Explaining to a doctor, explaining what to a doctor?
Explaining health problems to a doctor in English can be stressful.
Can you imagine?
You might know the vocabulary, but once you're sitting in front of the doctor it's easy to forget everything, right?
You know it.
You know it.
It's easy to forget everything when the doctor is right in front of you.
Today, we'll practice some real life situations you might experience at a doctor's appointment.
All right, so here it is, scenario number one, explaining the main problem.
So you're at the doctor's office.
That's the scenario.
And I want you to explain why you made the appointment.
Why are you there?
And what your main symptoms are.
You know, symptom, right?
What's the problem?
What's happening?
Mention how long it's been happening.
All right, I'm gonna do this fast and then I'm gonna come back and we'll do it slow together, okay?
This is what we're gonna practice.
I scheduled this appointment because I haven't been feeling well for the past five days.
I've had a persistent headache and a mild fever.
The headache feels like pressure behind my eyes and tends to get worse in the evening.
I've also been feeling unusually tired even after a full night's sleep.
All right, let's go back.
Let's do that nice and slow and practice speaking English.
I scheduled, scheduled, scheduled.
I scheduled this appointment because I haven't been feeling well.
Because I haven't been feeling well.
Now sometimes Americans will not say well and they'll say I haven't been feeling good, which is not proper English, but many people say it.
I haven't been feeling well for the past five days.
I scheduled this appointment.
Because I scheduled this appointment?
Because I haven't been feeling well for the past five days.
I scheduled this appointment because I haven't been feeling well for the past five days.
You try.
Okay, good job.
I've had a persistent headache and a mild fever.
I've had a persistent headache and a mild fever.
The headache feels like pressure behind my eyes and tends to get worse in the evening.
The headache feels like pressure behind my eyes and tends to get worse in the evening.
I've also been feeling unusually tired, even after a full night's sleep.
So even after sleeping all night long, I wake up feeling unusually tired.
I don't usually feel so tired, so it's unusually tired.
I'm going to say it again.
I've also been feeling unusually tired even after a full night's sleep.
All right, moving on to scenario number two, clearly describing pain.
The doctor asks you to explain your pain.
Could you explain where it is?
Where is your pain?
What does it feel like?
And how severe is your pain?
So you're going to tell where is the pain, what it feels like, and how severe it is.
The pain is mainly in my lower right back.
It feels like a sharp stabbing pain when I move, but when I'm resting, it's more of a dull ache.
On a scale from one to 10, I'd rate it about a seven at its worst.
All right, let's go back and do it slowly.
The pain is mainly in my lower right back.
The pain is mainly in my lower right back.
It feels like a sharp stabbing pain, a sharp stabbing, like stabbing with a knife, when I move.
It feels like a sharp stabbing pain when I move.
But when I'm resting, When I'm sitting still, it's more of a dull ache.
Dull, so it's not sharp.
The opposite of sharp, a sharp pain is a dull pain or a dull ache.
An ache is a soft pain.
So a dull ache is the opposite of a sharp pain.
It feels like a sharp stabbing pain when I move, but when I'm resting it's more of a dull ache.
Say it again.
It feels like a sharp stabbing pain when I move, but when I'm resting it's more of a dull ache.
On a scale from 1 to 10, I'd rate it about a 7 at its worst.
So when the pain is at its worst, at the very worst, it's about a seven.
That's what I'd rate it at.
I'd rate it at about, I'd rate it at about, I'd rate it at about, I threw in at.
I'd, I would, I'd rate it, Yeah, you can put at in there or you don't need an at.
I'd rate it about a 7 at its worst.
Or I'd rate it at about a 7 at its worst.
On a scale from 1 to 10, I'd rate it about a 7 at its worst.
Okay, moving on, next we'll practice talking about medical history.
The doctor asks if you've experienced this problem before or if you have any relevant medical history Relevant.
Is it relevant to your situation?
Is it?
Yeah.
Is it relevant?
I'm trying to bring up some synonyms of relevant and I'm not, nothing's coming to mind.
Is it, do you have any similar?
No, not similar.
Okay, moving on.
I've never had this exact problem before, but I do get migraines occasionally.
Other than that, I don't have any serious medical conditions and I'm not taking any regular medication.
All right, back here.
I've never had this exact problem before, but I do get migraines occasionally.
Other than that, other than that, I don't have any serious medical conditions.
And I'm not taking any regular medication.
And I'm not taking any regular medication.
All right, from the top.
Other than that, I don't have any serious medical conditions.
And I'm not taking any regular medication.
Now let's move on to our next scenario asking questions about the treatment that the doctor prescribes you.
You've got to know more about it.
So the doctor recommends a treatment.
The doctor tells you, we're going to do this.
And you want to ask some questions about it, including possible side effects.
Maybe he's giving you some medication to take and you want to know are there any possible side effects?
And you want to know recovery time.
How long is it going to take me to recover?
What is the recovery time?
Could you please explain how this treatment works?
Are there any potential side effects I should be aware of?
Also, how long is the expected recovery period?
I just want to make sure I clearly understand what to expect.
From the top.
Could you please explain how this treatment works?
Could you please explain how this treatment works?
You try.
Are there any potential side effects I should be aware of?
Are there any potential side effects I should be aware of?
Also, how long is the expected recovery period?
I just want to make sure I clearly understand what to expect.
We have recovery period here.
You can also say recovery time.
How long is the expected recovery time?
Let's say that one more time together.
Also, how long is the expected recovery period?
I just want to make sure I clearly understand what to expect.
All right, finally, scenario five, scheduling a follow-up appointment.
The doctor recommends a follow-up and you're going to respond and arrange that follow-up appointment.
That sounds reasonable.
When would you recommend that I come back?
I'm available most mornings next week, but if my symptoms don't improve before then, should I contact the clinic sooner.
All right.
That sounds reasonable.
When would you recommend that I come back?
When would you recommend that I come back to the clinic to see you again?
When should I come back to see you again?
I'm available most mornings next week, but if my symptoms don't improve before then, should I contact the clinic sooner.
Alright, that's simple enough.
Let's say it together.
I'm available most mornings next week, but if my symptoms don't improve before then, should I contact the clinic sooner.
Yes, go ahead and contact the clinic if your symptoms are not improving.
If they're getting worse, then schedule an appointment to come in as soon as possible.
Thank you for coming in today.
That will be $250.
Pay the lady on the way out.
Good workout.
Keep moving forward, one step at a time, and I'll see you in the next English speaking practice video.
