Unusual Names for Medical Diagnoses

[flashpoint]

I am doing a speech on making the most of a visit to a doctor. I want to emphasize the importance of knowing the proper name for diagnoses. I need some help coming up with unusual, weird, cultural, or just plain improper names for diagnoses...things like "piles" instead of hemorrhoids, "high blood" instead of high blood pressure, or "the sugar" instead of diabetes. I've searched the Internet and am just not finding what I am looking for.

Can anyone help me out? I am not asking people to do my homework for me...LOL...I have been a nurse for a long time...just furthering my education. ?

Thanks!

[Pia Mater]

Blood thinners= anti-platelets

[Cobweb]

Green fever or spring fever--anemia, which was often worse at the tail end of winter and the beginning of spring due to lack of meat or other sources of iron, often treated by drinking sassafras tea

Bad blood: some kind of STD--I wasn't supposed to hear about that ;p

Flux--diarrhea

Bloody flux--I bet you can guess

Canker sores

Apoplexy: stroke

Tick fever

Bilious fever--something to do with your liver

Menstruating: "I'm in the flowers." "Aunt Flo is visiting." "My friend is visiting."

Ague: fever with chills

Black lung--emphysema from breathing coal dust

Lockjaw--tetorifice

I cheated--I called my mom and asked her to add on to what I remember my grandma saying :)

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Wow, some of these I've only heard said on shows like 'Little House on the Prairie' or 'Downton Abbey'. :)

I have to admit, though, I do usually pronounce diabetes as "diabeetus" a la Wilford Brimley. I blame my parents.

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

Calabria said:

... anal glaucoma... I can't see my *** going into work tonight.

Loved this one! 

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

Agita-- any kind of stomach upset...

Italian derivation.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

Blood thinners= anti-platelets

Things like Plavix are anti platelet aggregating agents so not too far off depending on what med they are speaking of I guess.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

I don't think there's anything wrong with calling plavix aspirin or coumadin "blood thinners" when talking with patients. Especially those who aren't very educated. Trying to explain to them that this one's a NSAID or that one's an anti-platelet is an exercise in pointlessness.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

I don't think there's anything wrong with calling plavix aspirin or coumadin "blood thinners" when talking with patients. Especially those who aren't very educated. Trying to explain to them that this one's a NSAID or that one's an anti-platelet is an exercise in pointlessness.

Until they stop taking it because their feet are too cold or their blood is too thin.

[flashpoint]

Thanks for the help everyone...I present my speech tonight and really appreciate your feedback!

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

I don't think there's anything wrong with calling plavix aspirin or coumadin "blood thinners" when talking with patients. Especially those who aren't very educated. Trying to explain to them that this one's a NSAID or that one's an anti-platelet is an exercise in pointlessness.

I didn't say anything was wrong with it. Just that someone said blood thinners = anti platelets. Depending on what med they are speaking of it makes sense.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Thanks for the help everyone...I present my speech tonight and really appreciate your feedback!

Please share! How did it go?

[dodgern.cb, RN]

As a GI RN.....

Hianal hernia for a hiatal hernia

Colonostomy for a colonoscopy