A very insensitive remark from someone we should hope will have a caring bedside manner...
I guess I would have just laughed and said "Whatever..." blowing it off...
Too often getting that MD doesn't include tact..

Another thought, aren't you glad you are 'getting up there'? To me that is a victory.

Given all the opportunities we have now to "review" our encounter with a physician after the visit for the world to see, I would guess she'd be receiving some feedback from patients if this is a consistent habit.

My own experience is that they're so polite and tactful it's difficult to glean much useful information.

And maybe she just was sleep deprived and mis-spoke.

I'm also thinking that sometimes, someone might say something to indicate amazement at how long patient and doctor been "seeing each other"--that happens for me sometimes but I always tie in with time passing for me, too, such as remarking on kids grown up, reminisce about something, or some such.

Thank you all for your thoughts....I am happy to be getting older (considering the alternative) I think it's just the comment plus other thoughts and feelings at this point in my life that caused me to feel insulted. I think anyone approaching 60 can most likely relate. It's probably not a coincidence that my father died at the age I am now which was a devastating experience. All these things come into play... I read something that resonated with me and will share it with you...

Always be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

Doctors and patients included:)

In my younger years I went to a specialist with a particular style of doctoring and he referred me to other doctors rather than my gp. I found most of them to have the same style and if they had a different style he forwarned me. One of the best doctors I have ever had did not have this style or a complimentary personality to mine but every time I went to see him I reminded myself beforehand so did not take his style or words into account. It's quite different when taken aback by someone you have been seeing as you don't have the check point in place beforehand and we are all in a somewhat sensitive position at the doctors office.
At the moment I am involved in a study done by a hospital on people who are have had a certain medical condition for over fifty years. When speaking to one of the team yesterday he said something about age and when I said I was 55 he exclaimed, oh just a youngster. Perspective is everything isn't it....

I just remembered something a surgeon once said to me. I was probably around 51 and I found a lump in my breast. My PCP sent me to a woman surgeon. At that time I had had 15 surgeries and naturally listed them all on my intake paperwork. I had com from work and was dressed in business attire, suit, heels, you know the bit. Well anyway, she walked into the room, looked at her paper work, looked at me, looked at her paper work and stated "I expected to see a decrepit old woman after reading this and now I see you". Then she introduced herself. I still am not sure how to take it but it makes me laugh every time I think of it. Oh, and the biopsy showed the lump was benign.

I've had lots of experiences with doctors and you do have to remember that their focus is on the disease and how to take care of it...they're problem solvers. If you find one who is empathetic, and there are plenty, that's great. I remember when I was about 40 I asked a doctor about something and he said it was "common in people OUR age"....I thought he was pretty ancient and was shocked to find out we were the same age. I recently started to see a nurse practioner in my OBGYN's office, and she has the loveliest manner. I asked her how she maintained it and she said she tried to connect with her patients as people. Can't be easy for them! I admire those who choose medicine as a career.

I've had lots of experiences with doctors and you do have to remember that their focus is on the disease and how to take care of it...they're problem solvers. If you find one who is empathetic, and there are plenty, that's great. I remember when I was about 40 I asked a doctor about something and he said it was "common in people OUR age"....I thought he was pretty ancient and was shocked to find out we were the same age. I recently started to see a nurse practioner in my OBGYN's office, and she has the loveliest manner. I asked her how she maintained it and she said she tried to connect with her patients as people. Can't be easy for them! I admire those who choose medicine as a career.

Lol. Sorry! Can't help it. Reminds me of *man-dog baby.* I worked with this biologist once. Well one day, we're just being social and she starts talking to me about *man-dog baby* - How this guy had a baby with a dog! and how this was true!

I was like, Hello! Are you not a person of science? What are you talking about?

An education only goes so far.

Just remembered, I once had a dentist tell me my mouth was in sh** condition. With the Spanish equivalent to those words. It was a one-off thing, and never went back there. And I know it's beside the point, but at that point I didn't even have cavities -I have one now-, and my natural alignment was pretty good considering the average mouth.

I agree that your doc probably meant no offense, but the comment still lacked tact. It's like the dermatolisr who told me I need to erase fine lines (I already look quite young for my age; he just wanted to sell me something) and my rheumatologist who insensitively told me that OA pain is my "new normal." Comments like those are not appreciated!

Gulp. I feel for ya. Last time I went to the dermatologist she used the words "peau d'orange" to describe my chin area--

At the periodontist he used words like "recession, bone loss, stabilize"...

We need to wear a tee shirt when we go to our docs that says,"Warning: Handle With Care" or something...

My dentist told me I need a bunch of crowns due to bone loss, but turned right around and said nothing has changed in my mouth and that I don't have periodontal disease. I went and had a bone density scan; nothing showed up. Time to look for another dentist.

Many moons ago, my orthodontist jokingly told me that my face is not symmetrical. I already knew that, so he was just pointing out the obvious. I'd been hit in the nose twice when I was growing up (once by a basketball and once by a mean kid who wanted to butt in front of me in line to get on the bus, so of course my nose isn't straight! At least he followed up by saying that no one has a symmetrical face. Still, why say it in the first place?

Doctors are so funny....and clinical.

I am an "older" mom. I had my daughter 5 days after turning 39. The doctor, who I had also known for years, put down in my charts that it was a high risk , 40 year , old. I was 38 for my entire pregnancy. I would tell everyone, I am NOT 40. LOL ! But my pregnancy was very high risk for other reasons. I was sent to a specialist in the big city. They too kept saying I was 40. I finally said to one of the nurses, " I am not 40, I am 38. " Her reply, " For all intents and purposes in pregnancy, you might as well be 40. "

Fast forward 5 years. I get breast cancer. And the whole script flips : "very young patient, early onset breast cancer." I had them write it all over my charts and make sure it was in the computer : YOUNG. : ) I am fine, btw.

My point is that it depends on how the doctor is looking at it. Thankfully, you are healthy ! And the doctor is 20 years older too !