Sharing an embarrassing secret

Dear Ms. Meniscus,

I got hammered the other night with friends and was hung over the next morning at work. I think my boss knew. In fact, I'm afraid he's getting ready to punish me.

Should I explain to him what I did?

-Tipsy in Tallahassee

Dear Tipsy,

Ah, to be in my twenties again, out partying it up on a work night ... the abandon with which I would unclip my bun and let my hair fly free ...

Your boss probably recognized something was amiss.

But focus on the bright side: not performing at your optimal level for one day is not worthy of severe punishment. It doesn't seem as if you risked the interests of the business too greatly (no accounts lost, etc.).

But your feelings should be a wake-up call -- know your limits. If you cannot go out drinking with friends and, the next morning, fulfill the complete duties of your job, in the interest of avoiding unemployment you should refrain from taking part in such evenings. Or stick to sparkling water.

As for your boss, say nothing. Work hard to gain his favor. If a punishment comes, serve it without complaint and move on.

Dear Ms. Meniscus,

I understand society thinks women of a certain age are supposed to quietly disappear into the corner, disregard current pop culture and relegate themselves to a life of solitude and reflection.

After playing with my granddaughter's iPod, however, I've discovered a new-found love for Miley Cyrus. Of which I'm slightly embarrassed.

What should I do?

-Petra in Phoenix

Dear Petra,

Gorgeous, you rock it out at any age -- ageists and sexists be damned!

I personally am very fond of Ms. Cyrus, her music, her TV show, her 3D movie -- everything. This is a blessing for you -- if your granddaughter enjoys Miley, and you enjoy Miley, then start enjoying her together ASAP.

Tell your granddaughter. And don't be surprised if an invite to a "Best of Both Worlds" slumber party arrives in your e-mail soon.

Dear Ms. Meniscus,

I have been battling a digestive problem for over a year now and I don't know what to do. I have terrible pain and there are times I'm afraid to go anywhere because I think I'll have an "accident."

I've been too embarrassed to bring it up with my parents, and my family doctor seems to think it's just irritable bowel syndrome and will pass.

I feel like I'm going crazy here. What can I do?

-Steve in Sacramento

Dear Steve,

First, tell your parents. They are your support and can be your second-best health advocates (next to you, of course).

Second, if you feel your doctor is not taking this issue seriously enough, or perhaps doesn't know enough about this area, ask him/her to refer you to a gastrointestinal specialist.

Third, do not feel embarrassed. There is nothing embarrassing about seeking help for medical treatment.

I am not your doctor, nor do I know your medical history, so please take this only as a further piece of information (and be sure to do your own research), but the timeframe and your symptoms sound an awful lot like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis (UC) -- diseases some friends of mine are battling themselves.

To read more information on these conditions, the folks at the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America have a great Web site. They also offer toll-free numbers at which you can contact experts to ask them your questions and seek out specialists, if your family doctor is less than helpful.

The Web site address is: www.ccfa.org

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