The health stuff we all quietly ignore (and why it’s worth doing something about)
There’s a particular category of health issue that most of us are guilty of putting off. It’s not that we don’t know about it. It’s not usually that it’s seriously painful. It’s just a bit… awkward. Or embarrassing. Or unpleasant to think about.
We see a fair bit of it here at The Lomond Clinic. People coming in who’ve been putting off making an appointment. Quietly ignoring symptoms, or managing round them. Waving things off as “probably nothing.” And almost always, once it’s (finally!) been dealt with, there’s a version of: why did I wait so long?
So consider this a gentle nudge…
Ears
Blocked ears are extremely common, and often dismissed as a minor annoyance. But the cumulative effect – muffled hearing, tinnitus, that ‘full’, pressured feeling – can affect your concentration, your conversations, your confidence. Ear wax removal is one of the quickest and most satisfying fixes we offer. Anna Blackshaw, our Registered Nurse, runs a dedicated ear wax clinic every Wednesday, offering both microsuction and irrigation depending on what suits you best. Most appointments are done and dusted in half an hour, and afterwards people routinely tell what a difference it makes.
Skin — skin tags, warts, moles and things you’ve been ignoring
A skin tag here, a wart that’s been there for years, a mole you’ve been meaning to get checked. Most are harmless, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with them – and some are worth having a professional cast an eye cast over them. Qualified nurse Anna is trained in both cryotherapy and ThermaVein for removal of skin tags, warts, and similar lesions. We also offer mole assessment including remote access to a Consultant Dermatologist. It doesn’t take long, and it puts your mind at ease.
Women’s health
Smear tests are one of the most effective screening tools we have – and one of the most commonly put off. If you’re behind on yours, or you’ve been meaning to talk to someone about something that doesn’t feel quite right, Dr Joyce Braaksma offers full 30-minute GP appointments and has a specialisation in women’s health and menopause. There’s time to talk, and nothing is too small or too embarrassing to bring up.
Bowel health, incontinence, and the things people don’t mention
These are the ones people are most likely to quietly manage around. Changes in bowel and bladder habits. Leakage. Discomfort. Things that can have a huge impact on daily life, and that are far more common than people let on, but feel too personal to bring up – even with a GP. They’re worth talking about. Make an appointment with Dr Joyce – she’s really easy to talk to, and can assess and refer for anything that needs a closer look. It’s not something to have to just put up with, or manage alone.
Weight management
Weight management is one of those things that’s rarely as simple as knowing what to do. For most people it’s layered – habits, history, health, how life gets in the way – and lasting change tends to come from addressing it from more than one angle. At The Lomond Clinic, we offer exactly that kind of joined-up support.
Dr Joyce Braaksma can provide medical assessment and support, including access to weight loss medication where clinically appropriate. That sits alongside nutritional guidance from Rachael. Or, if habits and mindset are a factor, clinical hypnotherapy from Christine Roy may be the solution. It’s the same integrated approach we bring to everything we do — treating the whole picture, not just one part of it.
Stopping smoking or vaping
Most people who smoke or vape know when they want to stop. The difficulty is rarely the decision – it’s breaking the habit itself. That’s where Christine Roy, our clinical hypnotherapist, can make a real difference. Christine works with clients of all ages using hypnotherapy combined with talking approaches to help change ingrained habits and the thought patterns behind them. Smoking cessation is one of the specific areas she works in, and her approach is forward-looking and practical rather than about willpower alone. If you’ve tried other methods and found them hard to stick to, it’s worth having a conversation.
Find out more about clinical hypnotherapy at The Lomond Clinic →
Mental health
We know that mental health isn’t always easy to raise either, so we’ll simply say: support is available here, with a compassionate and confidential team. If you’d like to know more, we’re happy to point you in the right direction.
Find out more about mental health services at The Lomond Clinic →
Need some help or advice?
The Lomond Clinic is at 55–56 West Clyde Street, Helensburgh. You can book an appointment online or call us on 01436 672677. Reception is open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, and alternate Saturdays 9am–1pm.
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