Talking about your health
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Finding your voice
We know that talking about your health issues can be difficult, even with those closest to you.
There are many different reasons for this. You may have tried to get support in the past but had a negative experience or feel embarrassed or unable to talk about the the symptoms that are affecting you.
It’s important to know that you are not alone in your health issues. Two in three women in north east London experience problems with reproductive ill-health.
Your voice, your body and your health are so important. Talking about your health with the right people can help you get the right care when you need it.
We want you to feel in control when having conversations about your health, to feel informed and empowered to make important decisions. Read our simple tips that can help you feel more confident to have conversations about your health.
Speaking to a healthcare professional
If you have concerns about your health and wellbeing, the first step will usually be to speak to your GP or another healthcare professional at your local GP practice.
They are there to listen to you, not to judge, and everything you tell them is confidential. They want to understand your symptoms and what you are experiencing so they can provide the right treatment for you or refer you to the right specialist.
Planning ahead can help you make the most of your time with them, and feel more confident having the conversation.
- Keep a diary: Write down some of the symptoms you have been having, when they occur, how they make you feel and how they affect your daily life.
- Speak to your family: If you feel comfortable, speak to a loved one. Find out if someone in your family has the same issues, or condition as you.
- Write down your questions and concerns: Prepare some of the most important questions you would like to ask so you can keep these in front of you during your appointment.
- Do your research: Knowledge is power. You may want to do your own research to think about your symptoms or your condition so your healthcare professional can rule these out.
- Request an interpreter if you need it. Speak to the practice or hospital so that they can arrange this. It’s important you can understand all that is being discussed.
- Call upon your allies: Feel overwhelmed or anxious going to your appointment alone? Arrange for a trusted friend or family member to attend with you. They can take notes for you, or even help you get across how your symptoms affect your daily life.
- Take a notebook and pen: It’s good to have this with you to note down new information as it’s discussed.
- Take along your questions: Bring your questions with you to help guide the conversation. Before you leave the appointment, pause to check if you have covered everything you wanted to.
- Give yourself plenty of time to get to your appointment: Have a moment to gather your thoughts about questions you will be asking, or to simply pause for a few deep breathes to calm any nerves.
- Try not to downplay your symptoms: Be honest and clear about the impact your symptoms are having on your life and how they are affecting you.
- Be direct and clear in your language: It can sometimes feel embarrassing talking about certain symptoms and saying words like discharge, blood, pee, vagina or back passage. Health professionals have seen lots of people with the same symptoms. They want to fully understand what you are experiencing so they can help you the best way they can.
- Ask if you don't understand: If you don’t understand some of the words or phrases being said, or if there’s something you are not sure of, ask for clarification from your healthcare professional. Ask them to repeat the information in a simple, clear way to help you understand. This is your body and your health and it’s important you are clear.
- Write down any advice given: Write down any next steps in your care, or any medication your have been given and how to take it, so you have the information to hand to re-read later on. If you're still unsure, ask the doctor or nurse to write it down for you.
- Attend your appointments: Make sure to attend any appointments booked for you. If you can't make it, contact the service to rearrange to a better time.
- Book in any tests: If you have been asked to book in any blood tests or scans, try to do this as soon as possible.
- Find local support: Find out what support is available in your local area. This could be in the form of local support charities, or networks who work with people experiencing the same issues you are.
If you aren't entirely satisfied with how your appointment has gone, or the advice you have been given, don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion.
Here are some suggestions about questions you may want to ask your healthcare professional:
If you need to have some tests, such as blood tests or a scan:
- How do I book the test?
- Can you tell me what the tests are for?
- What will the tests show?
- How and when will I get my results?
- Do I need to fast before having the tests done?
If treatment is suggested for you:
- What do you recommend as the best treatment for me and why?
- Will there be any side effects or risks?
- What are the alternatives and what will happen if I don’t have this treatment?
- Is there anything I need to change or stop doing at this point?
- Is there anything I can do to manage my symptoms?
Understanding next steps:
- What happens next?
- Who will I see next and when?
- Who do I contact if my symptoms worsen?
- Where can I find more information and support?
Speaking with your employer
We spend so much of our lives in the workplace, so it’s important that you feel supported if you are experiencing health issues. If your health symptoms are affecting your work, the first step is to talk to your line manager.
Talking about your health may feel difficult at work. But your health matters in every setting, including your workplace, and your employer can often make simple changes to better support you.
Remember that your employer has a duty of care to provide you with a safe and supporting work environment for you to carry out your role in the best way possible.
- Get advice from your GP or healthcare professional: It can be helpful to speak to a healthcare professional before your employer. They may be able to make suggestions about changes you can make at work. They can also advise on any future tests or appointments you may need to have.
- Arrange to speak to someone you feel comfortable with: If you feel that you can’t speak with your manager, you can request a discussion with HR who can also support you.
- Right place, right time: Arrange to speak to someone in a private space, where you feel comfortable to talk. Allow a good amount of time to speak as well.
- Prepare helpful information about your symptoms or condition: Before your meeting, it might help to prepare a list of the symptoms you’re experiencing and think about some practical solutions that could help you manage you manage better in the workplace.
- Share as much information as you feel is right for you. Be clear and open about the impact your symptoms are having on your working life, and the difficulties are you experiencing at work. This allows your manager or HR department to better understand the support you need.
- Ask for an Occupational Health Assessment: Many companies can refer you for a free occupational health assessment to see what adjustments can be made to help you.
- Collaborate with your manager on solutions: Work together on ideas to find the best way to manage your work life alongside your symptoms. Make the conversation about finding solutions.
- Agree a plan together: Work with your manager, or your HR department, on a positive way forward so that you can work effectively and manage your symptoms.
- Be proactive in following up about any changes needed to your working life and any actions agreed with your manager.
- Keep talking to your manager or your HR department about how the adjustments they have made are helping you or if you need more support.
Speaking with friends and family
Talking about health issues you are experiencing with trusted family or friends isn’t easy. But it can help you to feel less alone, more supported and can help those around you better understand what you are going through and how they can help you.
Talking about your health issues can help you build a support network of people who you can turn to when things get difficult. They can also help you to advocate for the care you need.
- Make time and space for the conversation: Try and plan so that other factors of everyday life don’t interrupt. Put away any tech or distractions and plan a quiet space to talk.
- Practice beforehand: It can help to practice what you would like to say and how you want to say it.
- Write down examples: Think about examples you can use to demonstrate the impact the issue has been having on your life. They may have even noticed it themselves.
- Think about what support you need from them: How do you want them to help you?
- Be comfortable: Think about how much you want to share, and how you can talk about your health in a way that feels most natural to you and the relationship you have with that person.
- Ask if they already know about your symptoms or condition: This can help you gauge what they already know.
- Be clear about the impact that your health issues are having on you and your life: It’s only in sharing this that others can understand how you are feeling and how you they can help you.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help: Let them know the simple ways you might need support.
- Write things down: If you find it difficult to express how your health is impacting you, feel free to write it down and share for the person to read.
After your conversation, give them some time to digest and understand what you’ve told them, we all process information in different ways.
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