Tips to use when talking to your doctor

[Guest guest]

>Ellen wrote to Jeanne

>I feel if you put your issues in writing, he may prefer this so he can

adequately address your questions and get on to the next patient.

>When you hand over your written

issue of concerns, explain that you appreciate that his time is limited,

but you want to be sure all your questions are addressed in the

interest of time.  

Hi Everyone

I want to thank Ellen for excellent suggestions to use when dealing with your

doctor. Make it short

and to the point.  You might even leave room for the doctor to write in short

answers to your questions.

Unfortunately, some doctors need to have their ego stroked a bit, but whatever

works, right?  It doesn't

cost a dime to be polite.

Kaylene (former nurse)

[Guest guest]

Thank you Ellen and Kaylene I feel better about today's visit.

Hopefully there is time to write things out in Word, put on a disc and

print at the husband person's place of indenture. Printer died here

years ago. Stupid hands still can't write thanks to strokes.

I was a nurse long ago as well. Back then when the doctor entered the

room, if we were sitting we would leap to our feet and listen so

deferentially and adoringly. Remember when the nurse used to sit by a

bedside, watching, caring, gently stroking pain-creased foreheads with

a cool cloth?

Yeah, I'm old and I loved bedside care, my apron AND my beautiful

pleated cap. But doctors listened then as well. Not like now, zip in,

zip out. I think they (nurses and doctors) have a competition as to

who can get out of the room fastest.

Anyway, all I have to worry about now is convincing myself to be ready

when my son arrives to take me there. Maybe he can read what I've

written in the Word document and can get the doctor to hear.

Since I was stressing about my possible weight gain, my husband took

me to where he works so I could weigh on his freight scale. Another

milestone but I'm not celebrating. I haven't weighed this little since

we married. Since this flare-up started in July, I've now lost 68

pounds. I lost eighteen pounds just last month.

I hate disease and illness. I hate even more that all of you live with

pain every single day and I can't do a darn thing about it.

Oh well, no good getting the blood pressure elevated. The doctor might

actually think I am in pain! Ha ha ha ha.

Hugs and love to all and thank you again, Jeanne B in GA