Today was the third time he came to see me for essentially the same thing. A middle aged man, he was probably told at one time he was dumb or had learning problems or maybe even retarded. I've never done an IQ test on him, but I'm guessing it would be right around 70--borderline low. A friendlier and harder working man you'll never meet though. One of our nurses put it best, "He is simple and you just want to give him a hug."
He's been having some gassy feeling in the pit of his stomach that gets better with a good belch and not really related to any strenuous activity or trouble breathing. He's been worried about his heart or if he "had ripped a hole" in his stomach, but his history, exam, and the tests we did at the first visit were very reassuring. I kept on explaining this to him, but he just kept on coming back with the same symptoms.
Even at the first visit, it was readily apparent stress and anxiety were a significant factor in his pathology. Since the mill closed a month ago, he had a tough time adjusting to life. More than the financial crunch many are facing, he just didn't know what to do with himself. He worked at the mill for forty years and that's not just what he did, it was who he was. He still wore the side safety shields on his glasses a month after being laid off.
I have a feeling this won't be the last time he comes in to talk to me about his hole in his stomach. I guess he does have a hole in their of sorts after all. The economy has affected many people and in many different ways.
He's been having some gassy feeling in the pit of his stomach that gets better with a good belch and not really related to any strenuous activity or trouble breathing. He's been worried about his heart or if he "had ripped a hole" in his stomach, but his history, exam, and the tests we did at the first visit were very reassuring. I kept on explaining this to him, but he just kept on coming back with the same symptoms.
Even at the first visit, it was readily apparent stress and anxiety were a significant factor in his pathology. Since the mill closed a month ago, he had a tough time adjusting to life. More than the financial crunch many are facing, he just didn't know what to do with himself. He worked at the mill for forty years and that's not just what he did, it was who he was. He still wore the side safety shields on his glasses a month after being laid off.
I have a feeling this won't be the last time he comes in to talk to me about his hole in his stomach. I guess he does have a hole in their of sorts after all. The economy has affected many people and in many different ways.
The Country Doctor