By Teri Dreher, RN, guest blogger
Have you ever lied to your doctor or downplayed your symptoms? If so, you’re far from alone — and that’s a huge problem.
A 2018 study conducted by researchers at the University of Utah and others found that 60% to 80% of people surveyed admitted to being less than honest with their doctors at some point.
In healthcare, trust is two-way street. You want to trust that your doctor is providing you with the best care possible, including all the information you need to make good choices and stay healthythrivewithparalysis.com/health. But to do that, your doctor needs to trust that you’re giving them the whole picture — the honest picture — of your health.
Why people lie
There are all kinds of reasons why people lie or withhold information from their doctors. According to the Utah study, the most common reasons patients gave were:
They didn’t want their doctor to judge them negatively
They didn’t want to be lectured on how harmful their behavior was
They were embarrassed
Unfortunately, that same study showed that people who were more seriously ill were the ones most likely to lie to their doctors.
Downplaying drinking habits
I have found that many people are hesitant to fully disclose behaviors such as smoking and drinking because they’re ashamed of their habits.
One woman told me she drank one to two glasses of wine every evening to help her sleep. But on the way out of her home, I noticed 10-liter bottles of wine in her garage. That’s a lot for someone who lives alone, doesn’t entertain, and is only drinking “one or two glasses” a day. Knowing how much and how often you drink can impact everything from how your doctor interprets test results to medications they prescribe.
Getting accustomed to symptoms
Other patients may get so used to a chronic condition like pain or shortness of breath that they don’t think it warrants discussing with their doctor, especially if they’re feeling better at the time of a doctor’s visit.
I once had a client with a history of serious heart and lung problems. She was calling me every day complaining of shortness of breath, so I made an appointment with her pulmonologist to see her a week earlier than scheduled.
When I arrived to take her to the doctor’s office, she appeared to be breathing easily and she showed no distress. On the way to the doctor’s office, she hedged about how bad her breathing had been lately, saying it was probably family stress that had gotten her worked up.
When we arrived at the doctor’s office, she told him she was “the same” and needed prodding from me to tell the doctor about her recent complaints. As a result, he changed some of her medications. Her symptoms improved later that week, and she expressed thanks that I spoke up for her.
Making medication judgements alone
Not wanting to “bother” the doctor is another reason people fail to share important information. Patients tell me all the time when I review their medications, “Oh, I ran out of that and just stopped taking it. I didn’t think it was helping.” But if they feel a medication is ineffective, they should be discussing that with their doctor.
The same is true if the side effects or the cost of the medication are becoming problems. Of course, to be candid about those issues, the patient has to feel comfortable going to their doctor with them.
I had a man who stopped taking his medicines after three months because he didn’t think they were helping him. He also didn’t like his doctor’s personality, so he never went back. His symptoms progressed to the point where he could barely walk.
When I took him to another doctor, he agreed to try the medicines again and noticed a dramatic improvement in his symptoms within two weeks. The new doctor told him she was “delighted” with his progress, which underscored the improvement he hadn’t notice on his own.
Not speaking up
A good doctor-patient relationship is key not just so patients feel comfortable sharing information about their habits or symptoms, but also so they’re comfortable asking questions. Failing to say when you don’t understand instructions or when you don’t agree with a doctor’s assessment can result in a problem lingering needlessly or a doctor being frustrated that you “didn’t follow instructions.”
So, the next time you visit a doctor, be honest and forthcoming. If you’re not honest at your appointments because your doctor seems overly judgmental or doesn’t seem to listen when you do speak, then it may be time to find a new doctor. If you just have trouble asserting yourself, consider bringing a trusted family member, friend, or advocate to speak up on your behalf.
Remember, withholding information can be just as bad as lying about it. Tell the truth — the whole truth. You might find that honesty is the best medicine for living a healthier life. TwP
Teri Dreher, RN, is a patient advocated with NShore Patient Advocates. She is the author of How to Be a Healthcare Advocate for Yourself & Your Loved Ones, available on Amazon. She would be happy to offer readers a free phone consultation. Reach her at Teri@northshorern.com