Doctor doctor euphemisms

So... today I have to go to a clinic in Ina for a health check. This is linked up to my medical insurance, so I guess I have to do it. However, I wish to protest. I haven't been ill since I got to Japan (aside from the weird sickness the other week), not even a cold. In England I went to see my doctor alot for various different reasons, all of which have disappeared since I got here. The only thing which causes me mild annoyance is the reappearance of my "Benign Positional Vertigo" which means when I lie down I get dizzy.

So, I don't want to piss into a cup, or have my height and weight measured, or be checked for major diseases. It's put very straight terms on my English translation of what will be required, which I'm quite sure the English have various euphemisms for in a bid to alleviate their distress have having to talk about their bodies. There's not much discomfort about talking about your body in Japan. I get the impression it is seen as more of an machine than this icky thing you have to get along with and ignore most of the time. For example, one of my students came into class last week and told me he wasn't feeling well. "What's wrong?" I asked, seeing that he was quite pale. "I've got diarrhea," he said. I was briefly uncomfortable at being told in such direct terms what was wrong with him. In England we'd probably say "I've got an upset stomach" or some such. So I asked him if he shouldn't be at home, but he said he was okay and then asked if he could use the bathroom.

Anyway, I should do my washing up and go...