ITW n°10: Nathalie - Surgeon of K.
Hello Nathalie,
First of all, thank you for agreeing to share your experience, today this interview is above all to share your “feelings” as a doctor but above all as a sensitive and empathetic human being ;)
Let's get started:
Who are you ?
First name: Nathalie
Age : 34 years old
Profession: doctor
What do you specialize in?
Gynecology/gynecological surgery ( specialized in K gynecology )
Why did you choose these specialties?
Women have always fascinated me: from adolescence to their final days, all their pathologies have an impact on their psyche, and vice versa! I like the idea of treating my patient and not limiting myself to her illness.
Then, a person who is very dear to me was treated for breast cancer during my first year of medicine, which directed me towards oncology.
As for the surgical aspect, the power of the technical act, its almost immediate effects on the patient, have since made me “addicted” to my specialty.
How do you deliver “bad” news when you announce a K?
I don't have a ready-made sentence.
I try to perceive in what state of mind the patient enters the consultation. Then I put myself in his place and I say to myself: how could I receive such news in the state I am in?
Very quickly, I then talk about the fight. A maximum of positive, active words.
I do not hide anything from a patient to avoid losing her trust. But I avoid preempting questions that my patient does not ask. Sometimes she doesn't want to hear all the information at once.
How do you prepare before the announcement, what is your method to shield yourself?
I never shield myself.
I prepare by looking for all the “positive” points of the situation which I will emphasize several times during the consultation.
What are your first reflexes (before the announcement and after)?
Before: check that we can be calm, without rushing.
After: check that the patient has understood the announcement. Check that I don't let her leave in a panic. I let her out when I feel like I've been able to reassure her.
How do you feel after the announcement?
If the patient leaves the consultation “with confidence”, then part of it is “won” and I am happy.
What do you advise the patient after such an announcement?
We will have to accept the unacceptable.
Every emotion felt should be experienced at the moment it is felt.
Sometimes some patients think they can fight alone. For my part, I think that we must try to trust a friend, a parent, lean on a shoulder so that we are not alone. There will be hard blows, so you might as well not be isolated.
What would you advise loved ones?
LISTEN +++
Don't be afraid to listen to the suffering of the one you love.
Do you manage to gain some distance each time when you return to your daily life in the evening?
What do you do to take your mind off things when you are too affected?
Most often it doesn't follow me home.
Exceptionally, it has happened to me to be in “sympathy” with certain patients, to transfer a filial, maternal, friendly feeling… I just need distance and time to pass to avoid suffering with my patient in order to to help him as much as possible.
What would be your best advice/tricks for patients/relatives during the fight (in the hospital, at home, etc.)?
Get closer to others so as not to be isolated. Patient association, family circle, etc.
Speak++, listen++, communicate!
Finally, a tip that Mrs. C., a wonderful patient, gave me. She fought EVERY day with one short goal: the DAY. So, each day was fought without looking too far ahead. His anxiety was reduced.
When the treatments end, LOVE YOURSELF enough to accept that you will not be operational right away, that the moments of depression and fatigue that occur at the end of the treatments are a frequent setback, do not don't be afraid of it.
What do you recommend to manage anxiety and insomnia? (no medications necessarily, it could be tips)
Supportive care++
Practice a sport
Use sophrology, yoga, acupuncture, osteopathy, etc.
What are your tips for facilitating treatment (in a flirtatious, not medical setting) ;)?
The best healing creams?
There are now many of them to improve healing: Cicalfate, cicatryl etc…
The best dressings to use?
Some dressings are less aggressive like Mepilex when the skin is very damaged.
Do you believe in the benefits of alternative medicine?
(Type: acupuncture / homeo / auriculotherapy / psychiatry..?)
Yes !
What preventive screening advice could you give us for certain Ks?
Follow up+++ (e.g. smear/3 years, breast exam 1/year for my specialty).
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I think it's important to have a professional testimony, to show patients & loved ones that doctors are human and sensitive, haha. It can help patients better understand the psychology of the medical profession ;)
Thank you a thousand times Nathalie for accepting this interview, your testimony is essential to better master all the tricks of K and the "backstage" of the disease, to also be able to arm yourself with strength & courage.
I think that all the women who read us, concerned (by K gynecology) now “dream” of meeting you, to be accompanied. In my opinion, skills, sensitivity & empathy are fundamental assets for drawing on the best resources, thank you Nathalie... :) The bond of trust with your doctor is fundamental to giving yourself all the keys!
See you soon
Charlotte
<:en>ITW n°10: Nathalie - Surgeon of the K.
Hello Nathalie,
Firstly, thank you for accepting to share your experience. Today, this interview is first about sharing your “feeling” as a physician yet especially as a sensitive and empathetic human being. ;)
Let's start:
Who are you?
Name: Nathalie
Age : 34
Profession: doctor
What is your specialty?
Gynecology/gynecologic surgery
Why did you choose these specialties?
Since always I have been fascinated by the woman: from teenage years to her last days, all her pathologies have an impact on her psyche, and in return! I like the idea to treat my patient and not to be restricted to her illness.
Then, during my first year of medicine studies, one of my dear ones was treated for a breast cancer, which directed me for cancer research.
Regarding surgery, the power of the technical act, its quite immediate effects on the patient, addicted me to my specialty.
How do you announce “bad” news when you have to announce a K?
(for example: do you have ready-made sentences, how do you adapt to the patient: age, social background, patient's character…?)
I do not have a set phrase.
When starting the consultation, I try to understand the patient's state of mind. Then I try to put myself in her shoes and I think: how could I hear such a news being in this situation?
Very rapidly, I then spoke about the struggle. A maximum of positive and active words.
I do not hide anything to a patient in order to avoid betraying her trust. Yet I avoid to pre-empt questions that my patient is not asking herself. Sometimes she doesn't feel like hearing all information at once.
How do you prepare yourself before the announcement, what is your method to harden yourself?
I never harden myself.
I prepare myself by underlining all positive points of the situation. Points I will emphasize several times during consultation.
What are your first reactions (before and after the announcement)?
Before: verifying that we will not be disturbed or in any hurry.
After: verifying that the patient understood well the announcement. Verifying that she is not leaving in panic. I let her go when I have the feeling I had reassured her.
What is your advise after such an announcement?
You are going to have to accept the unacceptable.
Every emotion that you feel should be experienced at the time it is felt.
Sometimes, some patients think they can fight on their own. On my side, I think it is best to try to trust a friend, a relative, to be backed up by someone to avoid being lonely. Hard knocks will come, let's not be lonely.
What would you advise to close relationships?
LISTENING +++
Not to be afraid to listen to the pain of the one you love.
What is your feeling after the announcement?
If the patient leaves the consultation “in trust”, then it is partly won and I am happy.
Do you succeed in keeping your distance each time, when you go back to daily life in the evening?
What do you do to change your mind, when you are too much overwhelmed?
Most of the times, I do not carry it home.
Exceptionally, I feel in “sym”pathy with some patients and transfer a filial, maternal, friendly… feeling. I just need distance and time to avoid suffering with my patient in order to help her to the full.
What would be your best advices/hints for your patients/close family or friends during the striggle (in hospital, at home…)?
To get closer to others in order to avoid being lonely. Patients' associations, close relationships, etc.
To speak++, to listen++, to communicate!
A hint given by Mrs C., a wonderful patient. She was fighting EACH day trying to reach a short-term goal: the DAY. This way, she fought each day without looking too far. Her anxiety was then reduced.
When the treatments end, LOVING ONESELF enough to accept not being operational immediately, to understand that periods of depression and weariness which appear at the end of treatments are common after-effects and not to be afraid of them.
What do you recommend to deal with anxiety, insomnia? (not necessarily drugs, it can be hinted)
Support care++
To practice a sport
To use sophrology, yoga, acupuncture, osteopathy, etc.
What are your hints to ease the treatments (regarding interest in appearance) ;)?
The best healing creams?
There is a lot of them now to improve healing: Cicalfate, Cicatryl, etc.
The best wound dressings to use?
Some are less aggressive like the Mupilex when the skin is very damaged.
Do you believe in the benefits of alternative medicines like acupuncture/homeopathy/auriculotherapy/psychotherapy…?
Yes!
Which preventive screening advices could you give for some K?
To be regularly screened+++ (ex: smear test every 3 years, breast exam every year for my specialty).
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I think it is important to have a professional record, to show patients and close relatives & friends that physicians are human and sensitive, ahah. It can help the patients to better understand the medical professionals' psychology.
Thank you a thousand times for having accepted to share this with us, your record is essential to better win over the K hints, to buckle down and to feel strong.
See you very soon,
Charlotte
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