Dr. Smak: So I understand that your back has been hurting for a week?
85 year old with hearing aid either broken or off to save batteries: Huh?
Dr. Smak (yelling): Your back has been hurting?
85 year old: Yup. I think I might know why.
Dr. Smak: Why?
85 year old: I dug 100 bushels of potatoes out of the ground last week. Do you think that did it?
Dr. Smak: Yeah. That might have done it.
Folks, they don't make them like this anymore.
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4 comments:
I find in my shadowing experience, that the elderly who have worked like this all their lives, really just want a warm smile, a "yeah, you're okay", and acknowledgment that they are still worthy of something.
The physicians who supply that to them, like you, create a warm glow inside them - you can see their eyes twinkle just a little brighter.
Nope, they don't make them like they used to.
Thanx for the smile....
I miss my folks--neither of them were complainers.
k3p3
This reminds me of an older man I saw about two months ago. I don't remember what his chief complaint was, but when I asked him if the pain stopped him from performing his normal daily activities, he replied, "Well, I was digging a ditch the other day, and I had to stop after a few hours."
Apparently, every time he comes in he mentions that he's been digging ditches recently.
I really can't imagine myself doing that at 70 or 80 years old. They are truly amazing.
(I'm a medical student, and I've been following your blog for a while, but I've never commented before. This entry just reminded me of how incredible that generation is, and I had to share.)
I always get a kick out of sharing my conversations with these guys with the entire office so loud are our 'closed-door' conversations.
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