"this pleasant 44 year old"

[ticandtoc]

I've used private doctors twice over the past 10 years, most recently last week - and on both occasions the doctor has sent a letter to my GP starting with "this delightful 34 year old" and "this pleasant 44 year old". It has always struck me as an odd way for a doctor to describe a patient but a friend told me it's kind of a code between doctors just informing them that the patient isn't a pain in the derriere or.... ? Does that make sense? Anyone know if this is true?

Just curious.

My evil MIL gloated over a letter from her GP to a consultant, it said please see mrs E, she's a very nice lady, I bet she has it framed. Nobody else will have agreed.

I am so requesting my medical notes!!! Bet mine says hypochondriac lazy mare needs to get to the gym more.

My brother once had a letter back from a consultant starting "This pleasant Australian gentleman..."

He's from Kent

My DM had was referred to as pleasant....must be a code! I wonder when you learn that in med scho

I once was described as 'stoical' in a consultant's letter. Too bloody true. Put up with a lot of crap over the years and never used my illness as an excuse, just got on with it.

I've been referred to as pleasant in my notes too. Must be a code, how funny.

I was described as a "lovely 50 year old lady" by my gynaecologist. I was unreasonably thrilled. [Blush]

Oops blush emoticon didn't work on my kindle :(

I have had 'very pleasant' but also 'interesting' hmm wonder what that means then

DH was described as 'dignified' in a discharge letter after a week in hospital. It made me wonder about the undignified patients...

Oh

Oh, and ds was 'cheerful' on an optician's letter.

How did you get to see these letters? I'd love to see any I have had sent!

Can you request all your files or something?

DH once saw "this affable chap" on a letter about him. He was over the moon with affable chap.

weve had this thread before

IIRC came ot same conclusions, that doctors talk shit

Is it a code like spirited which everyone knows really means little shit?

The optician's (orthoptist, really) letter is on my kitchen notice board, I have to take it with me to his next regular appointment.

DH's hospital discharge letter was given to me in an unsealed envelope, to hand in at his GP's surgery. Of course I read it before it got passed on.

this is fascinating. i wouldn't want 'cheerful' written on my notes. would make me sound unobservant and half-witted.

Come on Doctors, break the magic circle, tell us what these codes are!

My son is unobservant and half-witted, to be honest. I think you've cracked that piece of the code.

I was delightful in a letter from my dentist.

Delightful/cheerful/affable/lovely/pleasant - all code for - be nice to this nice person, they won't be any bother.

It's when they describe you as 'extremely anxious' that the recipient of the referral will start to worry. It doesn't mean you suffer from anxiety - those people will still come under the heading above. Extremely anxious is code for 'doesn't listen to a word I say so can you please take a crack at it?' It's like 'atypical' - meaning 'it looks like x but it isn't and so we don't know what the hell is going on.'

Interesting is good ... Means interesting case, medically

Pleasant means pleasant.. A compliment!

Delightful means very old with all her marbles

I don't think there's much more I can do for her....... Means fgs can you take her off my hands

Has a very proactive family .... Family demands discussion with Drs day and night

Had a long discussion with this patient today...... Get me a drink quick

DDs letters have "mum is very well informed and supported by x charity" which I understand means "don't piss around, she knows as much as you do, and can name drop the experts she's talked to" .

I had completely forgotten that my locum GP called me a "very pleasant married lady" when referring me for an ultra sound after a fall when I was pregnant. She is also very naice, but massively twee, so I thought it was just her. I'm in Ireland, so I wonder if the code is international, you know, like air traffic control, or something...

very pleasant married lady. omg! i'm in Ireland too. I believe it was a code!

I know, noglen, we had a great laugh about the married bit, considering I wasn't married when I got pregnant!