At the doctor's (conversation sample & exercises)
Feelings
A. I feel ill
I've got a cold
toothache
a temperature
flu
a headache
My neck hurts
B. Why don't you.............?
Why don't you go home and lie down?
Why don't you take an aspirin?
Why don't you see the doctor?
Why don't you see the dentist?
C. Change some of the words and practise it with a partner
WOMAN: Good morning, sir. How are you?
MAN : I feel ill
WOMAN: I am sorry. What's the matter?
MAN : My eyes hurt and I've got a bad headache.
WOMAN: Well, why don't you take an aspirin.
MAN : That's a good idea, thank you.
D. Write the other half of this dialogue
Doctor: Good afternoon. What's the problem?
You : Well, ..................................................
Doctor: I see. Does it / Do they hurt very badly?
You : ...........................................................
Doctor: How long have you had this?
You : ............................................................
Doctor: Yes, right. I'd like to examine you, then .... Mmm... mmm...
You : ......................................................?
Doctor: No, it doesn't look too bad. Here's a prescription for some medicine. Phone me if you're not
better by the day after tomorrow.
You : ............................................................
Doctor: Good bye
You : ............................................................
E. At the doctor's
Doctor: Good Evening. Sit down please ..
Patient: Thank you.
Doctor: Well, it's Mrs. Kurniasari, isn't it?.
Patient: No, I'm sorry it isn't Mrs. It's Mss. actually.
Doctor: Oh I'm sorry. What's your problem, Mss Kurniasari?
Patient: I've got a stomachache, Doctor.
Doctor: I see. What do you feel?
Patient: I've got a strong pain and heartburn.
Doctor: How long have you had this pain and acidity?
Patient: For 2 days now. It does not go way! I eat and after every meal my stomach hurts. Even at night the pain still persists, Doc.
Doctor: Let me know, in the last 2 days, have you eaten any kind of heavy food, or something different?
Patient: Yes, of course. You know it's Lebaran, Doc. hhehe... there's lots of food of any kind.
Doctor: Hhmmm.... How strong is the pain. Lets say in a 1 to 10 scale, how would you describe the intensity of the pain?
Patient: Between 4-5 Doc.
Doctor: Is the pain continuous or does it come and go?
Patient: It comes and goes.
Doctor: Does the pain come after meals?
Patient: That's possible because it hurts every time after eating.
D:Is there a kind of food that affects you more?
Patient: Greasy one and food which has got coconut milk in it.
Doctor: Greasy food and that which has got coconut milk affect you?
Patient: Yes, Doc. At Lebaran we usually eat a lot of kind of such that food.
Doctor: Where in the abdomen does it hurt? Point please! Does the pain travel to your chest, shoulder, back or across your abdomen?
Patient: It hurts in the middle. Sometimes, the pain travels across my abdomen.
Doctor: Besides the pain, you said you have heartburn?
Patient: Yes, Doc. after a burp, I feel a kind of sour taste.
Doctor: Do you feel like this more during the day or in the evenings?
Patient: Both Doc. I feel the acidity during the day and at night.
Doctor: Is it worse when lying down?
Patient: Yes, exactly. I taste the acid in my mouth.
Doctor: Besides greasy and food which has got coconut milk, is there any other kind of food that irritates your stomach? Like spicy food, for example?
Patient: No, at home we don't eat spicy food, Doctor.
Doctor: And tell me, how often do you regularly have got a bowel movement? Has that changed since you have been having these problems?
Patient: It is regular. It hasn't changed since the problems.
Doctor: Have you noticed any change in the consistency of the bowel movement?
Patient:Yes, I surely have. It is a bit softer.
Doctor: I'm sorry. Have you noticed any change in color?
Patient: Never mind Doc. Yes, it is greener.
Doctor: Greener, not darker? Any blood in your bowel movement or black coloring to bowel movement?
Patient: No, not darker. I do not see any blood in my bowel movement, either.
Doctor: Alright then, let me examine you. Lie down on the bed, please..
Begin examination of the patient
Doctor: Well, please back to your seat.. What we can do first is check your abdomen to see where the pain comes from. You said the pain comes from the middle-part of your abdomen?
Patient: That's right, Doc.
Doctor: And does the pain move somewhere else, or does it stay there?
Patient: I'm afraid It usually stays there.
Doctor: But with the pain, correct?. Do you always feel acidity?
Patient: Correct.
Doctor: Have you got nausea or vomiting?
P:No, I haven't. not now, Doc.
Doctor: Tell me, what did you eat today?
Patient: I ate meat ball with tomato sauce.
Doctor: Do tomatoes give you any trouble?
Patient: No, I have always eaten tomato sauce.
Doctor: What about orange juice, does it affect your stomach?
Patient: Yes, it sometimes does.
Doctor: What do you feel anytime you have the orange juice?
Patient: It gives me a strange metallic taste.
Doctor: But it does not give you any acidity, does it?
Patient: No, it doesn't.
Doctor: And what do you do when you have got stomachaches?
Patient: Sometimes I take Mylanta . Thanks god it helps a bit.
Doctor: Yes, it helps. Do you take any Tums, , Maalox, Alkaselzer, Anflat, Promaag?
Patient: No, never.
D:Are you taking or have you been taking now or before this problem any medication on a consistant basis, like aspirin, Advil, Motrin, etc.
Patient: No, I usually take Tylenol.
Doctor: And if you take aspirin, or any other kind of anti-inflammatory medicine, do you think it could affect your stomach?
Patient: No, I can't really tell you.
Doctor: Alright. As I was telling you before, I am going to examine you. I want to examine your feces to check if you have any kind of parasite.
Patient: Yes, fine Doc.
Doctor: One can find parasites. These can affect your stomach. Besides this, I want to look for any occult blood. You said you have not really seen any changes in your feces. It is only greener, but not darker. The digested blood, in case you have something in your stomach and you could have a haemorrhage, could produce a chemical reaction so that you can have occult blood in your feces. Many times we don't see the red color of blood or the black color of the digested blood; therefore an examination is necessary. I would also like to examine your upper gastrointestinal system through X-rays and contrast. It is a very simple thing and it does not hurt. You will drink a thick substance. The radiologist will see how you digest the substance and will see the movements of your stomach. We will have this type of examination because your pain could not come from the stomach but from the gall-bladder. After the examination, we will decide what to do first, the X-rays of an ultrasonic study of the gall-bladder. For now, do not eat greasy food. Do not eat close to your sleep time because it could cause you more acidity. Eat plain food, nothing spicy. As soon as I get the results from the medical test, I will talk to you. Do you have any questions?
Patient: With so many medical tests, I was wondering if I have an ulcer.
Doctor: We need to think of that too. That is why I want that test. I need to explain to you that an X-ray of the upper intestine sometimes cannot detect an ulcer or other irritations. If the pain persists after some antibiotics you will need an endoscopy. An endoscopy is a medical examination in which the doctor inserts a tube through your mouth or nose.Then, the specialist will observe your stomach, from the small intestine to the large one, and your gullet. Any other question?
Patient: No doctor, thank you very much.
Doctor: Good. We will see each other next week. Good bye.
Patient: Good bye, Doctor. I'll see you.
Doctor: Next please ...
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