Clinic day!
"Do you think you could check me for strep throat?"
"Does your throat hurt?"
"No, but I usually get strep throat around this time of year."
"Do you feel sick?"
"No, but I figure it would be better if I didn't wait until I'm sick before I try and treat it."
"If you don't have any symptoms, there's nothing to treat."
"But what if I'm sick and just don't know it yet?"
"Then you should come back once you're feeling symptoms, and then we can figure out what's wrong and treat it."
"So I have to come back? When should I come back?"
"When you're sick."
"Like in two weeks?"
"No. When you're sick."
"Can I make an appointment?"
"Call when you're sick."
"But you can't give me anything now?"
"No, you're not sick."
"I don't know if I think that makes sense."
Thursday, July 22, 2010
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Eat garlic. Excellent profalictic medicine. Comes over the counter, too. Sold in most grocery stores, even.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if experienced docs all have a go-to placebo for this kind of situation.
ReplyDeleteClearly the patient has the idea that preventative care is better, he just doesn't know the correct preventative care. Maybe you could have helped him plan out life style points that would best prevent that particular illness?
ReplyDeleteMy real question – Why is this guy getting strep so regularly that he is looking for preventative care? What's really going on with him?
KrisW
Funny KrisW thought it was a guy. As I read it, I am picturing a woman. Is it because I am a woman? I don't know. Could go either way, I suppose. Plenty of this in both sexes.
ReplyDeletejlr