Superman32 0 #1 March 5, 2007 As some of you may know, I'm the distraught med student, who stops lurking about every 4 weeks and bitches about my upcoming exams, but this post is not about that. As a 2nd year med student a lot of emphasis is placed on how to properly and thoroughly conduct a medical interview. Once a week we get patients, that come in, complaining of the normal stuff, like pains, diabetes, high blood pressure and the like. Today, I did an interview with a diabetic woman that came in complaining knee pain. The interview went in as it normally does, nothing exciting, until it came time to discuss her mental health. She discussed her 4 kids and work, but I felt she was holding back, so I dug deeper. My nice, run of the mill knee pain, was very depressed and SUICIDAL. She had made several plans as to how she was going to carry this out. This mother of 4 went as far as having set up and placed a rope around her neck to hang herself, but was interrupted by her 3 year old child walking in (poor kid ). This poor woman did not have anyone she could talk, and no real coping mechanisms. She was very reluctant to talk to doctors, but with some care and constant mention her children, she finally agreed to meet with our program director. The pt. said this was the first time she had ever spoken to anybody about these feelings, which had been going on for a couple of years. I know she came in looking for help, so if it wasn't me she would probably have spoken to somebody else, nevertheless, it felt good. It felt really good to help this woman get the aid she desperately needs. I'm not sure, if it was the training we are getting, or just general empathy that allowed this woman to open up, but today while drowning in a sea of books, facts and sometimes useless information, I felt I was actually a step closer in becoming a doctor P.S. I do have an exam on Monday, and I am totally screwed. Inveniam Viam aut Faciam I'm back biatches! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #2 March 5, 2007 Rock on! That kind of ability to get people to open up to you is going to serve you very well as a doctor. Talking about depression is a very difficult thing to do and it sounded like you helped her to take the first step."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #3 March 5, 2007 QuoteI know she came in looking for help, so if it wasn't me she would probably have spoken to somebody else, nevertheless, it felt good. It felt really good to help this woman get the aid she desperately needs. I'm not sure, if it was the training we are getting, or just general empathy that allowed this woman to open up, but today while drowning in a sea of books, facts and sometimes useless information, I felt I was actually a step closer in becoming a doctor First off: Do NOT discount the fact that she revealed this most intimate detail of her inner pain to you. Do NOT assume that she would have told 'anybody'. This woman felt safe with you; you made her feel comfortable in talking about a difficult inner turmoil. You were the one that looked beyond the surface. If you hadn't, who knows what may have happened after your appointment? Second: You saved that woman's life for even another hour, day, month, year...or many years. Every moment is a gift (think past her; think to her kids, just like you did when you were talking to her). You found the inner motivation (again, her kids) that would spurn action. You went beyond the exam, the care, or the healing, and went to the psychology of what might make this person follow through on the medical recommendation. Quote P.S. I do have an exam on Monday, and I am totally screwed. Good luck on the exams; it sounds like you will make a very fine doctor. ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jewels 0 #4 March 6, 2007 AWESOME! I've never been on the edge of suicide, but there have been plenty of times over the years when I've wished I had a doctor who felt the need to delve a little deeper about other things. I've never held back information that I knew to be relevant to the medical issue at hand, but there have definitely been things that I might have said had someone asked. Don't get me wrong: I absolutely think that patients have responsibility for their own health and that they should volunteer the information that they think is important. On the other hand, sometimes the "peripheral" stuff that is only vaguely relevant to the matter at hand is substantial enough in its own right. It's the old red herring from law school--what are REALLY the important facts? Looks like you have a good antenna. I hope you continue to use it, even when it's not necessarily a matter of life and death!TPM Sister #102 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superman32 0 #5 March 6, 2007 Thanks for all the kind words. I do hope to become a good and caring doctor someday. This case was specially gratifying to me, because just about a week ago, one of my classmates told me she too was very depressed and suicidal. Her mother died of cancer about a year ago, and to make matters worse, we are currently studying cancer. We talked, I reassured her, but not much else to do. She is undergoing treatment, but its still an uphill battle. The funny thing is that I'm last person I would talk to. I'm a total ass, always taking things lightly and making fun of people, just an overall jackass. It's surprising these people felt comfortable talking to me. P.s. Psychiatry is something I would never consider as a career choice. Everything is up in the air, no immediate satisfaction. Inveniam Viam aut Faciam I'm back biatches! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jewels 0 #6 March 6, 2007 QuoteThe funny thing is that I'm last person I would talk to. I'm a total ass, always taking things lightly and making fun of people, just an overall jackass. It's surprising these people felt comfortable talking to me. Apparently you still somehow are able to make it "safe" for them to speak up. Don't lose sight of that!TPM Sister #102 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #7 March 6, 2007 QuoteP.s. Psychiatry is something I would never consider as a career choice. Everything is up in the air, no immediate satisfaction. No, but if you go into almost any medical field, especially if you're in primary care, you'll see that many mental health issues will manifest themselves physically. Being sensitive to that possibility will allow you to make informed referrals rather than dismissing a patient's problem because "the test didn't show anything.""There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #8 March 6, 2007 QuoteQuoteP.s. Psychiatry is something I would never consider as a career choice. Everything is up in the air, no immediate satisfaction. No, but if you go into almost any medical field, especially if you're in primary care, you'll see that many mental health issues will manifest themselves physically. Being sensitive to that possibility will allow you to make informed referrals rather than dismissing a patient's problem because "the test didn't show anything." Ohhh, that's really smart. Yep, I agree with this stuff. Besides...there isn't a test that shows how you feel, physically or emotionally.~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
