On Sat, 10 Oct 1998 15:12:46 +0100, you wrote:

>In article <[log in to unmask]>, the following appeared:-
>
>>But there's never anything wrong with them is there?
>>The answer is bollocks!
>>It's one of many symptoms that people complain when there is nothing
>>wrong with them.
>
>That is one of the things that doctors say when they do not understand
>what is wrong and try to blame the patient for the disease.

Get real.
The above may imply an air of flippancy, but it was not said without
due reverence to study of consultation technique, an empathic
listening doctor style, exploration of the hidden agenda to the nth
degree etc. etc.
But are you really trying to tell me that at least some of the tatt's,
sweats, dizzy, run down's, "need a tonics" do not have bugger all
wrong with them.
It may not have been the intended line of Hotch's original posting but
it was what it said to me, in my interpretation, to which we are all
entitled.
And I was never "blaming" the patient.
My feeling, however, is that sometimes with some of the above
mentioned symptoms, there is genuinely SFA wrong with the patient and
that umpteen minutes spent exploring the hidden agenda will reveal
SFA.
I think that some of them have a compulsive desire to consult with the
doctor at least once a month. Often  for little more than social
reasons and the presenting complaint is often almost arbitrary,
serving only to justify the attendance.
Still, it could be worse.  They could have requested a HV and I could
have spent 10-20 minutes trying to find their house for the pleasure
of having to come to the above conclusions.
And then be nauseatingly nice about how they had done the right thing,
"to be checked out" in the comfort of their own home (to avoid a
complaint).
If you can catch them in that is, avoiding clashes with hairdressers,
dentists, opticians, supermarkets etc. none of whom are stupid enough
to offer a universal we will come to you service.
If your bank manager would visit you, would you ever visit him?
--
[log in to unmask]
John McGuire
-------------------------------------------
I have spent my whole life in ruins
because of people who are nice
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