Doctor stories: What are your experiences with diagnoses?

- hey nimblestag31, let me ask you this directly: do you honestly feel like people are ruder to doctors than they are to any other professionals they have to deal with?

nah, I don't think I ever actually mentioned being polite—it's more about the way people just bash certain professions... and I don't really look at politeness as a whole thing, it's more about individual patients, much like how critiques of physicians usually focus on specific ones. and I doubt they're actually ruder to doctors, I mean, why would they be? someone who's rude is probably gonna be just as rude to a waiter or a clerk at a checkout counter as they are to a doctor

- but don't you see that most people are just terrified in those exam rooms, acting all "please, Mr. Doctor, I beg of you" type of vibe?

no, I haven't really noticed that—though I do spend quite a bit of time in clinics myself... and honestly, if patients are truly terrified of their doctors, then that’s probably a pretty big sociological issue. I mean, how can you be scared out of your wits of someone you've come to for advice or help? okay, maybe if you're scared of the illness itself, that makes sense, but being scared of the doctor specifically 😕

- and you don't realize they'll let doctors get away with things they wouldn't let anyone else touch?

people let others get away with stuff too, I just think there needs to be a bit more understanding from both sides, I guess... because when a doctor makes an unintentional mistake, people want to treat them like a common criminal. like what feralorca2 wrote so nicely on her blog, healthy people aren't exactly flocking to hospitals anyway, yet everyone expects absolute perfection and instant cures from doctors, who are just humans too. I'm not saying mistakes are great or whatever, but it's just the reality of it. sadly, it's just how it is

- so how do you explain why so many people are asking about illnesses, treatments, and diagnoses on various forums instead of just asking doctors?

I'd say it's laziness... pure laziness. For instance, I might post a question here because it's easier to sit at my computer and type it out than it is to hop in the car and drive to a specialist who could give me a straight answer right away...
but forums are fun, sometimes they're super helpful, and it's always interesting to hear about someone else's experience or opinion on something, even if it's about a health issue

- do you think they're that foolish to believe they'll find better answers here, or can you admit they aren't getting the answers they need where they should be?

no, I don't think anyone is foolish, where does that even come from? it kind of bugs me when people label others like that in debates, but whatever... I believe they'd get the answers they need where they should be looking. Or maybe you think people dealing with serious illnesses are coming to forums because they didn't get proper medical care😕
or are you trying to say that an online forum is somehow a higher quality healthcare facility than a hospital where actual doctors work? 🤣

Of course I am the most beautiful, brilliant, stubborn, selfish, messy, completely heartless, and egocentric person you’ll ever meet—someone who can barely wait to wrap up medical school. And no, I won't be choosing pathology this time; instead, I’m going to spite all of you by finding a way to make everyone's life a living hell! mwhahaha

😈
I am pure evil. *evil*

Noah Vaughn3 said:you = humans

And what exactly are you supposed to be... huh? 🙂

nimblestag31 said:- how do you interpret the fact that so many people on different forums are asking about illnesses, treatments, and diagnoses instead of just asking their doctors?

I honestly see it as pure laziness... just straight-up laziness. Like, take me for example—I’ll sit my butt down at my computer and type out a question here because it’s way easier than getting in my car and driving all the way to some specialist who might actually give me a straight answer right away... but hey, forums are fun, sometimes they're super helpful, and it's always interesting to hear what other people have gone through or what they think about something, even if it's medical stuff...

Oh my God, please, tell me... where exactly in Washington, D.C. am I supposed to find those specialists who are just gonna hand over concrete answers for free on the spot?🤣 🤣 👍

God and the devil—or should I say, God and a good beating?
😈 & 🙂

nimblestag31 said:I mean, I honestly feel like people would just get the answers they’re looking for exactly where they should be getting them. Or... I don't know, maybe you think folks dealing with serious illnesses are hanging out on an online forum because they didn't get decent medical care from their doctors? I guess that's a possibility, but who knows. 😕
Or what you’re trying to say is that some random internet forum is somehow a better medical facility than an actual hospital where doctors actually work? I mean, seriously... maybe? I don't know. Just seems kind of wild to think that, I guess. 🤣

Ugh... finally. 🙂

So, yeah... I'm back at it again, just speaking my truth and talking about my own mess...

So, I was just sitting there in the waiting room at the doctor's office... man, it was pure chaos. The doc was just absolutely running around like a headless chicken, you know? Like, he was constantly being called away, people kept popping into his exam room every two seconds... it was just non-stop. I guess he was having one of those days where everything hits the fan at once. Typical, right?

So, I just got back from the doctor, and man, he dropped a bit of a bombshell on me. He took one look at everything and told me I’ve gotta go under the knife. Apparently, it’s a laparoscopy... I mean, I guess it's not exactly the news you want to hear when you're just hoping for a quick fix, right? Just kind of sitting there like, "Wait, seriously?" But yeah, that's the situation. Surgery is on the table now.
So, when he saw how totally lost I was, he started walking me through the whole procedure. He was all like, "Don't worry, it's super routine," telling me I'd be back home in a week and probably ready to hit the office again in about a month. I guess he was trying to chill me out, maybe? It sounded pretty straightforward when he said it, though I'm still a little shaky about the whole thing.

Man, I had like a million more questions for them... I mean, he already had at least five patients lined up out there, and who knows, maybe even an entire surgery scheduled right after that.

So, I went ahead and said thanks, then popped over to the forum, where I ended up getting the rest of the info I actually needed from feralorca2 ( 😘 If you're actually reading this, thanks a million! Seriously, I really appreciate it... especially from all the ladies on here (you know who you are, you gorgeous things). 😘 So, I was just sitting here thinking... like, which other people have actually gone through this exact same surgery? I mean, seriously, does anyone else have that experience to share? I guess I'm just looking for some kind of perspective, maybe? Just wondering if I'm totally alone in this whole thing.
If I actually sat my doctor down and hit him with all those heavy-duty questions, he’d probably just lose his mind and kick me right out of the office. 😁I mean, if I’d shown up to surgery acting totally clueless and freaking out like my roommate was doing, the nurses probably would've kicked me right out of the room—okay, okay, they wouldn't have actually tossed me out because they were honestly amazing, but I definitely would've been a total pain in their necks... but since I actually knew exactly what the procedure involved, how the prep worked, and what the recovery looked like, I wasn't even scared, not even a little bit. 🙂

Yeah, honestly, it’s just great to have a forum like this where you can just hop on and ask whatever's on your mind, you know? Like, if you're stuck or just curious about something, you can just throw it out there and see what happens. It's pretty sweet. 🙂

So, here’s the thing... I could easily read between the lines and assume you expect a little bribe just to get a straight answer out of you—I wouldn't be surprised one bit—but, no, no, I won't go that far.
ccc

Noah Vaughn3 said:God and the devil, or should I say God and a beatdown?
😈 & 🙂

Honey, you have seriously lost your damn mind...😂 😂you're totally out of line🤣

I wouldn't trust you to be a doctor, let alone have you treating me... 🙂

feralorca2 said:Oh my God, please just tell me—where in Washington, D.C., can I find experts who will give me a straight answer right away for free?🤣 🤣 👍

Goodness gracious, 😘
I don't know, I'm not from Washington, D.C.... and I didn't realize money was such a huge factor here—plus, there are plenty of clinics that aren't even private...
And wait a second, are you actually suggesting that the advice you get on a forum is better or more specific than a doctor's?
Honey, if that's the case, maybe you should just drop out of school and college altogether—don't bother watching TV or reading the news if you'd rather just get all your info from a forum, assuming it's good enough to actually heal people... I mean, maybe the computer could just eject a CD-ROM and reach out from behind the monitor to feel that bump on your neck, or maybe it'll grab a stethoscope to check if you have pneumonia... or toss a CT scan under the table and call it a day...

My computer doesn't quite work like that-- I guess.😢

brisknomad6 said:and I still had like a million questions left... he had at least five patients waiting outside and maybe even an operation scheduled right after that...

I just said thanks and jumped on here—which was great because I actually got all the info I really needed from mark Lewis22 ( 😘 if you're reading this, thank you so much!) and some other ladies on the forum (shoutout to bb specifically 😘 ) who went through the exact same surgery...

Yeah, having a forum to ask whatever is on your mind is honestly such a lifesaver 🙂

True, that's... well, yeah. But imagine if you just posted on a forum like, "Ugh, my stomach hurts so bad, what should I do?" or "Is this even worth it?"

It feels a bit silly to claim a forum is better than seeing a doctor... I mean, there are a million different reasons why people look for advice, and while this is a great place for some, it probably isn't the place for everything... at least not at first.

nimblestag31 said:oh my god... seriously... 😘
I don't know, I'm not from Washington, D.C... and I had no clue money was even part of the equation, plus there are clinics out there that aren't private...
and hold on just a second, are you actually trying to tell me that a more specific answer you get on some random internet forum is somehow better???
look, honey, if that's how you feel, then just drop out of school, quit college, stop watching TV or reading the news, and just get all your life advice from an online forum if it's supposedly good enough to heal people... maybe the guy behind the screen can magically eject a CD from your computer and reach through the monitor to pop that lump on your neck for you, or maybe he’ll have a stethoscope ready to check if you've got pneumonia... or hey, maybe he'll just toss a CT scanner under the desk and call it a day...

my computer doesn't work like that 😢

🤣 🤣 🤣

Yeah, because I'm sure that one non-private clinic where fifty people are crammed into the waiting room will just rush you into an exam room to give you all those detailed answers you're looking for.... hahaha 😂

Well, there you go—at least I managed to get a smile out of you. If you did, then it proves even those little things serve a purpose
I actually went to see my doctor once, and they had the nerve to tell me I was just being malicious and difficult—basically saying there was nothing they could do for me. So, naturally, I decided I’d rather just entertain you all instead

😉
I'll always be around to keep you laughing :P

Noah Vaughn3 said:well look at that, at least you're cracking a smile... if you actually are, anyway, see? even those guys have a purpose in life if they can make you laugh once in a while

😉
don't you worry, I'll always be hanging around just to keep you laughing :P

🎉

nimblestag31 said:Yeah, true, I mean... but if you're out here asking questions on a forum... man, my stomach hurts just thinking about it. Like, what am I even supposed to do? How much would this actually help?

All those claims that it's better to ask a forum than a doctor... honestly? There are a million reasons why people look for help and advice elsewhere. For some, this place is the spot, but for others, maybe it isn't... at least not right at the start.

Look, I once asked my primary care doctor why I was gaining weight even though I was sticking to like, 1500 calories...

And she basically told me: just eat less.

Seriously, watch out for advice from a DOCTOR!!!

You know where I actually figured out the diagnosis for my acne, scarring, and weight gain?
On the internet. After I went down a rabbit hole researching the effects of an ovarian dermoid cyst and whether it could cause my period to be late.

So yeah, that's ask your doctoraround here.

P. S. notice that I talked about that good doctor first. 😉

Noah Vaughn3 said:Of course my ego is through the roof. There's plenty of reason for it.

Is that so? And why might that be?

I think I already mentioned this—it should be on the previous page
I really don't feel like redoing it, especially since I just finished my manicure... I'd hate to mess them up.
🥳

Aha... 🙄

nimblestag31 said:- and you really don't get that most people in those exam rooms are absolutely terrified and acting all subservient toward Mr. Doctor?

No, I don't "get it" because I haven't seen that happen, and I spend a fair amount of time in clinics... and honestly, if patients are truly shaking in their boots before a doctor, then we’re looking at a massive sociological failure. How can you be terrified of someone you’ve specifically sought out for advice or help? Look, if you think they're scared of the disease itself, sure, that makes sense, but being intimidated by the doctor 😕
is a different story entirely.

Yeah, they can be, and they are—absolutely petrified of the MD. Why? Because they actually showed up seeking help (whether that need was valid or not) because something hurts—be it physical pain or mental anguish—and in most cases, the doctors just brush them off (unless you hit those rare exceptions like 🙏 🙏 🙏 )

nimblestag31 said:- how do you interpret the fact that so many people on various forums ask about illnesses, treatments, and diagnoses instead of just asking their doctors?

I interpret it as laziness... pure laziness. For instance, I might post a question here because it's way easier to sit down at my computer and type it out than it is to get in my car and drive to a specialist who could give me a concrete answer immediately...
But forums are a hobby; sometimes they're incredibly useful, and it's always interesting to hear someone else's experience or opinion on something, even if it's a medical issue.

I don't know how much medical experience you have, but human laziness has absolutely nothing to do with this.
When a real health issue arises, we go to a physician who spent years in med school learning how to actually help people overcome illness. But what happens when a patient walks in, tells the doctor something hurts, and the doctor just looks at them over the top of their glasses and says, "And you came to see me for *this*?" What are you supposed to say? "Well, I was bored and felt a little twitch, so I thought I'd drop by to break the monotony..."
Or consider when you show up at the ER with a child running a 104 fever—you're panicking because you can't get the temperature down—and the nurse meets you at the door with an attitude, after you've been sitting in the waiting room for hours with a burning kid: "You brought a child in at this hour for a fever??" I mean, seriously, what am I even supposed to say to that? What do you even respond to that kind of hostility?

nimblestag31 said:- do you think they're so foolish that they believe they'll find better answers here, or can you admit that they aren't getting the answers they need where they should be getting them?

I don't think anyone is "foolish"—where do you even get ideas like that? Honestly, that kind of condescension in an argument really gets under my skin, but fine... I believe they would get the answers they need if they were actually getting them where they belong. Or do you honestly think people suffering from serious illnesses turn to internet forums because they haven't received adequate medical care? 😕
Or are you actually trying to suggest that some random online forum carries more weight than an actual medical facility staffed by real doctors? 🤣

It’s honestly pathetic, but it’s the truth: we end up learning way more about our own ailments through the internet and message boards than we ever do from our actual physicians... it’s a sad state of affairs, but it's reality.

I’m struggling to wrap my head around where you’re getting this idea that doctors are routinely snooping through patient files—and apparently, that most people are finding out via Google rather than from the physicians themselves.

Is there any actual data backing this up, or are we just eyeballing the situation here?
You’re speaking about these studies as if they’ve been conducted and the conclusions are absolute certainties.
Do enlighten me.

Forget all those studies and nonsense...

Have you even bothered to read one of my previous posts regarding this topic? What I'm saying here is just a fraction of what we actually had to endure with our child and my father during his illness. Just a tiny slice of the reality!
These aren't just theories; these are real situations my family lived through—believe me or don't, I honestly couldn't care less. I know exactly what we were up against. I remember being in the car on the way to the hospital, with my husband practically begging me to just stay quiet and not start an argument. And sure, I listened to him in that moment, but then he completely lost it on the doctor.
The entire healthcare system and about 99% of the medical staff (nurses included, for that matter) absolutely disgust me.

That remaining 1% of medical professionals? The ones I actually respect? Those are the people who actually give a damn about what's happening. They still have a shred of humanity left in them. They don't look down their noses at patients and they actually take the time to see the full picture.