Can anyone else not make sense of what doctors tell them?

[twmums]

Unfortunately I have had to have dealings with doctors recently. They talk in a language I don't understand without checking with me whether I get it or not. I receive copies of letters that are full of jargon which I don't know and there doesn't seem to be anyone I can ask to explain, nor to help me make the tough decisions that may be necessary. Anyone else feel the same?

No, but I'm comfortable with medical language.

What sort of things are you receiving that you don't understand? Do you have anyone to help you translate?

You can always ask them if you don't understand what they're talking about. If they've not explained in a way that you understand it isn't usually because they want to confuse people - it's more likely that it's because the language we use with each other every day is so common to us that sometimes it's hard to remember what might not make so much sense to a non-medic (even though we're much more aware of trying to avoid all the jargon and whatnot these days). If the letter is addressed to you then it should be in language that the 'average' person would understand, but if it's addressed to an HCP and cc'd to you then it's more usual for it to use the medical terminology because that's the language that conveys the full meaning to the HCP with whom they're communicating (the cc'ing is a courtesy so you have copies of the letters about you). Hope you get to the bottom of it all!