk into the office.  This silly lie can cause a physician to believe that a disease or symptoms of a disease are becoming worse, rather than being due to your continued smoking.  Mistreatment can occur because of your dirty little lie.  Oh yes...the breath spray and Febreeze don't mask the smell either.
Lie No. 2: I rarely drink.  We have no problems with recreational and social drinking.  But...when your blood tests come back with elevated liver panels and it's obvious that you're not just having those 2 drinks per day - why lie???  Excessive drinking leads to barrel bellies, unwanted excess fat (bad for your heart) and enlarged livers.  A good physician is going to sit you down and have a good talk with you about this, so you might as well be honest.  You could help prevent serious heart and liver problems by just telling your physician just how much you do drink.

Lie No. 3: I’m a fitness nut!  Ok, you are 40 pounds overweight, your muscles are flaccid and you huff and puff getting onto the examination table.  Do you think we were born last week????

Lie No. 4: I only take the medications I’m prescribed.  I cannot tell you how many people have become addicted to pain killers and 'mother's little helpers' to avoid dealing with life in a healthy and productive manner.  These drugs are addictive.  They will affect your mood more than you can imagine, affect your sleep, energy and sex life; and most are metabolized in the Liver, which can lead to liver damage and failure.  The dialogue that goes with the person who is addicted to these drugs is so common, sometimes, I wonder who is passing around the script for the 'script'....

Lie No. 5: I don’t skip any of my medications.   Medications are prescribed for a reason.  Skipping them can lead to serious side effects.  If you have a problem remembering to take your meds or you cannot afford them, speak with your physician.  Together, you can develop a system to ensure you take your medications everyday.  Expensive drugs can be substituted with generics and most drug companies have programs that will provide low cost and sometimes free medications to those in need.

Lie No. 6: I’m a healthy eater.  The way you look and feel are certain signs of what you eat.  If you lie to your physician about what you eat, you complicate the process by which we can determine what can be causing your symptoms.  I always remember the case of an elderly man suffering from congestive heart failure.  He was given a good report at his doctor's visit and thought he could go home and eat a couple cans of sardines.  Six hours later, he was in the emergency room, drowning in his own fluids.  The cardiologist wouldn't release him from the hospital because the patient said he didn't do or eat anything that could cause such a flareup the same day as receiving a good checkup.  This confounded the physician to find the cause of this terrible event. On the fourth day fo being hospitalized, the patient finally admitted to eating over 3,000mg of sodium.  Go figure....

Lie No. 7: Sexual problems? No way.  Disclosing your sexual information can be critical to your health.  The relationship between patient and physician must be one of trust and safety.  Be certain you are comfortable with your physician and be honest.  Sexual function, homosexuality, bisexuality and promiscuity have important health consequences.  Remember, your time with your physician is CONFIDENTIAL.  But, hiding a history of sexually transmitted diseases or lifestyle can possibly lead to symptoms that without honesty, your healthcare provider will not be able to diagnose and treat properly.

Lie No. 8: Ouch, I feel awful!  Lying to your physician to obtain certain medications is just wrong.  This puts your health at risk and places your physician at risk of malpractice.

Lie No. 9: I’m not sure when my symptoms started.  Sometimes, a symptom begins during a time that a person would like not to share (taking illicit drugs, or certain sexual experiences for example).  Not being honest about how symptoms began can lead to misdiagnosis, and mistreatment.  This can bring about serious health complications and consequences.  Again, your time with your physician is CONFIDENTIAL.

Lie No. 10: I have no family history of that disease.  Mental illness can run in families.  There is a genetic history for certain cancers.  It is quite common for a patient to tell me that yes, several members of the family have had certain cancers, but are unwilling to share any information with siblings about the type of cancer cell and treatment given.  These poor people are 'in the dark' about familial cancers and they could very well be the next victim in the family to fall ill.  Mental illness is quite often 'hidden away' because of social stigma.  This information is just so important to your physician in the overall care for your wellbeing.  Don't hold back...we've heard many stories before and we take nothing personally.  We are here for you; that's our job, so let us do it well!

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Have you had enough yet?  See yourself somewhere betwee #1 and #10?  Understand now how silly and ridiculous it is to lie to your healthcare provider???  Give it some thought today.