HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bhjelle@carina.unm.edu ()
Subject: Re: "Problem Patient"
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 92 12:59:16 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Distribution: usa

In article <1992Sep29.194816.46491@uvmark.uucp> susan@uvmark.uucp (Susan Todhunter - (JWT)) writes:
>In article <1992Sep29.140127.10092@eng.umd.edu> georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark) writes:
>>
>>A "problem patient" is a patient who is hard to get along with. It's the
>>same scenario as a "problem customer" in a retail store, i.e. a customer
>>who complains as a matter of habit, even if his complaints have no
>>merit. It is someone who whines.
>>
>
>I'm not sure I understand.  Does this mean a "problem patient" is one a doctor
>doesn't like?

That is what it sounds like.

  Do you mean by your analogy that if a doctor cannot at first     find a cause for a person's complaints, the doctor then determines the com-
>plaint has no merit and the person is a problem?
>
Funny, I didn't see that statement anywhere in the above quote.

What makes you jump to this bizarre conclusion?

Brian

Newsgroups: sci.med
From: dag@col.hp.com (David Geiser)
Subject: Re: "Problem Patient"
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 17:04:08 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division


A prospective employer might choose to use an 'information' service,
i.e. run a background check, on a prospective employee to see if
he/she has a history of filing for workman's comp.

Are similar information services available for MDs?  If one knew
that a particular patient was risky, i.e. prone to file for malpractice,
would that help make a decision about treatment or a course of therapy?


dag
-- 

 To the cat, the experimenter is problematic.
From: mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Mark D. Kline)
Subject: Re: Sumatriptan
Organization: Syracuse University
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 92 08:30:54 EDT

In article <1992Sep30.205408.21328@ccu.umanitoba.ca> umhudso7@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Wayne Hudson) writes:
>I'd really like to know more about Sumatriptan.  I think the FDA has 
>approved it in the US, any info about Canada???

According to the local Glaxo Pharmaceuticals rep, Sumatripan is NOT
yet FDA approved in the USA (as of last week).


--
================================================================= 
mark kline                              mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.edu
suny health science center, syracuse    voice: (315) 422-1050
================ courtesy of syracuse university ================
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: The best way to treat Hyperthyroidism ?
Date: 4 Oct 92 16:09:53 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Oct1.040749.26536@u.washington.edu> lzuo@u.washington.edu writes:
>
>If you know the best medical method to treat a hyperthyroidism patient, please let me know. Someone said that radiotherapy(using iodine) is the best one but others have different opinions. I would like to collect information about this matter. Please give me some evidence that one specific did cure someone and had no bad effect.   Thanks for any information.



Watch those line lengths!

The alternatives that I know of are surgery (cutting it out, hopefully
not getting the parathyroids too), or treating with drugs such
as propothiouricil or (I've forgotten the other one) chronically.
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "I have given you an argument; I am not obliged
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  to supply you with an understanding." -S.Johnson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Any Pakistani Medical student?
From: zxmehmoo@wsuhub.uc.twsu.edu
Date: 29 Sep 92 11:41:12 CST
Organization: Wichita State University, Wichita, Ks

I am looking for a Pakistani medical student.If there is any please respond to
this posting.
From: nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David A. Nye MD)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Revisit the EBV syndrome, briefly?  How 'bout hepititus?
Date: 6 Oct 92 19:53:04 GMT
Distribution: sci
Organization: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

In article <BONNIE.92Oct5145806@aigyptos.nmsu.edu>, bonnie@nmsu.edu (Bonnie Hargrave) writes:
> 
> 2nd question: My mother-in-law thinks I should also be tested for
> hepatitis.  Her suggestion is based on something my husband told her
> about possible liver problems.  The only thing I can imagine
> indicating a liver problem is the uric acid level.  Does this make
> sense, and if so, what is the connection between that and hepatitis?

I suspect the uric acid level was obtained as part of a chemistry
panel, a collection of tests which most likely also contained tests
to screen for liver disease.  I'm sure you could call the doctor's
nurse to check.  BTW, EBV is associated usually with infectious
mononucleosis which the large majority of the population has caught
at some time or another.
From: amigan@cup.portal.com (R Michael Medwid)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Herpies I/II
Date: Mon,  5 Oct 92 20:50:50 PDT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Distribution: usa

Sunlight and stress are the two things I've heard as causes of cold sore
outbreaks.  I get cold sores most often when I've been out in the sun.  

A friend of mine used a product Zvorax (acyclovir) and raved about it.
I tried it..the stuff is excellent.  The cold sore that would normally
grow into "the blob that ate San Francisco" stayed tame and completely
disappeared after about six days.  It can usually take 3-4 weeks for 
one to heal.  I used the topical oinment.  

A friend of mine has HSV II and uses acyclovir in oral form.  He also
describes it as a "miracle drug".  At first symptoms he takes
3 pills a day and the normal nastiness never comes about.
From: fulk@cs.rochester.edu (Mark Fulk)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Doctors' credentials
Date: 28 Sep 92 17:20:16 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.1992Sep28.172016.4763
Distribution: usa
Organization: Computer Science Department University of Rochester

In article <16620@pitt.UUCP> geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
>In article <3058@voodoo.UUCP> das@voodoo.boeing.com (Deb Schwartz) writes:
>
>>I don't understand this at all.  I would be very suspicious of doctors who
>>refuse to have interviews with potential patients for any reason.
>
>Well, it is so unusual a request that I expect most doctors might
>refuse just because they were suspicious that this was going to
>be a problem patient.  I also suspect that statistically it would
>be a wise thing to do.

I've never had a doctor refuse an interview, unless it was because she
was taking no new patients.  Generally, they have included a brief
examination in the interview; I find that doing so gives me a better
chance to observe the doctor, and gives natural opportunities for me
to ask my questions.  Over the last twelve years or so, I've interviewed
about 15 M.D.'s and six dentists.  I've rejected about five of them.

On one occasion I've rejected an obstetrician based on a telephone
interview; he was enough of an asshole that I told him my wife wouldn't
be by at the end of the conversation.

When I had an HMO for insurance, I've always paid the co-pay; I don't know
if my carrier paid the rest of the charge or not.  When I was paying for
my own family Blue Shield, the doctors we interviewed did not charge us.
This may be because they were sensitive to our more precarious financial
position, or because they were all obstetricians and were going to charge
once for the entire pregnancy.

Mark
-- 
Mark A. Fulk			University of Rochester
Computer Science Department	fulk@cs.rochester.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Starting an alternative medicine newsgroup
From: dionysia@netlink.cts.com (Dionysia Marqueza)
Date: Sun, 04 Oct 92 13:18:59 PDT
Organization: NetLink Online Communications, San Diego CA

> them.  I really wish that one of the proponents of alternative
> medicine would start the group rather than us doing it, since
> the person ramrodding it should be interested in participating
> in the group if it is formed, and I am not interested in
> participating.  Kingsley, you out there?  David, Bob?  Anyone?
> Even Lee?
> 
        I agree: if the interest in such a group exists, it should be the 
people who -have- the interest that form it. I, for one, think it would 
be an *excellent* idea... I just have no idea what to do in order to form 
such a thing.

> I think one of the causes of flames here comes from someone
> asking questions about alternative medicine here.  If there
> was such a group, they would go there instead and wouldn't
> set us off.
> 
        An accurate observation, and one that raises a question in my 
mind: what exactly -is- it that sets you off? Is it the leaps of logic 
based on -no- empiric method that some of the alternative community make? 
Is it having the assumptions (granted, well founded assumptions,) of the 
current model challenged? Personal disagreement with the premise? I would 
like to know, just to know... my own biomedical education is at this time 
incomplete, and is primarily in micro and molecular biology, and 
ethnobotany with an emphasis in experimental pharmaceuticals... having 
originally come from a veterinary background... consequently, I am both 
very curious, and willing to examine some fairly outrageous premises. 
Even given this, I see the occassional post that just makes me want to 
-scream- with vexation, it is so poorly examined and thought out. 
Comments?

        Dionysia

--                    
INTERNET:  dionysia@netlink.cts.com (Dionysia Marqueza)
UUCP:   ...!ryptyde!netlink!dionysia
NetLink Online Communications * Public Access in San Diego, CA (619) 453-1115
From: cromwell@sclera.ecn.purdue.edu (Bob Cromwell)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Silicon Breast Implants
Keywords: Silicon Breast Implants Surgery Problems
Date: 5 Oct 92 23:26:45 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <sysapj.718321841@gsusgi1.gsu.edu> sysapj@gsusgi2.gsu.edu (Arturo P. Jimenez) writes:
>
>I have a friend who is considering having silicon breast implants for a
					   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

If she's really interested in rigid crystalline structures, I'd advise going
with gallium arsenide instead of silicon, due to the higher switching speeds
and lower power consumption.  With the proper doping, they could function as
LED's -- no need to keep one hand free to hold a flashlight, for example.

Silicone, on the other hand, is far more life-like.  That is, if that is of
any concern.

				Facetiously,

				Bob
From: pburch@bcm.tmc.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Can somone just get over hayfever on their own?
Date: 29 Sep 1992 20:57:37 GMT
Reply-To: pburch@bcm.tmc.edu
Distribution: usa
Originator: pburch@roc.mbcr.bcm.tmc.edu


In article <Eekha3600Uh70101tu@andrew.cmu.edu>, sean+@andrew.cmu.edu (Sean McLinden) writes:
|> >For years I have had hayfever.  Without having any allergy
|> >treatment ever, I am having a symptom-free hayfever season.
|> >What's going on, and can I market this, whatever it is? :-)

|> These desensitization methods have mixed success rates, involve a series of
|> tests to determine what are the substances to which you are allergic, and
|> do require you to complete a course of treatment which extends many weeks
|> (which can be bad if you are not a person who like to keep to a schedule).

Mixed success rates is right. All those shots had no perceptible effect 
on my dust/mold allergies. They worked for my friend, who then proceeded 
to develop a whole new set of allergies.

A few years later, though, my allergies got dramatically better when 
I changed jobs so I was no longer working in the old Biology building 
over at Rice University. The heating/cooling systmes blow air over cool 
and hot water at all times--water in which molds love to grow, according 
to the Physical Plant workers. Several of us are convinced we never would 
have developed allergies if we hadn't worked in that building for several 
years.

Then when I changed to a job that I actually love, the severity of my 
allergies took another significant dip. I hardly seem to suffer at all, 
now, thanks to the lower stress level.

Lowering stress does help allergies. Did a remarkable job at lowering 
my cholesterol levels, too, from an average around 240 to an average 
around 180. Meanwhile my diet has gotten worse and I exercise less.

pburch@bcm.tmc.edu
From: km@cs.pitt.edu (Ken Mitchum)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Doctors' credentials
Date: 30 Sep 92 14:16:18 GMT
Reply-To: km@cs.pitt.edu (Ken Mitchum)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Sep28.204251.27190@uvmark.uucp> susan@uvmark.uucp (Susan Todhunter - (JWT)) writes:

>What is a "problem patient"?

See sci.med for examples.

 -km
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: shafer@rigel.dfrf.nasa.gov (Mary Shafer)
Subject: Re: FDA
Organization: NASA Dryden, Edwards, Cal.
	<KPC.92Oct3172202@zog.arc.nasa.gov> <16769@pitt.UUCP>
	<KPC.92Oct5132257@zog.arc.nasa.gov>
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 20:58:08 GMT

On Mon, 5 Oct 1992 21:22:57 GMT, kpc@pluto.arc.nasa.gov (k p c) said:

k> In article <16769@pitt.UUCP> geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:

k>    What states have such a law?  I've had no trouble having my PA
k>    scripts filled in Ohio and WV.

k> ca.

k>    You may need another doctor then.  I don't charge my patients
k>    to call in refills, and don't think most doctors do.

k> that's encouraging if it's true.  but i didn't only mention refills.
k> sometimes, to give a motivating example, one needs a drug every few
k> years or so for a condition.  there really are many cases where there
k> is absolutely no added medical value of having the patient into the
k> office.  

Well, I have been able to get a prescription without a visit for
a number of conditions based on self-diagnosis of a recurring
problem (cystitis being the easiest example).  No charge for the
phone consultation, either.  Don't just ask the receptionist, talk
with the nurse.  The nurse will pull your chart and see that you
do this every so often and that it's always cleared up readily, etc.
The nurse should mention how you can tell it's not working, so that
you do get seen if your self-diagnosis is wrong, of course.

I think that this may work better once you've established a good
relationship with the office.  I'm sure that it depends on your
attitude; demanding won't work, reasonability will.  Most office
schedules are crowded enough that they're happy not to have to
work you in when you've just got whatever-it-is _again_.

k> and many doctors do require an office visit even for (benign) refills.
k> maybe it's just a california thing.  i hope so.

I'm in California and I get refills without a visit.  Not refills
for prescriptions for acute conditions, of course, but refills for
chronic conditions.  I don't even call the doctor's office, I call
the pharmacy and they take care of it for me.

--
Mary Shafer  DoD #0362 KotFR NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, CA
shafer@rigel.dfrf.nasa.gov                    Of course I don't speak for NASA
 "There's no kill like a guns kill." LCDR "Hoser" Satrapa, gunnery instructor
                       "A kill is a kill."  Anonymous
From: caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: low thyroid levels, but not hypothyroid
Date: 3 Oct 92 11:19:59 GMT
Article-I.D.: omen.1992Oct03.111959.18388
Organization: Omen Technology INC, Portland Rain Forest

In article <1992Oct3.014604.13194@spdcc.com> dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:
>In article <1992Oct02.225657.11002@omen.UUCP> caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg) writes:
>>>In the past "fringe" clinics have indiscriminately prescribed thyroid
>>>hormone, such as for weight-loss.  (The stuff rapidly rids people who
>>>don't need it of their lean body mass, which is absolutely unhealthy
>>>for most everybody.)
>
>That's received wisdom, probably accurate, if you correct for hyperbole.
>Of course, if you don't give too much, you stay euthyroid because your
>thyroid stops producing what you don't need.  In other words, within a
>certain dosage level, thyroid replacement for weight loss is at most
>a placebo.
>
>>Any studies on the long term effects of the thyroid medications
>>that were widely prescribed in the 50's and 60's based on the
>>now discredited "basal metabolism" test?   
>
>It's true Chuck: you have _no lean body mass_. :-)  Seriously, I doubt
>there are any long term effects, but how are your thyroid tests today?
>Anything unusual?

As is just happens, my health care provider is referring me to an
endocrinologist.  My coh is 199, ldl is 126, hdl is 50, glucose is 320
(ouch).  She said I can expect a thyroid prescription based on my TSH
level, but did not go into details.  Basal metabolism to knee jerk to
TSH in 30 years - what is the half-life of a medical education?

> >BTW: what does your food diary say for today?  > >-- >Steve
"Keep on the subject and do not indulge in irrelevant personal attacks."

-- 
Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX          ...!tektronix!reed!omen!caf 
Author of YMODEM, ZMODEM, Professional-YAM, ZCOMM, and DSZ
  Omen Technology Inc    "The High Reliability Software"
17505-V NW Sauvie IS RD   Portland OR 97231   503-621-3406
From: obrien@sparc28.hri.com (Jim Obrien)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Bad Breath question
Date: 30 Sep 92 15:03:16 GMT
Reply-To: obrien@bigbird.hri.com
Organization: Horizon Research, Inc.

Here is a question ask to me by my 9 year old daughter.

Dad: How come if we both eat the same stuff, and we both
brush our teeth, how come you have morning breath and
I don't ?

My response was, what makes you think that you don't. Can
you smell your own bad breath?

Well I really don't have an answer for this, and I have asked
a number of people, and nobody could give me a good answer.
But now that I think about it, I can't remember ever smelling
bad breath on babies or young children. Why is this. 
Any good ideals???
From: pburch@bcm.tmc.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: nausea's cause
Date: 24 Sep 1992 16:05:01 GMT
Reply-To: pburch@bcm.tmc.edu
Originator: pburch@roc.mbcr.bcm.tmc.edu


What does it mean when you are awakened by nausea in the night, so 
severe that you really wish you would throw up or something, to get 
it over with, and you feel like vomiting or diarrhea is imminent--
then it goes away after an hour or so, with no vomiting or anything?

A minor case of food poisoning? A food allergy? A weird manifestation 
of irritable colon with no other symptoms? Too much stress?

This has happened to me several times over the course of the last 
several months, and I can't even decide whether it means anything.

(It's only happened after eating meat or chicken cooked over charcoal 
for dinner, but not every time, even when two nights' meals came from 
the same batch.)

pburch@bcm.tmc.edu
From: chirlian@fieser.brynmawr.edu (L.E. Chirlian)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: dr/patient interviews
Date: 28 Sep 1992 13:09:40 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


	I think that an initial interview is a good idea (for both
parties).  Not everyone thinks the same way so some dr/patient match
ups will work better than others.  Why not find out before investing
time/money and getting into problems?  I don't think it should be
free, after all it is an investment of the physicians time.  Maybe the
fee could be deducted from the first exam.
	When I was pregnant and looking for a pediatrician I got a
packet (with informative pamphlets) from one of the local groups
inviting us to come in for a free tour/chat with one of the
pediatricians.  We did it and really liked the practice and ended up
going with them without interviewing any others (so far it's worked
well for us).  I was a little suspicious becuase I wondered if they
were soliciting business because they had problems but that didn't
turn out to be the case, it's just part of their style.  So, the free
interview worked well for this particular practice.
	An interview would serve me well because I am a fairly young,
fairly healthy person and have little reason to see a physician
regularly.  It's hard to get a feeling for a person just around an
annual checkup.  It can really be a problem to find out that your
styles don't work well together when an emergency arises.  
					Lisa

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Lisa Chirlian                                  chirlian@fieser.brynmawr.edu
 Department of Chemistry, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: sci.med
From: yazz@locus.com (Bob Yazz)
Subject: Re: Prevalence of Hyperobesity
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 23:04:53 GMT

jsl+@pitt.edu (John S Lundberg) writes:

| Here's one data point to consider:
 [... ]
| I suspect that my experience would be typical of the majority of
| people who are overweight

If you mean that keeping a food diary would prove as enlightening for 
"the majority" as you say it was for you, that's only a little pompous.
(Hasty generalization is the official term for it in formal logic.)

But if you mean that "the majority" would lose weight as effectively
as you have in the past four months, it's another matter.  Get back
to us in a year or so, and tell us if you're in the 90%+ who gain the
weight back or not.  That's when your history will really constitute
"one data point".

Best Wishes, tho, in your program

== Bob Yazz ==
-- 


The difference between the Bushes and the Clintons is that with the
Clintons, it's the wife who dyes her hair to look younger.
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Osteoarthritis Info Wanted
Date: 28 Sep 92 15:01:20 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA

In article <1992Sep25.231605.12864@eng.umd.edu> georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark) writes:
>According to my health newsletter, there have been three papers in the
>last year showing that a low-fat diet can alleviate osteoarthritis. There
>is no data, however, that food allergies cause arthritis.

Probably because it causes weight loss, which usually helps
osteoarthritis, at least of weight-bearing joints.

>Also, the July 11, 1992 issue of Lancet discusses the treatment of
>arthritis with a new antibiotic called zythromycin, when joint fluid
>is found to contain the germ chlamydia trachomatis.

Azithromycin.  I'd imagine that chlamydial arthritis is pretty rare.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
From: rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: low thyroid levels, but not hypothyroid
Date: 4 Oct 92 01:57:38 GMT
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <1992Oct3.045549.1646@coplex.com> chet@coplex.com
 (Chester Massie) writes:

>rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind) writes:
>>be treated with thyroid hormone for a number of reasons (including
>>effects on lipid metabolism and the concern that they could develop

>   Could you elaborate on "effects on lipid metabolism"?

Hypothyroidism can result in a high cholesterol level.  Treating the
thyroid problem can cause the cholesterol problem to go away.  I
generally screen people with significantly high cholesterols for 
hypothyroidism.  I screen anyone who I am considering placing
on cholesterol lowering drugs.
-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu