When do you visit the doctor's office?

[bubble_tea]

What does it take for you to want to make an appointment at the doctor's office?

Right away when I start to feel under the weather.

Next day or the day after when it doesn't get better.

About a week later when it doesn't get better.

Only when it gets even worse after more than a week.

Only when it's so bad that I couldn't get there myself and have to call an ambulance.

[Anonymous]

lol, I once destroyed my ankle in a game of rugby, I went home and just thought it was a sprain despite it being massively swollen. I knew it hurt but I'm a dumb animal so I hopped around for 5 days before finally going to the hospital. They did the x-rays, looked on them and said "this happened 5 days ago, you left this 5 days? you must have been in agony!" They thought I was being extremely stupidly stoic but really it was just plain stooooopid! haha

[bubble_tea]

You're crazy! I went straight to the emergency room when I sprained my ankle during a squash match :O It hurt like hell!

[Opinion Owner]

Maybe it was madness, but I was kinda like how do you know when the pain is enough for it to be a big deal? it hurts but if it was really serious it would hurt much more. Plus I was kinda in denial that I could be broken that easily as I'd not broken a single bone before that, it was a brutal tackle though. One for the memoirs! lol

[bubble_tea]

Did you at least swallowed pain killers during those 5 days? Because that's all they've prescribed me lol

[Opinion Owner]

I lucked out and was given codeine. lol

[Opinion Owner]

Sorry, you said during, I took paracetamol and ibuprofen over the 5 days, iced it and stuff. lol

[bubble_tea]

So pretty much what I did.

Did you have a ligament rupture or did you break your ankle bones?

[Opinion Owner]

It was a bimalleolar fracture if I remember correctly.

[bubble_tea]

o__O

[Opinion Owner]

I was lucky not to need surgery, which would have really bummed me out! lmao

[Opinion Owner]

Thanks for MH!

[Redstang88]

Basically if I can avoid it I will. I have to be very sick for a while before I'll bother. I've had a concussion, broken a finger and had another nearly cut off and I didn't go to the doctor. I think its been 6 or 7 years.

[bubble_tea]

oh my god!

[Redstang88]

Yeah I hate going to the doctor. Not sure why, just do.

[thewanderingme]

I look up my symptoms online. if I can't find what I consider to be probable, I harass my doctor with emails and/or phone calls until he tells me to make an appointment.
or if I feel I need a test to be done, I ask for it specifically, and if he agrees, I make an appointment.

[bubble_tea]

Do you use WebMD? It seems like they only list the worst least probably reasons and make it seem like the probability is much higher.

[bubble_tea]

I didn't it was possible to just call the doc to get help. I assumed they would only talk to you during appointments.

[thewanderingme]

I use several.

[thewanderingme]

I can send him (his office which then passes it on to him) messages online or call. there's also some after hours number to call and leave a message with a call center which is passed on to the doctors, then they call you back, I never use it though, I don't feel right bugging him when he's home with his family.

[thewanderingme]

it saves them time and money if you call first, because a lot of the time it could be something small/not worth taking an appointment over.

[bubble_tea]

Thanks! I'll ask my doc if he offers such a service too.

[thewanderingme]

you're welcome! (:

[misscoffeehead]

I just go in straight away. If I know I'm not 110% well I will go to the doctors. I don't like to wait around when it comes to my health or my family's health.

[bubble_tea]

You're not one to try self-medication first, are you xD

[misscoffeehead]

LOL my parents are! They are just like oh just take these antibiotics you will be fine.. Or do this remedy (where you use vapo rub and a coin to rub on your back and chest)

Like I hate being sick lol so if I know the doctor has something that he can prescribe me, I'm going down there! Lol

[bubble_tea]

You can get antibiotics without a doctor's prescription? :O That's unthinkable here. I used to go to the doc every couple weeks to get antibiotics for two months or so.. I think it destroyed my immune system which is why I try to self-medicate first for little things where the home remedies should work.

[misscoffeehead]

Haha no my parents like stock up on the antibiotics here, so if someone needs some, it's here. They would go to the doctors even if they aren't sick just to grab some. Dodgy Asian parents lol 🙈 yeah that does make sense. Have you tried taking supplements to boost your immune system?

[CommieDearest]

I voted D. I don't go to the doctor for the sniffles, but I have severe asthma that acts up only when I'm sick. So sometimes I may have something as simple as a common cold, but if I feel like I can't breathe well I'll go just to get the meds.

[TonyRyan]

I have to be near death, lol. I got hit by a guy with a bat in the face and the head, blood was everywhere and I still walked home instead of going to the hospital xD

[bubble_tea]

O-O I'm not gonna ask why you got a bat in the face and the head.

[CHARismatic110]

I'm in and out doctor's offices all the time unfortunately.

[bubble_tea]

Are you hypochondriac?

[CHARismatic110]

No, I have RA

[bubble_tea]

Oh :/ I'm sorry.

[CHARismatic110]

It's ok.

[douride2]

I usually put it off for a few days to a week to see if it gets better. That is unless I'm in real bad pain then I still wait till the next day most times.

[SurströmmingLover]

I voted E because I haven't gone there since I was 14. I just take medicine by myself and there's no problem

[kangy]

Next day or the day after when it doesn't get better.

[Klaatu51]

almost never unless i'm seriously ill

[jmmmfi]

As little as possible it's expensive

[GirlScoutsRevenge]

God that is so depressing to hear...

[Anonymous]

If I'm dying.