Doctor Confusion: What you Doctor says/What your Doctor means

Ya only started it yesterday....give it a chance...if you didnt post this thread on the after rads thread i would have never known.....start doin your own advertisement on other threads....this is spot on...quote from Leah.

Right now i hate all the white coats!!!!!!!!!

Ya might want to go to the pinktober threads....those sistas get things done....

Can ya tell i worked in the advertisement dept?

My favorite....."It normally doesn't hurt"  also " Most women don't complain about that"

I also adore my BS who said that she only took out 3 nodes.  When presented with the path report, she sidestepped about how I would probably never get lymphedema but oh here is a precription for the arm sleeves and I better get them soon.

"Sharp scratch"

After battling celluitis for a solid month, I asked my PS yesterday about breast lymphedema.  The fact that I had 16 nodes removed is like the elephant in the room.  So I ask him and he says....yeah you might want to see a specialist!  Is that the same as "I don't have a clue " or " Gag- I certainly didn't yank the nodes, her BS did it". 

RO "LE stems from node removal during the surgery"

Surgeon "Radiation damage"

 =not my fault

Our cancer support group is having a LE Specialist speak to our group this Thursday.  I am planning on getting as much info as possible.  I think I am a unique case to my PS and goodness knows my BS will not ever deal with it. 

I haven't weighed in, but as someone who works in health care, works very hard and doesn't get a huge salary, I think a lot of these comments are based on misconceptions and previous eras in health care.

Sure I've been disappointed and frustrated by my health care providers, but I sure don't think their failings have to do with avarice: it's ignorance, IMO.

I believe I was especially disheartened as the people who let me down were people I had previously trusted, and worked with.

When I couldnt get in touch with my Dr.His nurse told me he had to take his mother to the airport to go back to India...

When he did call me he told me he had an emergency!!!!!

OK, ladies, I'm going to argue for another perspective.  My LE care was based on referral by my PS, when I was primarily under his care.  Later, when I made an appointment with my primary care physician, just to talk about LE and transfer my LE care to her, she started right out by saying, 'I am not going to say lympha-what-a? --but in truth, I know very little about lymphedema. So, let's get started--what do you need from me, and let's frame in my homework assignment for how I'm going to learn how to support you.'

Physicians get very little training in the lymphatic system, and it's easy for our frustration in getting proper LE evaluation and treatment to spill over into a generally cynical attitude about our doctors and surgeons.  I'm guilty of that, too. Don't get me started on my breast surgeon who seriously denies LE.  But let's acknowledge that some of what's dysfunctional is the healthcare system, not necessarily the individual physicians.  I was not overjoyed that my doctor has no training in LE, but I could kiss her for being so honest about that, and for being so willing to do and learn what's needed to help me.  (But she's finding it frustrating to find what she needs to know about LE...another broader-picture LE problem to solve!)

Carol

Carol, my wonderful PCP has said "you know more about LE that I do: tell me what you need" and then she does it. I know she has my back and my scripts and that's all I want/need from her at this point.

Kira

"You're going to feel a little pinch..." (This is going to feel like a gunshot wound, so don't say I didn't warn you...)

"We're going to put a little pressure on that..." (You may want to take a deep breath now because it will feel like an elephant standing on your chest and you definitely won't be able to breathe for a while...)

"No one has ever complained of that before...." (We'd go crazy if we had to actually listen to all the whiners...)

"I'm just going to step out and call the Radiologist in...." (OMG, you're bleeding like a stuck pig, and I don't want to be responsible!)

"See if you can hold real still for me now...." (What do you mean, your arm doesn't bend that way? Do you want this test or not?)

"The doctor is running a few minutes late..." (You might as well go home and eat lunch because it's gonna be a while...)

"I can take a message and let the doctor know you called - again...." (Quit bothering me. I'm trying to plan my girlfriend's baby shower.)

This might sting a little = I've never actually had this done and it probably hurts like hell.

I'll prescribe you medication = all I know how to do is prescribe medication and I cannot help your mental illness.

How would you describe the pain = this number doesn't matter in any way shape or form..I just want to see what you'll say.

Take this with a meal = You better take this with food or you'll regret it big time.

Get lots of rest = you probably won't be able to rest at all.

When are you available for your next appt? = It doesn't matter when you're available so let me tell you when you'll be here...

Gma - I saw that you created this on the OMG thread!  Sorry it took me so long to get here!!  LOL  I LOVE being sarcastic

I love the drs appointment one. I always say when everyone wants an appointment. First thing in the morning or the last of the day.... Alot of people work!!!