F
OET ONLINE TEST 1 script
Part A1.1
Sure.
M I understand from your GP that you have arthritis.
That’s right, yes. It’s in my hands and wrists mainly. The (1) finger joints in my
hands get really puffed up when they’re swollen like they are now. The pain can
get so bad that it stops me doing a lot of very simple things. Things like having a
F shower or getting dressed. Then there’s the trouble I have making breakfast.
Anything where I have to (2) grip and move my wrist, like holding the kettle and
pouring, or buttering some toast. Well, you get the idea. It’s not like I’m an old
woman – I’m only 40!
M I see. Tell me about your work.
I used to be a (3) hairdresser, but I had to give it up after my hands started
getting really bad. I couldn’t just sit around the house and do nothing though, so
now I go to the local primary school where my kids are and help the children with
F their reading. And just lately I’ve started helping out on a telephone helpline for
people with disabilities. They have these special hands-free phones, so it means I
can do the work without needing to use my hands so much. It’s only a volunteer
position, but I really feel like I’m doing something worthwhile.
M Is your mobility affected at all by the arthritis?
I do have trouble getting in and out of bed, or out of a bath. I also need help
getting out of a chair if it’s a bit low. I move around the house with the walking
F aid I have, and when I go out I tend to use a(4)wheelchair. Our (5) car has also
been modified so at least I’m independent – I can go to the shops or out with
friends.
M
I'm guessing you've had physio treatment before.
Yes. In the past it’s mainly consisted of heat treatment, but now I’m really
F interested in some sort of (6) gentle exercises if that’s at all possible. I also
really want to make sure that my (7) hand splints are still helping and not
making the condition worse.
M Sure, I can look at that for you.
I’ve also been to an (8) occupational therapist before. I needed help when
F things started getting really difficult around the house. I found her very helpful –
she had lots of gadgets to help me do things like dressing and cooking, and so
many good ideas about how to help with my (9) tiredness without making the
pain worse.
M Okay. We can talk more about some of the techniques you use to help you at our
next appointment. What about your medication.
I take analgesics for the pain mainly these days. I used to take those, you know,
those (10) anti-inflammatory drugs, but the benefits seemed to wear-off and
they started making me feel sick, so I had to stop taking them. I do sometimes
F get a (11) steroid injection, but not very often. It works really well at reducing
the pain for a few weeks, but it hurts like hell. Doctor Wong has mentioned a
steroid tablet I could take which will work in a similar way, so we might be
looking into that soon. And, ah, a couple of times a day I have an (12) analgesic
cream that I rub into my hands. I don’t know if it really works very well though.
So, Mr
Dafnis, this
appointmen
t is a
chance for
us to talk a
little about
your
upcoming
surgery,
and for you
to ask me
any
questions
you might
have.
Part A1.2
M Okay, yes, well, I don’t really have any questions about the surgery itself – I feel I understand
the procedure quite well from all of my reading – but I do have a concern. I’m actually quite
worried about how I’ll go with my (1) eczema when I come into hospital. It’s important for me
to follow my usual routine you see or it will flare up again.
F What is it specifically that you're worried about?
Well, I’ve had eczema for years now, since I was a kid. It’s chronic, I guess you’d say, and
M there are all sorts of things that make it worse, like getting too (2) hot, you know, like if I’m in
a room and the sun is shining in through the window and it starts getting very stuffy or
something.
F Okay, we can make sure that you have a bed well away from any windows if that'll help.
Yes, that would be good. Thank you. As long as I’m in an air-conditioned room and it isn’t too
hot, that usually helps. I also notice that certain (3) foods and drinks make it worse. I stopped
M
drinking alcohol years ago because it always made the itching worse. But I also have a list of
foods that seem to aggravate things so I was wondering if it’s possible to give that to someone,
or if I can let the hospital know so that they don’t include any of those foods in my meals.
F If you contact the hospital directly, the'll be able to help you with that.
M Great.
F Tell me Mr Dafnis, what's your skin like at the moment?
Not very good. You can see by my face how red it is, and the (4) itching and scratching has
M been much worse lately, I think because of the (5) stress I’m feeling about the operation. It’s
also really bad on my(6) back and my legs. When I lie down in bed at night sometimes I can
hardly stand it.
F Do you ever get any sores or weeping?
No, my skin is just dry and very itchy, but I’m most worried that because of the operation any
broken areas in the skin will mean I’m at (7) risk of infection. I’m doing everything I can to
prepare properly though – instead of showers I’ve been taking (8) lukewarm baths, and I
never use any soap because it leaves my skin extra dry. I know using it removes the natural
M oils, so I use a (9) soap substitute instead. I’m being really careful about the clothes I wear to
be sure they aren’t going to exacerbate the itching – I really don’t want to be scratching it at
all if I can help it – and I’ve been using an (10) oily moisturiser nearly every hour. I don’t like
to use a lot of those steroid creams and things, but I can if you think it’ll help. I see a
dermatologist sometimes and he said that if I don’t like using them, I can save them as a last
resort.
Okay, it sounds like you’re doing everything you can to manage the condition. But you do need
F to try and relax and make sure you’re getting plenty of rest. I know that stress is only going to
make the condition worse.
You’re right, I knowI’m probably getting worked up over nothing and everything will be fine.
M I’m taking an (11) antihistamine at the moment, so that’s helped with the scratching and I
am (12) sleeping a bit better as well.
