Anyone else not go to doctors?

[Up-the-Creek]

I don't go to doctors either,..much. Last time I went was when I had what my DH thought was bronchitis,

just a bad cold...then this last year I went to the "lady doctor" to get a check up, it had been 8 years or more,... and then went and had my labs done at the family doctor. I did it so my family would quit riding me about it,...all was fine, as I suspected. I won't be going back not unless I am injured or half dead,...I have no faith in doctors,..no offense to anyone,..JMO. I go to the dentist,..when I need to. Right now I am in the process of finding a new dentist,..one that is somewhat more honest,..yea, I know,...good luck, right? I think many people have too much faith in these people we call doctors,...act as if they have all the answers,...they are just human and put their pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else and are also just as interested in making money as the next person,..that is thier business,..making money. Just like an auto mechanic,...ever take your vehicle in for maintenance and then get a call that there is a number of things they found wrong with your car and it is going to cost a pile of money,....they are in the business of making money too,..JMO though,...

 

[punk-a-doodle]

While there are good docs out there, I've stopped going. If my intestines are hanging out or something, docs are great for that, but in general I find US docs kind of suck at preventative care, and have been completely useless in even listening about chronic, non life threatening type stuff. May as well go to Hougan the witch doctor for that sort of thing, which is annoying to me as it is the chronic problems that bug me. I don't even blink at broken bones and gashes, never have, but it doesn't keep male doctors from making demeaning comments about female tolerance to pain.
Last time I went in was because I felt a sinus infection brewing for the first time in a long time. They always caused secondary problems when I was a kid, so mainly went to make sure my ears weren't getting inflamed. Doc said everything was fine, and to just snort some salt water...if I even had an infection. I was sick as a dog for over a month with blood splattering out my sinuses and vomiting. But what do I know? It's not like it's my body. XD

I especially hate going to doctors in this state. The whole state is obsessed with children, so the main diagnosis for the past two and a half years has been that I'm pregnant. Long pregnancy that! Even the dentist oh so knowlegably told me that my tooth probably hurt because I was with child. Because, you know, a cavity wouldn't make more sense.

...Huh, I'm ranty today. ....Must be pregnant. XD

 

[Glenmar]

Yep. I am a female too, but I still don't go. Some Dr.s just want to push pills.

 

[33yardbirds]

Just for stitches and casts.

 

[Spires6]

I go to a dentist because I don't think I would look as good with no teeth. I do go for Dr checkups because I have asthma and allergies and a checkup is required from time to time to get preventative scripts. ( Although I always see the nurse practitioner not the doc) I only do a pap every 3 yrs and mammo every 5 as there is no family history of those cancers, my paps have always been normal and I have been with the same husband since age 20. No need to do any of that any more frequently for me. I am a nurse and my younger sister has sky high BP and is probably asthmatic or getting into COPD from living with a chain smoker but absolutely refuses to do anything about it or take meds to correct because she doesn't want to be "addicted to anything." I think that is silly (to ignore health problems) but she doesn't care. I guess people should do what they are comfortable with and be happy with it.

 

[Dunkopf]

I go once a year for the rectal. Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.

 

[Glenmar]

Quote:

 

[Laurajean]

I have Hypothyroidism, so I have to go for blood work twice a year. At the same time, I have them do all other general lab work too, cholesterol, iron, blood sugar, etc. Any they check my blood pressure at the same time too, which is always perfect. Aside from that I do the gynecological visits when due. But when it comes to a cold, flu, etc., or even *minor* injuries I very rarely go. I don't have insurance, so it's expensive to go for something that I know will clear up or heal on it's own. So I try to use reasonable judgment. My aunt, whom I'm close with and speak to frequently, goes to the doctor at the drop of a hat, so if I mentioned anything, a cold, a cut, etc., she freaks out and thinks I should go to the ER. That just seems silly to me. I'm a big girl, I am perfectly capable of knowing when I really need a doctor and when I don't.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

I try to avoid going to the docotor.

 

[True Grit]

It was kind of weird the other day when I called the clinic line to ask them to add thyroid levels to my usual yearly cholesterol, triglycerides test and they wouldn't without a separate appointment. I said, "That's ok , I'll just wait for my yearly, my symptoms aren't that noticeable, I just thought you could add it to the blood work. The nurse on the line basically SOLD me an appointment, saying it was dangerous to wait and they'd get me feeling tiptop in no time. AND my doctor had many apptmnt times available, which she never does. I didn't understand why they pushed an apptmtuntil it occurred to me that my company, who must insure many patients that go to that particular clinic, had changed their health coverage so that now we have a deductible so we employee aren't going in for any little issue any more. The clinic must be hurting. I canceled my apptmt. I guess the company's new system is working to discourage frivolous usage.