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

(81 Posts)
Genevieve489 Wed 08-Mar-17 11:40:45

I've just come back from seeing a GP I didn't know and, yet again, have been asked if I was a 'medical person'. I'm not! I believe this was because I used the term 'labia'.

Many years ago the same thing happened when I explained to a hospital consultant that one of his colleagues had performed a sphincterotomy on my bile duct.

As a retired English teacher, I believe that if one knows a word - and understands what it means - then we should use it! Has anyone else had this sort of reaction? Or do you find yourself dumbing down when faced with a medical professional?

hopeful1 Thu 09-Mar-17 13:29:29

patronising

bionicwoman Thu 09-Mar-17 13:46:41

'Funny' story.... When my father was taken ill for the last time and was rushed to A&E, the doctor told us what was wrong and I asked sensible questions, using the correct terminology.
The doctor asked me if I was a medical person.
I didn't like to tell him that I got all my knowledge from Casualty and Holby City, so I just muttered something about knowing a bit.....

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:38

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:38

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:38

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:39

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:39

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:39

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:40

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:40

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:40

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:40

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:40

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:40

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:41

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:41

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:41

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:41

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:41

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:41

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

littleoldlady Thu 09-Mar-17 15:43:42

I was seeing a young registrar accompanied by my sister and son, regarding the symptoms of a tumour in my spine .One of which was loss of sensation between my spincter and vagina .On being asked about this , all i could think of was the word fanny .I know ridiculous , but it was and i was struggling to find the right word .My sister came in with, front bottom, which had me almost dying of embarrassment and then my calm and wonderful son said , vagina mother , vagina .I had worked in a hospital for 20 years and knew the terminology so why ? ! we did laugh afterwards mind .

mazza245 Thu 09-Mar-17 17:21:50

What happened there?

ninathenana Thu 09-Mar-17 18:26:08

I've seen accidental double posts but that has to take the prize grin
All exactly the same time too confused

Elrel Thu 09-Mar-17 20:23:42

I told the continence nurse I'd quite like a Bristol stool chart to put up in my loo, I thought it would amuse the DGC and teach them what was 'normal'. Then she showed me the credit card sized one she wears on a lanyard around her neck!

Ana Thu 09-Mar-17 20:33:34

I'd have thought it might be a bit alarming for some children - after all, there are only two 'normal' examples!