CountryPlans Forum

Off Topic => Off Topic - Ideas, humor, inspiration => Topic started by: AdironDoc on June 07, 2012, 03:21:05 PM

Title: Medical Mispronunciations
Post by: AdironDoc on June 07, 2012, 03:21:05 PM
Was speaking with a colleague about my patient who I was introducing. As I provided the history, I mentioned that he had undergone a "BKA".  My patient asked, "what's a BKA, doc?". "A below-knee amputation", I replied. His mood seemed to suddenly sour as he replied to me, "it may be just baloney to you, but it was my dog-gone leg!"

Couple of months back, on behalf of an attorney colleague, I saw a woman who had been involved in a negligence suit. On reading her history form, I noted that she had undergone, "tubal litigation". I made certain to cross my t's and dot my I's with her.

I should keep a log..
Title: Re: Medical Mispronunciations
Post by: Sassy on June 07, 2012, 11:50:39 PM
Those are good, Doc.  I've heard a lot throughout the years - one that stands out in my mind was when a patient bragged about how knowledgeable his daughter was with medical things.  He went on & on stating "My daughter knows all about medicine.  She's sure this pain I'm having down the back of my leg is from my exotic nerve."  ::)  He meant sciatic nerve - I didn't have the heart to correct him   heh
Title: Re: Medical Mispronunciations
Post by: AdironDoc on June 08, 2012, 11:45:09 AM
lol.Exotic nerve. that's one I hadn't heard, Sassy. . Down in Florida, it was common to hear of patients complain of fireballs causing pelvic pain. Clearly, they meant fibroids.


During a risk management workshop, I was shown correspondence between a family doc and a fertility specialist. It read, "...woman and her husband having difficulty conceiving..  between the two of us, we should be able to get her pregnant". Sounds awful!

Title: Re: Medical Mispronunciations
Post by: flyingvan on June 10, 2012, 01:23:50 PM
Wish I had a dime for every patient that was 'disorientated' or had 'prostrate' troubles.  Had to learn the street medical terminology--'Peanut Butter Balls' (Phenobarbitol) 'Done fell out' (experienced a grand mal seizure) 'Chicken breath' (She can't breathe)
Title: Re: Medical Mispronunciations
Post by: Sassy on June 10, 2012, 06:10:17 PM
Those all are some good ones  heh  I've heard a lot but my mind can't seem to retrieve any examples  ???
Title: Re: Medical Mispronunciations
Post by: AdironDoc on June 11, 2012, 07:02:17 PM
Quote from: flyingvan on June 10, 2012, 01:23:50 PM
Wish I had a dime for every patient that was 'disorientated' or had 'prostrate' troubles.  Had to learn the street medical terminology--'Peanut Butter Balls' (Phenobarbitol) 'Done fell out' (experienced a grand mal seizure) 'Chicken breath' (She can't breathe)

Peanut butter balls! lol..

Back during obstetrics, we'd wait around for the mom's to be ready to wheel in to the deliver suite. Nurse called to me, the "cervix is effaced and fully dilated". Shouted the woman, "yes, I'm so delighted!". We all had a laugh.

A patient in the ER with a very painful condition called testicular torsion. As the surgeon left, I asked the patient if he understood his condition. He replied calmy, "yes, I've got testicular torture". "Indeed...indeed", I replied. I had to turn away!
Title: Re: Medical Mispronunciations
Post by: flyingvan on June 11, 2012, 07:37:26 PM
  We once responded to a synagogue for a disoriented elder gentleman.  Seems everyone around us was either a doctor or an attorney and let us know----anyway, he wanted nothing to do with us but was obviously struggling.  I was able to calm him down a bit and explained I wanted to test his blood sugar, which he heard as 'meshugenah' (later I found out that is yidish for crazy) and he went absolutely bananas.  "I'm not meshugenah!!"  it was quite awhile before he calmed down again.  If a patient give their weight and it's grossly understated, translate it to kilos for any reports in front of them.  Use 'miscarraige' instead of 'spontaneous abortion'.  If the basic underlying problem is of dubious medical origin, describe it as 'supratentorial' or as a case of 'dyscopia' (inability to cope).  When a patient would ask if they were going to die the answer was always, "Yes, but not from this"  (Note----I wasn't correct on this 100% of the time but so far nobody has complained)
Title: Re: Medical Mispronunciations
Post by: rick91351 on June 11, 2012, 11:18:59 PM
Migraine headache  = My Brain headache
Title: Re: Medical Mispronunciations
Post by: Woodsrule on June 15, 2012, 07:30:01 AM
Here's two northeast conditions.

1st: He "took" a stroke

2nd: I was sick in bed with the doctor all week.

The second seems to be preferable to the first.
Title: Re: Medical Mispronunciations
Post by: AdironDoc on June 15, 2012, 09:43:50 AM
Quote from: Woodsrule on June 15, 2012, 07:30:01 AM

2nd: I was sick in bed with the doctor all week.

The second seems to be preferable to the first.

Hahaha.. I wonder who gave the cold to who..

Down in Jacksonville, FL, the mom's would say, "he got him the wheeze.. or he be illin'". Also common, "I got me a flu in my knees" to mean a flare up of arthritis.