Sumatra

I'm type II and control it with diet and exercise. It's very hard work, but I do it. I didn't get much help when I was diagnosed, so I had to learn on my own. While type II can be put in remission, it doesn't go away as I think one poster said. Remission is a wonderful goal, but microvascular damage is most likely still going on, so even motivated people need excellent medical care. I have good insurance, but I've had to be very assertive in getting the care I need.

Thank you for this discussion. I'm very interested in cultural issues in healthcare, so I am enjoying this thread.

Interesting. I recently had a needle biopsy and the nurse explained the procedure and had me sign the form. Then the doctor came in. I had only seen the doctor briefly once before and she didn't explain anything. However, when I looked at the doctor's notes, the implication was that the doctor had obtained consent. Fortunately, everything went well and the nurse had covered everything thoroughly. This is unusual, however. Generally, the doctor explains the procedure, although not necessarily at the time the forms are signed. A nurse often obtains the signature.

This is from a patient's point of view, so I'm not an expert. I had propofol for the first time for conscious sedation for a D&C (wasn't offered a narcotic and didn't know to ask). The doctor used a local at the cervix and I didn't experience any pain. I did have some amnesia but was quite uncomfortable in a way that's difficult to explain. I've had the same procedure done a couple of times in the past without a problem. Although propofol avoids that drug hangover, I think narcotics give a better sense of well being. I would definitely not want propofol again for conscious sedation. In fact, the experience was so unpleasant, I would think twice about propofol for anything.

Yes, spooky is part of the show's charm. I'm not in the medical field, but even I can see the lack of realism in the show. I wouldn't let House and his colleagues near me in real life, but I love the show because it's so off the wall. What was that weird show set in a hospital in Boston many years ago? That had both doctors and nurses. I always watched it. St. Elsewhere?

Thanks for the correction. Hugh Laurie is the only person I seem to be watching . . .

I love this show too. Fortunately for House, he seems to work in a hospital without visible nurses because they would be spilling the contents of bedpans on him all the time. The Sela Ward character did a verbal number on him, but I can't see a doctor barging into an exam room and having such a personal discussion in front of a patient. I don't watch the show for realism. I watch it because it's quirky and funny and Greg House is a complex character with beautiful blue eyes. :)

Z, your point's well taken, but I was responding to the original poster who is already here in school. I would hope that all schools would require a decent score on an English proficiency test for admission. I would also suspect that anyone who got into school and couldn't use the language well enough to keep up with the curriculum would not finish the program. However, there are many ways to make adequate English even better, both for native and non-native speakers. :)

Oh, yeah. I took the baby with me!

I remember when I delivered my sons (both by C-section), the anesthesiologist was the nastiest little man I'd ever met. He was equally mean to both the patients and the nurses. Why this guy was put in maternity is beyond me. The nurses would stand behind him and roll their eyes. After the birth of my second son, I developed a spinal headache. Dr. Nasty had invented his own treatment which consisted of pumping the patient full of fluid to the point of her resembling the Pillsbury doughboy, giving injections of a narcotic painkiller (can't remember which one), and taking away the patient's pillow. My roommate got my pillow back, so I got yelled at. I kept having vivid dreams of being a prisioner in the Gulag. I was too young to know I didn't have to put up with all of this, but I cried all the time. Finally the head nurse intervened (God bless her) and stopped it all. Well, the headache had gone away, but I checked myself out of the hospital the next day.

As an English teacher for over 30 years, may I offer some suggestions? 1. Build vocabulary by reading. Read for pleasure--magazines, novels, cereal boxes--anything. It takes about 13 exposures to a new word to learn it. When you acquire a new word, use it. 2. Speak English as much as possible. It does make a difference. Don't worry about making mistakes or not being misunderstood. Speak up. 3. Join an English conversation group. Check your public library or town hall to see what's available at no or low cost. 4. Consider accent reduction practice if you can find a speech therapy program at a university. Speech therapy students are required to do a certain number of clinical hours in order to graduate. You may be able to get services for free. I would think that clear (not perfect) pronunciation is important in nursing. 5. See if there's a tutoring or writing center where you go to school. Take advantage of these services as they are usually free. 6. If you can afford a private tutor, consider hiring one. Choose someone with experience. Good luck with your career!

Personally, I feel little sympathy when the drug companies cry about how they need high prices to finance R&D when I know that they spend as much on advertising as they do on development of drugs. Anyway, so many "new" drugs are just near copies of best sellers of rival companies.

Hi-- I am an English teacher, and the advice you've received is right on. Using quotes is fine, but each quote should be introduced and followed by your own analysis (comment, connection with other material, argument, etc.). Make sure that your own ideas come across clearly. Please use the writing lab. I advise students to come in more than once with an important paper. Instructors want papers that are proofread and clearly organized. Writing is a skill like anything else, and anyone can learn the techniques. You can do this! Good luck. :)

My experience has been that doctors want patients "out" simply because it is easier to work on an unconscious patient. In fact, I've had doctors admit that unconscious people are "less trouble." (I'm not a doctor or a nurse; I just seem to elicit confessions from people!) This seems more for the benefit of the doctors than for the safety of the patient. I always refuse to be put under unless it is absolutely necessary and have had to hold my ground more than once. It's always worked out well, although propofol is not my first choice for conscious sedation.