Setting: Clinic

Ayurvedic Practitioner

You see a 76-year-old patient for a routine follow-up after six weeks. During the visit, the patient mentions feeling fatigued and having headaches — symptoms that could suggest sinusitis.

Task:

• Confirm the reason for the visit (routine check-up). Ask how the patient is feeling overall, both physically and mentally.
• Explore reasons for any poor sleep (check for pain, anxiety, stress, or discomfort related to the surgery or other issues).
• Find about the headache and other symptoms (severity, worsen with movement or bending forward, fever, any loss of appetite, loss or change in the sense of smell or taste)  
• Explain gently that these symptoms could be due to acute sinusitis (inflammation of the sinus passages at the back of the nose). Reassure the patient (usually a mild, self-limiting condition).
• Recommend self-care measures (keep hydrated to help clear nasal passages, practice gentle nasal cleansing, gentle breathing exercises, rest with the head slightly elevated, etc.)
• Advise the patient to monitor symptoms. Stress that they should contact if there is no improvement within a week (further evaluation, possible medication, or to rule out other issues).  
• Emphasize that simple self-care often leads to recovery without needing strong interventions.

Sample Script

Peter Henry (Ayurvedic Practitioner):
Good morning, Mihiraa. It’s lovely to see you again. I can hear from your voice that you might not be feeling your best today. Please don’t worry—we’ll work through everything together. You’re in the right place.

As I understand, today’s visit was scheduled as a routine follow-up after six weeks. Before we move into anything else, could you tell me how you’ve been feeling overall, both physically and mentally, since we last met?

Mihiraa (Patient):
Thank you, Peter. I was doing okay for a while, but recently I’ve been feeling quite tired. My energy is low, and my head has been hurting on and off. Mentally, I feel a little drained too, honestly.

Peter Henry:
I appreciate you sharing that with me, Mihiraa. It’s important to get a full picture. Since you mentioned feeling tired, let’s talk a little about your sleep first. Poor sleep can sometimes add to fatigue. Have you been able to sleep well? Are you having any pain, discomfort, or perhaps feeling anxious or stressed, either due to the surgery or anything else?

Mihiraa:
Sleeping has been hard. I wake up a lot during the night. My head feels heavy, and sometimes I can’t find a comfortable position. I don’t think it’s anxiety, but the discomfort is real.

Peter Henry:
Thank you for explaining that. It sounds uncomfortable. Let’s also understand more about the headaches you’re experiencing. Could you tell me—how severe are the headaches? Do they get worse if you move around or bend forward? Also, have you had any fever, changes in appetite, or perhaps noticed any difference in your sense of smell or taste?

Mihiraa:
The headaches are pretty strong, especially if I bend down to pick something up. I haven’t really had a fever, but my appetite has been a bit low. As for smell and taste, I think things smell a little less strongly than before.

Peter Henry:
You’ve given me very helpful details, Mihiraa. Based on what you’re describing—the heaviness, headaches worsened by movement, slight loss of smell—it sounds like you could be experiencing a case of acute sinusitis. That’s an inflammation of the sinus passages behind the nose. Please don’t be alarmed; it’s usually a mild condition and often clears up with some simple care measures. Most importantly, it tends to be self-limiting, meaning your body can recover on its own.

Mihiraa:
Oh, I see.

Peter Henry:
What we can do is support your recovery naturally. I would recommend staying well hydrated—water and warm herbal teas can help thin and clear the nasal passages. Practicing gentle nasal cleansing with warm saline water can also ease the congestion. Gentle breathing exercises will support healthy circulation in the sinus area, and when you rest, keeping your head slightly elevated with an extra pillow may bring you more comfort.

Mihiraa:
Alright, that sounds doable.

Peter Henry:
Please also monitor your symptoms closely over the next few days. If you notice that things are not improving within a week, or if anything worsens, it’s important that you contact me. In that case, we would reassess and see if any further treatment or investigation is needed, just to be cautious.

Mihiraa:
Sure, I will do as you suggest.

Peter Henry:
Overall, many people recover fully with just these simple, mindful self-care steps, without needing stronger medicines or interventions. I’m here for you through this. How does that sound to you, Mihiraa?

Mihiraa:
That is reassuring. Thank you, Peter.

Sample 2

Peter Henry (Ayurvedic Practitioner): Good morning, Mihiraa. It’s lovely to see you again. Could you please confirm the reason for your visit?

Mihiraa (Patient): Good morning, Peter. I’m here for the routine check-up.

Peter Henry: Alright. Before we move into anything else, could you tell me how you’ve been feeling overall, since we last met?

Mihiraa (Patient): Peter, I was doing okay for a while, but recently I’ve been feeling quite tired. My energy is low, and my head has been hurting on and off. Mentally, I feel a little drained too, honestly.

Peter Henry: I appreciate you sharing that with me, Mihiraa. It’s important to get a full picture. Since you mentioned feeling tired, let’s talk a little about your sleep first. What could be the reason for your poor sleep?

Mihiraa: Sleeping has been hard. I wake up a lot during the night. My head feels heavy, and sometimes I can’t find a comfortable position. I don’t think it’s anxiety, but the discomfort is real.

Peter Henry: Thank you for explaining that. It sounds uncomfortable. Let’s also understand more about the headaches you’re experiencing. Could you tell me in detail about your headaches? 

Mihiraa: The headaches are pretty strong, especially if I bend down to pick something up. I haven’t really had a fever, but my appetite has been a bit low. As for smell and taste, I think things smell a little less strongly than before.

Peter Henry: You’ve given me very helpful details, Mihiraa. Based on what you’re describing—the heaviness, headaches worsened by movement, slight loss of smell—it sounds like you could be experiencing a case of acute sinusitis. That’s an inflammation of the sinus passages behind the nose. Please don’t be alarmed; it’s usually a mild condition and often clears up with some simple care measures. Most importantly, it tends to be self-limiting, meaning your body can recover on its own.

Mihiraa: Oh, I see.

Peter Henry: What we can do is support your recovery naturally. I would recommend staying well hydrated—water and warm herbal teas can help thin and clear the nasal passages. Practicing gentle nasal cleansing with warm saline water can also ease the congestion. Gentle breathing exercises will support healthy circulation in the sinus area, and when you rest, keeping your head slightly elevated with an extra pillow may bring you more comfort.

Mihiraa: Alright, that sounds doable.

Peter Henry: Please also monitor your symptoms closely over the next few days. If you notice that things are not improving within a week, or if anything worsens, it’s important that you contact me. In that case, we would reassess and see if any further treatment or investigation is needed, just to be cautious.

Mihiraa: Sure, I will do as you suggest.

Peter Henry: Overall, many people recover fully with just these simple, mindful self-care steps, without needing stronger medicines or interventions. I’m here for you through this. How does that sound to you, Mihiraa?

Mihiraa: That is reassuring. Thank you, Peter.

Peter Henry: You are very welcome. I wish you a speedy recovery.