language is funny

[marycrawford]

I was having blood drawn today and was asked "Did you eat or drink anything today?" and it occurred to me as it always does that the official word for not having drunk or eaten yet in Dutch, the one they check off on the form, is so incredibly confusing. It's "nuchter" which ALSO means "I am not drunk, I have not consumed alcohol".

So full props to the nurse for asking me that sensible question instead of "Bent u nuchter?" which I've heard before.

But now it occurs to me that I don't know an English translation for 'nuchter' either. 'Sober' yes, but that doesn't cover the have you eaten/drunk part. (or does it? in that case, English is just as confusing...)

Comments

[ranalore]

In American English, they usually just ask the question you got asked. If you were supposed to get blood drawn when you hadn't eaten or drunk anything, they'd tell you to fast, "no fluids except water, and no food." If you're getting surgery, however, there's usually a period of anywhere from eight to twelve hours prior that you can have "nothing by mouth," which means you can't drink water, either. I see mumblemumble pulled that up for you, as well as "nil per os," which I'd never looked up. I know NPO, because I've had a few surgeries and that's what appears on the paperwork, but it's explained as "nothing by mouth." Most US paperwork assumes people are barely literate, and it's unfortunately right in that assumption.

[marycrawford]

Nil per os is going to stick in my brain now, thanks for joining me down the rabbithole :D

I do think it's a good approach to keep the bar as low as it can be, for everyone's safety.