3 “Little White Lies” Moms Should Never Tell Their Doctor

by: Myla Madson

Women do a funny thing when they feel guilty. They tell little white lies. It’s the lesser of two evils, but if you are talking with your doctor, you better shoot straight with her. Feeling guilty about some of the choices you make in your life could be the least of your worries, ecspecially if you tell your doctor one of these little fibs:

“I eat right and exercise regularly”

If you need to lose a few pounds, or experienced diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy, lying to your doctor about eating right and exercising frequently could be more dangerous than you may think.

Honesty is always the best policy when talking with your doctor, and although you may feel uncomfortable admitting you’re not doing the things necessary for optimum health, answering her questions honestly and completely will help her make a more accurate diagnosis of any problem you may be having. You could also be missing out on invaluable advice that could help you meet your weight loss goals, or more seriously, hiding the truth could make your condition worse.

“No, I don’t Smoke”

Trying to avoid the “stop smoking lecture” you know for sure is coming? It’s not worth it.

Lying to your doctor about smoking is dangerous and could lead to a misdiagnosis when it comes to conditions like asthma, allergies or slow healing after an illness or surgery.

Smokers using birth control pills or the Patch are also at an increased risk of developing blood clots which could lead to a heart attack or stroke.

You may also miss out on your doctor’s advice on ways that could help you kick the habit. She can design a plan specific to you and possibly prescribe promising new smoking-cessation drugs that will greatly increase you chances of success.

“I feel fine”

Feeling fine physically is only half the consideration your doctor places on your overall health, especially if you’ve recently had a child.

Depression or anxiety are as serious a health issue as a prolonged cough or unexplained muscle soreness.

Depression can lead to migraines and sleeping problems as well as affecting the overall health of your family.

Research shows that children of depressed moms have an elevated risk of suffering from anxiety, depression or disruptive behavior.

Telling the truth is always the best policy, especially when your health is on the line. Bite the bullet and if for some reason you are just not comfortable with the look or lecture you receive, talk to your doctor about it. Most busy health care professionals have an absolutely horrid bedside manner! They are pressured to get to the point as quickly as possible and sometimes forget there is a very human, posibbly very frightened person at the other end of their stethescope.

A tip I always find useful when visiting with my doctor, especially if I am not feeling well, is to write down everything I can remember about my symptoms, timelines and any medications I’ve been taking. You can do this during the inevitable “waiting room” period and will help you quickly recall all relevant information your doctor will need in treating you.