Cypto-hondriac

 That is not a real word but I thought it fun enough to use as a title. Hubby has some severe aphasia from his stroke so sometimes words come out backwards and sometimes they come out the opposite from what he intended.

He will say 'she' when referring to 'he', often when referring to someone or to a pet. This has been ongoing since 2018 so I am pretty used to it. Since we've been a pretty close couple for many years, I pretty much know exactly what he wants to say or what he is trying to communicate.

However, I often let him work it out for himself which is what he prefers. Once in a while he will give me a glance [during a doctor's visit for example]. That glance is HELP! I can complete his words for him then.

We were talking with the nurse on his 6 month follow up when he came to this word. The nurse was reviewing his long list of medications when he piped up that this list made him look like a 'Cypto-hondriac'. 

He meant Hypochondriac. Funny enough, the nurse never blinked as he struggled through the word and she smiled and said, "We know you are not a Hypochondriac!"

When the doctor came in she did her thing and then asked if there was anything else she could do for him today.

Hubby asked for a shop...he kept struggling for a second and then got it out: A body shop for me? A new body?

She smiled of course.

Hubby hinted that he thought he'd gained weight. She looked at her file and said that he had remained stable for the past year or so. 

Then I saw something that I rarely see doctors do. She reached over and patted his leg and told him.

"Rich, you will be 76 this soon and you've earned the right to eat exactly what you want to and what you like."

I thought that was very kind of her to say.

I will note that my husband is in Palliative Care. Palliative Care aims to treat a patient with a serious illness for the Quality of Life until their death ... with attention to the care partner also. This will usually also involve a social worker to assist with questions and issues.

It is not hospice which is quite different. 

I feel that it is a kinder and more gentle type of care for elderly patients with a serious illness.