i’m american so this may influence my comment but – it is so fucking irritating when people casually suggest online ‘taLk tO yOuR DocToR!’ like yeah it’s definitely exactly as trivial as you imagine, sure. not to mention, i’m surely able to candidly speak about my issues and receive an honest, no bullshit response as easily as i would’ve if i just posted, right? because it’s that trivial of a matter? hearing a man in a coat tell me to simply drink water and do bed rest is just as helpful as someone online linking me to a youtube video on how to clear your sinuses.
It can be very difficult to get a doctor’s appointment, find time when they are available, and get work to let you have time off. At some places it can feel like the doctor is trying to get out of the room with you as fast as possible, so if you forget to ask something you’re out of luck. That doesn’t even get into the anxiety around how much a doctor’s visit will cost. On top of all that, sometimes it doesn’t feel like the doctor is trying to work with you to solve a problem, but rather just feeds you a line that they’ve been told to say.
There are complex reasons for this. For example, maybe that youtube video on clearing your sinuses could result in a worse infection. The doctor will tell you not to do that, and to get sleep and drink water. But the advice to get sleep and drink water feels almost patronizing with how difficult it is to get the appointment.
Predatory crippling medical debt and the fear of it. Last surgery I had in the ER (acute appendicitis) in 1994 I was being charged $13 per pair of Tylenol 3s pain pills. By comparison for a bottle of 10 from corner pharmacy (with prescription) was $8. Pair of disposable gloves $10. Per pair. That’s all I remember on the bill because as a 20yrld with zero life skills I knew I would never pay that.
I was just at the doctor a couple of times in November. Turns out I had a bronchitis, possibly with a bacterial superinfection.
So I was at the doctor to
Check if my lungs were affected. is there a danger of a lung infection?
Do I need antibiotics or should I sit it out?
Get a doctors note (I was on sick leave for three and a half weeks)
This is nothing I could google. I actually did google and did not find bronchitis as an issue, but cold, influenza, and lung cancer. Google does not know how my lungs sound when I breathe.
So of course you should ask your doctor and not the internet.
I think they’re trying to say that googling your symptoms is free but going to the doctor is way too cost prohibitive and might result in your paying a ton of money just to hear that you should get more sleep or take some Advil.
i’m american so this may influence my comment but – it is so fucking irritating when people casually suggest online ‘taLk tO yOuR DocToR!’ like yeah it’s definitely exactly as trivial as you imagine, sure. not to mention, i’m surely able to candidly speak about my issues and receive an honest, no bullshit response as easily as i would’ve if i just posted, right? because it’s that trivial of a matter? hearing a man in a coat tell me to simply drink water and do bed rest is just as helpful as someone online linking me to a youtube video on how to clear your sinuses.
it’s 2023, jesus christ
As an European, I don’t understand the point you are trying to make, sorry. Why would you trust YouTube over a doctor? Am I missing something?
It can be very difficult to get a doctor’s appointment, find time when they are available, and get work to let you have time off. At some places it can feel like the doctor is trying to get out of the room with you as fast as possible, so if you forget to ask something you’re out of luck. That doesn’t even get into the anxiety around how much a doctor’s visit will cost. On top of all that, sometimes it doesn’t feel like the doctor is trying to work with you to solve a problem, but rather just feeds you a line that they’ve been told to say.
There are complex reasons for this. For example, maybe that youtube video on clearing your sinuses could result in a worse infection. The doctor will tell you not to do that, and to get sleep and drink water. But the advice to get sleep and drink water feels almost patronizing with how difficult it is to get the appointment.
And at other places, they’re just sitting in front of a computer terminal trying to figure out what kind of information about you to type in.
Predatory crippling medical debt and the fear of it. Last surgery I had in the ER (acute appendicitis) in 1994 I was being charged $13 per pair of Tylenol 3s pain pills. By comparison for a bottle of 10 from corner pharmacy (with prescription) was $8. Pair of disposable gloves $10. Per pair. That’s all I remember on the bill because as a 20yrld with zero life skills I knew I would never pay that.
Getting an audience with
youran actual doctor can be a real processI also have no idea what you are trying to say.
I was just at the doctor a couple of times in November. Turns out I had a bronchitis, possibly with a bacterial superinfection.
So I was at the doctor to
This is nothing I could google. I actually did google and did not find bronchitis as an issue, but cold, influenza, and lung cancer. Google does not know how my lungs sound when I breathe.
So of course you should ask your doctor and not the internet.
I think they’re trying to say that googling your symptoms is free but going to the doctor is way too cost prohibitive and might result in your paying a ton of money just to hear that you should get more sleep or take some Advil.
Also that’s if you see a doctor. You may see a PA who gives you 15 minutes and sends you home with a nebulizer.
Ah, I see. I kind of get that. Hate to go to the doctor for a sick note, when I know I just need sleep and tea.