14. SPEAKING
Going to the doctor
Going to the doctor
Kinds of Doctors
cardiologist
consultant: a specialist who gives expert advice or information (especialista)
GP = General Practitioner
dentist
dermatologist
gynecologist / obstetrician
matron / midwife
midwife / matron
obstetrician / gynecologist
ophthalmologist
pediatrician
physiotherapist
psychiatrist
surgeon
cardiologist
consultant: a specialist who gives expert advice or information (especialista)
GP = General Practitioner
dentist
dermatologist
gynecologist / obstetrician
matron / midwife
midwife / matron
obstetrician / gynecologist
ophthalmologist
pediatrician
physiotherapist
psychiatrist
surgeon
Questions a Doctor May Ask a Patient
What seems to be the trouble?/ What's the matter?/ What's wrong?
Do you know when it started?
Where does it hurt exactly?
Is it painful if I do this?
What else is wrong?
Are you allergic to anything?
Have you got any other symptoms?
Have you been taking anything for it?
Are you feverish?
· Patient's Possible Answers
-I've got a pain in ... (my shoulder)
I'm suffering from ... (backache)
I'm coming down with ... (flu)
(My elbow) ... aches.
Does it hurt you if ...?
-I've got a pain in ... (my shoulder)
I'm suffering from ... (backache)
I'm coming down with ... (flu)
(My elbow) ... aches.
Does it hurt you if ...?
· Other Expressions
to be given the all clear
recibir el visto bueno
to give the all clear
dar el visto bueno
I believe that I'm sick. I have a headache and fever and a runny nose and I feel miserable.
Ways of talking about illness:
Dr. Green I don't feel well.
What's the matter Emily?
I got a terrible cough.
What else is wrong?
My stomach hurts. I can't stop sneezing.
It sounds like you have a cold.
I also have a headache and sometimes I feel dizzy.
Any other symptoms? Is anything else the matter?
I think I have a sore throat and I'm always tired.
You should stay home tomorrow. You should take some aspirin and go to bed.
So I shouldn't go to work tomorrow. Is that right?
Well, see how you feel tomorrow. If you don't feel better call the nurse and we'll make another appointment.
Thank you doctor. I really appreciate it.
Wait! You forgot your aspirin.
Ways of talking about illness:
Dr. Green I don't feel well.
What's the matter Emily?
I got a terrible cough.
What else is wrong?
My stomach hurts. I can't stop sneezing.
It sounds like you have a cold.
I also have a headache and sometimes I feel dizzy.
Any other symptoms? Is anything else the matter?
I think I have a sore throat and I'm always tired.
You should stay home tomorrow. You should take some aspirin and go to bed.
So I shouldn't go to work tomorrow. Is that right?
Well, see how you feel tomorrow. If you don't feel better call the nurse and we'll make another appointment.
Thank you doctor. I really appreciate it.
Wait! You forgot your aspirin.
Making an Appointment:
Hello. How may I help you?
I would like to make an appointment with Dr. Smith, please.
What would you like to see him for?
I need my annual physical and also have a shoulder problem. It is aching.
Dr. Smith has openings next week. Are you free on Monday or Tuesday?
I am free on Tuesday afternoon.
We will schedule you for next week Tuesday at 3pm.
Hello. How may I help you?
I would like to make an appointment with Dr. Smith, please.
What would you like to see him for?
I need my annual physical and also have a shoulder problem. It is aching.
Dr. Smith has openings next week. Are you free on Monday or Tuesday?
I am free on Tuesday afternoon.
We will schedule you for next week Tuesday at 3pm.
Seeing the Doctor:
Hi Doctor. I came today because I need a flu shot and to get a checkup.
Ok. Have you had a flu shot in the past year?
No, not in the last few years. My knee hurts as well. I have been running a lot more and think it is injured.
When did the pain start and does it still hurt now?
About two weeks ago and yes, it still hurts.
I suggest you ice it and I will prescribe you some pain medication.
Thank you Doctor.
Hi Doctor. I came today because I need a flu shot and to get a checkup.
Ok. Have you had a flu shot in the past year?
No, not in the last few years. My knee hurts as well. I have been running a lot more and think it is injured.
When did the pain start and does it still hurt now?
About two weeks ago and yes, it still hurts.
I suggest you ice it and I will prescribe you some pain medication.
Thank you Doctor.
Visiting a Patient:
Hello. I'm here to visit my sister.
What is your sister's name?
Her name is Annette Simmons. She is going to have a baby.
Oh, congratulations! Yes, I see here Ms. Simmons is in the maternity ward.
Do you need directions?
Yes, please.
She is in the east wing.
Take this elevator to the 3rd floor and walk down the hall, then make a right turn.
She is in room 304.
Hello. I'm here to visit my sister.
What is your sister's name?
Her name is Annette Simmons. She is going to have a baby.
Oh, congratulations! Yes, I see here Ms. Simmons is in the maternity ward.
Do you need directions?
Yes, please.
She is in the east wing.
Take this elevator to the 3rd floor and walk down the hall, then make a right turn.
She is in room 304.
Seeking Help:
May I help you, sir?
Yes, my child is running a fever and we need help immediately.
How long has he had a fever?
He has had a fever for the last few hours and will not eat. I am afraid he is sick.
Have a seat and we will get a doctor to see you right away.
May I help you, sir?
Yes, my child is running a fever and we need help immediately.
How long has he had a fever?
He has had a fever for the last few hours and will not eat. I am afraid he is sick.
Have a seat and we will get a doctor to see you right away.
The Dentist Office
Hey, how are you?
Not so good. I have a bad toothache.
Ouch. Is it because of a cavity?
I don't think so. I think I chipped my tooth.
How did you do that?
I tripped the other day and hit my mouth on the stair railing at home.
I hope the dentist can get it fixed easily.
Me too. What are you here for?
At my last cleaning, the dentist found some cavities. So he's going to fill them today.
How many cavities do you have?
I have three. Two on the left and one on the right.
So you're going to have both sides of your face numbed. That's going to look funny after you're finished.
Tell me about it. At least it's not right before lunch.
Haha! I can just imagine you trying to eat with a numb face.
Well, you won't be much better if the dentist does any work on your tooth.
That's true. I hope he doesn't have to pull the tooth.
I doubt it. If it's just chipped, he can probably fix it with a cap or a crown.
Maybe I should get him to put a gold tooth in.
Haha! Now that would look really silly.
I know, I was just joking.
Personally, I've had enough experience with metal in my mouth. I had braces when I was younger.
I did too. Not a lot of fun.
No but it was worth in the end.
Yeah. Straight teeth are nice.
They called my name. Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks. I'll see you later.
stair railing= barandilla
chipped= astillado
crown = (dental) cap
braces= brackets
A dental cap, or more correctly, dental crown, is a metal, porcelain or plastic whole-tooth covering. A filling fills a part of the tooth whereas a cap covers the whole tooth. What's the difference between a crown and a cap? Nothing: dentists usually call them crowns and patients sometimes call them caps.
Not so good. I have a bad toothache.
Ouch. Is it because of a cavity?
I don't think so. I think I chipped my tooth.
How did you do that?
I tripped the other day and hit my mouth on the stair railing at home.
I hope the dentist can get it fixed easily.
Me too. What are you here for?
At my last cleaning, the dentist found some cavities. So he's going to fill them today.
How many cavities do you have?
I have three. Two on the left and one on the right.
So you're going to have both sides of your face numbed. That's going to look funny after you're finished.
Tell me about it. At least it's not right before lunch.
Haha! I can just imagine you trying to eat with a numb face.
Well, you won't be much better if the dentist does any work on your tooth.
That's true. I hope he doesn't have to pull the tooth.
I doubt it. If it's just chipped, he can probably fix it with a cap or a crown.
Maybe I should get him to put a gold tooth in.
Haha! Now that would look really silly.
I know, I was just joking.
Personally, I've had enough experience with metal in my mouth. I had braces when I was younger.
I did too. Not a lot of fun.
No but it was worth in the end.
Yeah. Straight teeth are nice.
They called my name. Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks. I'll see you later.
stair railing= barandilla
chipped= astillado
crown = (dental) cap
braces= brackets
A dental cap, or more correctly, dental crown, is a metal, porcelain or plastic whole-tooth covering. A filling fills a part of the tooth whereas a cap covers the whole tooth. What's the difference between a crown and a cap? Nothing: dentists usually call them crowns and patients sometimes call them caps.
Could you please state your name and your birthdate?
Ron Jones, December 15th 1995.
What brings you to our clinic today?
I got a cough. I've had a cough for a while now.
This past week it seems beginning worse, and I'm coughing stuff up.
Can you tell me about the stuff you are coughing up or the sputting you are bringing up?
It seems yellowish or maybe sometimes greenish looking.
How are you feeling generally over all?
Well I fill a bit tired all the time.
Are you having any fever or chills?
No.
Are you on any medications?
Yes, I have been taking some antibiotics. They didn't seem to do much, so I stopped taking them.
Well, I'm just gonna give you some information. Antibiotics work best when you take the whole dosage. If you start and stop then the bacteria might not be killed, and then it can come back and be a little bit stronger. And that's one of the medications where you should take the whole dose. And it's used only seven or ten days at a time, but you should take all of it.
I didn't know that. Thanks for the information.
Back to your cough....are you a smoker?
Yes, I've smoked for a long time.
Ok, can you tell me how many years of smoking that is?
Ahhh, two packs a day, just about.
And for how long?
35 years now.
Have you ever thought about quitting?
Yes, but it's really hard now.
I have some information on smoker's health planner. Would you like to ask to see that?
Sure. What do I get to lose?
I know you told me you don't have a fever but I would like to take your blood pressure pulse (...) just before the doctor comes to see you. So is that ok with you?
Sure.
And I'd like to listen to your chest as well. (...) First I'm going to take your temperature.
Just stick this under your tongue and hold it because it's kind of heavy. It should be beeping in a minute. Great. Ok.
I'm just going to put this in the garbage.
I'm going to take your blood pressure. Now I need to climb up and grab this.
You've had your blood pressure done before?
Yes.
Ok. So I need your arm (...) and I'm gonna have to take my stethoscope. Have you ever had your blood pressure done before?
Yes.
Ok. Do you know what it is?
No.
Now I'll take your blood pressure...... Thank you. Now, lastly, I'll check your pulse. Ok, good, thanks. Now, your temperature is 37, your pulse is 88, your blood pressure is 1.50 over 84 and your expirations were 16.
Now I need to listen to your chest and that's the last part. I'll do that. Can you take a deep breath in? And breathe out. And again. One more time. And again. Ok, great.
I hear whistling in your ... the lower part of your lungs. Do you feel that?
I think so, yeah.
Ok, so I got your vital signs and I've listened to your chest which is whistling. The doctor's gonna be coming in next time, I'm just gonna give her the results of what I've just done and she'll come and visit with you and then I'll see you after that.
Ok, thanks.
sputting = escupir
chill = frío, escalofríos
Doctor comes in and Examines Patient:
Ok, I'm back. The doctor has heard the same things that I heard. She told me she's going to give you some inhalers to use at home. Have you ever used an inhaler before?
Yes, I have. But they didn't show me how to use the spacer.
Great. The spacer is supposed to help the drug down deep into your lungs where can work where is supposed to. And, have you ever had two inhalers before?
No, why?
Well, there are two different drugs and you need to know which one you should take first for the best medication you use for your body, so one of the inhalers opens the tubes in your respiratory lungs a little bit bigger, so it should be taken first and then, when you take the second drug it goes a little bit deeper, it can go the passageways bigger, so it can go down into your lungs better and it's an anti-inflammatory, so that drug is best to go second to get down to where the inflammation in your lungs is happening, causing you some problems.
I had no idea that it would matter which one I should take first.
Yeah, you know what? Many people don't know that, so that's why I explain it, because if you understand it, it makes much more sense in how you should take them.
I've learnt a lot today about both the antibiotics and now inhalers.
Yeah, good! I'm glad I could help with the information and anything.
So, what's next?
Well, I think you can go home with your prescriptions. The doctor wants you to come back in about 10 days and take a next course, another course of antibiotics but the whole dose. And 10 days later from now you can make an appointment, so you can make the appointment today on your way out. And you'll be seen again then.
Ok. Thanks for everything. I'll see you next week. Oh, yeah, can I get that helpline number?
Oh, yeah, I did get it when I was out of the room, so here it is. It's for you the helpline number and you can give them a call and see what happens.
Ok, thanks.
Ok, great.
Bye.
Bye-bye.
Ron Jones, December 15th 1995.
What brings you to our clinic today?
I got a cough. I've had a cough for a while now.
This past week it seems beginning worse, and I'm coughing stuff up.
Can you tell me about the stuff you are coughing up or the sputting you are bringing up?
It seems yellowish or maybe sometimes greenish looking.
How are you feeling generally over all?
Well I fill a bit tired all the time.
Are you having any fever or chills?
No.
Are you on any medications?
Yes, I have been taking some antibiotics. They didn't seem to do much, so I stopped taking them.
Well, I'm just gonna give you some information. Antibiotics work best when you take the whole dosage. If you start and stop then the bacteria might not be killed, and then it can come back and be a little bit stronger. And that's one of the medications where you should take the whole dose. And it's used only seven or ten days at a time, but you should take all of it.
I didn't know that. Thanks for the information.
Back to your cough....are you a smoker?
Yes, I've smoked for a long time.
Ok, can you tell me how many years of smoking that is?
Ahhh, two packs a day, just about.
And for how long?
35 years now.
Have you ever thought about quitting?
Yes, but it's really hard now.
I have some information on smoker's health planner. Would you like to ask to see that?
Sure. What do I get to lose?
I know you told me you don't have a fever but I would like to take your blood pressure pulse (...) just before the doctor comes to see you. So is that ok with you?
Sure.
And I'd like to listen to your chest as well. (...) First I'm going to take your temperature.
Just stick this under your tongue and hold it because it's kind of heavy. It should be beeping in a minute. Great. Ok.
I'm just going to put this in the garbage.
I'm going to take your blood pressure. Now I need to climb up and grab this.
You've had your blood pressure done before?
Yes.
Ok. So I need your arm (...) and I'm gonna have to take my stethoscope. Have you ever had your blood pressure done before?
Yes.
Ok. Do you know what it is?
No.
Now I'll take your blood pressure...... Thank you. Now, lastly, I'll check your pulse. Ok, good, thanks. Now, your temperature is 37, your pulse is 88, your blood pressure is 1.50 over 84 and your expirations were 16.
Now I need to listen to your chest and that's the last part. I'll do that. Can you take a deep breath in? And breathe out. And again. One more time. And again. Ok, great.
I hear whistling in your ... the lower part of your lungs. Do you feel that?
I think so, yeah.
Ok, so I got your vital signs and I've listened to your chest which is whistling. The doctor's gonna be coming in next time, I'm just gonna give her the results of what I've just done and she'll come and visit with you and then I'll see you after that.
Ok, thanks.
sputting = escupir
chill = frío, escalofríos
Doctor comes in and Examines Patient:
Ok, I'm back. The doctor has heard the same things that I heard. She told me she's going to give you some inhalers to use at home. Have you ever used an inhaler before?
Yes, I have. But they didn't show me how to use the spacer.
Great. The spacer is supposed to help the drug down deep into your lungs where can work where is supposed to. And, have you ever had two inhalers before?
No, why?
Well, there are two different drugs and you need to know which one you should take first for the best medication you use for your body, so one of the inhalers opens the tubes in your respiratory lungs a little bit bigger, so it should be taken first and then, when you take the second drug it goes a little bit deeper, it can go the passageways bigger, so it can go down into your lungs better and it's an anti-inflammatory, so that drug is best to go second to get down to where the inflammation in your lungs is happening, causing you some problems.
I had no idea that it would matter which one I should take first.
Yeah, you know what? Many people don't know that, so that's why I explain it, because if you understand it, it makes much more sense in how you should take them.
I've learnt a lot today about both the antibiotics and now inhalers.
Yeah, good! I'm glad I could help with the information and anything.
So, what's next?
Well, I think you can go home with your prescriptions. The doctor wants you to come back in about 10 days and take a next course, another course of antibiotics but the whole dose. And 10 days later from now you can make an appointment, so you can make the appointment today on your way out. And you'll be seen again then.
Ok. Thanks for everything. I'll see you next week. Oh, yeah, can I get that helpline number?
Oh, yeah, I did get it when I was out of the room, so here it is. It's for you the helpline number and you can give them a call and see what happens.
Ok, thanks.
Ok, great.
Bye.
Bye-bye.