What matters more than the pain scale at the ER, with Dr Jeremy Faust

A sudden, blinding headache brought Golda to the emergency room in December of 2025, and that visit became the inspiration for this episode. Golda uses that ER visit as a case study to understand how we as patients can better communicate with our healthcare providers, and vice versa. The guest on this episode is Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency medicine physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and editor-in-chief of MedPage Today. Dr Faust explains what ER staff are listening for, why the pain scale matters less than you think, and which details of your condition do matter instead.

This episode is part of our series exploring the doctor-patient relationship: ‘How to talk so your doctor listens’. Maybe our next episode will come from you - write to us with your story, or reflections on your relationship with your doctor: email or send us a voice memo hello@overlookedpod.com.

For a deeper dive into this topic, read and subscribe to the newsletter here: https://overlookedpodcast.kit.com/posts

What to listen to next:

What a visit to the ER taught me about pain in women:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-a-visit-to-the-er-taught-me-about-pain-in-women/id1706322130?i=1000745282562

How to talk so your doctor listens, with endocrinologist Dr Gillian Goddard:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-talk-so-your-doctor-listens-with/id1706322130?i=1000792186566

From period pain to the pain scale: why we struggle with the language of pain, with Kate Downey: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-period-pain-to-the-pain-scale-why-we-struggle/id1706322130?i=1000774026033

To sign up for an immersive health storytelling workshop, click here: https://overlookedpodcast.kit.com/firstpersonhealth

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Overlooked tells powerful stories about women's health conditions that don't get enough attention. The show is hosted by Golda Arthur, an audio journalist and producer. Learn more about the show here: www.overlookedpod.com

DISCLAIMER What you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

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