I responded recently to someone who was a bit unhappy with a diagnosis of ‘death rattle’ for the difficult end-of -life breathing where fluid can no longer be dealt with. My response included saying that because it was so common, there was a ‘common expression’ for it, even if it wasn’t very palatable. It reminded me of my friend Fred, who went to the doctor about new skin changes and was told that they were ‘senile warts’. I have them myself, and I am sure that many of our regular posters are old enough to know what I am talking about. I could wish that doctors could use less unpleasant names – eg keratosis. Are there any other ‘labels’ that upset you? Does it matter?
I remember my great aunt being called an Old Maid because she never married. She was engaged once but he was killed in the war.
Those names make me feel sad that an unmarried woman would be called that.
Men didn’t have any negative name like that. They are referred to as bachelors.
I totally agree with your comments. I think things become so ‘matter of fact’ for physicians that they don’t realize how they are communicating with their patients or the caregivers.
Is a senile wart the same as what we now call a skin tag? I have never heard the term senile watt before.
Supposedly, apple cider vinegar dries them up.
Newest treatment for SK is food grade hydrogen peroxide. I think that is something like 30-40% not the 3% bought at the drug store. This is elective so not covered by insurance. Some effective results over time with topical vitamins D. Strange to think about, Sun exposure causes SK, Sun a main source of Vitamin D.
Which is easier to say and remember? Senile wart or seborrheic kerotosis? Then there is actinic ketosis, which is precancerous.
A lot of the politically correct words are the result of older words having been overused as labels to reinforce stereotypes - medical terms like senile and incompetent often sound cruel when taken out of context.
Glad..........so you are saying to open up a D Vitamin caplet and rub the oil on the wart to get rid of it? Nothing else has worked so we've given up trying.
What, am I wearing diapers? NO!
Sneezing, or even coughing may cause a little leak, as in many women over age 65. This is called "Stress incontinence".
I think terms like "incompetent os" have to do with the male orientation of medicine for the past millenia.