I have a couple of questions about my doctor's decision to change a medication dosage.
[more inside]
posted by feste
on May 24, 2013 -
23 answers
My insurance doesn't require referrals to specialists. I've never seen a specialist for a specific problem that wasn't initiated and referred by my doctor. If I want/need to see a specialist for something, does it make sense to see my doctor first and ask for a referral, or find a (random) specialist myself? On the other side, when does a doctor
not give referrals?
[more inside]
posted by mock muppet
on May 11, 2013 -
8 answers
Suppose you've noticed a growing red skin blemish on your arm that's irregular, raised, and a little flaky towards the center. At what point do you start to worry it's skin cancer and go see a doctor?
[more inside]
posted by meese
on May 11, 2013 -
33 answers
I'm looking for a good primary care doctor in New Haven, CT who accepts United Healthcare insurance. I'm also okay with driving a short distance outside of New Haven. I need someone who does not have a long waiting period to schedule appointments for new patients. Do you know of anyone, or do you know of a good way to decide which of the thousands of doctors on the internet are any good (healthgrades.com was decidedly unhelpful)?
posted by cheerwine
on Apr 21, 2013 -
9 answers
YANMD, but perhaps you're more free to speak honestly than my doctor. My baby had a simple skull fracture. We have a regular checkup scheduled for a month after the incident, but the pediatric neurosugeon wants to see the baby at around the same time. Would that really offer any additional information?
[more inside]
posted by Mr.Know-it-some
on Apr 18, 2013 -
20 answers
Problem is that I'm losing steam at this point, facing many more years of school ahead of me if I'm accepted into professional school. How I can shake the feelings of uncertaintly as I keep plugging away?
[more inside]
posted by sunnychef88
on Apr 7, 2013 -
20 answers
I recently got an MRI and was diagnosed with a cervical herniated disc. Not much pain, but there is numbness and tingling in the left thumb, and very tense shoulders along with some other symptoms. It has been about 2 months since I got it. For people who have had a cervical herniated disc - besides resting and visiting the doctor, do you have any other advice for getting the hernia gone as quickly as possible?
[more inside]
posted by Thanquol180
on Apr 5, 2013 -
9 answers
*It* hurts at the end. I already seen two different doctors (GPs) twice each, but don't feel like I am getting answer I need. I'm looking for suggestions for what I should ask/tell my doctor in a couple days. YANMD, etc. Details follow.
[more inside]
posted by princeoftheair
on Apr 3, 2013 -
12 answers
In the USA, doctors in academic centers are interns (first year trainee), residents (subsequent year trainee), attendings (completed training), fellows (attendings who are further subspecializing and revert to trainee status). Also, leaders of primary teams and consulting services are both called attendings.
What's the terminology in other countries? I'm most curious about English speaking countries (registrars? consultants? LMO?) but would also enjoy hearing about others also!
posted by raspberry jam and clothes iron
on Mar 24, 2013 -
10 answers
I am filled with dread when I think about calling to make a doctor's appointment. I need to get over it so I can get help for depression. Help?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Mar 9, 2013 -
25 answers
Short version: Outpatient facility acknowledges they owe me money but has not paid up. Their eternal answer is "The check will go out Thursday. We know it was supposed to go out last Thursday but it will go out this Thursday. Promise!" It's been over a month now, and I've called several times a week. How do I get my money back? More details inside if you want them.
[more inside]
posted by rednikki
on Feb 26, 2013 -
10 answers
My Mom drank a can of coke. She discovered after drinking there was a mass of live worms in the can. She probably ingested some of these alive. I AM VERY CONCERNED. Photo below.
[more inside]
posted by instead of three wishes
on Feb 26, 2013 -
32 answers
Sorry for the anonymous post.
I am a pediatrician finishing my residency in July. I am interested in doing the National Health Service Corp in a rural area. I have looked at dozens of job posts on the NHSC website, but none of them list their salary. Instead they only mention that it is "competitive." It is frustrating because I don't know what the industry range for "competitive" salaries is. What is a "competitive" salary for a young pediatrician working in a rural area? $60k? $100k? $150k?
Thank you so much for your help!
posted by anonymous
on Feb 8, 2013 -
5 answers
How do I start getting treatment for my mental health problems, specifically, in Austin, TX?
[more inside]
posted by hrj
on Feb 8, 2013 -
8 answers
I've never really had a regular doctor as an adult and I'm thinking I should change that. Should I? How do I go about it?
[more inside]
posted by hoyland
on Feb 6, 2013 -
22 answers
Do you love your doctor? I'm looking for a new general practitioner. In the past I have had best experience with doctors who use integrative or holistic to describe their approach -- though I recognize that those terms mean different things to different people. Bottom line is that I want someone who isn't going to throw pills at me right off the bat. Thanks!
posted by LittlePumpkin
on Jan 21, 2013 -
3 answers
Were you in a single-income doctor's family in the US during the 1990s? Help me reconstruct what lifestyle and education my siblings and I might have enjoyed if my mother hadn't been a pathologically miserly narcissist. Many, many details inside.
[more inside]
posted by stuck on an island
on Jan 19, 2013 -
88 answers
No symptoms present, no evidence of exposure. To blood test or not to test?
[more inside]
posted by emoemu
on Jan 15, 2013 -
11 answers
My new doctor and I are a horrible match. Clearly the answer is "find a different doctor", but how do I make that work? (Bonus points: recommend an LGBT-emphasis-on-the-T friendly doctor in or near Ithaca NY. Willing to drive as far as Syracuse or Binghamton if they're sufficiently awesome.)
[more inside]
posted by dorque
on Dec 18, 2012 -
16 answers
Every single time I have my blood pressure checked by a machine, it's high. If it's manually done, it is always within the optimal range (usually around 110/70). Does anyone else have this problem? How trustworthy are those machines?
[more inside]
posted by MaryDellamorte
on Dec 4, 2012 -
18 answers
I am looking for alternatives for the standard "doctor sees you for five minutes and prescribes drugs for whatever ails you."
[more inside]
posted by 7life
on Nov 28, 2012 -
29 answers
Doctor's office can't seem to call in refills correctly. These are time-sensitive meds (benzos and anti-depressants) that we shouldn't run out of. Asking for a new nurse didn't change anything. Help?
[more inside]
posted by kpetrich
on Nov 20, 2012 -
24 answers
YANMFD... I have a friend who, on Thursday, experienced sharp pains in his left side--he described the location as, "About an inch inside, directly aligned with my underarm". He felt it about 15 times over the course of the day and said it was "sharp and sudden" and caused him to wince and bend over. The next day, he woke up and there was blood in his right eye--not bloodshot, but blood, like a pool. It went away over the course of the day.
He insists these things are not related and won't go to the doctor. As a result, I'm worried. Could these things be connected and what could they be? He's 44.
[more inside]
posted by dobbs
on Nov 10, 2012 -
19 answers
Am I wrong about how primary care vs. specialists works or is my doctor's offfice badly managed?
[more inside]
posted by Jahaza
on Oct 23, 2012 -
22 answers
My "ovaries are polycystic, but this is not a significant pathological process" -what?
[more inside]
posted by jrobin276
on Oct 17, 2012 -
8 answers
The doctor I just saw is a quack. I knew he would be, but I set up an appointment anyway. I've been dealing with fatigue and chronic pain, and regular doctors haven't had an answer. So I set up an appointment with a doctor that practices "functional medicine" as a last ditch effort. How do I reconcile what this doctor told me with what I know about real medicine and the load of bullshit I was just fed?
[more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here]
on Oct 14, 2012 -
31 answers
Obese and diabetic is no way to go through life son, so I want/need/have to exercise. Problem: Most entities (exercise programs, gyms, trainers) want a doctor's note from me to prove I won't drop fucking dead while attempting to exercise. I want to get a note (one singular note) from my doctor that will allow me to participate in as many different exercise programs as possible.
What should the note say?
[more inside]
posted by Rob Rockets
on Sep 27, 2012 -
27 answers
Anyone recommend a family doctor in Vancouver/Burnaby? One that can deal with allergies would be nice. Or at least give me suggestions on how to get one, because I've never done this before.
[more inside]
posted by Hawk V
on Sep 26, 2012 -
2 answers
Can anyone give me any information or insight into how I might find my biological father?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Sep 23, 2012 -
8 answers
My doctor's office billed me up front for an IUD and told me I would be reimbursed. Today, after calling them repeatedly, I found out that they have not filed a claim for the device, and they couldn't give me a satisfactory explanation as to why. I have no idea what to do now.
[more inside]
posted by showbiz_liz
on Sep 20, 2012 -
21 answers
I'm dealing with chronic pain and fatigue; after several specialists were unable to find the cause, I was referred to a pain clinic. I had an evaluation with a psychiatrist today, and at the end I asked him about his findings. Among other things, he said there was evidence of Somatization Disorder. But I don't think that is it; I think the pain has a physical cause. But if I do have Somatization Disorder, I would think that anyway. How do I determine if that is the problem or not, and if not, how do I make sure my doctors don't dwell on it.
[more inside]
posted by [insert clever name here]
on Sep 19, 2012 -
11 answers
I'm looking for a doctor in Toronto. Does anyone have one they can recommend?
[more inside]
posted by AmandaA
on Sep 18, 2012 -
4 answers
Recommend me your dermatologist, gynecologist, and GPs in Portland, OR.
[more inside]
posted by ansate
on Sep 17, 2012 -
6 answers
How can I get a prescription for generic Propecia (finasteride) without a lot of doctor's visits?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Sep 8, 2012 -
2 answers
I've decided to actually use my medical insurance as it was intended, rather than waiting for some body part to fall off. I have my first ever physical scheduled in 2 weeks. How do I bring up health concerns with my doctor in a way that doesn't make me sound like a hypochondriac with an internet connection?
[more inside]
posted by aristan
on Sep 7, 2012 -
18 answers
Any other recourse when physician still has not faxed prior authorization form to insurance company?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Sep 6, 2012 -
11 answers
Went to the doctor for extreme fatigue, breathlessness, hair thinning, joint pain, and irritability. Blood results show high iron. How do I advocate for myself properly during my upcoming appointments?
[more inside]
posted by Eolienne
on Aug 29, 2012 -
19 answers
Female doctor recommendations for 60 yr. old woman in East Bay, CA with a host of neglected medical issues.
[more inside]
posted by thenewbrunette
on Aug 28, 2012 -
8 answers
Does it make sense for my doctor to tell me I don't need an HIV test, because I'm a heterosexual male and I only had unprotected sex with one person in the last 6 months?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Aug 25, 2012 -
33 answers
So... over the course of the day my elbow has gone
weird looking - it's red and swollen and sort of squooshy feeling. The skin feels warm to the touch and it is tender. Doctor Google tells me it's probably Bursitis. So... I should probably go get it checked out. But is it a rush to the docs tonight thing or a wait to tomorrow thing?
posted by Artw
on Aug 23, 2012 -
21 answers
¡Left Handed Typing Alert! After a week of basic tenderness/muscle pull feeling centered between my shoulderblades, I've awoken today with an incredibly acute pain that's basically taken away the use of my right (dominant) arm. Help me pre-game the upcoming doctor's appointment to try and narrow down/assuage the cause as soon as possible.
[more inside]
posted by Cold Lurkey
on Aug 22, 2012 -
12 answers
