Medical terminology according to patients

Nurses Relations

Published

I was thinking about times when patients use medical terminology that is a little different than what we would expect. Here are a few examples:

A patient had his "goldbladder" removed.

A patient with CAD s/p heart stent had "heart springs".

I had a patient who had a "cadillac" (cataract) removed from their eye.

One of my favorites: when a patient has "the gout".

Or there are the ever popular names for certain body parts, such as the lady who wanted to make sure her gown was tied so her "goody bits" wouldn't show. I know there are more I have heard but can't think of them know.

Anyone want to share?

Can't put a number on how many times I heard "prostrate cancer".

"Episode", as in "I had another one of my episodes". She wasn't a television program, she was a fainter.

Sugar diabetes is my favorite

There are other types of diabetes , not just sugar diabetes. Diabetes insipidus has nothing to do with blood sugar.

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Ummmm, a CABG is an open heart surgery.

Well not ACT-SHOO-ALL-LEE: "Open Heart" refers to opening the Heart for a Valve Replacement, etc., whereas a CABG is merely collateral circulation repair for the arteries which feed the myocardium. The Heart itself is not opened.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Well not ACT-SHOO-ALL-LEE: "Open Heart" refers to opening the Heart for a Valve Replacement, etc., whereas a CABG is merely collateral circulation repair for the arteries which feed the myocardium. The Heart itself is not opened.

To use your strange phrase, ACT-SHOO-ALL-LEE:

From the National Institutes of Health website~

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cabg/)

"CABG is the most common type of open-heart surgery in the United States. Doctors called cardiothoracic (KAR-de-o-tho-RAS-ik) surgeons do this surgery."

~and~

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002950.htm

"Open heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery is done on the heart muscle, valves, arteries, or other parts of the heart (such as the aorta). The term "open" means that the chest is "cut" open."

You're welcome.

Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.

Kidney poisoning, sugar, epistiogisty (episiotomy),....just a few.

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Wow. Thanks PaperPencil. I guess I've been wrong all these years!

It goes to show you. I just recently learned that that the Petroleum Jelly burning the nasal membranes in the presence of O2 is a Myth.

Well, okay then: I've learned something. You can teach an Old Dog new tricks!

Thanks again. Apologies to Roser13!

Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

for lady parts:

kitty cat

for male parts:

little soldier

coumadin---coumaTIN

yep, sugar diabetes,

THE---insert your favorite disease eg. the asthma, the kidney infection

Many more, can't think of em....

The sugars for diabetes, The vapors for fainting, having a spell for fainting, anaphilapes (pronounced Anna-fill-app-ease) for anaphylaxis, asthma pump for albuterol inhaler. My favorites are when I ask if they're allergic to any medications and they reply "No, just penicillin and codeine." Then why did you say no??

Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, Ophthalmology, Tele.

Yes, the ones who say (in regards to allergies) "no...just pcn". That bugs me too. Or if asked if NPO they say yes then I ask, "Did you eat or drink anything, coffee, water...." they reply, "oh yeah, I had my coffee." :facepalm:

Someone else replied about "lady parts". I forgot another patient's term: "hoo-haw".

Or if asked if NPO they say yes then I ask, "Did you eat or drink anything, coffee, water...." they reply, "oh yeah, I had my coffee." :facepalm:

Oh, yes! When I did endoscopy, and I knew a patient had been instructed to follow a clears diet for X period of time, followed by NPO since midnight, it was great fun to hear "Clears kept me too hungry, so I had BBQ chicken last night for dinner.... and "only" a bagel, fried eggs, coffee and oj this morning....sigh. RESCHEDULE!!

Specializes in LTC.

A:wideyed: LOL once told me she needed Milk of magnition for her bowels......

+ Add a Comment