Inspirational patients

It seems to be so easy to blog about patients that we clashed with, had difficult presentations or interesting backgrounds. I wanted to tell everyone about an inspirational patient that just makes our jobs a lot easier.

While on my rural prac at a private practice I saw a man who was referred to the practice for cardiac rehab following a heart attack. He was in his early 50's and a very active man, who swam and surfed most days of the week. He was a smoker with very high cholesterol levels and family history of heart attacks. His heart attack was a very mild one, but was enough to give my patient a fright.

We often see patients with similar conditions, but who don't change their ways. I feel that in many of my placements I have been begging patients to change, with no results. This patient had given up smoking immediately, started on a low cholesterol diet and was determined to get back to surfing. He was one of the patients you have to hold back so that they don't over do it.

It was hard to hold this patient back, because to him and myself he seemed very healthy. I discussed this with my supervisor and we came to the conclusion that thoroughly educating this patient on his condition and rehabilitation was going to be the best way to treat him.

This was a very good approach, by thoroughly educating the patient we gained his trust. This made it a lot easier to prescribe his rehab and for him to be compliant. This was a very good experience, to deal with a highly motivated patient.