How To Help Patients Feel More Comfortable Talking About Serious Health Concerns

 

When you are in a caregiver position, it is important to facilitate clear communication with your patients. Whether you are discussing long-term care options, hospice care, or treatment plans, everyone must be open and honest. However, health issues are notoriously hard to deal with, and many patients find themselves struggling. How can you smooth things over and ensure good communication?

 

Be Honest

When you are in the care giving position, you are seen as someone with authority. It is important that you are upfront and honest. Be clear about what you know and don’t know, and let them know when they can expect answer. While there are good ways to communicate bad news, it’s important not to sugarcoat serious health problems or make it seem like it isn’t a big deal when it reality it is.

 

Do Not Overwhelm

Remember that people do not always need the most scientific names or the most technical descriptions. Sometimes, the best explanation is the simplest one. Be ready to explain what is going on in the most plain terms possible. This helps you stay on track with treatments.

 

Repeat As Necessary

Sometimes, patients dealing with serious health issues have lots of questions, and some of those questions are going to be the same ones over and over and over again. Be patient with them. They are scared, and sometimes they really do not understand. If they did not understand after you explained one way, try explaining again in a different way.

 

Explain Why It Is Important to Be Clear

So many people spend their lives dodging around the obvious and refusing to think about darker matters. When it comes to serious health concerns, they no longer have a choice. Be firm, but be very plain about what is going on and what the risks are. It is believed that informed patients will always do the best, no matter what their issues are.

 

Tell Them It Is Okay Not to Know

Sometimes, patients don’t know what is going in their own heads. They do not know why they are upset or afraid, they may be concerned that they do not know what is happening or what their treatment entails, and this in turn will make them very upset. It is okay for them not to know.

 

Remind Them That This Is Normal

While you should never state that someone has it worse, remind them that what they are going through is normal. Other people have gone through what they are going through. Suggest support groups that can help. Feeling as if they are not alone can be very helpful.

 

When you are providing care for people who are having serious issues, help them talk about what they are going through, and how they can move forward. Join a network with other health professionals to better benefit patients. Informational credit to Nueterra.

 

Categories: comfortable, Help, Patients, serious health concerns

How to Make Your Pap Test a More Comfortable Experience

Pap tests aren’t exactly anyone’s favourite part of sexual health and wellness. Sure, they can help detect whether your wellbeing has been affected by cervical cancer, but Pap tests are also uncomfortable and a bit scary. Still, as Pap tests are mightily important, we put your Pap-related questions to Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe, medical director at the Immigrant Womens’ Health Centre and staff physician at St. Michael’s Hospital, to find out everything you need to know about Pap tests.

 

1. What Does a Pap Test Involve? According to Dr. Wijayasinghe, ‘A Pap test involves gently inserting a speculum, a metal or plastic medical tool, into the vagina to directly visualize the cervix and sample the cells. While it may feel much longer, it should only take a minute or two to complete.’

 

2. Why Do You Need a Pap Test? ‘Pap tests are an important tool that can pick up early changes in the cells of the cervix that over time can lead to cancer,’ Dr. Wijayasinghe explains. ‘Having regular testing increases the chances of picking up precancerous changes early. Without any history of abnormalities or symptoms, most provinces recommend having a Pap test every three years for women and transgender men.’

 

3. Should You Go to Any Old Doctor? ‘It’s very important to have trust in your healthcare provider (doctor or nurse practitioner) who is doing your Pap test,’ Dr. Wijayasinghe asserts. ‘If you are seeing a new doctor, let him know that you’re nervous. Sharing your concerns will alert the doctor to take extra time to support you. If you had a previous painful experience, he can take additional steps such as warming up the speculum, using enough lubrication and taking the time to talk you through the test.’

 

4. What If You’re Not Comfortable with Doctors? Dr. Wijayasinghe advises, ‘If you are not comfortable with your doctor, find a clinic that has expertise in sexual health. Most larger cities will have sexual health clinics that offer Pap tests and STI screening. These clinics will often carry different sized speculums including extra-small versions that can be used if it’s your first Pap or if you’ve had discomfort in the past.’

 

5. What’s the Best Position to Be In During Your Test? ‘At your appointment, it’s important that you get into a comfortable position,’ says Dr. Wijayasinghe. ‘When we’re nervous, our muscles tense, including the ones in the vagina. This can make inserting the speculum difficult and the test will be more uncomfortable as a result. I encourage my patients to do whatever helps them feel most comfortable. I suggest they breathe slowly and visualize their muscles relaxing. Some of my patients find it helpful to distract themselves by wiggling their toes, talking through the test or having a loved one in the room. Your doctor should use either warm water or lubrication to help insert the speculum more comfortably. While a Pap test may be uncomfortable, it should not be painful. I always tell my patients that they are in control of the situation and the same holds true for you, so if it becomes too uncomfortable either emotionally or physically, tell your doctor to stop.’

 

6. Can You Do Anything to Make Your Test Results More Accurate? Dr. Wijayasinghe recommends, ‘Don’t use any vaginal douches or creams within 48 hours and limit sexual activity within 24 hours of the test. Don’t schedule the test during your period; mid-cycle is best. If you’re being treated for an infection, book at a later time as it can alter the test results.’

Categories: cervical cancer, comfortable, pap tests

Make Sex Normal: Are You Comfortable Talking About It?

Is sex still a taboo subject today? Absolutely. While you may think that sex is prominent in the media, we still seem to have trouble talking or even thinking about it. Enter Debby Herbenick, PHD, a sexual health educator at the Kinsey Institute who has created a new website called Make Sex Normal, in order to get us talking comfortably about sex. According to Herbenick, when you can talk about sex, you’ll see major wellness benefits in your relationships, health, and of course, desire.

 

Herbenick, who is the author of books such as Sex Made Easy and Great In Bed, is used to bringing up the bedroom on a daily basis. ‘My colleagues and I joke about how normal and mundane all of this stuff is in our lives,’ she says. ‘What that does for all of us is we’ve become more comfortable over time and it impacts our personal lives. It’s easier for us to talk about sex with our partners and bring up sex issues that we might have with our doctors.’ Herbenick points out that many physical and psychological issues impact your sex life, and so voicing bedroom problems to your doctor can help you find a diagnosis and a solution. But what are her top tips for making sex normal?

 

1. Baby Steps: Herbenick asserts, ‘There’s a whole menu out there when it comes to sex…Everyone has to figure out where their starting place is and push themselves just a little outside their comfort zone.’ To help you figure out your starting place, Casey Gueren, Associate Editor at Womens Health, suggests, ‘Make a list of all the sexual things you’re curious about, interested in trying, or already know that you like…If you know what gets you off, it’ll be way easier to communicate that to your guy.’

 

2. Read Erotica…In Public: Gueren notes, ‘If the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon taught us anything, it’s that lit-erotica is a great way to get women thinking and talking about sex. So don’t let the trend end with Christian Grey—pick up a few sex books…and read them on the train or in the coffee shop.’ Herbenick explains that reading sex books in public ‘may help you feel more comfortable and confident in your sexual skin, and it also sends a message to everyone around you that sex is a regular part of life.’ However, if that’s a little too scary for your liking, try putting a different cover on your sex book or read it on your kindle – you’ll still feel that little bit naughty.

 

3. Shop Sexier: ‘Even though you can purchase sex toys and find porn from the privacy of your computer, there’s something to be said for visiting a sex shop,’ Gueren comments. ‘You can go solo, with girlfriends, or with your partner—whatever you’re most comfortable with. The important thing is just to set foot in the store. Not only will it put you in a sexual space that you might normally shy away from, but it also gives you the opportunity to explore new things and learn from sex educators who often work at the shops.’

 

4. Plan a Sexy Date: Herbenick advises finding ways to talk to your partner about sex before you even get to the bedroom, such as emailing him an article about a hot new position or visiting a sex museum together. She asserts, ‘It gives you a chance to talk about it so you’re not just whipping out a sex toy.’ Moreover, according to a study in the Journal of Sex Research, experimenting sexually leads to greater relationship satisfaction and intimacy.

Categories: comfortable, Communication, erotica, herbenick, nbsp, sex books, sex normal, sex shop, talk, talking

Are You Making This Serious Post-Workout Mistake?

If you are like most of the women in the world, you probably have a super-comfortable pair of workout trousers. You put them on every time you are doing any form of fitness, and no matter how much weight you lose, you still cling to the old, comfortable favourites. These trousers are so very snuggly and comfortable that you wish you could wear them all the time – to business meetings or on a night out. Since that is not really considered socially acceptable, for now you have to settle for wearing them to the gym. After your workout, you will be extremely tempted to keep them on for hours afterwards, to stay cosy and comfortable.

 

If you want to protect your wellness and wellbeing, however, then you should take off your workout clothes and shower as soon as you can. Keeping your workout clothes on when you have finished exercising is really bad for your health, as it can cause yeast infections (in much the same way that keeping a wet bathing suit on for too long can). This is the case no matter where you exercise, whether that’s in a warm and comfortable gym or outside in the cold – both of these are bad for you, as it’s the general dampness of any workout (and the sweaty undergarments) which cause infections.

 

The best advice we can give is to take a shower as soon as you finish working out. This is even more important if you have been working out in the open air and have any allergies, such as hay, grass or pollen, as these stick to your hair and clothes when you are out and about.

 

If you know for sure that you haven’t got time to have a shower afterwards (if you have to do errands or something) then at least make sure that the clothes you work out in are made from synthetic materials that are designed to keep the sweat away from your body.

Categories: Clothes, comfortable, mistake, nbsp, post, shower, Workout, workout clothes

The Naked Truth: How to Feel Comfortable in Your Own Skin

There aren’t many things that affect your mental wellness more than being naked in front of someone else. You’ve got no clever clothes to distract or hide the bits you don’t like, which means another person is going to see everything. Not only does this have an impact on your emotional wellbeing, but also your sexual health. After all, how often are you going to want to get intimate with your partner if you know they’re going to see you completely naked? If you’re insecure about how you look naked, even the smallest comment can result in a psychological detonation and a devastated evening (not to mention a lot of confusion), so how do you get comfortable in (nothing but) your own skin?

 

1. Walk around naked: Before you can feel comfortable with yourself, you need to feel comfortable with yourself. Although this is easier said than done, making yourself get naked more often can help to get you started. Whenever you have the house to yourself, strip off and walk around naked. Try looking at yourself in the mirror as though you’re not looking at yourself, but someone else for the first time. If this image of nakedness was presented before you in the bedroom, would you turn it down? Of course not. When there’s a naked person willing to have sex with you, who cares if they have a bit of cellulite, one breast or testicle that’s lower than the other, or a bit of hair in an odd place? You don’t need to be Ryan Gosling or Scarlett Johansson to be sexually desirable – in real life, even they don’t look like Ryan Gosling or Scarlett Johansson! The fact is that someone wants to have sex with you, just as you are, so take pride in that and leave the lights on; confidence is sexy.

 

2. Get to know yourself better: It’s perfectly normal to masturbate, whether you’re male or female, and it also has the added bonus of teaching you what makes you feel good. Knowing thyself in the carnal sense helps you to can better guide someone who wants to please you, so get exploring!

 

3. Talk to your doctor: Sexual insecurities can sometimes stem from a medical problem, so talking to a medical health professional about it might help. If sex is painful for you, for example, someone can talk you through it, give you advice and might be able to fix it. Don’t keep schtum just because your problem is a bit weird; any health care professional has pretty much heard it all. Other problems that you should talk to your doctor about include unusual discharge or smell, or if you’re having trouble getting erect, having an orgasm or staying lubricated.

 

4. Sort out your priorities: Let’s just sort this out now; it’s a myth that all men want sex all the time, and that what all women truly desire is someone who lasts for hours. It’s common to worry about your sexual performance, whether you’re a woman who worries she takes too long to orgasm – or that you won’t be able to – or you’re a man who’s concerned that he’ll ejaculate too quickly or not get hard enough. No one’s denying that orgasms are great, but making that the only focus of a sexual experience means that you are missing out on a lot of other things, and shredding your nerves from all that pressure. Sexual mishaps happen, whether you can’t get it up, can’t orgasm or you do it all far too quickly. Maybe you’re not comfortable with the person, maybe you have other stuff going on in your mind, or maybe you’re both drunk. Regardless, there’s more to sex than those few seconds, so focus on each other.

Categories: comfortable, feel, feel comfortable, masturbation, naked, nbsp, ryan gosling, scarlett johansson, sexual, sexual insecurities

Delivery Day Packing? Here"s How to Prepare for Child Birth

You’ve been looking forward to the arrival of your baby throughout your entire pregnancy, and now that it’s about to happen, you’re probably feeling nervous, happy and completely terrified. Even though you’re experiencing a lot of overwhelming feelings, now is the time to get your head together and figure out what to pack for the delivery room.

1. Warm and Comfortable Clothes

During the delivery, you will most likely be wearing a hospital gown, but afterwards, you will long for comfortable clothing that reminds you of home.

2. Warm Socks

Both before and after your delivery, you will likely want something on your feet for when you get up to walk around, and slippers or shoes may be too cumbersome. A few pairs of warm socks will do the trick.

 

3. A Comfortable Pillow

The hospital will provide you with pillows, but they may not be as comfortable as the ones you have at home. If you have a favorite pillow, bring it along with you. After laying on your back for hours during labor, you will be grateful that you did.

 

4. Toiletries and Essentials

You can never be sure how long your labor will take, so if you need skincare products, dental care products or any other personal care item, it’s important to remember to bring it along. Otherwise, you will probably end up sending your spouse or another family member home to get items for you, which could be a hassle.

 

5. Entertainment

Labor is usually a waiting game, which can make for hours of boredom. Watching television in your room will probably grow old after a while, and your family members can only do so much to entertain you. Bring along magazines, books, or a laptop computer with your favorite music and movies.

 

6. Anti-Stress Devices

When the labor pains start growing more intense, it can be good to have an anti-stress device nearby. These devices are usually small toys that you can hold, squeeze or simply focus your energy on.

 

7. Maternity Underwear

Labor and its aftermath can be a bit messy, so you will want to bring along a few pairs of underwear that you don’t mind getting destroyed.

 

8. A Nursing Pillow

The more prepared you are to nurse your baby, the easier the process will be. Having a nursing pillow will help you learn to hold your baby in the proper feeding position and guard against excessive gas and burping.

 

9. Everything You Need For The Ride Home

Bringing home your baby will be one of the most exciting things you ever do, so prepare in advance by getting a quality car seat, blankets and appropriate clothing. Remember that babies are extra sensitive to cold, so if you will be delivering in winter, additional clothing may be needed.

 

Delivering your baby will go down as one of the most intensely beautiful moments of your life. The better you can prepare, the more of your energy you can focus on meeting your child for the first time.

 

Melanie Fleury is the mother of four wonderful kids. She has learned that every labor and delivery is unique but having the essentials ready to go is a great way to relieve a little bit of the stress that comes with bringing a new baby into the world. For her, the nursing pillow worked double duty as a comfortable pillow during labor and then as support while breastfeeding. The birth of your child is a glorious occasion, enjoy this time celebrating your little one.

Categories: child birth, comfortable, packing