Posted by Kath on August 16, 2000, at 10:42:18
In reply to I'm scared, posted by quilter on August 16, 2000, at 0:46:44
Quilter - another thought. If you don't understand what the doctor says, it's not because you're not smart. Doctors study for years & years & years.... to learn their stuff. Some of them explain things to patients in 'easy-to-understand' words & ways. Some of them don't bother to simplify. If you don't understand something, there's absolutely no need to feel badly. It's the doctor's job to find a way to explain it so that you DO understand it. If you don't understand, I hope you can feel comfortable to say something like "Can you explain that in a different way; I'm not understanding it yet & I really want to understand what you're telling me."
Best of luck, Kath
> I have an appointment with a cardiologist tomorrow. I'm sure he will be unhappy with my weight, probably my diet, certainly with my lack of exercise. He will possibly try to add another med to the seven I already take. He may try to reduce my thyroid dose (the only thing that ever gets me close to a normal energy level).
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> I am worried he will tell me my heart is just fine and I'm wasting his time, or that there is something wrong and I'll need to make sweeping changes to stay alive.
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> I'm quite sure he will not understand why living longer is not a great desire of mine, and that a guilt free death sentence is something I have prayed for for many years.
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> I'm worried that he will expect me to control more parts of a life that already has overwhelming problems to juggle. I'm afraid he will underestimate how devastating depression has been in my life. I'm afraid that I will not be brave enough to talk to him, or smart enough to remember and understand what he says to me.
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> It has taken me months to decide to go ahead with the consult. I finally decided to go because my pdoc said that the exhaustion might be due to a heart problem that could be improved. I sure do wish I was sure I wouldn't regret this. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.... Quilter
poster:Kath
thread:43034
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000811/msgs/43085.html