“Do you have a translator?”

The doctor stared at me expressionless before muttering Vietnamese into their phone and revealing the translation with a smile:

You are suffering.

I already knew I was suffering. It was over thirty degrees heat. I was wearing a sweaty face mask barely able to breathe let alone contemplate the meaning of his diagnosis. Playing a game of Chinese Whispers with a doctor via Google Translate was not on my agenda for the day. Going for health checks at home is already a daunting enough experience, going when you’re living abroad in a non-English speaking country is like playing Charades while being hooked up to wires. But you never win or find out what the answer is.

During my many visits to the doctor’s in Vietnam, I have (without warning or request) seen the inside of my body on television screens while the whole experience was narrated in Vietnamese alongside gasps, giggles and pointing which convinced me there was something seriously wrong with me. I’ve been hooked up to wires when I had chest pain, had nose swabs without consent, been given ultrasounds and x-rays for stomach pain, recommended for unnecessary surgery, incorrectly diagnosed on the spot, and despite all of this — been told ‘not to worry’ and laughed at for being a ‘hypochondriac’.

When I was little, visiting our GP seemed like a practical solution to any possible sickness. They were superheroes who would save the day. Mum would bring me if I felt unwell, probably to the extent that the doctor would look at me and say, “You again?” So when I left home and became an adult, I thought the ‘looking after my health stuff’ would get easier. But the truth was, the reality of all the potential sicknesses that can be spread nowadays exacberated my fear by 100. Deciding to go to check-ups became my responsibility, one I never felt ready for.

If you’re like me and consult Google when you’re feeling something is not right with your health, you’ve probably misdiagnosed yourself and experienced the ‘bad kind of scary’ far too many a time. It’s like I love knowing the worst-case scenario so I am prepared and have control over the situation, then the majority of the time that doesn’t happen and I’ve scared myself for no reason. This unhealthy coping mechanism has made visiting the doctors more horrendous than it needs to be. Throw in a doctor unable to speak English or reassure you and it creates a nightmare.

I know you might be thinking: well, you should have made an effort to learn Vietnamese rather than be ignorantly expecting them to know English. Learning a new language is definitely worth trying so you can communicate beyond the basics with the locals and respect their culture. However, becoming fluent overnight is unrealistic and many people who are traveling will encounter situations where they need to urgently visit a hospital and be prepared for the realities of that situation.

So, if you find yourself regularly avoiding doctor appointments or dreaded check-ups (especially if you’re living abroad) consider the ways you can make these experiences easier:

• Don’t trust a self-diagnosis based on Google: there are many similar symptoms related to a billion different things. The internet loves frightening people. Unless you’re a medical expert, accept to cross the bridge when you come to it and ask the opinion of someone who’s knowledgeable in that field like a GP.

• Although visiting the doctor is definitely important for annual check-ups, lingering disturbances, and sudden illnesses, some of us may depend too much on medicine and quick fixes for small pains and aches or colds and flus. Natural remedies and rest are often good to try first unless you have a feeling something is not right.

• Fear or shame should be thrown in the bin. It’s a doctor’s job to see bodies and help people.

• Bringing earphones to listen to music can be relaxing. Having a friend/family member you’re comfortable with accompany you can be a relief. Just knowing someone supportive is in the waiting room if you need them who can help brainstorm rationally and give a calm third party opinion.

• Avoiding necessary check-ups based on the fear of finding something will only benefit in the short-term but it will be worse for the long-term. Sometimes your symptoms might be nothing, but there is always a chance they could be something. And rather than skipping having to deal with that possibility, it’s better to be aware now because you will have to deal with it eventually.

• If you receive bad news during a check-up, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. It is knowledge that’s important to know. Knowing more about your body gives more control. Though we cannot fully control the way our body works, we can learn to understand it more and make productive actions to benefit it. Without this, you are at a disadvantage and could ruminate in fear not knowing.

• Your health is your wealth. We are all unique and everyone’s experience with particular sicknesses is unique. Try to take a deep breath and remember that just because something happened to someone else doesn’t mean it will happen to you.

• Always get a second opinion if you are travelling and at a doctor’s office you’re not used to. Don’t jump to decisions based on heightened emotions causing panic.

• Use Google Translate, but use with caution and allow for things to get lost in translation.

I usually find the anticipation and feeling of not knowing something is often worse than the reality. Our imaginations and minds can bring us to the worst possible scenario. Though it’s normal to be nervous about check-ups, remember you are being brave and undertaking a ‘good kind of scary’ that will benefit your health.