5 ms·

Be careful with this. There is a class of issues the medica system is more or less useless with (musculo-skeletal pain, digestive issues, fatigue, the uncommon

by graeme 9y ago

Be careful with this. There is a class of issues the medica system is more or less useless with (musculo-skeletal pain, digestive issues, fatigue, the uncommon source allergy symptoms you described) Then there is stuff they handle extremely well: broken bones, bacteria, and a variety of easily treatable ailments. I have a few health issues I know I basically can get no medical help on. And then, on the other hand, I had MRSA, and went to the doctor ASAP to get that cured.

ergothus 9y ago
Oh, absolutely. Despite my negative experiences I in no way endorse avoiding doctors. As noted in my story, doctors at the urgent care clinic saved me from a much worse time (possibly even death). I'm just saying (with way too many words) that there are reasons other than stoicism or machismo that people avoid going to the doctor. Were I the OP, I too would have not gone to the doctor for seemingly mild symptoms, and would have suffered as he/she did. Most of us have no good way of knowing which issues are medically treatable and which aren't.
- graeme 9y ago
  Ah, I see. Agreed, definitely more than just machismo.
sneak 9y ago
They also seem moderately good at heart and cardiovascular disease, it being insanely common in the US.
- emmanuel_1234 9y ago
  Those are much better off prevented than treated. But you got a point: they suck at preventing CVD, which is a shame.
stevenh 9y ago
What magic combination of words did you utter to get the antibiotics you needed? I had a terribly painful bacterial infection once, and six urgent care clinics and ERs all refused to help me unless I had a CT scan first. After a month of this humiliation, I wound up smuggling Augmentin across the border and felt better within 24 hours.
- graeme 9y ago
  I had an obvious lesion with a head, which the doctor swabbed. Though I did have to go to a second doctor - the first thought it was a less serious infection.

by graeme 9y ago

ergothus 9y ago

Oh, absolutely. Despite my negative experiences I in no way endorse avoiding doctors. As noted in my story, doctors at the urgent care clinic saved me from a much worse time (possibly even death). I'm just saying (with way too many words) that there are reasons other than stoicism or machismo that people avoid going to the doctor. Were I the OP, I too would have not gone to the doctor for seemingly mild symptoms, and would have suffered as he/she did. Most of us have no good way of knowing which issues are medically treatable and which aren't.

graeme 9y ago
Ah, I see. Agreed, definitely more than just machismo.

sneak 9y ago

They also seem moderately good at heart and cardiovascular disease, it being insanely common in the US.

emmanuel_1234 9y ago
Those are much better off prevented than treated. But you got a point: they suck at preventing CVD, which is a shame.

stevenh 9y ago

What magic combination of words did you utter to get the antibiotics you needed? I had a terribly painful bacterial infection once, and six urgent care clinics and ERs all refused to help me unless I had a CT scan first. After a month of this humiliation, I wound up smuggling Augmentin across the border and felt better within 24 hours.

graeme 9y ago
I had an obvious lesion with a head, which the doctor swabbed. Though I did have to go to a second doctor - the first thought it was a less serious infection.