Do you use the correct words or dumb down when you see the doctor?

I have found that if you use the correct words you are taken more seriously and get more detailed feedback on your ailments. At one antenatal appointment I was asked if I was a nurse or doctor because someone had written ' Very articulate' on my notes!

Despite being relatively young (wel, 55) I was brought up by a very prudish mother who refused to allow me to take part in any sex education lessons whatsoever (she wrote letters to forbid me from taking part) I find it hard (but not impossible) to say the real words for body parts and functions. I have really tried to break the mold and encourage my children and grandchildren not to feel ashamed of their bodies.

I normally use the correct terminology too, only once a couple of years ago I was soooo tired, and soooo stiff. On chatting with the Doc he asked me where exactly was I stiff. I said every little bit of me, even my Bumbones hurt , we both laughed.

It was by the way a B12 and Vit D deficiancy so easily sorted.

When German doctors are trying to communicate with each other over the patients' heads, they revert to the Latin names for things. My problem is, I often can't remember the German names for things - how often do you use them? - and the Latin names are quite familiar to me, so that rather defeats their object. When talking to the doctors, though, I do try and remember the German names, so as not to sound too pseudo-knowledgeable.

Example - conjunctivitis is "Bindehautentzündung", appendicitis is "Blinddarmentzündung". Sinuses are "Nebenhöhlen".

My sister was in that difficult situation, when first going to live in Germany, of not knowing the names of conditions. She became quite resourceful and used the latin she had learned at school and anatomical names she heard me using in my nursing career.

I love talking to the endocrinologists - and hate talking to the GP - because the endo doesn't use baby talk and assumes I have some knowledge of my condition!

I am about to visit the doc re my "girly bits". I have actually requested a female GP. That was difficult as they don't have one. I do not know the doctor at the surgery the one I did know was moved elsewhere. I felt comfortable with him.

Some years ago whenever I went to see GP she would ask "are you married" when I said no she then asked if I had children. I would say no. She was Indian and, as my friend said,she obviously thought my parents had failed me in not arranging my marriage.

I think the poo chart would make a fabulous Christmas card and sum up my thoughts on that occasion admirably.

When you are older, you often know as much if not more than the doctor..............

I think using poo and pee in health adverts is just silly. There's that advert with the bloke at a footie match whistling when he goes to the gents, then stops whistling when he sees some blood in his urine.

Why don't they just say urine? This could be serious! I'd feel ridiculous saying my pee burns, eg, if I have a bladder infection brewing.

Being American born though, we say bowel movements. So I just say I last had a BM the evening before, or whenever, when asked.

I have breasts not boobs. Thankfully the mammogram clinic sticks with proper names for them.

And once my hot water bottle broke and scalded my right buttock (it drained into a leather chair seat). So when I went to the nurse to have a dressing put on, she said, 'Ooooh, lets see what you did to your bum!' That's fine if the patient is a child, but I felt rather talked down to. Not the same as your OH having a look. I'd expect him to say bum, or arse even LOL!

It's been so interesting reading through all these posts. As you may have gathered from my tone when I wrote the initial post, I was a little irritated when I came back from the surgery. I sometimes worry that maybe I'm a little too assertive. However, I did find your point, Niobe, to be a valid one, as I usually do get good feedback. I always ask a lot of questions!

radicalnan They exist! www.zazzle.co.uk/bristol+stool+chart+gifts

If you really want to make your Christmas cards now radicalnan here is a picture for you to use (I hope - never done an attachment on here before)

Gosh it works! Apologies to anyone who wants to avert their eyes.

I don't mind the odd polite euphemisms but I never dumb down for a doctor and expect them to treat me as an informed and intelligent person. I am pretty sure that, not only am I far healthier than many of my G.P.'s practice nurses, but I am also better informed than some of them who seem a bit 'sandwich short of a picnic' at times.

There is so much made-up science these days that it is important to let health practitioners know that you are aware of the difference between evidenced science and health advice which is often just an excuse for the stupendous and justifed salaries of Public Health England who have got so many things plain wrong.

The GPs in my local practice have great inter-personal skills. They turn their chairs round and look me in the eye, never talking down to me. When I saw a new consultant the other day, she soon twigged that I was au fait with the vocabulary of my condition. Sometimes, I drop into the conversation that my sister is a retired GP! When my dad had a diagnosis of an auto immune disease, instead of using that term, the doctor told him his body had turned against him, despite the fact that my Dad was highly intelligent, a retired industrial chemist with a good degree and a well above average vocabulary. All the consultant could see was an elderly man looking and feeling rather frail, though that's no excuse for talking down!

Genevieve489
I agree with you. If you know the word for the problem you have to visit your doctor for then use it.
Many doctors these days are patronising , and in real life not what TV documentaries show them to be.

I must admit to being a bit of a nightmare for my GP. I am an ex medical secretary, my daughter has a medical degree and my late mother was extremely interested in medicine and her interest rubbed off on both of us. If I have a problem I go to the GP having already a diagnosis and treatment plan in my head! Prior to my gall bladder op I watched all the videos I could find, I could almost have operated on myself. Fortunately she treats me as a salient adult & we have a good rapport but I bet her heart sinks when I appear at her door.

i think it must be difficult for GPs as losts of people just don't understand when they use scientific words (in fact I think I've seen a thread on here about that very problem.) unless they know you quite well they wont know your level of education or experience so use words they think you'll understand. Ive sometimes asked questions using correct terms (I was not medically trained, but a biologist)and have been answered in the same way without being patronised by my GP.
But years ago in hospital when i was about to have a D&C after a miscarriage (so a bit emotional) the nurse asked me if my 'pearlies' came out and I gad no idea she meant teeth and was confused and upset! Surely everyone knows tge word teeth?
Im used to being asked about my 'waterworks' though!

I saw a physio last week and he said he was impressed that knew the word gait. He must have been all of 19 (a student) so I said that at 68 I had probably had a better general eduction when I was at school than they get now which made him turn pink.

The most annoying thing I encountered though was on a cruise when our luggage hadn't arrived at our cabin by the time my son had to go to bed. As DS is unable to get up in the night his urine bottle that we travel with was in the luggage. I went down to the medical centre and asked to borrow one until ours turned up. The nurse started quizzing me on why I needed this and as I was already annoyed about the luggage I let her have both barrels explaining that my son has Acquired Cerebellum Ataxi as a result of the removal of of a Medulabalstoma and would she like to know the grade of the tumour? She just handed me a bottle looking shamefaced. My parting shot was 'who on earth would come down 7 deck to ask for a urine bottle if they they didn't need one after all it not much of a souvenir is it!"

I've been quite lucky with GPs who recognise that a patient with a condition they haven't met before knows more about it than they do. I use the correct words, except I may say 'boobs'.

I have regular blood tests and I keep charts of the results. Last time I went to collect the results the receptionist said "Everything's normal" and I replied "Just give me the printout please" because I knew the oestrogen level would not be 'normal' for a woman my age.

When I see my doctor in France I use the biological words, because I don't know the french dialect ones.
My main problem with him though is that he speaks very quietly, in french, and I'm a bit deaf. It's a wonder we ever get anywhere. He's very kind nevertheless.

Oh Tricia and JackyB having to communicate in another language, yikes! I'd never manage if I became ill whilst abroad.

BadenKate On a diet... having butternut squash soup for lunch. Erm... that would be a Number 7!

Condescending and arrogant doctors are a major bete noir. When my daughter was born there were complications, after a number of informed conversations my ex was so exasperated at my being asked of I was a nurse, replied 'no, she just understands words of more than four syllables'.

When I took my Red Cross exam I used the term 'leucacytes' the examining dr said 'don't blind me with science young lady, I'm just a simple man'. Grrrr

This is part of the reason why even the youngest children are taught the correct names for body parts in their sex education lessons. I was told a story by an education consultant of a little girl who disclosed on a number of occasions that 'Uncle' kept on touching her 'grapefruit' and it was quite a while before anyone caught on to what she was really trying to describe. I'm not sure if it was a true story or a hypothetical example of what might happen if children only know fanciful names for body parts but I'm sure you get the picture. Surely doctors and nurses can use the proper, anatomical words for body parts and explain if the patient looks blank. It's ridiculous to imagine that medically trained people are embarrassed by that!

I too am an ex medical secretary and insist the Dr and I use the correct medical terminology, which she does and we have a good rapport. However Consultants can be so patronisi g, i have had to hold my tongue on some occasions - only because my life is in their hands!