# I've been better

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## Introduction

In this dialog, Richard visits Dr. April to discuss a persistent pain in his lower back that he's been experiencing for a few days. Dr. April begins by asking Richard about his symptoms and then conducts a brief examination.

As they talk, Dr. April checks Richard’s blood pressure, discusses the possibility of further tests, and writes a prescription for pain relief. She also schedules a follow-up appointment to review the test results and ensure that Richard's condition is properly addressed.

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## Conversation

### Dialog

**Dr. April:** Good morning, Richard. How are you feeling today?

**Richard:** Good morning, Dr. April. I've been better. I’ve been having some pain in my lower back for a few days now.

few = alguns

**Dr. April:** I see. Let’s start with a quick `examination`. Can you describe the pain? When did the `symptoms` start?

**Richard:** It’s a `dull`, constant pain that `gets worse` when I sit for too long. It started about a week ago.

**Dr. April:** Have you noticed any other symptoms, like `numbness` or `tingling`?

**Richard:** No, just the pain. I was hoping it would `go away on its own`, but it hasn’t.

**Dr. April:** I understand. Let me check your `blood pressure` first.

**(Dr. April takes Richard’s blood pressure.)**

**Dr. April:** Your blood pressure is slightly elevated, but `nothing too concerning`. I’d like to run a few tests to get a better understanding of what’s causing the pain. Have you had any `allergies` to medication before?

**Richard:** No, I don’t have any `known allergies`.

**Dr. April:** Good to know. I’ll write you a `prescription` for some `pain relief medication`, and I’ll also schedule a `follow-up appointment` for next week to go over your test results.

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### Vocabulary

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| follow-up appointment | prescription | pain relief medication |
| examination | known allergies | nothing too concerning |
| blood pressure | go away on its own | numbness |
| tingling | dull | get worse |
| run tests |  |  |

1. **Follow-up appointment**  
    A subsequent appointment scheduled to monitor a patient's progress after the initial visit or treatment.  
    **Translation**: Consulta de acompanhamento
    
2. **Prescription**  
    A written order from a doctor for a specific medication or treatment to be provided to the patient.  
    **Translation**: Receita médica
    
3. **Pain relief medication**  
    Medicines that are used to reduce or alleviate pain.  
    **Translation**: Medicamento para dor
    
4. **Examination**  
    A medical assessment conducted by a healthcare professional to check a patient’s health or diagnose an illness.  
    **Translation**: Exame
    
5. **Known allergies**  
    Allergies that a person is already aware of, usually to certain substances, medications, or foods.  
    **Translation**: Alergias conhecidas
    
6. **Nothing too concerning**  
    A phrase indicating that a situation or condition does not seem to be serious or worrisome.  
    **Translation**: Nada muito preocupante
    
7. **Blood pressure**  
    The force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps it around the body.  
    **Translation**: Pressão arterial
    
8. **Go away on its own**  
    A phrase used to describe a condition or symptom that resolves without medical intervention.  
    **Translation**: Desaparecer sozinho
    
9. **Numbness**  
    A loss of sensation or feeling in a part of the body.  
    **Translation**: Dormência
    
10. **Tingling**  
    A prickly or stinging sensation, often felt in the skin, similar to the feeling of "pins and needles."  
    **Translation**: Formigamento
    
11. **Dull**  
    Describing a pain that is not sharp or intense but persistent and sometimes difficult to locate.  
    **Translation**: Surdo (in reference to pain)
    
12. **Get worse**  
    To become more severe or intense over time.  
    **Translation**: Piorar
    
13. **Run tests**  
    To conduct medical tests or examinations to diagnose a condition or understand a patient’s symptoms.  
    **Translation**: Fazer exames
    

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### Sample sentences

**Examination:**

1. The doctor performed a thorough examination to determine the cause of the symptoms.
    
2. After the examination, she recommended additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.
    

**Known allergies:**

1. Before prescribing medication, the nurse asked if the patient had any known allergies.
    
2. The label on the medical record clearly listed all of his known allergies.
    

**Nothing too concerning:**

1. The slight fever is nothing too concerning, but we’ll keep an eye on it.
    
2. The doctor reassured her that the test results were nothing too concerning.
    

**Blood pressure:**

1. The nurse measured his blood pressure during the routine check-up.
    
2. High blood pressure can lead to serious health issues if not managed properly.
    

**Go away on its own:**

1. The doctor said that the mild cold should go away on its own within a few days.
    
2. He hoped the headache would go away on its own, but it persisted for over a week.
    

**Numbness:**

1. She complained of numbness in her fingers after sitting in the same position for too long.
    
2. Numbness in the limbs can sometimes indicate a more serious underlying condition.
    

**Tingling:**

1. He felt a strange tingling sensation in his feet after the long flight.
    
2. Tingling in the hands might be a sign of poor circulation.
    

**Dull:**

1. She described the headache as a dull, throbbing pain that wouldn’t go away.
    
2. The dull ache in his back made it difficult for him to focus on work.
    

**Get worse:**

1. If the symptoms get worse, you should seek medical attention immediately.
    
2. Her cold seemed to get worse after spending the day outside in the rain.
    

**Run tests:**

1. The doctor decided to run tests to rule out any serious conditions.
    
2. We need to run tests to determine why you’re experiencing these symptoms.
    

**Prescription:**

1. The doctor gave her a prescription for antibiotics to treat the infection.
    
2. He filled the prescription at the pharmacy and began taking the medication as instructed.
    

**Pain relief medication:**

1. She took some pain relief medication to help with the discomfort after the surgery.
    
2. The doctor prescribed pain relief medication to manage the chronic pain in his back.
    

**Follow-up appointment:**

1. The nurse scheduled a follow-up appointment to check on his progress after the treatment.
    
2. After the initial consultation, she was asked to return for a follow-up appointment the following week.
    

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## Exercises

### Initial role play

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| examination | known allergies | nothing too concerning |
| blood pressure | go away on its own | numbness |
| tingling | dull | get worse |
| run tests | prescription | pain relief medication |
| follow-up appointment |  |  |

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### Final role play

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### Personal experience

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## Homework

### Reading comprehension

1. What specific pain is Richard experiencing, and how long has he had it?
    
2. How does Richard describe the pain he is feeling?
    
3. What does Dr. April suggest doing after noticing Richard’s slightly elevated blood pressure?
    
4. Has Richard experienced any other symptoms besides the pain in his lower back?
    
5. What is Dr. April's plan for Richard's treatment moving forward?
    

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### Fill-in-the blanks

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| blood pressure | go away on its own | numbness |
| tingling |  | get worse |
| run tests | prescription | pain relief medication |
| follow-up appointment | dull | nothing too concerning |
| examination | known allergies |  |

1. After the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, the doctor recommended further tests to ensure accuracy.
    
2. The nurse asked the patient to undress for the physical \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
    
3. It's important to inform your doctor of any \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ before taking new medication.
    
4. The patient’s chart lists all \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to avoid potential reactions.
    
5. The doctor assured the patient that the minor irregularity in the test results was \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
    
6. Though the symptoms seemed unusual, they were \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ according to the physician.
    
7. The nurse checked his \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ during every visit to monitor any changes.
    
8. High \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ can lead to serious health complications if left untreated.
    
9. The doctor said that the rash would likely \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ without needing any medication.
    
10. She hoped the mild discomfort would \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, but it persisted for several days.
    
11. The patient reported feeling \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ in his left arm, which concerned the doctor.
    
12. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ in the fingers can be a sign of nerve damage.
    
13. The \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ sensation in her feet made it difficult to walk comfortably.
    
14. He experienced a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ in his hands after holding the cold object for too long.
    
15. She complained of a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ache in her lower back that worsened throughout the day.
    
16. The pain was \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ rather than sharp, but it was still bothersome.
    
17. If the symptoms \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, please contact your healthcare provider immediately.
    
18. The doctor warned that the condition could \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ if not treated properly.
    
19. To determine the cause of the symptoms, the doctor decided to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
    
20. We need to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to confirm the diagnosis before proceeding with treatment.
    
21. The doctor wrote a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ for antibiotics to clear up the infection.
    
22. He filled the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ at the pharmacy and started the medication as instructed.
    
23. The patient was prescribed \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to help manage the chronic pain.
    
24. She took \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to alleviate the discomfort after the minor surgery.
    
25. After the initial consultation, the nurse scheduled a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to review the test results.
    
26. The doctor requested a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to monitor the patient’s progress after starting the new medication.
    

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