I Am Not a N00b In My Body
This is a minor rant, left over from my holiday visit to the hospital.
One thing that bugged me when I was at the hospital getting the Dread Infection looked at-one thing that frequently bugs me about medical practitioners, actually-was being treated like a rather clueless n00b in my own body.
See, I went to the hospital because none of the usual treatments for a cold was working. I've been in this body for three decades, and I know what it feels like when it's well, and what it feels like when it's not well. I've had the usual number of colds and lurghies, and I've more or less figured out what works and what doesn't, mostly through trial and error. I know, for example, that pseudoephedrine keeps me awake, so I shouldn't take NyQuil. I know that codeine makes me really itchy (like claw my skin off itchy), and that I have a mild allergy to it. I know that Ibuprofen works okay for menstrual cramps, and Tylenol doesn't, but it's better than nothing. I know that for problems involving both pain and swelling, I can take both Ibuprofen and Tylenol; one will address the swelling and the other will address the pain. I know the difference between the way my wrist feels when the tendonitis is flaring up, and the way it feels when the muscles are tired. I'm not a n00b in my body.
So when I visit a doctor or nurse, I'm approaching them as an experienced user in my body. I understand that doctors and nurses have to go through a checklist of signs and symptoms when diagnosing a patient. Diagnostic checklists make sense to me-if a doctor or nurse just listens to me describing my symptoms, I may forget something or fail to list a symptom. I may not be describing something accurately. So, sure, ask me if I've experienced fever, and take my temperature. Ask me if I've had a tight feeling in my chest and shortness of breath, in addition to the phlegm and tight, swollen throat I've described. Ask me if areas I haven't mentioned hurt, in addition to the ones I have mentioned. Then do those things that doctors know how to do, that I don't: look at my throat, take swabs, poke at me, listen to my breathing and my heart. Please. Work your mojo. You're the expert: I'm just the user and occupant of the body.
But, despite not having had years of medical training, I am not a clueless user. So, when I ask you for a drug for pain or swelling, please consider asking me what I've already tried, before telling me to try Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Because I've already tried those, and they don't work; if they did, uninsured as I am, I wouldn't be asking for a more expensive prescription drug. Really. Ask me if I've used Cepacol lozenges before telling me that they contain a topical anaesthetic. I know that already!. I've been using those. Before I ever went to the doctor, I visited a pharmacist, and read up on the Internet, and tried a bunch of things. I have a pretty strong interest in feeling better; do please assume that I've done everything I could to do so, and I'm visiting you because the my knowledge and experience have, in this instance, failed me.
Maybe not everyone knows as much about their bodies as I know about mine. Maybe some people don't know that they can mix Tylenol and Ibuprofen, or what works and doesn't work. Maybe some people don't understand the difference between a bacterial infection and a virus (come to think of it, my mom's among them!). Maybe some people don't know what to do about tendonitis, or haven't paid attention to the treatment they've received for other ailments. Maybe some people have had such amazing good health that they've never had to learn that they're allergic to certain drugs. Still, would it hurt to ask people if they've tried things, before instructing them to do so? It wouldn't take any more time, and it might be a tiny bit less insulting to those of us who do have a clue or two about our own bodies.
I have an appointment on Friday with my GP, for my annual check-up. She, at least, generally assumes I have a clue about both my own body and medical issues pertaining to it. If I am still coughing, I shall mention this to her, and perhaps she will ask me what I've already done about it.
One thing that bugged me when I was at the hospital getting the Dread Infection looked at-one thing that frequently bugs me about medical practitioners, actually-was being treated like a rather clueless n00b in my own body.
See, I went to the hospital because none of the usual treatments for a cold was working. I've been in this body for three decades, and I know what it feels like when it's well, and what it feels like when it's not well. I've had the usual number of colds and lurghies, and I've more or less figured out what works and what doesn't, mostly through trial and error. I know, for example, that pseudoephedrine keeps me awake, so I shouldn't take NyQuil. I know that codeine makes me really itchy (like claw my skin off itchy), and that I have a mild allergy to it. I know that Ibuprofen works okay for menstrual cramps, and Tylenol doesn't, but it's better than nothing. I know that for problems involving both pain and swelling, I can take both Ibuprofen and Tylenol; one will address the swelling and the other will address the pain. I know the difference between the way my wrist feels when the tendonitis is flaring up, and the way it feels when the muscles are tired. I'm not a n00b in my body.
So when I visit a doctor or nurse, I'm approaching them as an experienced user in my body. I understand that doctors and nurses have to go through a checklist of signs and symptoms when diagnosing a patient. Diagnostic checklists make sense to me-if a doctor or nurse just listens to me describing my symptoms, I may forget something or fail to list a symptom. I may not be describing something accurately. So, sure, ask me if I've experienced fever, and take my temperature. Ask me if I've had a tight feeling in my chest and shortness of breath, in addition to the phlegm and tight, swollen throat I've described. Ask me if areas I haven't mentioned hurt, in addition to the ones I have mentioned. Then do those things that doctors know how to do, that I don't: look at my throat, take swabs, poke at me, listen to my breathing and my heart. Please. Work your mojo. You're the expert: I'm just the user and occupant of the body.
But, despite not having had years of medical training, I am not a clueless user. So, when I ask you for a drug for pain or swelling, please consider asking me what I've already tried, before telling me to try Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Because I've already tried those, and they don't work; if they did, uninsured as I am, I wouldn't be asking for a more expensive prescription drug. Really. Ask me if I've used Cepacol lozenges before telling me that they contain a topical anaesthetic. I know that already!. I've been using those. Before I ever went to the doctor, I visited a pharmacist, and read up on the Internet, and tried a bunch of things. I have a pretty strong interest in feeling better; do please assume that I've done everything I could to do so, and I'm visiting you because the my knowledge and experience have, in this instance, failed me.
Maybe not everyone knows as much about their bodies as I know about mine. Maybe some people don't know that they can mix Tylenol and Ibuprofen, or what works and doesn't work. Maybe some people don't understand the difference between a bacterial infection and a virus (come to think of it, my mom's among them!). Maybe some people don't know what to do about tendonitis, or haven't paid attention to the treatment they've received for other ailments. Maybe some people have had such amazing good health that they've never had to learn that they're allergic to certain drugs. Still, would it hurt to ask people if they've tried things, before instructing them to do so? It wouldn't take any more time, and it might be a tiny bit less insulting to those of us who do have a clue or two about our own bodies.
I have an appointment on Friday with my GP, for my annual check-up. She, at least, generally assumes I have a clue about both my own body and medical issues pertaining to it. If I am still coughing, I shall mention this to her, and perhaps she will ask me what I've already done about it.