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."

15 comments:

Flavius said...

She's giving me half a migraine right now!

-Flavius

HeatherLynn said...

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}

The Duchess said...

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

The Cubteri Man said...

Maybe she has a fractional brain...?

Pharmanimal said...

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?

Grumpy, M.D. said...

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

Fred said...

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."

J-Quell'n said...

HOW? That is all.

ERP said...

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

Scritches.com said...

Well, all rightee then!

Bored Mum said...

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.

Amanda said...

*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...

w8ng2retireRPH said...

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

ausduck said...

Can't argue with the accounting software LMAO

Anonymous said...

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.

 
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