# Question for physicians \[patients exaggerating symptoms\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 24, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028 "2012-12-24T17:41:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028/81 "2012-12-30T18:47:17Z")
I have a lot of gynecological history that I skim over to medical folks: “Numerous gynecological procedures, complete hysterectomy in 19XX.” This seems to satisfy just about everyone, and certainly eliminates the “could you be pregnant” question. I also for every doctor visit bring a printout of all my medications. This saves everyone a lot of time. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028/82 "2012-12-30T19:21:55Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > I also for every doctor visit bring a printout of all my medications. This saves everyone a lot of time. I do this too-in fact, I keep a copy for everybody in the family in my wallet for emergencies. It came in handy when we were in a car accident. I was pretty rattled, and it was great to be able to hand the EMT a list instead of trying to recall my son’s ten meds while calming him down. When it’s something planned like a surgery I make a bunch of copies and hand them out when anyone asks. Somebody upthread said they sometimes get a bad reaction from doctors. The worst reaction I’ve gotten is a neutral thank you. Mostly they’re thrilled. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028/83 "2012-12-30T19:30:05Z")
> [@StuffLikeThatThere](#): > > I do this too-in fact, I keep a copy for everybody in the family in my wallet for emergencies. It came in handy when we were in a car accident. I was pretty rattled, and it was great to be able to hand the EMT a list instead of trying to recall my son’s ten meds while calming him down. When it’s something planned like a surgery I make a bunch of copies and hand them out when anyone asks. > > Somebody upthread said they sometimes get a bad reaction from doctors. The worst reaction I’ve gotten is a neutral thank you. Mostly they’re thrilled. You give one of those printed Rx lists to the ER folks, they practically WEEP with joy! And EMTs are overwhelmed with gratitude! I take the printout to ALL my doctor visits, and the MTs doing vitals love it. Hint: list all medications by both brand name and generic name. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028/84 "2012-12-30T20:15:54Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Hint: list all medications by both brand name and generic name. And what condition you’re taking it for, if you have more than one. My first husband had numerous conditions and some of his drugs were not for obvious things, or were ambiguous. His beta-blocker was for his heart rate, not his blood pressure, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028/85 "2012-12-30T20:31:07Z")
Just to add to the party - I’ve noticed a much better reception to my allergy list when I started listing the _symptoms:_ Eat X, get hives Eat Y, get stomach upset and rash within 48 hours Eat Z, get stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, hives, difficulty breathing, wheezing and a trip to the ER. I guess it lends some credibility. Also, I’m well aware that there are times, with extremely serious matters, when a mild allergic reaction might allow for a treatment whereas an extremely serious one will not. I still occasionally get the stink-eye regarding The List but the world is imperfect. Sure, sure, sometimes I’m told “Y” isn’t a _real_ allergy, it’s an intolerance (or whatever) but really, either way, I shouldn’t be eating it, right? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028/86 "2012-12-31T03:22:19Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Unless that’s the set-up for a joke, you’re sweating the small stuff. I also answered it itn the next line. Point being that folks there to do their fellowships will not be there when I really do need the next stage. All they can do is sit there, stare at my charts, ask dumb questions, and generally vamp until a permanent staff member can find 3 minutes to pop in and determine there is not reason for me to be there. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028/87 "2012-12-31T03:55:11Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > IANAD, but in June my mother was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure and began dialysis. I have her medical and legal powers of attorney, so as a result I know more about this stuff than I’d care to. However, I repeat that I am _not_ a doctor or medical professional of any kind. > > I’m not sure what you mean by “taps,” but as far as I know the access options for dialysis are the same whether you’re considering doing it at home or not, and they are all (more or less) permanent. My mom was given a cardiac catheter when she began dialysis (while hospitalized for something else), and the surgery for her to get a fistula has finally been scheduled. > > Once you’ve been on dialysis for either 30 or 60 days (I don’t remember which) you become eligible for Medicare – regardless of your age. The wait is to make sure that your kidneys don’t start functioning again. So sorry about your mother - this is not a fun situation, and I am still (sorta) functional). Thanks for the term “fistula” - I had forgotten it, and didn’t want to spend another hour on Google to find an article which had reson to use the term. Being on SS disability (osteoarthritis), maybe there will be fewer hoops to jump to get Medicare (attn GOP: Keep you’re damned hands off - not all of use have the money or the foresight to cover it). ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028/88 "2012-12-31T04:07:34Z")
I am beyond the age where I get asked The Pregnancy Question. One sort of cool thing about being That Age: They get a clue and stop asking you ridiculous questions about your pregnancy status. Yes!! ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028/89 "2012-12-31T05:28:25Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I think this [scale](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/Guinastasia/421052_720549196978_50704898_34584468_833238864_n.jpg) works nicely. In fact, I think it should be official. . . > [@NIKI50](#): > > Hyperbole and a half! she is the greatest! I really miss her twist on humor. . . . [Link to original blog post.](http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/02/boyfriend-doesnt-have-ebola-probably.html) The rest of the post is just as funny. When I went in for my knee replacement, I printed the chart and taped it to the hospital room wall, under the TV. The nurses loved it. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028/90 "2013-01-02T10:14:57Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I just about punched an OB/GYN who then asked me what birth control I used when having sex outside of marriage. “Abstinence?” :dubious: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028/91 "2013-01-02T18:21:41Z")
This thread is all over the place now but I thought I’d share my amusing “are you pregnant?” story. I went to have a procedure (upper GI scope) that required anesthesia. They had asked me about pregnancy and knew I am on The Pill but they needed me to sign a paper that said I was taking responsibility for the fact that I wasn’t pregnant without giving me a test. They didn’t give me the paper to sign, and I was whisked into the procedure room. The anesthesiologist was going over his checklist and noted I hadn’t signed the paper, but then also noted that my history said I have PCOS so he said “Oh, you have PCOS, so you probably can’t get pregnant anyway” or something sort of dismissive (but not entirely rude) like that, and told the nurse I didn’t need to sign the paper. Now me, I have absolutely no plans to ever be pregnant and the thought repulses me, and most days would rather not have any girly bits at all. But for a minute there I got all indignant and was like “No, having PCOS doesn’t mean I can’t get pregnant! I can get pregnant any time I want!” and made them get me the paper to sign. It was uncharacteristic of me and amusing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-physicians-patients-exaggerating-symptoms/645028.md?page=4)