h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's confirmed. I have hypothyroidism. This could have been dealt with several years ago back in Florida if my doctor hadn't been such a chauvinist.

Tocc, there's a microbrewery in the cellar of the BOF? *goes off to check*

You're losing weight at twice the rate that I am AND you're hypothyroid? You can go right off people .

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i'm on day two of my diet. so far so good. lunch yesterday consisted of tuna salad (so dry that i was full after a few bites) and pickles. supper was a large salad with tuna salad and egg salad, same for lunch today. so far so good!

You like tuna then, Spork?

i love tuna. in fact, that's what i once had for lunch every day for a year and a half (along with orange juice).

Lil, I'm glad you got a diagnosis at last.

I think we are on to our fourth thunderstorm of the afternoon, hail, big rain, but not much wind. Cassie went out for a brief look, but has decided she prefers indoors.

This morning I was thinking how nice it would be to spend a couple of days in Looe, when H and I have a week off next month, instead of ripping up carpets and laying wood floors. I had just put some yoghurt on my bowl of fresh fruit for lunch, when the phone rang. It was H saying he had booked a couple of nights in Looe!

Speaking of chauvinist doctors, one of my work mates had a period continously for seven months. Her regualar doctor--one of the most expensive in town and far too busy to actually *see* her, just sent in his nurse for the examination--told her she was just "going through the change". I finally convinced her to get a second opinion at my clinic of choice. An ultrasound revealed a massive dermoid tumor. Because of that and other complications, she recently had a hysterectomy. If Mr. Expensive Doctor had simply taken the time to actually *listen* to his patient, perhaps this whole thing could have been treated much earlier with less cost and pain to my coworker.

From this and my own personal experiences, I can attest to the fact that in this country, male doctors are much less likely to listen to their female patients when they have concerns or problems. We get a pat on the head and are told to go home.

[{Courtesy}]

[MTG]

In the old days before HMO's, you used to be able to choose your
doctor. I knew the fellow was under-prescribing (Claritin for a sinus infection, tights/pantyhose for pulmonary edema) but the only other doctors in the plan were another 50 minutes' city driving distance away.

Still, his habits were probably also due to pressure from the HMO to stop spending so much money to cure his patients...

suddenly feels that the NHS isn't that bad after all, *insert left wing rang* as for pressure about prescribing I will stop taking free stationary from drug companies when I'm old enough to prescribe. Until then they're subsiding my education!

I've noticed that female s can be as bad as male s for not listening to patients. Some male s I know are lovely. The Dr- patient relationship can be a very personal one, one doctor may get on really well with one patient, but the next one may think he/she's an idiot.

Though I have to say that if you go into a consutlation with hostility to the then he or she (see not sexist me!!!) is likely to pick up on it and be more defensive.

The things i've learnt from being at Birmingham Med school, where we do more communication skills than anatomy these days.


I've had an article on the front page today, and I know I should be grateful, but it's only had two comments and they've both been critisms. Would any of you mind taking a look and seeing if their is a problem with it. It got a good response in Peer Review, from what I remember.
A1026262

I think you've done a good job there, Z. It's a very interesting article. The second posting isn't really a criticism - just someone showing an interest.

The subs sometimes have a hard time editing medical articles so perhaps you should get someone with a scientific background to check over the spelling and grammar before you submit to PR. Head 'em off at the pass, so to speak. There's a thread here too: F47997?thread=276343 . The sub ed gets the blame.

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I liked it. I liked it alot. One question...isn't one of the symptoms of anemia muscle aches and pains, because they aren't getting enough oxygen?

Got done grading. One legitimate A+, one purchased paper, multiple C-'s,and a whole lot of ESL writing issues. I don't mind those as much as I mind when people don't seem to care. I have one girl who basically wrote me a powerpoint presentation. It was full of bullets and italics. I just wrote "substance over style" and gave her a C.

Wonder how many complaints I'll have?

So it was a purchased paper? What happens now?

That's too true, Z, good and bad come in both flavors. It just seems like male doctors of older generations have a harder time letting go of traditional sex roles and behavior patterns. When you were taught in med school in the 40s, 50s and 60s that you're the closest thing to God on earth, its hard to listen to patients who question God.

Traditional behavior goes both ways--such as the type of woman who identifies herself in public solely by her husband's name (i.e. Mrs. Robert Jones).

MR, be prepared for lots o' whining!

I have no preferences when it comes to sex or age in a - I've had such varying experiences



I do tend to see a private doctor, because then I can pick and choose - I have an appointed one that I guess would be equivalent with the NHS, but I've never seen him - I tried to one summer, but he was on vacation...

Let's see - elderly male eye doctor in the 'good old days'(?) when you needed a prescription signed by a doctor to buy glasses - I was a kid, and he was always so kind and patient and reassuring - and he had humour

When I broke my leg the staff at the... the... 'not private' hospital were ever so nice - especially the elderly male and young female who put my plaster on - I could hardly hold still as I was laughing so hard at their sick(!) sense of humour!

The first time I ever had trouble with my ears, as an adult - I couldn't see my usual private doctor (too busy) so I ended up seeing an elderly male who prescribed some antibiotics, and when I returned and complained about still sensing that my ears weren't alright sent me to take an audiogram, and then declared that there was nothing wrong with my ears and implied - very subtly without actually saying it out loud - that I was imagining it all!

That is about the worst insult I've ever had - a doctor telling me there's nothing wrong with me, when I *knew* there was!

So I waited another week until I could see my usual doctor (middle aged male), and he found all sorts of faults, and even came up with a diagnoze that sounded reasonable - phew! I was actually beginning to wonder if I was losing my marbles, and it was a relief to have it confirmed that I wasn't...

...and then there was the time when they suspected I had appendicitis - there's a part of the examination that isn't very pleasant - at first a young female doctor examined me, so hard-handedly that everything she did hurt - fortunately an elderly male doctor took over and made sure I was relaxed before examining, and being much more gentle...

...but the young female who was covering for my 'official' doctor while he was on vacation was very nice and sympathetic...

...so to me it seems that personality is what matters most to the patient - not the age nor the sex of the doctor

Red, I do hope that the purchased paper gets failed outright.

I was, at best, an indifferent student. By I did all the work on those papers that I did write in my schooling. If I ever break down and go to university, believe me, my papers will be mine. I might be a lzy student (I am) but I am an original one.

It appalls me, how much cheating goes on in schools today.

I hadn't realised you could Buy answer papers!

My last Doctor was female, and wonderful.

At university, the Campus Doctor was older. He diagnosed I had M.E., then said, there is nothing we can do about it, you may want to take Zinc tablets, and so we won't need to see you again!