Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Averages Aren't Always Helpful

Dr. Grumpy: "At your last visit you were averaging 2 migraines a week, how has that been since starting the new medication?"

Mrs. Analytical: "Better" (whips out PDA) "The first week on it I went to 1.94 migraines, the second week I had 1.89 migraines, and the 3rd week I had 1.85 migraines. Last week, though was worse, and I had 1.91 migraines."

Dr. Grumpy: "How do you figure out these numbers?"

Mrs. Analytical: "I use accounting software."

Dr. Grumpy: "But how is 1.91 migraines different from 2 migraines?"

Mrs. Analytical: "The software says it is."
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15 comments:

  1. FlaviusNovember 24, 2009 at 3:26 PM

    She's giving me half a migraine right now!

    -Flavius

    ReplyDelete
  2. HeatherLynnNovember 24, 2009 at 3:54 PM

    everyone knows...if you've ever had a migraine, you don't have a .5 or a .75 migraine...they are full on a WHOLE migraine.

    period.

    ~hl~
    {www.hoscorners.blogspot.com}

    ReplyDelete
  3. The DuchessNovember 24, 2009 at 4:21 PM

    I agree with Heather...no matter the average, a migraine is misery. I'm sure you have one after dealing with patients like this!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Cubteri ManNovember 24, 2009 at 4:33 PM

    Maybe she has a fractional brain...?

    ReplyDelete
  5. PharmanimalNovember 24, 2009 at 5:41 PM

    Do you try another treatment since it isn't working or do you leave her on it because she believes she is having 0.10 less migraines?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Grumpy, M.D.November 24, 2009 at 5:43 PM

    Pharmanimal- I'd increase her dose by 0.10 mg.

    ReplyDelete
  7. FredNovember 24, 2009 at 6:19 PM

    I wish I could have .91 migraines or even better, .85. I wouldn't be in as much pain. I might not even need my meds.

    Why didn't I ever think of this before? "You got a migraine?" "Yeah, but it is only .85 of a migraine. So I am feeling okay."

    ReplyDelete
  8. J-Quell'nNovember 24, 2009 at 7:53 PM

    HOW? That is all.

    ReplyDelete
  9. ERPNovember 24, 2009 at 8:41 PM

    Thank God one of the migraines is only 9/10 complete.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Scritches.comNovember 24, 2009 at 9:16 PM

    Well, all rightee then!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Bored MumNovember 24, 2009 at 10:16 PM

    ah, I think get it. The cause of her migraines is multifactorial, and the new medicine has helped with one of the multifactorial factors, or about 1 of about 10, therefore she could have only had .91 of a multifactorial migraine. Obviously she needs a multifactorial and/or polyfactorial treatment regime in order to have a multifactorial improvement rather than a unifactorial improvement in her migraines.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AmandaNovember 24, 2009 at 11:00 PM

    *raising hand sheepishly*

    I am so this woman. Not literally... but with the anal-retentive statistics brought in pridefully on spreadsheet? Erm... yep.

    That'd be me. Guilty as charged.

    I'm going to go eat a handful of potato chips and gain .08 pounds now...

    ReplyDelete
  13. w8ng2retireRPHNovember 24, 2009 at 11:11 PM

    too bad her software does not provide her with a p value.

    ReplyDelete
  14. ausduckNovember 25, 2009 at 1:26 AM

    Can't argue with the accounting software LMAO

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousNovember 25, 2009 at 3:06 AM

    When I have Migraines, I have a definate 10. Never a fraction of it. Full blown, I want to rip my head off 10. No lights, no sound, NOTHING!

    I overheard someone say, at a store, (no not a pharmacist) that you can only take 1 Exedrine Migraine a week,when you have a Migraine. Otherwise, it gives you a worse Migraine. I do take them, as directed, and I don't get Migraines because of them.

    Glad I don't believe that nonsense.

    ReplyDelete

So wadda you think?