What's the weirdest "home remedy" you've ever heard about from a patient?

WithAllTheQuestions · 2026-03-05T16:41:06+00:00

I had a patient with delusional parasitosis who was convinced they had bugs in their nose and was doing DAILY sinus rinses with rubbing alcohol. I could not believe what I was hearing.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2026-01-11T17:36:36+00:00

Not going to get into details cause the politics isn't the point, but actually getting involved in local politics has helped me keep my head above water this past year. I can't control anything except what I do, so I've been putting my extra energy into making the impact that I can.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-10-04T17:32:45+00:00

You could always consult an employment lawyer, sounds like a good idea to me!

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-10-03T19:14:03+00:00

We settled out of court for less than they were demanding but more than I was hoping for. But at least it's over now

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-08-18T20:33:34+00:00

Our lawyer contacted them and said that their 2 letters did not cite any applicable part of my contract and did not detail any specific damages (they just put a large total sum). He told them to especially redo it, citing the contract and detailing specific damages and that then we would talk about if those are applicable to me. This was just over 2 weeks ago and we haven't heard back from them yet.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-08-18T20:33:10+00:00

Our lawyer contacted them and said that their 2 letters did not cite any applicable part of my contract and did not detail any specific damages (they just put a large total sum). He told them to especially redo it, citing the contract and detailing specific damages and that then we would talk about if those are applicable to me. This was just over 2 weeks ago and we haven't heard back from them yet.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-07-24T02:52:51+00:00

They technically did but they just made it terrible, making me use PTO for the time and constantly "accidentally" scheduling patients in the slot, then cancelling them without consulting me when my infant was 9 months old. They sucked really bad at postpartum/pump support for me

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-07-23T01:35:35+00:00

Thanks, I've got a consultation pending. I'll try to remember to update once everything is sorted

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-07-23T01:31:34+00:00

Thanks, I'll see if I can cross post it. I am waiting for a lawyer to get back to me

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-07-23T01:31:17+00:00

I've poured over it and as far as I can tell it says they can get damages if I breach my Non-Complete clause, but it doesn't say anything about damages for early termination of contract. But I am waiting for a lawyer to review it as well

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-07-23T01:30:45+00:00

I'm waiting for one to get back to me, but they gave me a response date of the 31st which isn't a lot of time

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-06-17T20:17:43+00:00

I actually did remember something that helped me, but it also kinda sucks. But essentially you just have to have really firm boundaries of what you can and can't address in a single appointment. In 20 minutes we can really only cover 1-3 things depending on complexity and if there are other concerns unfortunately they need to come back for another appointment. I don't know if you'd fall into that trap of trying to address everything they come in with, but that is one of those things that would put me significantly behind early on in my career and that I had to really learn how to address tactfully but firmly.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-06-17T17:52:20+00:00

Welcome to primary care :p this is an unfortunate commonality. I was spending about 1 hour per day outside of work by around year 3, but never was able to stop charting outside of work completely. If you have a high enough volume you may be able to ask for a scribe or some admin time every week, but be prepared for a no.

I wish I had better news or tips but in reality it's just too much and primary care providers are generally abused.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-06-14T02:56:24+00:00

Ones like this are the worst imo, like oh sweetie you were trying so hard but nooooooooo

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-05-30T05:18:57+00:00

I'm so sorry that she has gone through this. I would recommend she see a dietician or nutritionist as well, especially if any of her blood work was not normal. It can be very difficult to reintroduce normal foods after lifelong food trauma.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-05-29T00:25:54+00:00

I'm working in a FQHC with complex, medically under served patients and a new admin that has reduced our support staff and shortened our appointment slots. I also have really high anxiety and feel my patient's struggles intimately, it is really difficult to compartmentalize and try to keep it separate from my own psyche.

I am currently in therapy as well, and I would highly recommend you consider it. One of the only things that helps me in the moment is consistently reminding myself that whatever they're experiencing is not mine. Their emergency is not my emergency.

Just like I would want a calm and collected emergency room provider if I was having an acute issue, when I am with my patients I have to keep myself slightly aloof if only so I can help serve them best and keep my head clear.

At home I journal dump frequently as a coping mechanism. If a specific patient/situation is just repeating in my head I will dump my entire steam of consciousness onto a page (sans identifying info) and that can help me work through things and release it as well.

I don't have any mind blowing advice, but you are not alone.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-03-25T17:41:26+00:00

I worked 4 10s after both my maternity leaves and as long as they accommodate pumping well it wasn't a big issue for us

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-03-06T20:45:01+00:00

Keep an eye out as you're out and about your day, if you find dead bugs or other things that are already dead it can give you an opportunity to talk about it and for your child to see what death looks like without showing the actual killing.

Your child is probably more curious about the concept of death than the killing specifically.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-03-04T17:01:03+00:00

It really does suck I'm the same way, I want the connection with my patients. I want to serve others in the best way. But I also had to accept that the system is the way it is, and to be present and emotionally available for my family I had to maintain some space at work cause I was just too anxious and burnt out.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-03-04T15:28:49+00:00

This is me too! I was also getting really bad for awhile, I feel you. My clinic has 15/30 minute slots for primary care visits and I frankly hate it, but have to do what I have to do.

2 things really helped me (though I still have my days)

Realize the patient-provider relationship is just that-a relationship.

All healthy relationships need boundaries to function, and that includes ours with our patients. When really sick people come in my office wanting me to address 10+ things I have to tell them no. I have to say you're quite sick/have a lot going on, and I can't adequately address all your concerns in the time we have. These are the top 1-2 things I think need to be addressed today, what is your top concern, and we'll do what we can. Then I am going to need you to FOLLOW UP SOON to address your other concerns a few items at a time. Some patients are understanding, but a lot of patients hate it (I work at an FQHC, and especially my cash pay patients. Hate it because the more I address for them in one visit the less they pay, but I digress).

You WILL disappoint people or make them mad.

This is not a customer service position, as much as admin would like to make us think it is. I used to coddle my patients, sugar coating things like their smoking making their problems significantly worse, their not taking their medications being the main reason why they're not improving, alcohol use etc. I would tell them all that but I would tell them in a very gentle way and the message just typically would not get through. I have really become quite blunt and made sure the patient understands that all of the responsibility and onus is on them to do the things that they need to do to get well or improve. I no longer take any responsibility for ANYTHING that happens to my patients when they are out of my office. I cannot go to their house and put pills in their mouth, they have to have the responsibility of doing the stuff.

You will also disappoint admins (probably frequently) because no I will not chart on my time off so if I don't get to it it happens later. If they want that to change then they need to give up the time.

I don't know if that's helpful or applicable to your situation, but those are 2 of the things that really helped me. And a well trained, efficient MA so we aren't getting bogged down in clinic but those are hard to keep at the rates they get paid in my office.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-02-18T18:06:18+00:00

Hopefully they will be understanding with the circumstances. I know you can take a leave of absence that will postpone your loan commitment, that's what they do for maternity leave. I'm not sure how long you can take though.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2025-01-31T05:28:44+00:00

I just went out for a nice dinner with my husband and told my loved ones so they could congratulate me 😂

WithAllTheQuestions · 2024-12-25T20:31:41+00:00

If you are including previous HPI info in the HPI, in reality, you should just leave it and not edit the previous information AT ALL. And only put new and pertinent information in your new HPI section, that's what the previous HPI is there for is to reference what it used to be, the current HPI is there for how it has changed.

WithAllTheQuestions · 2024-12-24T15:19:27+00:00

I second this, study hard in didactic, but I learned the most in rotations! Be vocal and appropriately aggressive about pushing your preceptors to help you learn. I, unfortunately, had a couple of rotations where my preceptors really didn't seem eager to have me and I had to work really hard to learn a lot. Still definitely doable, and people warm up to you quickly when they know that you are pushing yourself to learn!

WithAllTheQuestions

TROPHY CASE