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Aristus

(66,462 posts) Thu Jul 18, 2019, 07:29 PM Jul 2019

Whew! I sure had an arrogant sumbitch in my exam room just now.

He had a not-uncommon problem that is not always easy to diagnose, due to the number of things that could be causing it. I was assembling a differential while he gave me the history of the condition.

I was going over my list of things it could be (out loud, unfortunately), and he said: "Sounds like quackery to me! I was a corpsman in Vietnam! Improvise!"

Shit...

I came to the (probably correct) diagnosis that it was caused by an adverse interaction between two of the many medications he's taking, and recommended that, based on his current status, he could discontinue one of them.

I hope his condition improves, and I hope I never see him again...

8 replies

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Whew! I sure had an arrogant sumbitch in my exam room just now. (Original Post) Aristus Jul 2019 OP

If he comes back, toss him a Magic-8 ball for his diagnosis (developed & popular during Vietnam era) hlthe2b Jul 2019 #1

Magic 8 balls have been around at least since the late 1950s. PoindexterOglethorpe Jul 2019 #3

Yes.. The United States began its involvement in Vietnam as early as in 1950 to aid the French hlthe2b Jul 2019 #4

It amazes me how rude people can be. babylonsister Jul 2019 #2

Because field trauma is the same as taking a Hx and compiling symptoms for a ddx tymorial Jul 2019 #5

Especially during the Vietnam era... (which, granted, was leaps and bounds over all that came before hlthe2b Jul 2019 #6

God! Nurses rock so hard! Aristus Jul 2019 #7

Doctors like to think they run the ER... tymorial Jul 2019 #8

hlthe2b

(102,357 posts)

1. If he comes back, toss him a Magic-8 ball for his diagnosis (developed & popular during Vietnam era)

Reply to Aristus (Original post)

Thu Jul 18, 2019, 07:34 PM

Jul 2019

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,895 posts)

3. Magic 8 balls have been around at least since the late 1950s.

Reply to hlthe2b (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 18, 2019, 08:07 PM

Jul 2019

That's when I first saw one.

hlthe2b

(102,357 posts)

4. Yes.. The United States began its involvement in Vietnam as early as in 1950 to aid the French

Reply to PoindexterOglethorpe (Reply #3)

Thu Jul 18, 2019, 08:10 PM

Jul 2019

But yeah, they didn't get popular until the 60s, which coincides with the key years of US troops in Vietnam.

babylonsister

(171,090 posts)

2. It amazes me how rude people can be.

Reply to Aristus (Original post)

Thu Jul 18, 2019, 07:54 PM

Jul 2019

Have I never noticed or is this a relatively new thing?

Most people would want you to communicate your learned opinion which is why we go to begin with. I'm sorry you wound up with this clown.

tymorial

(3,433 posts)

5. Because field trauma is the same as taking a Hx and compiling symptoms for a ddx

Reply to Aristus (Original post)

Thu Jul 18, 2019, 08:10 PM

Jul 2019

Because you soooo want to improvise on the fly with symptoms to develop your impression and plan.

I have my own experiences with people like this. The webmd experts are worse though. I miss the days before the million symptom checker websites. Back then I was working in an ER as a nurse. My patients now can still come up with half baked theories but it's not the same. I am an LICSW now.

Still, I feel your pain.