Self Praise Stinks

My mother always said, "Self Praise Stinks."

I understand that she didn't want us to grow up to be the type of people who walked around telling everyone how great we were.  She did not want us to be conceited.  She wanted us to be respected.  That didn't mean that she couldn't tell of all the achievements of her children and grandchildren, after all that was her prerogative.

I business, especially a health care field, where people don't really know whether you did a good job but rather how you made them feel while you were doing it, some self praise is okay.

I have adapted this philosophy when it came to my children.  Don't be a braggart, but you can tell people if you are good at something.  If you don't say it who is going to know.  My daughter is a magnificent figure skater and very good with languages.  My son's language is mathematics and computers, and he puts the rest of us to shame that we don't understand the instruments we use daily, the way he does.  As a parent it is my prerogative to state these things.

Ivan Misner, founder of Business Networking International recently wrote the following as a facebook posting:

Many of us are taught as kids that we should refrain from bragging about our successes, but there’s a real caveat to those rules that our parents usually didn’t teach us, and it’s important to understand that it really helps our business to do certain things that capture our success stories. Now, success stories about businesses and entrepreneurs are really vital for those who are dedicated to learning all we can in order to make our own enterprise as successful as possible.

Cocky, Self absorbed, self praise may stink, but self-promotion is the entrepreneurial spirit. 

Just Sayin'

Thanks Mom

Which do you prefer, Horses or Zebras?

Which do you prefer, Horses or Zebras?

I had a professor in Dental school who always said when you hear hoof beats think horses not zebras.  What does mean?  It means that in the worlds in which we live the horse is much more common, whereas the zebra is more rare and exotic.  So, when troubled by making a diagnosis, think common, more probable first, then widen your scope to the rare. (think common cold before rare virus from across the world, where you have never been)

In medical and dental school we are bombarded with all types of information and knowledge, much of it necessary, but some of it a bit on the fringe.

I recently had a patient in, whom unexpectedly and quite suddenly had some pain in her face below her right eye.  It subsided a bit but the next morning when she awoke it was slightly swollen, and quite painful.  Her sister works for an ophthalmologist, so her sister recommended that she come into her office for an exam, because if here is an infection in you r eye you could lose your sight.  Logical and rational.

The ophthalmologist saw the patient for the pain below her right orbit.  He concluded that it was not eye related and sent patient to the ER for facial pain evaluation.  In the ER they thought there might be a small stroke. The patient had CT scan at hospital, no stroke, no sinus issues noted, but they unable to determine cause of pain.  The ER gave her pain meds sent her on her way and told her to perhaps call her dentist.

Luckily for our patient we are one of those offices that bend over backwards for our patients, especially those in pain. We were able to see patient immediately following, she was very grateful and expressed it several times saying that we never fail her. 

 

Pain was below the right orbit in line with root structure of teeth #5 & 6.  1 periapical x-ray was taken of #6 since it has the longest root.  No lesions noted.  Pulp tested the teeth in the area.

Tooth #5 tested at a level determining that the nerve was dying and a probable cause of the pain.

Patient was advised that the tooth would most likely need endodontic (root canal) treatment.  On the x-ray, we showed her how low the sinuses were and how close they were to the apex of the tooth and that this would be a better treatment than extraction. 

After root canal therapy the pain went away.

The reason I am retelling this story is that simple solutions go a long way.  As Physicians we are all limited by our scope of practice and what we are familiar with.  Facial pain could be your eye, your nose, your mouth or perhaps stretching a bit a possible stroke.  You need to be vigilant in your own health care process.  Look for solutions, address the poignant issues and seek all areas of help because your problem is more likely a horse rather than a zebra.

Just Sayin’