Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Because We're Nuts, That's Why

Yours truly was asked to write a guest post over at "Ask an MD" about why neurologists are so strange (good question, too).

So to see my answer (which really boils down to "I have no freakin' idea"), click here.

14 comments:

  1. "I have no freakin' idea" is a far more accurate and infinitely more entertaining a response....:)

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  2. I think last weekend posts of Mr Jackass and Mommy and Me would be ample evidence of why neurologist are odd.

    A steady diet of that would have me naked, shivering in the storage closet and gnawing on my ankle.

    LD50 Rat

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  3. Great answer Dr. G. That's a hard question to answer about your own specialty. Here's my take--

    cardiologists have God-complexes, ED docs are adrenaline junkies, dermatologists are the smart ones (great hours, great pay), peds are your all-around nice guys (who else would want to listen to whining parents), pathologists-now we are talking weird, radiologists are often low in the social skill dept., do I need to go on?? Of course, nurses don't have any of those issues.

    And everyone knows--especially MD's, that any nurse who has worked in labor and delivery will tell you what she thinks (even if you didn't ask) and why you should think that way, too--since we usually always right:))) See no issues:))

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  4. I thought you were all like "McDreamy"....

    But I agree with LD50 Rat

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  5. I think there are a lot of occupations that attract weird people - maybe a mortician, a taxidermist, an ER doctor - I don't know, I'm just saying certain personalities are drawn to certain professions. And being left-handed says a lot about a person: ”Left-handed professions”

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  6. If you think neurologists are weird, you should check out psychiatrists. They're the gold standard of weird!

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  7. yeah, we thought you were NeuroDreamy with a sense of humor!

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  8. Ha! I actually saw a neurologist years ago for a back problem, and I remember thinking how weird he was.

    He would ask me questions about my symptoms while writing down in my chart. I kid you not, a minute after I answered him, he'd ask me the SAME exact question and listen to my response as if he'd never heard it before. He was like 20 second Tom from 50 First Dates. I remember thinking, Man, this guy needs a neuro consult for his own issues...

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  9. I've always wondered, how do you deal with patients who never get better? I've thought this same thing about oncologists & rad oncs - they've got to be strong to deal with the downhill spiral they see.

    But in your field - how do you find your sense of fulfillment (beyond your obvious great sense of humor!) with patients who have illnesses which have no cure?

    Oh - and I agree with the posters on the other site - female neurologists all have "issues" while their male counterparts are just nice guys. Does residency contribute to that?

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  10. Anon- there is no easy answer. Sometimes the best you can do is bring comfort, when you can't do anything else.

    I haven't seen it as much with my female neurology counterparts. I've known plenty of male neurologists with "issues", and many who are anything but nice. People are people, and you find decent ones and whackjobs in both sexes and all fields.

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  11. I've consulted 2 neurosurgeons about my back. neither had a sense of humor, both wore jackets and ties,both were pompous as hell and both lost interest when I announced fusion was not happening. Obviouly surgeon ego trumps neurologist weird but niceness.

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  12. Thanks for the great consult, Dr. Grumpy. My readers really love them some Grumpiness!

    Who knows why any doctors are the way they are? But your post got some really great stories out of readers.

    It is always fascinating as a physician to hear what patients say about us.

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  13. I agree in part with the Grumpy Philosophy 101 (people being people wherever) but I think the profession tends to shape the character a bit. Surgeons removing/fixing organs etc in living people leads to God complex, neuros dealing with many issues that can't be solved or people that a just plain wacky leads to eccentricity or constant frustration (so you turn into an ass), and of course us pharmacists encounter people that see no value in what we do and hence treat us like strays animals that take their money, leading to frequent anger issues and sweet sweet alcoholism :)

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So wadda you think?