Doctor 'speak'

puffin

Hi,

Have this evening watched the programme about little Hayley, the girl with progeria. Her amazing courage and wisdom put my troubles in perspective--for a while anyway. Was having a tearful day anyway and her story opened my valves again.
What an incredible girl she is and what loving, supportive parents and friends she has. There seemed to be no suffocating concern, just a mixture of the very necessay care and protection along with normal relationships. I do hope the improvements in her health continue---improvements which a short time ago were unimaginable.

My troubles? Amongst them doctor 'speak', or rather new 'speak' which tie in with Only49's post and the replies about attitudes.

After an emergency admission to hospital a couple of weeks ago following a seizure -type episode (not a new occurence) I was given a full set of manual neuro. tests by a very concerned doctor and later admitted to an assessment ward where I spent the night. By the following morning my speech and sight had returned and I was anxious to learn the cause (neck lesion or brain involvement). I already know the reason for the jerking legs and bottom half of body.
Me: 'What caused the loss of sight and speech?'
Doctor: 'Your hardware-- your nerves, are giving normal results, but your software is faulty.'
Me: 'You mean my brain?'
Doctor: 'It is your programmer that is not working properly.'

He moved on to telling me about discharge home that morning. His attitude was so different to the previous night's doctor. To be fair, I had recovered the faculties I had lost and the severe muscle spasms had stopped. He must have needed to free up the bed.

My problems

---

Understanding the doctor's language ( I guess he meant part of the nervous system) and the fact he ticked the 'no-follow up' box!

Am going to a GP tomorrow, unfortunately not my own. Hope he/she is supportive.

Perhaps I should be going to PC World!
Puffin

skezier

Hi Puffin,

Fingers crossed that you get a good consultation with the gp tomorrow.... I have no idea why they have to metaphor everything at times. I know I speak in metaphor a lot but they seem to be really 'good' at not telling you thing in a normal way.

I got told my wirings faulty..... still trying to work out what that means.....

I really hope you get some simple answers and help tomorrow. Could you let us know how you get on. Take care Cris x

tillytop

Hi Puffin
Just wanted to join Cris in wishing you well at the GP today. It's so hard when you just have to fight to find out what's wrong with you isn't it? And we shouldn't have to dread going to the GP for help - but I certainly do. Maybe you are right - PC World might be the better option!!!!
Thinking of you!
Love Tilly xx

carola

Hi Puffin

I think that some of the Doc's believe they are speaking in a way we will understand and that we not understand the medical terms!

Don't they know that we are the people who read everything and know more about our conditions than them??!! Ha ha!

Anyway, good luck with your Doc - sometimes it can be a good thing to see a 'new' doctor as they can have a different perspective.

Carol

speedalong

Hi Puffin, what a frightening experience that must have been.

What a strange answer the doc gave you. I think maybe Carola is right and he was speaking in what he thought was patient-friendly terms ... but really ... he was making it as clear as mud ... I hope the GP can be more enlightening or refer you on to someone else who can be.

I saw half (videoed the rest) of the documentary on Hayley - not often keen on Channel 5 documentaries - but have been following the story of this truly remarkable girl and her family. Very inspirational and oh, I do so like her. Her family have done an excellent job.

Speedy

sharmaine

Hi Puffin

I expect he thought he was being clever using metaphors to explain your medical condition.

I hope that you get a better explanation from your GP.

With regards
Sharmaine
X

dreamdaisy

If he was a younger doc then I think carola has hit the nail on the head. It is noticeable how vocabulary levels are declining, as well as spoken grammar. 'I want them ones.' There's a whole new language developing, that of the foorball pundit. 'The boy done good.' and my particular favourite from Rio Ferdinand, on beng told he had been made England captain 'I've ta'en the man'lepiece of a importan' job.' Wow, Rio, have you really?

I suspect your doc was trying to tell you what he thought in modern metaphor, which, let's face it, didn't work. Doctors can be condescending and rather arrogant - just bone up on some good medical phrases related to your condition, then fire back with them should this situation arise again! That'll learn 'em!

Anyway, glad you're home puffin, and hopefully on the mend. DD

angel1

Back in the day, doctors were treated - and expected to be treated! - like Gods......As for "Mr`s" they were, by and large, a complete pain in the a**e.

Somewhere along the line, things changed, and I believe that the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction. "Call me Andrew". Well, OK I will if you can tell me what the bloody `ell is wrong!

During my late husband`s last hospital stay, one particularly arrogant prat really got to him. I went in one day, only for Frank to ask me "What`s the difference between Dr O`Connor, and God"? I don`t know, says moi......."God doesn`t think he`s Dr O` Connor!!! I loved it........Ange.

frogmorton

Hi Puffin

I recorded that little girls program myself to watch when I feel u;pp to it. I have seen her before and she is lovely isnt she as are her family.

I hope the GP helps and explains to you whta is wrong in normal and understandable language.

Love and best wishes

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

Oh that's wonderful! Your Frank had a good sense of humour then?

I never thought I'd turn into a fuddy-duddy old woman but I dislike nurses calling me 'love' and 'sweetheart'. I am not their love, I am not their sweetheart, I am a patient and I would like some respect. Use my title, until you get to know me, then you can use my name. We need some formality back in public realations, that's my view. DD

cthornley

oh dear its sad that so many of us know exactly what you mean

As some of you know I get a double dose of it as I'm married to one and I can tell you that the attitude even with some of the good ones carries on 24/7
Obviously he is far cleverer and more qualified to comment than me on every subject under the sun! :roll:

Its partly an attitude from the training and also because they are generally a bright bunch and are told this for the whole of their lives so they tend to get a bit of a big head. They also get over stretched by work and tend to try to wizz through things to be quick when they would actually save time if they took the time to explain things properly first time so it wouldn’t have to be done time and time again.

Communication isn't necessarily taught as one of the most important skills more as an add on and I know many a medical student who should have gone into research rather than the shop floor ( one guy who became a gynaecologist, was incredibly bright medically but couldn’t speak to women about anything....he couldn’t see why that might be a problem!!!) :shock:

I always think that if someone comes out with something that doesn’t make sense or is gobbledegook that you just say....hang on a minute , stop and start again in English, it makes people pause and realise what they are doing.
Chrissie

angel1

dreamdaisy wrote:

Oh that's wonderful! Your Frank had a good sense of humour then?

The absolute best DD! And an amazing mimic too.......Ange.