Thothblog

I am fairly sure that is what goes through every doctor’s mind the moment you speak any medical terminology to them. As I sit here in the waiting room, I think back to previous doctor visits over the last 6 months. Most notably is my followup visit to the oral surgeon (thus referred after this as dentist) after having my wisdom teeth removed. I remember it as if it was yesterday (it wasn’t) and the cheerful demeanor that the dentist had. Well, had until I answered his first question. A simple question; “how are things?”. I assume what doctors hope for is “Fine.”. However, when you answer them intelligently, with correct pharmaceutical dosing and pronunciation; just watch their butts pucker. Doctors hate the web, it demystifies their profession. More than that doctors hate people who use the web to become informed, because that forces doctors to answer their patients with more than platitudes. However, there is someone they hate more than that; those few who have medical and biology backgrounds but aren’t doctors. Not only do we have the information they do, but we understand it.  This scares the crap out of them…in part because I am fully willing to call them on their BS! As for the dentist, that cheerful demeanor went away damn quick.

“To our prevent defense!” his brain commanded. “Well, you see, pain management can be a difficult thing, and we, the humble doctor can not be responsible for fluctuations in pain.”. “good evade.”, his brain soothed.

“Doctor, that might be true had I not explained in detail my previous pain experiences and gave specific pharmaceutical dosing and tolerance levels.”

At this point the doctor’s brain is thinking; “MUST AVOID GETTING SUED!”

I always think that I should preface any face to face with any of my doctors with a “please speak intelligently to me, I am not going to sue you.”. Sadly not. This is one reason that I like working with the technicians. These people are knowledgeable regarding their field and when someone presents interest and intelligence, most technicians seem to jump at the chance to banter back and forth.

This all brings us to today…yes still in the waiting room…and my allergy and asthma appointment. This is a field I have way to much knowledge for not being a doctor, but after all, it’s me and I have a vested interest in me! I like my current doctor because he does not dumb his answers down to me…although a thick accent does make things a little difficult.

Ok,  so my appointment is finished, all is as I expected…not where the doctor was hoping things would be, but it is what it is.  Allergist still in the good column.

It’s nice to have doctor’s visits that go well.  They give you a warm fuzzy over maybe there are people in the medical industry who aren’t out to screw people.  To be frank, I don’t feel that most doctors are out to get their patients.  I think a combination of fear and an abused legal system has led to the doctor patient dichotomy that exists today.  However, there are always those oral surgeons in the world who just don’t like to listen.