physical exam

[anon,irresp.]

have any of you had a full physical for work, or anything else while you had some open wounds? well i'm in that situation now. i have 3, 2 on my leg, and one on my chest. i am so embarrased to go.

any advise, similar stories?

[FarmGirl]

Hi anon. Yeah, I went for my first complete physical in about 6 years just a couple of months ago and I think I rescheduled it half a dozen times before finally committing to it because of other problems. I'm a face picker. The day of my appointment I put makeup on my face and I didn't make any mention of my problem during the exam. I hate doctors so I always insist on seeing a Nurse Practitioner. She didn't mention my skin either. I only brought it up when asking for a type of birth control that would help my "acne".

The only thing I had to explain were the bruises all over my body! I constantly look like a battered woman because of my easy bruising and love for farm animals, who can be very rough on a body

I never even though to mention my picking because I didn't want that label in my medical file. Despite what people think, medical information is not confidential anymore. In fact, I don't think I'll ever mention it to my doctor.

However, I did skirt around the picking issue by talking about my anxiety (which is the root of my picking) and managed to get a prescription, which has proved most helpful in controlling my anxiety at least.

I wish I could be more help to you. This is all new to me too. It definately helps to talk about it, even if it's just on here

Best wishes.

[theta]

my experience was not a 'full physical', but here goes anyway...
a few months ago I went to see a GP because I was getting funny little itchy, fluid filled bumps on my palms and ankles. I showed him what my hands looked like, but was very reluctant about my feet, because I have lots of red scars and big scabs there from scratching and picking.
The doctor kept pressing me about it, so eventually I took off my shoes and socks and showed him. It was very upsetting, and I cried for about 5 minutes before I was calm enough to explain to him why all the marks and sores were there (I was also not being effectively treated for depression at the time, which is partly why I had that reaction).
Anyway, I told him that I had been experiencing extreme family difficulties, which made me stressed, and that when stressed it aggravated my picking. He seemed a little wierded by it at first, but then told me that the little bumps on my skin were most likely a bacterial infection contracted because I am continually breaking my skin.
I guess it was a good thing, because until he saw my feet he had nearly misdiagnosed the bumps as being from scabies. Also, although he did not show much insight or understanding of the situation, he was quite nice about things, and tried to be a bit comforting when I was upset.

[Stef (Incubabe)]

Ha...oh god. This is kinda funny...kinda not. I had to have a physical before 10th grade (last year) and I was all picked up...blah blah. I covered most of it with this insanely thick makeup I had...plus this stuff wouldnt rub off with steel wool, seriously. So I coated myself with it and went to the doctor...so noticed somewhat and just thought I had been scratching at dry skin (moron) so shes like "Pick up some mosturizer." If only it was that simple. She didnt even bother to give me a full exam. Oh well. But then, I went for a shot and had this other weird lady. I covered the arm in makeup again and they have to sterilize the area, blah blah. So shes like grinding at my skin to try to get the make up off. LOL. Its like, "hello, its there for a reason!" Ah well. Md's freak me out.