Today’s blog will cover a bit of necessary medical jargon. Stick with me on this. It could be helpful someday. Most of you that read the blogs are not medical professionals, yet I know a few of you are. The question today is, are medical professionals explaining things thoroughly and are patients understanding?
MEDICAL JARGON
It is important to cover a bit of medical jargon occasionally for those of us who don’t have an extensive knowledge of medical terminology. It is also important for those healthcare professionals to understand many of us don’t understand and extra time needs to be taken to explain.
MY FRIEND
My friend told me that she hasn’t been feeling well. Her doctor ordered blood a test. The test indicated she had high D-dimer. What the heck that is that? I asked her and she also had no clue. It was happening in her own body, yet she had no understanding. Did she not understand the explanation or did the healthcare provider not make it clear? Of course, the first person I ask about this is John Jain. This question is his area of expertise.
JUST IN CASE
I hope you never need to know this information, but just in case, here it goes. Apparently D-dimer is a small protein fragment present in the blood after a blood clot is degraded by fibrinolysis (the breakdown of the fibrin protein in blood clots). D-dimer concentration may be determined by a blood test to help diagnose a thrombosis (blood clot.)
BLOOD CLOTS
Blood clots are fairly common. A thrombus is called a blood clot. It is a healthy response to an injury intended to prevent bleeding but can be thrombosis when clots obstruct blood flow through healthy blood vessels.
PURPLE SOCKS
Back to D-dimer. John explained this to me in layperson terms. Simply because you have high D-dimer doesn’t necessarily mean you have a blood clot. Just because you have a blood clot doesn’t mean you will have high D-dimer. He explained by saying, “Just because you wear socks, doesn’t mean they are purple and just because you own purple socks, doesn’t mean you are wearing them.” Does that simplify it any?
STOP
If you have a medical condition and it gets explained to you in terms that only the chief of surgery can comprehend, STOP! Back that truck up. Ask again and again until you get it. It you are easily overwhelmed or nervous, bring someone with you who can listen, take notes or help remember what you can’t.
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL
Informing yourself by asking Siri has its place however, Google and Siri might make you a hypochondriac, scare the heck out of you and throw you into a tailspin of needless worry. It is best to ask a trusted reliable healthcare provider who knows you and your medical history. Remember, one size doesn’t fit all.
HDD
Blood clot = emergency! If you have a concern about blood clots, contact your provider immediately. HDD can help in the diagnosis and treatment of DVT among myriad other conditions. Call us at 505-350-3397.