1001 English Phrases for the Doctor’s Office

“We’ll need to run some tests.”

Tests are used to help diagnose (identify) the health problem. Some common tests are a blood test and a urine test. There are also scans such as an ultrasound (used for seeing internal organs; often used for pregnant women to see the baby) and X-rays (used for seeing the bones).

“The transplant was a success. There were no complications.”

A transplant is when one person (the donor) gives an organ to another person (the recipient). Some transplants, such as a kidney transplant, can be done when the donor is still alive. Others, such as heart and lung transplants, are done when the donor has recently died. When the donation is of blood, it is called a transfusion.

If there are complications during surgery, it means that things went wrong or unexpected things happened to make it more difficult. After a transplant, the recipient usually needs to take anti-rejection medication so that their body doesn’t reject the transplanted organ.

“I’d like to keep you here overnight for observation.”

The doctor will say this if it’s necessary for you to stay in the hospital for a little while, so that the doctors and nurses can observe you and make sure you are OK. They might use a machine to monitor your vital signs – observe the rhythm of your heartbeat and breathing.Phrases a patient might say:

“I have a rash on my arm, and it’s very itchy.”

A rash is a red, irritated area on the surface of your skin. If it’s itchy, it means you feel an annoying sensation that makes you want to scratch it with your nails.

Scratching an itch

“I feel a sharp pain when I bend my knee.”

A sharp pain is a strong, sudden pain. The opposite is a dull pain – a feeling that is weaker and more continuous.

“My stomach hurts and I’ve lost my appetite.”

To describe the pain you’re feeling, you can say “My + [body part] hurts.” If you’ve lost your appetite, it means you have no desire to eat.

“My neck is stiff and sore. I think I’ve pulled a muscle.”

If a body part is stiff, it means that it has less ability to move than normal. The word sore means that it’s continuously painful, usually when you’ve used a muscle too much. We usually use “sore” for muscles and for a sore throat. To pull a muscle means to extend a muscle beyond the normal point, and injure it.

“My neck is sore!”

“What are my options for treatment?”

The word treatment refers to the methods for helping you get better from a health problem. Some diseases can be cured (completely eliminated from your body), and others cannot be cured, but their symptoms (signs and effects of the disease) can be treated (made better or more tolerable).

“Am I going to need surgery?”

Surgery is when a doctor (called a surgeon) cuts open your body to make repairs on your insides. Surgery can also be called an operation. The verbs for the doctor doing this action are to operate or to perform surgery. We usually say that the patient has/had an operation or has/had surgery.