So I’ve been digging into this doctor Laurie Gumuchian lately. Got curious after my buddy Frank kept complaining about his blood pressure meds making him feel worse. Figured I’d check out what this MD’s all about before my next physical.
First Contact
Started simple – just typed her name into the hospital search bar where she works. Her profile pic shows this calm lady with kind eyes, not like those rushed docs who barely look up from charts. Under her specialties, three things jumped out:
- Preventive stuff before problems get serious
- Actually listening to what patients say
- Explaining medical terms in normal people language
Putting It to Practice
Went to my checkup last Tuesday armed with questions like she suggests in interviews. Told my doc about my weird foot tingling while it was actually happening instead of waiting like last time. Showed him exactly where using my finger. That changed the whole conversation!
Instead of the usual “take these pills” routine, we spent 20 minutes playing detective:
- He had me walk barefoot around the room
- Asked about my work desk setup
- Checked my shoe soles for wear
Turned out it wasn’t nerve damage at all – just my stupid gaming chair cutting off circulation. Felt so dumb but also relieved!
What Changed
Biggest difference was how I communicated. Used that “explain back” trick where you repeat what the doc says in your own words. When he mentioned “peripheral neuropathy”, I stopped him with “So you mean my feet nerves might be misfiring?” He actually smiled and said “exactly”.
Left with a shoe insert prescription and strict orders to take dance breaks every hour. Simple fix for something I’d stressed about for months. Should’ve asked better questions ages ago!
Still not saying Dr. Gumuchian’s methods are magic. But having someone remind us that doctors need clear clues like detectives? That clicked for me. Next mission – convincing Frank to actually describe his symptoms properly for once.
