I figure it’s probably ridiculous to go be seen for one thing at a time but also probably ridiculous to come to a doctor with a huge list of shit you think is wrong with you (while also potentially framing the doctor’s view of you as prone to hypochondriasis), so like, i guess the thing to do is make a list and like, see how many of the more urgent things you can discuss in a reasonable time frame? Or is this what “a physical” is for, you get that instead of or prior to mentioning specific concerns?
I haven’t seen a doctor in like 10 years so idk how to be a normal person about it
Explain that you haven’t been to a doctor in 10 years and that you need help prioritizing your concerns. That gives them the necessary context and still acknowledges their expertise so it doesn’t seem like you’re just insisting you have a bunch of things that need diagnosed for you to be satisfied. It also makes the work more bite sized and they can help you decide how to schedule what when and what needs a referral and all that.
If you haven’t seen a doctor in 10 years and you have a long list of legitimate concerns, I wouldn’t be worried about being treated like a hypochondriac. If you are, might want to go to a different practice. I would just show up with your list and be straightforward. It may take multiple appointments to address all your concerns, but getting the ball rolling is the most important part.
getting the ball rolling is the most important part.
Yeah, true, also the most difficult… I’ve had no insurance/no money for so long that even though i definitely can afford, like, an appointment, there’s a huge psychological barrier i still need to get over involving “how much is it going to cost if there’s some fucked up grievously wrong issue with me” but also just my general anxiety doing anything I’m not immediately confident in handling (see: me struggling to even call a lawyer). It also doesn’t help that I’m looking at a choice between unemployment all summer or severely reduced hours/work i don’t wanna do (I can do salads which would be tolerable but boring and wouldn’t take enough time for it to be worth an hour driving every day, who tf knows what gas prices will be, or i could fill hours doing pizza or serving shit but ugh, ughhhhhh)
But my increasingly long list of issues is starting to include some “wow no i need to see someone soon” shit, so
fuck me i guess i’ll get over it and just hope there’s nothing seriously wrong with me or that it’s a manageable crisis if there isYeah I’ve been in the same boat not long ago. It’s kinda scary to finally start going to the doctor/dentist again after not going for at least 5 years. Like you’re partly worried they’re gonna find something that is gonna cost even more money and you’d almost rather not know, shit sucks out here
Also thank you
Find a good general doctor.
Then pick the most pressing thing and go from there. A lot of issues are interconnected anyway. So you’ll be working on more then one thing regardless.
Ive dealt with it, but not nearly as much as my friend. Its been going well for them.
But you have to find people you trust and raise hell when someone tries to fuck you over.
Start at the general practitioner and give them a heads-up. I’m sure they’d to deal with worse.
I should do that too sometimes.
I’m sure they’d to deal with worse.
Oh definitely, like, I’m still in reasonable health and i’m sure there’s GPs who have people stumble in with active medical emergencies
I should do that too sometimes
dude definitely, if you’re in a position to and have stuff you’re worried about, take advantage while you can! I’ve just been really broke/no insurance for a long time… now im just kinda broke and full of anxiety
Get the longest visit they let you book, flag that it’s been a long time, be prepared to need more visits.
I started doing this at the beginning of this year.
First I went to an OBGYN for my hormonal issues and a checkup.
Then went to a new PCP who was really nice and actually listened to me and gave me referrals to get checked for ADHD and sleep apnea. While I was there I made a follow up appointment that im gonna have to cancel because I keep dragging my feet and keeping pushed back with arranging treatment.
Whenever I have my actual appointment with my PCP im gonna bring up some other issues I have that weren’t as pressing
Take a little 3x5 card and write down your questions on them. Then just ask one of the people there which ones to ask the doctor about
Literally bring notes so you don’t forget things.
just tell em it’s been years and they’ll understand having a list of aches and pains, a general practitioner’s job is to help sort and prioritize that shit and to know where the specialists are
What’s a physical for then? It was my partner’s suggestion. I could be asking google i guess but i call it the lying machine for a reason, lol
your medical records are ten years out of date, they gotta know your vitals somehow
if you want thorough and comprehensive care, visit a family doctor and discuss it over multiple visits if you can afford it. otherwise visit the GP and discuss your most urgent problem first. if they ask tell them that’s why you are visiting. after you are done talking about your main issue you can ask them about your other concerns.
the problem with listing off a bunch of problems in succession to a GP is not that they might think you are a hypochondriac (they might but then they are probably not a good doctor), it’s that they are not really there to provide “whole person” care, which requires extensive history and multiple visits. GP visits often have a purpose, and it’s their job to either take care of it if it’s a less serious and common problem, or refer you to the correct specialist. laying out your entire health record on them will either make them confused or anchors them to a diagnosis that might not be true or is not your main concern.
also getting a physical is not a bad idea especially if you are in an at-risk population, the GP will probably tell you to get one since you haven’t seen a doctor in 10 years. a physical is not for diagnosing specific concerns but rather it’s preventative care tracking your health and screening for common chronic conditions.
In the U.K. it’s like one issue per visit. I’ve not been to a doctor in a decade or so, but I’m booking an appointment soon for 2/3 issues that I think are related, and I think the source of these is 23 years ago, and disappeared for 18 or so years.
I did this. I keep a running note that I just throw stuff into when I think about it, so when I finally went I had 10-15 things to talk about.
The doctor suggested to pick a top 5, and then to follow up if the other things were still an issue.
Probably depends on the severity of the stuff at the bottom of your list, but do at least be ready to prioritize and triage.
