We had one in the house growing up and heart sounds (human, dog, cat, etc.) are neat. And all sorts of things sound different through a stethoscope – voice (but not too loud!), radio, air… Anyone who knows what I’m talking about ‘gets’ Prine’s 4′33″ for what it was intended to be. Wish I still had it.
Sound is great.
'Course, I also have a microscope, not for any other practical purpose other than looking at little things is awesome. I can’t wait to inherit my Pa’s stereo microscope. The world’s a beautiful place.
Try explaining to the pediatrician (and later the otolaryntologist) why you have an otoscope. My typical phone call pre-ear tubes…
Me: Hi, I’d like to bring my daughter in. She appears to have an ear infection.
<transferred to nurse>
Nurse: Does she have a fever? Is she tugging at her ears?
Me: On and off. No. She’s had several before, and I looked in her ears and saw opaque fluid behind her eardrums.
Nurse: Are you a doctor?
Me: No, and I’m not a pro at the otoscope either. It’s just easier for me to look than to guess…
etc., etc., etc.
Still, I never took at as paranoia. I just assumed that I’m 1 out of 1000 parents who might buy and use one and the doctors and nurses were not expecting me to describe the fluid.
I did answer that. Let me try again: It is context dependent, and I need to sort out whether that comment, or any other, has further relevance. One possibility is that I am dealing with a hypochondriacal fruitcake. Another is that I have a patient who has a chronic murmur of an atrial septal defect and has been taught how to listen to it so that when he feels ill and has a fever he can make a judgment about whether or not his murmur has changed. And every other possibility in between.
I suspect, although I cannot know, that the OP has a certain defensiveness about owning a stethoscope. It’s likely that some mannerism, or some context–or perhaps, the lack of any context at all when he brings it up–alerts the physician that a follow-up question might be elucidating. I’ve personally taken tens of thousands of patient histories and I can assure you that good physicians are able to hone in on key details and comments in a patient’s history because the information uncovered by tracking down that detail is more likely to be helpful than not. The relatively pejorative use of the term “paranoia” by the OP suggests to me that there is a titchy bit more here than meets the eye.
I can also assure you that unless it’s helpful to understanding the patient, physicians could not otherwise give a rat’s patoot about whether or not a patient owns a stethoscope.
I am not a doctor, but I can see why announcing to a doctor that you own a stethoscope causes these reactions.
It is like taking your car to the mechanic and telling him that you own a torque wrench (a rather specialized tool). Much like a stethoscope, a torque wrench has very specific and limited uses that 99,9% of the people won’t ever need. Saying up front that you own one will send all kinds of bad vibes, for example, you like fiddling with your car, you will probably criticize the mechanic’s work or you might disregard his advice and do whatever you think is right.
Missed the edit window: And if somebody comes to my shop and tells me that he owns a torque wrench I will sure as hell ask what does he need one for. If he tells me that he uses it to tighten the wheel nuts or the oil drain plug this makes him a car hypochondriac and I will take extra care when dealing with him.
Oh, come on. I can see everyone is too scared to admit the truth, but I’m not! You know what it is? Medicine is just a SCAM! The stethoscope is really a radio receiver that tells your doctor exactly what to say! You don’t need to go do med school - just pick up a stethoscope! But there’s big money for the medical industry in keeping us all stupid sheep - that’s why they don’t tell us! Spread the word!
Am I the only one picturing the OP saying “By the way doc, did you know I own a stethoscope?”, getting a reply of “Oh, why is that?” and going “IT’S NONE OF YOUR GODDAMN BUSINESS, ASSHOLE!”
I was thinking this is probably one of the more legit uses of the scope, more that once Ive heard folks bringing their car into a shop and the mechanic uses a stethoscope to try an isolate a weird noise or something that the vehicle is exhibiting.
No, you aren’t the only one. By my estimation, posts #2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 18, 19, 25, and 27 said the same thing. I hope the OP comes back to explain himself.
Amazing!
Yes, the question is the immediate suspicion. No, I don’t make a point o mentioning it - I can’t remember why I did in those cases.
It just seemed like they were just a bit touchy about it.
In one case, I mentioned my chronic hypertension (160/120). That quieted him. He did not inquire about a cuff, which I don’t have. I want one - one of the classic mercury jobs - those are cool.
The real reason - mechanical - I was set up to build an airplane (poverty intervened), and would need to be able to detect leaks in the fuel tanks, which are chambers in the wing - not easily seen.
I have no idea what I’m hearing when I put it to my chest, so I don’t do that.
Ms. Malienation’s late father was a dentist, so we have his stethoscope and sphygmomanometer (A word I take no small pride in knowing its definition, pronunciation, and correct spelling). If I mentioned to a doctor that I had either one, I’d hasten to add why I had one so as to avoid being pegged as a hypocondriac (which is what I’d think if I were him).
FWIW, in spite of knowing how to define, pronounce, and spell “sphygmomanometer”, I’m a little fuzzy on actually using it. Besides, aren’t those automated cuffs they use these days more accurate?
It depends on which type of automated cuff you’re using. The ones in hospitals and on LifePaks (the ones on ambulances) are good; the ones in the grocery store or that you can buy online for $19.95 aren’t as accurate.
As for using one, it’s pretty much impossible to take your own BP, unless you’re using an automated one.
