Have you ever returned home from a visit with your doctor and realized that you forgot to ask the one question that you really wanted an answer to? I certainly have. In fact during a recent visit with my doctor, I had every intention of asking her about a vague symptom that I had been experiencing in recent months. It was on the forefront of my mind, but when I ...
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My first week at my new job at a French-speaking university in a city of 95% francophones, I learned a useful new expression: vouloir le beurre, et l’argent du beurre. This translates literally as, ‘to want the butter, and the butter money.’ It’s the equivalent of wanting to have your cake, and eat it, too, but with a more explicit focus on dairy fat. (It is a French expression, after ...
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If you or someone you love is considering surgery or an intensive treatment, it really pays to be sure you understand the pros and cons.
While that seems like common sense, millions of people say "yes" without learning all the facts.
Some simply rely on the trust they have in their physician. Others assume the known benefits and risks are too complicated to fully understand. And some people just want to get ...
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Most patients I see are surprised to find out that there’s something they should have brought to their doctor’s visit. Granted, I’m an emergency physician, and many of my patients come to me in emergency situations that they can’t plan for. However, most people have some heads-up for going to their doctor. Certainly if you’re going to your annual check-up or a routine appointment, you should bring these items with ...
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I’ve come to believe that seriously sick people are often subject to some very interesting comments from well-intentioned non-sick people. They are frequently inspired by platitudes from self-help-books, Google chat rooms (heaven forbid), or beliefs that have been around for so long that they are a natural part of common discourse.
To be fair, when we are confronted with the uncomfortable task of talking to a sick person, our conversation can ...
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The word medicine, in today’s world, seems to indicate a hard science in search of cures for many kinds of human ailments, such as cancer. However, I believe that the true definition of medicine is the practice of healing. Medicine is both an art and a science because it involves both human and technological interaction. The art of compassionate care and social interaction must be combined with the science of ...
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Most of us have find it challenging to make sense of the wave of information when we enter our cancer journey. This is foreign territory, with its own language, culture and routines. It takes time to absorb and understand.
We are not oncologists or hematologists. However, we can learn to improve our discussion with our medical team.
Build your knowledge. By the time you start your treatment, you will likely have searched the ...
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Behind the doors of our communities throughout America lies a hidden shame as well as daily criminal acts called elder abuse. These crimes are committed on our most vulnerable and dependent elderly - those with dementia, Parkinson’s, unable to walk, oftentimes bedridden, and unable to cry out in pain.
Even more horrific are the abuses and neglects which occur in the “sanitized” corridors of the for-profit nursing homes throughout the country. ...
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“Wait until you see what is waiting for you in the next exam room …”
My clinic nurse was barely able to contain a smirk. This meant one thing to a doctor in training: the next patient must be a “train wreck,” with so many things wrong that I would never get beneath the surface during my brief visit. I was running 30 minutes behind, so I took a deep breath.
As ...
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Just as preparing for a lengthy hospital stay requires planning, so does returning to home after the hospital. While your condition and strength will shape the best approach for you, my experience following my stem cell transplants may be helpful should you find yourself in this situation.
Before you leave get the information you need. Most hospitals are pretty good in providing written information sheets on follow-up care, related instructions, and ...
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"A comprehensive and extremely useful roadmap for doctors."
-Eric Topol, MD, author of The Creative Destruction of Medicine
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Past 6 Months
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