OH and I have several consultants who do that. They will speak English if it becomes apparent we are struggling, but prefer to speak French because they need to state accurately what is the diagnosis, prognosis and procedure.
Agreed! 
The problem for me is that in general, Iām beyond the stage of translating to/from French - I just make sure my French Babelfish is inserted before I speak and all is well.
The problem occurs when the doctor comes out with an unexpected or unknown word or phrase. My brain then goes into ātranslateā mode and I am likely to miss the next few sentences while I frantically try to turn the French words I have just heard into English.
I fear that the only way to improve this is to have far more conversations with French medics - and Iām really not keen on that idea for obvious reasons 
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Yes, definitely not recommended
Where possible I let stuff wash over me. People nearly always repeat themselves and I tend to understand better the second time I hear it. Alternatively ask if you can record it or if they can write down the key points.
I donāt think that would work very well with my docteurā¦
Then record using your phone. Certainly my MT is totally illegible.
I think the thing to remember is we are the patient. It is our body and our health. We do have a right to understand fully what is happening to us.
You have a right to understand fully what is happening to you in the official language.
Agreed. Which is why it is legitimate to ask the doctor/specialist either to write it down or to be given permission to record it. In many health situations people do not understand fully what they are hearing even if it is their native language. For example āyou have cancerā can cause a total mental block of anything further that is being said.
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If you possibly can take someone else with you. I know @David_Spardo found it really helpful when I went to Franās appointments with them as we then had a debriefing after and could work out what had been said.
Yes, and very useful it was too, a big thank you to you.
Useful that I speak Australian as well though. 
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Am I that difficult to understand 
?
No, but I read a book called āLetā Stalk Strineā just in case. 
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Time for reflective listeningā¦ Hateful phrase and deeply irritating when someone does it to you instead of answering your question, but it does help make sure you have got the point.
So you repeat back what you have understood the doc to sayā¦ āso you are telling that I need to do x, whilst standing on my head, and that will alleviate all my symptoms?ā Etc etc. And it gives time for your brain to catch up.
You have to train yourself to do this rather than just nod and say ok.
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I assume Tory studies āFraffly Suiteā in return 
Absolutely agreeā¦ Iāll raise my hand and gently stop the person āin full flowā if necessaryā¦ give 'em a precis of what Iāve understoodā¦ (for better or worse) or if Iām totally flummoxed, Iāll ask 'em to use another phrase/wordā¦ and the faster someone tries to push the conversation, the more likely I am to gently slow things downā¦
Itās so important to correctly understand thingsā¦ especially medical bits and bobs.
A quick update to my ongoing dental saga. The reason for the communication problems between me and my new (Italian) dentist in Cholet is, I think, that his French is very far from fluent. I realised this when I asked āComment desserrez-vous la dent ?ā and he had to look up desserer on his Italian French translator app.
Iāve also realised that he speaks French with a very strong Italian accent which means that I fail to recognise some words. Iām now resurrecting and improving my Italian skills ready for my next visit.
Language issues apart, I think heās a very good dentist. He extracted one of my wisdom teeth yesterday afternoon and not only was the process painless but I have virtually no residual pain - so I shanāt need the prescription he gave me for doliprane!
Iāve told my MT about Centre Dentaire Cholet and she had added them to their database. I think @Nunthewiser should speak to CDC about earning commission!
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Whenās your op Brian?
4th October. I have yet to get the all-important certificate de santĆ© buccale which will allow the op to proceed. So I can look forward to another Cholet trip for the scan after the extraction - and tomorrowās root canal work - have healed.
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