Good Ole’ Doctor’s Visit!

Even though this native of Texas has now been living in Regensburg for three years, some things still manage to surprise her.

Whenever I think about visiting a doctor here in Germany, I think as a Bavarian would say, “Oh My, Oh My, Oh My”. Out of the handful of doctors a young, healthy 28- year old would visit, I was lucky enough to find 2 doctors here in Regensburg who could speak English. A good piece of advice for foreigners visiting a German-only speaking doctor is:  Make sure you know everything you are saying, even though you may not understand everything the doctor is saying! Most people don’t understand doctors’ medical evaluations in their own language, much less in another language. But my problems began even before I made it down the hall to the doctor’s office. First, I had to get through what seemed like a million questions from the receptionist, and if I didn’t understand, I’d ask them to repeat, in which I am automatically mistaken for deaf and the receptionist repeats in the same speed and difficulty, but LOUDER.

Then of course there are the medical assistants, speaking German in fast-forward, asking you to turn this way and that way, move this way and that way, or to take off this clothing or leave that on. I got so confused once, that I removed the wrong items of clothing.
I am also wracked by embarrassment when I am not given a special, little, soft paper dress to put on before the doctor comes in. A doctor here in Germany asked me to remove my shirt, and I said “Completely?” and he looked at me like I landed in from another planet.

In America, we also have small, confidential revolving doors in the doctors’ bathroom where you can privately leave your sample. In a doctor’s office in Regensburg, I had to walk through a waiting room with the sample container in hand, worst! Then the lab assistant says, “Thanks, you can set it down on the table with the rest.”
The list is endless of embarrassing experiences, which I happily share with my sister who is a Nurse Practitioner in America. Despite the language barriers and embarrassing moments, I have received nothing but the best medical care here in Germany by qualified doctors. You may not understand everything the doctor says, but you’ll be just fine if you inform your doctor well, dictionary and all.

Adriana

7.03.09 - online redaktion