I Really Appreciated This Visit
Judy Fischer*, a woman in her 60s, met me three months ago at the suggestion of her cardiologist. She had seen a long string of internists and found them unsatisfactory for various reasons. From speaking to her cardiologists, I learned she was emotionally needy and difficult to please – the stereotypical difficult patient. Our first visit three months ago went without incident.

She returned today. She’s been caring for her daughter while her daughter is treated for ovarian cancer. She’s an anxious wreck and it’s making her asthma and her menopausal hot flushes worse. She’s been trying to diet and exercise, but hasn’t lost any weight yet, probably because her anxiety is making her overeat. I adjusted her asthma medications and suggested a short term tiny dose of estrogen to get rid of the hot flushes, but mostly I just let her vent, and I agreed with her that all of these physical symptoms are the understandable consequence of the terrible stress she’s under.

At the end of the visit, when I shook her hand, she said “I really appreciated this visit.” After I stepped out of the examining room I peeked at my watch. We had spent 20 minutes together, exactly as much as was scheduled.

It’s too early to pat myself on the back and think that I’ve forged a successful relationship. In another three months I may inadvertently upset her and she may switch doctors again. Still, I’m surprised how much worse she was advertised than she is in person. Maybe she just needed someone who took the time to let her talk. Maybe she just needed 20 minutes.


* I’ve changed her name and the details of her medical problems.
- served up by Doctor Bean @ 11:01 AM