Talking with the person in the white coat

From Self-Care: Your Family Guide to Symptoms and How to Treat Them by Don R. Powell, Ph.D.:

• Plan ahead of time what you will say to your doctor about your problem. Your observations about a health problem can be invaluable in making a diagnosis. Write down any questions you have.
• Repeat in your own words what the doctor has told you. Use simple phrases like “Do I hear you say that…?” or “My understanding of the problem is…”
• Take notes on your condition and what you need to do.
• If you are confused by medical terms, ask for simple definitions. There is no need to be embarrassed. When a medication is prescribed, ask about its possible side effects, its effectiveness, and how long it must be taken. If your doctor discusses surgery, ask about alternatives, risks, and a second opinion.
• Don’t be afraid to voice your fears about what you’ve heard. The doctor may be able to clarify any misconceptions.

Doctor, doctor…

On July 12, I went to see my doctor after being quite ill. I’m not sure what her day had been like, but things that I’d noticed about her before seemed more pronounced. As usual, she was very busy and spoke rapidly, but it was when she gave instructions to her nurse that I realized she was shifting some of the stress she was feeling to her staff. When she walked away, I said quietly to the nurse, “It must be hard to understand the doctor when she mumbles.” The young Filipino woman had been writing as I was speaking. Suddenly she stopped, tiptoed to see if the doctor was nearby, returned to me, and said softly but with a smile, “You’re so funny.”

I’m sure the doctor doesn’t mean to treat her nurse badly. I have been thinking about sending the young woman a bouquet with this message: Thank you for being a wonderful nurse. Perhaps the doctor will appreciate her more once she sees and smells those lovely flowers