Why do doctors call us "patients"?

I've always found it odd that doctors use the word "patient" to describe someone in their care. I mean, if anything, most "patients" I know are anything but patient. I know I'm not. Whenever I am ill such that I require prescription meds to get better, I always ask for the most aggressive thing they've got to hasten my recovery. When given three choices as to what protocol I wanted to do with my left index finger recently, I chose the most aggressive one, that being surgery, to guarantee that the mucous cyst I had would not reappear. Some small part of me wishes that my orthopaedic surgeon had put a permanent plaster cast on my leg, thereby guaranteeing that I would not fall prey to temptation to do things I am not supposed to do. Sure, it would mean giving up driving for the summer, and that's one freedom I did not want to sacrifice (and I wouldn't want to be a burden on others by needing rides everyplace for the entire summer). So while I am glad that I have a removable air cast, still, the idea of having to keep it on the entire day, every day, which is what I am supposed to do, for at least the next 6 weeks, is already driving me crazy. And the idea that it's entirely likely that I will have to wear this cast all summer, since that's what I have read is the standard medical protocol for this kind of injury, it makes me even crazier to consider having to wear a cast for 3 months, during the hottest part of the year. I know that it's helping and that it may well mean avoiding surgery later this year (I hope!), but it does not make it any easier to cope with. I do my best to keep my cast on the entire day unless I have to shower or drive. Even if it's really warm outside like it is today. In fact, this morning, I "gimped" downtown to the Memorial Day parade and found it exhausting just to walk in this thing. I was hot, sweaty and tired by the time I got home, and it's only a few short blocks! I felt like I'd really worked out taking such a short walk! Guess this is a preview of what I am in for this entire summer. A long, hot slog through the season with my leg in a hot black air cast. I'm already trying to prepare myself for the very certain and quite strong possibility of wearing this until the end of summer. The doctor told me that it would most likely be that long before I am out of it, and I see him again in 6 weeks to find out when I can get out of it. I'm prepared to be told, not for a few more months. That will certainly tax my patience!