Anyone else find it weird when doctors dumb down things for you?

[Flamesparrow]

I went to the docs today with DS - the end of his penis had ballooned to twice its size.

I explained (using that wording) - and spent the rest of the time with the doctor talking to me in terms of willies and wee wee

I understand that everyone has different language use etc, but surely you mirror the patient at the time?

It was a tad disconcerting

(Turned out he thinks its the start of a topical infection... cream has made it so it just looks deflated, but not the right shape again yet!)

It's not ballentitis is it?
How bizarre that he would use such childish words to you!

Argh - he didn't say that word, and google doesn't match it... but he could easily have said it in "simple terms"

What is it, and should I be worried?

Drove me mad around the time when DD was due to have her MMR - they kept giving me these 'Topsy and Tim' leaflets that said, basically 'It's fine, just do it, because we say so' and I'm asking - look, just show me some of the statistics, I'm an intelligent person, I can understand them.

Balanitis - search on here, and there's probably quite a lot of info.

LOL! poor DS and his ballooning willy

i remember being exceptionally irritated whilst in labour, that the MW kept referring to the paed as the 'baby doctor', i wanted to say ' i know what a paed is and if i wasn;t in so much pain, i could spell it !!!!!'

I once saw a GP who repeatedly referred, over several consultations, to "your girlie bits", despite me always using the correct terminology.

Deeply irritating and rather demeaning, I felt. And I told him so, too ... he didn't do it again

I went on a training course for foreign doctors last month and it was geared towards them taking the test that allows practice in the UK. I was astounded at the level of dumbing down going on. Private parts for testicles, waterworks for penis (I mean, is there anybody who hasn't heard of penis?) and so on. I tried to rebel but was swiftly put down with "Do you want to pas this or not?". Apparently it's what the GMC requires, that all foreign doctors should know the common language, and it seems at the lowest common denominator too. But good point, if the patient indicates that they can handle more than that, the dr should adapt the language.

Balanitis is a term used to include all inflammation of the skin covering the glans of the penis.

(i.e. sore willy, in simple terms for you )

Found it on nhs direct (after very carefully googling "swelling penis MEDICAL" ) - yes, it sounds like that. He's been a nightmare for nappy changes lately, so that's probably caused it

Why couldn't he have just said that to me!?!?!?

I used to get this a lot when I was living in a rough area - they seem to assume that if you live there you are lacking in intelligence, it's much better since I have moved to a slightly better ares, but I guess where it was the combined weekend one they work to the lowest level.

I was wanting to yell at him that the cream will stay on his penis even when his nappy is wet from urine

On the course I mentioned earlier we were specifically taught to use willy and wee-wee with parents and waterworks and can't remember what for urine with the other patients.

Well as usual - have found out more on MN in 5 mins than I did at the doctors.

My DS had balanitis at some stage. We went to A&E at 5 am in the morning and they faffed about asking more and more senior doctors to see him until one recommended circumcision. I could almost hear the sound of the surgical knives sharpening up for the op when we were told to come again later in the afternoon if it was still very sore and strangled. So the GP's surgery opened meanwhile and I took DS there - he gave an antibiotic cream and DS's willy was spared an op. Good luck, I know it was agony for DS.

had a doctor talk to me like a five year old in an IVF consultation, when asked - did I have any questions, I wanted to know about the long protocl vs short protocol and did they think that short protocol would be more suitable for me given my hormone levels.

Consultant went very red and started talking to me sensibly after that. (I wasn;t showing off honest, but I had done a LOT of research)

do like the dea of your Doctor talking o yo about your gilry bits though WWB - would love to have been a fly on the wall and seen your face

I was very polite initially, KC. I put up with it for about three appointments before I pointed out that I was an intelligent woman and would prefer it if he would treat me as such.

He only looked about 17 (you know you're getting old when the GPs look young) and blushed to the roots ... I think he'd used the term to cover his own embarrassment, not mine!

It is ridiculous, isn't it? I had a bad infection after a miscarriage and had to phone the Dr for an emergency appointment, and because I used the correct terminology he kept asking, "Are you a medic, then? - You must have worked as a nurse or something?" which wasted loads of time and made me rather cross - I like to find out about things, you know!
Another good example was when we went to the charmingly named INfertility clinic and the Dr took some details and then asked us, "So, how are you together....?" - it took a while before we worked out he wanted to know whether we had sex regularly!

Oooooooohhhh, and the crazy questions just after you've given birth!!!!!! - About how you are ,"Down below" - because clearly if they use euphemisms I'll forget that I've just pushed myself inside out.......

Sorry, rant over