Reluctant to Visit the Doctor

I recently read this thread titled "Is anyone else really afraid of the doctor?", and while I can relate, I feel that my situation is different enough from the tone of the discussion to merit a topic of my own.

http://www.zity.biz/index.php?mx=forum;ox=display;topic=6526.0;all

The last time I went to the doctor's office, I was 18. I am now 30.

I've always been very healthy. I can count the total number of prescription pills I've ever taken on one hand, and most of those were preventive related to my wisdom teeth removal. I recall going to the doctor's office for an illness only once, for a severe sore throat (when the strep test came back negative, I was sent home emptyhanded, instructed to drink hot beverages and return only if it persisted for a week -- it went away in a few days).

All throughout my childhood, my parents followed the recommended doctor visit schedule, bringing me to the pediatrician annually, missing maybe only one visit. So, I'm used to seeing the doctor. I know what it's like, and I don't mind it -- in fact, the reason I'm here is that I kind of like it.

But I don't go.

After that last visit at age 18, I went off to college and didn't see a doctor during my entire time there. After that, I moved to a new city after getting a job offer. And I still haven't gotten around to finding a regular physician.

Part of it comes down to not knowing how to select one. You see, all of my doctors visits, except for that last one, were to a pediatrician. The last one was to a family practice physician selected by my parents (his daughters went to my school, so we knew the family rather well). But where do I begin to find a doctor now? I know there are websites out there that "rate" doctors, but I'm not even certain what I should be looking for in those reviews. I can go through the insurance company's website and randomly find one with a practice near my home or office, but which "flavor" of doctor should I choose? I don't have a family, so would it be odd to visit a "family practice" doctor (though I would probably be most comfortable there). "Internal Medicine" just sounds frightening and intimidating, and "General Practitioner" seems too... "general".

But then comes the other factor contributing to my reluctance... I don't want the doctor to find something wrong. Now, I'm not so naive as to believe I can hide from serious health problems; I certainly want to catch any problem before it can threaten my overall well-being. But today it seems that almost everyone goes to the doctor all the time -- not just for regular checkups but for bloodwork, x-rays, and any number of other tests. Everyone seems to be on some type of prescription medication -- for things ranging from high blood pressure to anxiety to heartburn to restless leg syndrome. Things are working out well for me, and I feel good -- I don't want to get on that carousel of the medical industry.

And the terrible part of all this is that I'd like it. I've always enjoyed going in for an exam, and I'm sure if I found the right doctor and could walk out without any obligation of a follow-up, I'd like it again.

I'm not really sure what I hope to get out of this posting. Maybe there are others out there like me; maybe I'm the only one in this predicament. But it's nice to get it all out, and it's good to have a forum like this where I can safely explore my interests.

Hi Matt - I can definitely relate to a lot of what you're saying. I went through a long period once myself where I didn't go to the doctor. Let me try to address some of your questions and concerns here.

I do encourage you to find a doctor and make an appointment with him/her for a new patient exam/physical. What kind of doctor, you ask? Any of the three you mentioned (family practice, internal medicine, general practice) are just fine. Regarding family practice docs, don't be deterred by the fact that you don't have a family yet. That doesn't really matter. The term "family practice" just implies that they CAN take care of the whole family (from cradle to grave) -- not that you actually have to have a family yourself. Also, don't be put off by the term "internal medicine". My last two primary care docs have both been IM, and neither one has been the least bit scary or intimidating. "General practice" would be similar to family practice. Since there's very little difference between the three, I probably wouldn't choose based on that. I WOULD ask some of my friends and coworkers if they had any recommendations for a good doctor, and probably look up their websites and some online reviews. (If any of your friends actually work in the medical field and know something about their level of competence, all the better.) But whatever you do, don't spend an inordinate amount of time trying to pin down the PERFECT doctor and second-guessing your decision. There are any number of good ones out there. Choose one, make an appointment, and GO! (If you end up not liking him/her, you can always switch later.)

Regarding your second concern, that the doctor might find something wrong... sure, there is always that possibility, and in fact I spent YEARS worrying about that very thing for no reason. But at your age, and in your health, there's very little reason to worry. Even if there were a problem, I have come to realize (and I'm sure you already know this) that the best way to approach any medical problem (or fear, or suspected problem) is to confront it head on. The vast majority of the time, you'll find there was no reason to worry at all, and in those few cases where there is a problem, you can usually deal with it before it becomes something major.

One other thing... remember, it's your body and your health, and ultimately, your choice about what medications or treatments to accept. Regardless of what your doctor recommends, you're not "obligated" to do anything.

Some more advice for you, or a little inside information. A good doctor will not give you a script for something that you do not need. See, most patients think that a pill will fix everything, and they think that if they don't walk out of the office with having either received a script or an injection then the doctor didn't do anything for them. A doctor will absolutely respect your wishes of not wanting to be on medication unless it's absoutely necessary. Actually, he will highly respect your decision in that matter, trust me.

So no worries mate. Go and establish yourself with a doctor while you are healthy, that way God forbid you ever do get sick, it won't take you 6 weeks to get in for a new patient exam. Also, when selecting a doctor remember that word of mouth and reputation is everything, so ask around and see what others think. Hope this helps some, and good luck.

Mashie

Thank you for your kind and supportive words. I'll start looking for a new doctor and will make an appointment soon.