Health question (doctors)

[Rooter]

So looking for the general behaviour of people here.

Let's say you have a health issue you don't know much about, how long do you typically wait for it to go away on its own before manning up and going to the doctors?

Purely hypothetical of course, was talking to mrs rooter about this topic last night and she thinks men are useless and won't go to the docs until they are close to death!

 

[Paperboy]

Well I've had pins and needles in two finger tips on my left hand for two weeks now. Still not been to the doctor's it could eith be a trapped nerve somewhere or signs of diabetes.

I'm going to give it another week then go. Just because I'm lazy really.

 

[London mike 61]

I like to steer clear of the DRs as much as possible, there are folk out there that need them a whole lot more than me. And if your sitting in the waiting area next to someone who's got god knows what wrong with them, the chances are that you will come away with flu or a tummy bug or something. No thanks

 

[Siren]

I cant book an appointment with my doctor unless its 3 months in advance.

I actually had an argument with with them in November as they told me they had nothing until February. Who the hell knows their ill 3 months in advance?

 

[Imurg]

Doctor...?
What's one of them.....?

 

[London mike 61]

Doctor...?
What's one of them.....?

Good job you didn't say doctor? , doctor who? ( he gets about a bit so I hear)

 

[Doh]

So looking for the general behaviour of people here.

Let's say you have a health issue you don't know much about, how long do you typically wait for it to go away on its own before manning up and going to the doctors?

Purely hypothetical of course, was talking to mrs rooter about this topic last night and she thinks men are useless and won't go to the docs until they are close to death!

I think Mrs Rooter is spot on in her assessment of men. It took me 2 months to get to the Dr's after starting with Chest pain on exertion for various reasons. When I did go he sent me in Hospital there and then, 12 days later I had to have a by-pass. Then again maybe it's just me she is right about

 

[Vice]

Been to the doctor about 3 times in the last 10 years, and only because I was told to.

She may be onto something...

 

[Jack_bfc]

I am as guilty as most men by the look of it..
I have a few 'issues' that HID thinks I need to get checked out. Which I have promised to do as this year is a 'significant' birthday milestone.

So I suppose an MOT is in order.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

I cant book an appointment with my doctor unless its 3 months in advance.

I actually had an argument with with them in November as they told me they had nothing until February. Who the hell knows their ill 3 months in advance?

I think that is half the battle why we don't go as we should, Trying to get an appointment is just a complete pain, Its the same for dentists as they are another nightmare to get an appointment.

 

[Foxholer]

Mrs R is indeed correct!

Though I don't believe Docs, or their Surgeries really, actually help the situation either. Leaving, and managing, a 'Window' for 'acute' appointments would give a better balance. It's not all that different from Triage after all!

Regular check-ups are worthwhile too. I know of 2 guys where that caught Prostate Cancer really early and are fine now. Haven't been myself for 15 years though, so 'good reminder'! Cancer, Heart Attack and Strokes are the biggest killers in my family, but those are the big 3 anyway, so pretty normal I guess.

 

[Old Skier]

There are no second chances, got a problem, get it sorted.

 

[Old Skier]

Well I've had pins and needles in two finger tips on my left hand for two weeks now. Still not been to the doctor's it could eith be a trapped nerve somewhere or signs of diabetes.

I'm going to give it another week then go. Just because I'm lazy really.

or a carpul tunnel problem as he sits here with hand in big bandage after the op yesterday.

 

[richart]

There are no second chances, got a problem, get it sorted.

Totally agree. If you are worried, man up and get down the Docs.

 

[upsidedown]

Got a good Dr's here, can generally get an appointment next day on line and have no hesitation in going, you can leave it too too late.

 

[Ethan]

The problem with general practice these days is that there is a toxic combination of increases in demands, some of which needs no medical attention, some displaced from Emergency Departments, increases in bureaucracy, both related to dealing with specific patient issues and also to do with commissioning, and politically motivated campaigns to undermine GPs so that the public is softened up for transfer of services to private providers.

The fact is that GPs want to see patients with genuine medical problems, so anyone that has a legitimate medical problem should see their doctor. Stuff like chest pain, shortness of breath, unusual pain in the head or back, unusual neurological symptoms are all potentially serious and should get same day appointments.

Many young GPs in the UK are leaving the profession and heading to NZ or Canada because of declining pay, increasing pressure and politicisation and hassle. This is a bad thing, but it is going to get worse before it gets better.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

In theory I can get a same day appointment ringing up at 8.00 when it opens. Trouble is you now get sent via a practice nurse for triage and she decides whether you need to see the doctor that day or not. Not a good system and I have managed to bypass it by insisting it's a personal nature I'm not happy to discuss with a female member of staff.

I have a number of issues (three hernias they refuse to treat unless I'm in chronic pain) diabetes, and a number of ongoing joint and muscle pains that may or may not be things like arthritis. I'm getting pains that may be related to my pancreas again too. I should go and get everything checked out but definitely a head in sand merchant

 

[Blue in Munich]

Though I don't believe Docs, or their Surgeries really, actually help the situation either. Leaving, and managing, a 'Window' for 'acute' appointments would give a better balance. It's not all that different from Triage after all!

Ain't that the truth! I work 20 miles from home and it's nigh on impossible to get the early morning or evening appointment.

 

[Khamelion]

I rarely go to the docs, don't see the point as most of the time aches and pains are self inflicted.

That said when I found an unexpected lump in the gentlemens area, I was straight to the docs, who sent me straight off for a scan. Said lump turned out to be nothing more than a varicel a type of varicose vein and nothing to be worried about, but I was taking no chances.

 

[Golfmmad]

My own experience, having been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 2010, is if you think you have a problem, go and see the Doctor. I can guarantee that when you pluck up the courage you will feel so much better. Even if it's not the news you would hope, the actual feeling that something is being done really takes the weight off your mind. Of course there may not be anything to worry about at all.

Yes, that's how it was with me and if I'm completely honest, looking back I probably left it a lot longer than I should have. I suppose the human body is a bit like a car, in that if you leave a problem with a car for too long it can get worse and be more expensive to fix. Similarly with us, a problem left too long and the treatment may need to be more intensive/aggressive, and more difficult to deal with.

I am pleased to report though that the surgery and subsequent treatment I've had has lowered my PSA to less than 0.003, which is seen as virtually undetectable. :thup: