ITW n°1: Isabelle - Doctor.
ITW n°1: Isabelle - Doctor.
Because before being the “Hands of God”, doctors are first and foremost human beings :), here is one of their testimonies:
Hello Isabelle,
First of all thank you for agreeing to share your experience, today this interview aims above all to share your “feelings”, your tips as a doctor but above all as a sensitive and empathetic human being ;)
Quiz:
Who are you ?
First name: Isabelle
Age: 28 years old
Profession: doctor
What are you specialized in?
General medicine and specialization in gynecology
Why did you choose these specialties?
I wanted a “jack of all trades”, and gynecology allows you to enter into intimacy, other than through pathologies, and thus to be able to help in a more human way than purely scientific.
How do you break “bad” news when you break a K?
(for example: do you have ready-made sentences, depending on what you adapt to the patient: e.g.: age, social environment, personality of the patient, etc.?)
This is a very complicated question...
In medicine, we have a theoretical course on how to explain “bad news”, including what we call the personalized care plan. It is indeed necessary to adapt to each patient, to the threshold of accessibility and understanding as well.
It seems important to me first of all to have time, this cannot under any circumstances be announced between two appointments in a hurry.
Afterwards, the announcement itself consists of saying everything, I am not in favor of overprotection or hiding things, but you also have to adapt to the patient, and go there gradually. Many doctors can seem cold and distant in this type of case, I think they also try to protect themselves because we invest a lot in patients, and I think some people feel it as if they were someone of their surroundings.
There are no magic methods to make the pill pass, I think we have to be patient, know how to listen, remain available and human, because we are technicians who will do everything to fight this m... , he The patient must have confidence.
What phrases do you think should be avoided when dealing with a K fighter?
Sentences like:
“unfortunately it happens”,
“don’t be discouraged”,
“Don’t cry, you’re a man, come on!”
I don't really see the use of it, and it's not really the timing for these kinds of sentences. We cannot put ourselves in the other's place, no matter if we have the knowledge or experience, so I think it is better to hear and accept by simply saying that we understand.
How do you prepare before the announcement, what is your method to shield yourself?
Great inspiration!!! And allow time and not be disturbed, this moment must belong to him and the patient must understand that we are entirely with him in this fight.
To be honest, I think that we are never armored and I even hope not to become so because in my opinion that would imply losing the sensitivity that we also have as a doctor. We need a good balance between medical knowledge to provide a real plan for the patient, and a sensitivity which also allows them to open up and lean a little on us.
What do you advise the patient after such an announcement?
Let him not be alone, and do what he wants, if it involves drinking and smoking let him do it!!!! We will have plenty of time to think about weaning afterwards, each thing in its time.
And he must have a second appointment planned when he leaves, that way he knows he's not alone in the wild, well, that's the image I have of him.
What would you advise loved ones?
It is complicated. In reality I think that being present and listening, proposing, not changing your outlook at all, after all it's easier said than done, but hey. And I think that they must also surround themselves well, because it is also trying for them, while not being able to complain does not seem very legitimate to them when everyone has their own level of suffering.
How do you feel after the announcement? (a bit of a stupid question haha)
Not that stupid, no no. It may seem confusing, but it's a mixture of relief and deep sadness, even sometimes deep energy, well it will depend on the interview.
A relief because finally the information is delivered, as I said before, I don't like to hide things, and to move forward we have to work as a team, patient, doctors, nurses...
Sadness, well it's the worst thing in medicine, bad news, failure, it's complicated to deal with and don't believe that when we go home it's not yet on our minds.
Energy because it's a fight that is beginning, and emotionally and physically it's trying, so we steel ourselves to move forward together.
What would you like to improve in your method?
Good question!!
I really think about a lot of things, and that's what's beautiful about medicine, it's this constant evolution. Perhaps more patience, more empathy, finding the right words is frankly difficult and many times we are just as helpless because it is not a question of a bandage on a sore!!
Do you manage to gain some distance each time when you come home from your daily life in the evening? What do you do to take your mind off things when you are too affected?
Over time, a little more but seriously, no, the unconscious always thinks about it, those around me probably hear too much about my patients (while maintaining medical confidentiality of course ;)).
At the same time, I think that it's like many professions where the human and the affect are present, well detaching from it when you close the door doesn't work. Before I thought that by taking off my coat in the evening, it would help me no longer be a doctor when I came home, but that was a bit naive.
I admit I see my family a lot, with my friends I have good dinners, good bottles of wine, and go far away on vacation when I can!!!
What would be your best advice/tricks for patients/relatives during the fight (in the hospital, at home, etc.)?
May they remain the same.
Let me explain, in this matter no one can do anything, we want to help do what we can, but what we need is to be present, available, continue the jokes, in good or bad taste we don't care, listen or if there's nothing to say, well just be there. If it's complicated, heavy to carry, well try to take turns with other friends, you don't have to carry everything alone, as a team it's better. And above all, try not to feel guilty, to live your daily life as before, feeling guilty doesn't help anyone!!
What do you recommend to manage anxiety and insomnia? ( no medications necessarily, it can be tips )
I'm not pro-medicine, even though I know it's weird for a doctor!!
When you're anxious and tossing and turning in your bed, there's no point in staying there!!. As much if we can get up, take an infusion, write down everything that is bothering us on a piece of paper to clear the brain (it's written, no need to think about it) get some fresh air too (which helps cool down the body temperature which makes it easier after falling asleep).
Afterwards, if necessary, there are also mild anxiolytics that can be delivered. I think we need to talk about this insomnia and this anxiety because they are legitimate.
What are your tips for facilitating treatment ( in a flirtatious, not medical setting ) ;)?
What more can I say that you haven’t already said in your posts!! That’s a challenge there... ;)
As a healing cream, cicamosa (Lutsine) massaging as much as possible to soften the tissues, massage and palpation rolled and absolutely total screen in summer to avoid a change in color of the scar.
Do you believe in the benefits of alternative medicine?
Type: acupuncture / homeopathy / auriculotherapy / psychiatry..?
Yes and no...
My medical training and I'm very Cartesian, so I wasn't raised in that culture. Afterwards, I believe in it seeing the patients who come back happy and relieved thanks to these alternative medicines. And if we have the means (because everything cannot be reimbursed by SECU unfortunately), I think we should try everything possible to feel relieved and feel good about ourselves.
What preventive screening advice could you give us for certain Ks?
I'm not going to be off-putting with everything that is known, but the first thing to know is to surround yourself well and have confidence in your doctor. If we persist in believing that something is happening in your body, no one will know it as well as you do, so consult again, insist seriously on medicine, you can be wrong and then there are idiots, like everywhere!!
So the best advice remains to listen to yourself and not forget yourself.
In practice:
For all cancers overall: severe fatigue, weight loss, sometimes bad appearance: consult.
Gynecology:
smear to be done once every 3 years, if you see abnormal bleeding (outside of periods), if when you have sexual intercourse it is painful, if you feel abnormal lumps or discharge (breasts or others) consult and talk in.
Mammography:
every 5 years from the age of 50, unless there is a history of first-degree cancer (particularly mother), and at that time, start of mammography 5 years before the age of diagnosis of the parents, every 2 years .
Gastro:
the same, abnormal bleeding, or if there is an alternation between diarrhea, constipation we can also consult.
Otherwise, hemoccue (stool test 3 days in a row, I don't know, very glamorous!!) from the age of 50 every 5 years, if colonoscopy abnormalities.
When I say consult, start with the general practitioner, without emergencies and without panic, unfortunately nothing I tell you is specific.
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Thank you a thousand times Isabelle, for taking the time to share your testimony ;)
See you Friday for new tips: on winter LOOKS during the K !
And see you for the interviews with Emilie & Leila 2 super K fighters , Tuesday February 10 :)
Nice week !
Charlotte
<:en>ITW n°1: Isabelle - Doctor.
As before being the “hands of God”, physicians are first sensitive human beings, here is one of their records:
Hello Isabelle,
First of all thank you for accepting to share your experience, today this interview has for subject your 'feelings', tips as a doctor but most importantly as a sensitive human being and caring ;)
Let's start:
Who are you?
First Name: Isabelle
Age: 28
Profession: Doctor
In what are your specialists?
General doctor with a specialization in gynecology
Why did you choose this?
I wanted something that “touched it all” and gynecology helps me to enter the intimacy, in another way than by pathology, and in that way to be able to in the most human way, and not only in a scientific way.
How do you announce the news regarding a K to a patient?
Here is a very difficult question…
In medicine, we have a theoretical lesson to share "bad news", with in particular what we call thepersonalized care plan. It is indeed necessary to adapt to every patient, at the threshold of accessibility and of understanding also.
It seems to me important first of all to have time, it cannot be announced between two meetings hastily.
Then, the announcement is there, consists of saying everything, I am not for the overprotection or to hide things, but it is also necessary to adapt to the patient, and to go there gradually. Many doctors can seem cold and distant in this kind of situation, I think that they also try to protect themselves because, we care a lot for the patients, and I think that some feel it as if it was someone in their environment.
There are no magic methods to share the message, I think that it is necessary to be patient, to know how to listen to, remain available and human, because we are technicians who are going to make every effort to fight this shit, the patient has to trust us.
What are according to you the sentences to avoid in front of one K fighter?
The sentences of the kind: "That happens unfortunately", "You shouldn't lose hope", “Don’t cry you are a men, come on!”I do not see too much the utility, and it is not really the timing for this kind of sentences. We can not put ourselves at the other one's position, no matter if we have the knowledge or the experience, I think that it is better to hear and to accept by saying simply that we understand.
How do you prepare yourself before the announcement, which is your method to protect yourself?
Big Breathe in!!! And to have time and not to be to disturb, this moment has to belong to him/her and the patient has to understand that we are completely with him in this fight.
All in all, I think that we are never armored and I even hope not to become it because it would imply in my opinion, to lose the sensitivity that we also have as doctor. A good balance is needed between the medical knowledge to supply a real project to the patient, and a sensitivity which also allows him/her to open up and to rest a little on us.
What do you recommend to the patient after, such an announcement?
To not be alone, and to do what he wants, if that implies to drink and to smoke then he should do it!!!! We will have time to think of the weaning later, at the right moment.
And he has to have the second meeting scheduled, that way he knows that he is not left alone in the nature, at the end it's the image I have.
What would you recommend you to the close friends/relationships?
It is complicated. To be true I think to be present and to listen, to offer, and to not give your opinion, easier said then done, but well. And I think that they have to surround themselves as well on their side, because it is though also for them, not being able to complain that does not seem to them very justifiable while each has his own level of suffering.
What is your feeling after the announcement? (Question a little bit stupid ahah)
Not so stupid as that, no no. That can seem vague, but it is a mixture of relief and profound sadness, even sometimes of profound energy, finally it depends on how the meeting goes.
A relief because finally the information is delivered, as I said it before, I do not like hiding things, and to move forward we have to work in team, patient, doctors, nurses...
Sadness, well it is the worst thing in medicine, bad news, the failure, difficulty to manage it is complicated to believe that by going back home we need to make sure that our spirit isn't stuck on this.
Energy because it is the fight which begins, and emotionally as physically it is though, we have to arm ourselves to move forward together.
What would you have to improve in your method?
Good Question!!
Many things I think in reality, and that's what is so beautiful with medicine, it is in constant evolution. Maybeto be more patient, have more empathy, find the right words is the most difficult and often we are also powerless because it is not about a bandage on a cut!
Do you manage to take some distance every time, when you return to your everyday life in the evening? What do you do to change your ideas, when you are too much impacted?
With time, a little more but seriously, no, the unconscious always thinks of it, my circle of friends hears certainly too much about my patients (by keeping the good medical secret ;)).
At the same time, I think that it is as in many jobs where the human being and the affect are present, well to get loose from it when we close the door doesn't work. Before I thought that by removing my blouse in the evening, that would help me not to be any more a doctor by returning but it was a little bit naive.
What would be your best advice/tricks for patients/relatives during the fight (in the hospital, at home, etc.)?
May they remain the same.
Let me explain, in this matter no one can do anything, we want to help do what we can, but what we need is to be present, available, continue the jokes, in good or bad taste we don't care, listen or if there's nothing to say, well just be there. If it's complicated, heavy to carry, well try to take turns with other friends, you don't have to carry everything alone, as a team it's better. And above all, try not to feel guilty, to live your daily life as before, feeling guilty doesn't help anyone!!
I admit I see my family a lot, with my friends I have good dinners, good wine bottles, and I leave far away holidays when I can!!!
What do you recommend to handle anxiety, insomnia? (not always medicine it can be some tips)?
I am not really for medicine, even though it may sound weird as I am a doctor!!
When you are anxious and you can't find sleep, don't stay in bed! Its better to go up, drink a tea, write on a paper whatever is going through our mind to empty the brain (it's written so no need to think about it) a little walk is recommended (fresh air helps to sleep better).
After if needed, there are some medicine that can be prescribed. I do think that it is important to speak about this as it is normal.
What are your tips to facilitate the treatments (more in an aesthetic way, not medical) ;)?
What to say more that you haven't already said in your posts! It is very challenging… ;)
As matter of creams, I would recommend to put cicamosa (lutsine) on the scar, when you apply it massage it very smoothly. And during summer put Sunscreen to avoid a change on the color of the scar.
Do you believe in the benefits of parallel medicine? Type: acupuncture / Shrink..?Yes and no.
My medical studies and I am a very Cartesian person so I haven't been educated towards this. After I have seen that patients after having had some of those “treatments” felt better. If you have the means (everything isn't reimbursed by your insurance) I think that one should try to do everything he can to feel better in his shoes.
What preventive advice of screening could you give us for some K?
I am not going to be repulsive with all which is known but the first information is to surround itself well and to trust his/her doctor. If we persist in believing that something its happening with your body, nobody knows it as well as you, so to re-consult, to insist, seriously in medicine, we can make a mistake and then there are idiots, as everywhere!!
So the best adviceremains to listen to Ourself and not to forget ourself.
In practice: For globally all the cancers: big big fatigue, loss of weight, bad appearance sometimes: consult.Gynecologist:
Smears to have done every year, if you see abnormal bleedings (except during your periods), if when you have sexual intercourse it aches, if you feel balls or abnormal flow from breasts or othersto consult and speak it.
Mammography:
Every 5 years when you turn 50, unless there has history of cancer at the first degree (mother in particular), and at this moment to do some mammography 5 years before the age of the diagnosis of parents and then every 2 years.Gastroenteritis:
Similar, abnormal bleedings, or so if you have periods between diarrhea and constipation there we can consult also.
Otherwise, test of saddles 3 days in a row, I know not very very glamorous!! from 50 years old to do every 5 years, if anomalies colonoscopy.
When I tell to consult, you should begin with the general doctor, without emergencies and without panic, nothing of what I tell you is specific unfortunately.
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Thank you so much Isabelle ;)
Have a nice week ! <:>