What do these instructions from my MD mean?

[Muse]

I emailed my Kaiser PPC that I caught a virus 2 weeks ago, upper respiratory, headache, low fever, discomfort, chills, etc.

He responded:
1. Cold care: handwashing, fluids, OTC meds
2. Tylenol ES ATC q6hrs prn HA
3. Theraflu, dayquil, decongestants,nasal sprays recommended
4. Rest
5. Reassurance

What does (2.) mean?

 

[Beckalina]

I am going to guess that your doctor meant take Tylenol Extra Strength around the clock every 6 hours as needed for headache.
ATC= around the clock (though I haven't seen this used very often)
q= every
prn=as needed
HA= headache.

I'd recommend emailing your MD back and asking him to lay it out in non-medicalese.

/always defer to your physician for instruction and medication management/clarification, etc.

 

[marvdmartian]

Might be the doc's way of saying, "Quit self-diagnosing. If you want my opinion on what to do, come see me!"

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I am going to guess that your doctor meant take Tylenol Extra Strength around the clock every 6 hours as needed for headache.
ATC= around the clock (though I haven't seen this used very often)
q= every
prn=as needed
HA= headache.

I'd recommend emailing your MD back and asking him to lay it out in non-medicalese.

/always defer to your physician for instruction and medication management/clarification, etc.

This is exactly right.

 

[Muse]

Don't know but I think he forgot I'm not a doctor. Lots of MDs in the family, but I'm not one. Noone has ever briefed me on medicalese in terms of Rx etc. basic shorthand. I understand he's busy. He's actually very impressive.

Actually, at this point I'm 95% OK, am doing the nasal spray thing occasionally. Still need to visit a handkerchief several times a day. The headache's long gone.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Don't know but I think he forgot I'm not a doctor. Lots of MDs in the family, but I'm not one. Noone has ever briefed me on medicalese in terms of Rx etc. basic shorthand. I understand he's busy. He's actually very impressive.

Actually, at this point I'm 95% OK, am doing the nasal spray thing occasionally. Still need to visit a handkerchief several times a day. The headache's long gone.

Well, typically, doctors aren't very receptive to emails without a visit. He may have just gone on auto-pilot in his quick response. As a healthcare professional, I understand and do the same quite a bit.

 

[vi edit]

Well, typically, doctors aren't very receptive to emails without a visit. He may have just gone on auto-pilot in his quick response. As a healthcare professional, I understand and do the same quite a bit.

That's the great thing about electronic charts available to patients. You can log in and send an email to the nurse pool of your PCP and they'll answer back that day. With some of them you can even send a message back right from the office encounter that you can from.

 

[interchange]

ATC I've never heard but probably a poorly written O? Tylenol Extra Strength Over the Counter, Every 6 Hours, as needed for headache

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Yeah, never heard of ATC before. The q6h part kind of makes the ATC part useless. So does the prn part

Basically, don't take more than 4g per day, and you'll be fine.

At least your doctor didn't prescribe you antibiotics.

 

[Muse]

Well, typically, doctors aren't very receptive to emails without a visit. He may have just gone on auto-pilot in his quick response. As a healthcare professional, I understand and do the same quite a bit.

I think he's very receptive to emails, it's a very Kaiser thing, they encourage it highly. He always answers my emails very quickly, usually in less than an hour or two. This time, maybe he went on autopilot. I don't think he's got a problem with me, I rarely send him emails and hardly ever schedule an appointment with him. I'm pretty damn healthy, actually. Have some orthopedic issues that wax and wane but fundamentally, just very healthy. I stay away from medications as much as possible, and for me it's pretty easy.