Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with doctor

Left biceps hurts on weightlifting noob. Now what?

nomadicink — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:08:08 -0800

Recently started lifting weights a few months ago. Now arm hurts, wtf? In the bid to get in shape, got a trainer, worked with him, did a lot of crossfit stuff, some weightlifting lessons. Have since left "class" and am lifting on my own for about 6 months.

Over the past few weeks I've noticed a dull ache in my left upper arm, in my biceps I think. It's not a fierce or sharp pain, just a dull ache that feels worse if I lift. I tried shifting down to a lower weights, say going from 195 on a seated press to 130 and that helps a lot but the ache is still there.

What should I do? Should I totally stop lifting with my left arm? If so, can I still do weights with my right? Do I visit a doctor? Like I said it's not sharp pain at all, mostly unnoticed as I go through a normal day, so it seems odd to visit a doctor. Is there some time frame about long I should lay off?

Mostly, I'm really kinda freaking out over starting to develop nice definition and form and losing that. Is there anything I can do to prevent that, while attending to the pain/ache?

Something more descriptive than "Oww."

citywolf — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:04:44 -0800

How can I improve my description of my back pain to best inform my doctor? Sometimes, when I stretch a certain way, a particular part of my back hurts somethin' awful. YANMD; I plan to ask about this at my next physical.

What I am looking for is: Given that I can't always replicate this on command (why would I want to?), what questions can I ask myself that will help me inform my doctor and thereby help him narrow down the list of possible causes (and thereby hopefully reduce the number of expensive tests necessary to diagnose me)? Is there a lexicon for back pain?

Paging Dr. Landlord...

mrsshotglass — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:47:49 -0800

Am I toeing a weird ethical line by considering using my internist landlord as my primary care physician? I have a friendly relationship with my landlord. He and his wife run a medical and dental practice out of the first floor of the building. They are kind enough to rent the apartment upstairs to my family, on a month to month basis. It's a fairly casual rental agreement, I signed a piece of paper, they signed a piece of paper; I pay rent on time and they fix stuff when I ask them to. We've had no issues save for an overly whiny puppy scaring the patients and that was a one time occurrence. I plan to continue to rent from them for the foreseeable future until the real estate fairy bestows riches upon me.

I'd like to take advantage of the location and utilize their services as medical professionals on a non-emergency basis. I figure this is as close to a house call as I'm going to get in this day and age. On top of the convenient locale, I'd also like to sign on with their office because they are kind folks and I feel like I can talk openly with them about my health and well being.

Mr. Shotglass on the other hand is vehemently opposed to the idea and prefers to keep the landlord/lessee and doctor/patient relationships separate. He has past experience with not mixing medicine/the rest of his life as his dad is also Dr. Shotglass MD.

So MeFites, YANML and YA(probably)NMD. Am I making a mistake by letting my landlord have knowledge of my medical goings on? FWIW, I currently do not have a PCP and I have no preexisting major health issues.

Thanks for the input.

How do I find a good doctor?

Jsn7821 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:53:59 -0800

How do I find a good doctor to look at my wrist? My right wrist has been undergoing various minor traumas over the last few months. Basically a small puncture wound became a problem when I landed on my wrist playing frisbee and pulled something. A few weeks went by and it seemed to be healing, but then I re-injured it working in my yard. It's been about 2 months since the frisbee incident, and the actual area of interest has moved a little, getting closer to my wrist, ceased to make progress, and has become a small puffy area, red and bruised, about an inch in length. Maybe there is some sort of infection going on, I am not sure.

I can do just about everything I need to with my wrist, which is why I haven't sought out medical attention yet, but I have somewhat limited range of motion, and something like rock-climbing is completely out of the question.

Anyway: I just moved from WA state to Hawaii and don't know of any good doctors out here, and it looks like anyone near by isn't covered directly by my health insurance. I still have 60% coverage for non-covered doctors though, but I want to make sure I visit someone worthwhile if I am going to be spending a lot out of my pocket. I think what I want is an "osteopathic surgeon", but I am not sure.

I really want my wrist to heal. How do I find a good doctor?

Paging Dr. House

ohyouknow — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:13:06 -0800

Help me find a Dr. House in (or near) Los Angeles for my father. For over a year now my father has been having difficulty breathing (he's never been a smoker). I think his lungs are only processing about 50% of the oxygen he inhales with each breath he takes. I won't go into all of the symptoms and details because I know you aren't his doctor, but he's been seeing pulmonary specialists for a full year and no one can figure out what's going on. They've ruled out a lot of things, but there is no diagnosis yet. The only real clue they have is that steroids have been the only thing that helped him completely--but as soon as he stops taking them he's back at square one.

Am I crazy naive to think there might be a corollary to Dr. Gregory House out there in the real world? I've tried running Google searches to no avail... Thanks Mefites!

Possible hormone deficiency?

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:45:59 -0800

I think I may have a hormone deficiency. I plan to see a doctor. What should I expect? I (male, late twenties) have recently started to suspect I have a hormone deficiency. This is very unscientific, based on internet diagnosis, but the symptoms seem to fit: depression, fatigue, low sex drive, trouble building muscle/burning fat even when I work out regularly. I'm thinking of going to a doctor about it, but I don't know what to prepare for.

For one, I'm currently unemployed and without health insurance. There's a good chance that will be rectified within a week or two, but no guarantees so I'm anxious about anything that might lead to expensive tests or treatments or be considered a pre-existing condition.

As for the clinical stuff, I don't want to come off as a hypochondriac, or worse yet that I might be trying to finagle some legal steroids (thinking about Bigger, Stronger, Faster* here). What would be a good way to broach this issue with a doctor? Also, is this something I would just bring up with a GP or should I be making an appointment with a specialist?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Look into my...ear

bilabial — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:51:38 -0800

YANMD filter. I have had an earache for...a long time. I need a super low cost ENT type visit in the miami/fort lauderdale area. I've been taking ibuprofen and benadryl to faciltate sleeping at night. This was fine with me until it stopped working.

I'm under employed and uninsured (working 11-15 hours/week, had a hopeful job interview today). Minute Clinic at cvs (a drugstore chain here in Florida) is the cheapest option I can find, but at $62 for the visit, that's just not affordable. I do not have a credit card. I'm not in need of emergency room care, so please don't suggest I go there. I'm not currently enrolled in college classes, so utilizing campus health is not possible.

My google fu is failing me and at the moment my ear hurts so badly that chewing is uncomfortable. I can't put this off until I get health insurance or find a winning lotto ticket in the gutter.

I have a broward county bus pass and a bike. I could use the Miami buses. I might be able to get a ride someplace from a friend. So, transportation is a challenge, but less of a barrier than money.

Is there a clinic with a sliding scale? Does anyone have a doctor friend in Miami who could look into my ear and say, 'yup that's infected.' (I've had a lifetime of ear infections. I'm 70% certain that's what it is. Of course, I'm not a doc, and even if I were, I'm not physically able to look into my ear. So my guess at what the problem is doesn't amount to much. What I know is, it hurts and before I consider drinking myself to sleep, I need to see a doctor.)

i'm pretty sure she already owns gray's anatomy.

kidsleepy — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:25:46 -0800

What's a good book for a med student? I'm looking for gift ideas for a friend who is halfway through medical school. I'm giving her sister, who is a student at FIT, a copy of the Sartorialist. What's something similar (coffee table book-esque), but medicine or health related?

Dr. Awesome

abirae — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:05:49 -0800

Do you know an amazing primary care physician in NYC? What makes them amazing? Do you think they'd be interested in mentoring a student? Greetings MeFites!

I'm hoping you could let me know about the particularly great primary care physicians you have known and loved in NYC. Maybe it's your physician. Maybe you have a friend or colleague who you respect and admire. Maybe they would like to mentor an eager student....

I'm a first year medical student seeking a primary care mentor to shadow in the spring, and I'm hoping you can help me find some doctors who may be interested. But even if you don't know someone who would be interested in mentoring a student, I'd like to know what makes a doctor outstanding for you.

For me, a great doctor is compassionate and goes the extra mile for their patients. I can tell you that one of my favorite physicians always took the time to explain how she came to a diagnosis, why she chose a particular drug, and when she saw that I was curious about my condition, gave me primary literature related to my illness. That was a really nice touch.

In terms of mentors, I would like to find someone compassionate who cares for interesting and diverse patients. Originally I wrote out a list of qualities I'd like to see, but on reflection I'm much more interested in hearing what makes a doctor great for you.

Also, someone on MeFi mentioned a "Rock Doc" in the East Village who works on a sliding scale with a great many uninsured artists and musicians who sounded like a mench, but I'm having trouble finding the post right now.

And if you recently heard someone say "Goodness! If only I had an opportunity to pass on my knowledge and wisdom, compassion for patients and general awesomeness to a medical student!" well then you know who to call.

Dr. Frwagon?

frwagon — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:54:36 -0800

Late twenties, and want to act on my lifelong dream of going to med school and becoming a doctor... Is this a good idea? So, I'm 27, and in a weird state of transition for me... I've wanted to be a doctor since high school, but bad study habits and the high cost of med school have scared me off... until now.

I'd need to go back and get the pre-med degree, then med school, and then residency, and I'm entirely ok with committing the next 10-12 years of my life to this ... but will it be worth it? Can a 37-year old new doctor succeed, or am I too late to follow this particular dream?

As said above, I stayed away due to bad study habits, but those have been well and truly corrected.. it's kind of what I've been spending the past ten years doing, on the side.

I'm confident that I can handle the coursework, as well as the stress, and I'm willing to be poor and dedicate my next 12 years to this, but the question still lingers in the back of my mind:

Should I pursue this course of action, or just let that dream go?

Ethics of politcal advocacy by one's doctor.

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:52:47 -0800

Question about the ethics of mixing physician care and politcal advocacy. This evening my wife received an email from her psychiatrist urging her to contact our Cong. Rep. to support the recently offered Pitts-Stupak amendment to the current health care reform bill under debate in the U.S. House of Rep. My wife is quite upset and views this as a violation of trust and their professional relationahip by the doctor.

Specific policy differences aside, is it considered acceptable for physicians to advocate politically amongst their patients, particularly if the matter under consideration is not relevant to that care?

Doctor, Doctor, allow me to give you the news...

French Fry — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:53:15 -0800

I need help talking to doctors. I never know what to say and don't seem to give the right information. I would like help knowing what kinds of things I should remember to say and how I should say them. I have, over the course of my life, had many doctors and similar problems always come up.

1) I'll have a visit with a doctor and they'll discover a problem, and ask me how long it's been going on. I'll tell them that it is as long as I've been seeing them. That will of course lead to incredulous looks and questions of why I have "never brought it up before" and I honestly have no idea.

2) I'll get sick and go see the doctor. I'll get a diagnosis and prescription. Then when I don't get better I'll go back to the doctor and often it turns out that something I'll casually mention the second (or fifth) visit will instantly cue the doctor in on what's wrong and bang! problem solved.

The first problem has been helped, but not solved, by making lists of things to ask my doctor about. Otherwise I will automatically say "I'm fine"
The second problem is more of a mystery. Patients: what things do you always tell your doctor about if they come up? Doctors: what sort of things do you wish your patients kept an eye on?

What are the most useful iPhone apps for a newly qualified doctor?

ianK — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:49:50 -0800

What are the most useful iPhone apps for a newly qualified doctor? I will be starting my housemanship/internship next week and would like to have some easy to reach reference material to carry around on ward rounds, on calls etc.
I would also appreciate non-medically related app suggestions that people find useful for work.
Thanks in advance!

Why so many appointments for an ouchy arm?

Oriole Adams — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:35:41 -0800

Is our new doctor ripping us off? Long story follows... Mr. Adams and I both suffer from autoimmune disorders, and for the past 15 years our rheumatologist (we both saw the same rheumy, always at back-to-back appointments) has also acted as our primary care physician. That is, if (for example), during an appointment with Dr R, I'd mention that I'd been having pain along my forearm and numbness in my fingers, she run a few diagnostic tests right then and there and say "It could be either carparl-tunnel syndrome or epicondylitis or both; let's run a few more tests." And if blood work or X-rays were necessary, she'd order them on the spot. I'd have the various tests done, and then she would phone me a week later with the results and further instructions.

Sadly, we received notice last week that Dr. R is moving out of state. Shortly before she left Dr. R had ordered a sleep study for Mr. Adams, which he had done, and as a result was referred to a neurologist, Dr. C. We went to see Dr. C yesterday for the results of the sleep study (which Dr. R had reviewed even though she had already left her practice - she was nice enough to call and translate the sleep report - how many times Mr. Adams had stopped breathing, and said that Dr. C would most likely recommend a CPap machine). In addition to reviewing the sleep study results, Dr. C also asked Mr. Adams about his overall health, things like that. He told her that just recently he'd been bothered with severe pain in his right hand/lower arm, with occasional weakness. (To my mind, his symptoms sounded just like my own tendonitis problem, but IANAD. We both work from home as writers and use the computer and mouse constantly, so it makes sense.) Anyway, she made note of his arm/hand pain and then tested his reflexes with her hammer. She said that his one leg jutted out more than normal when she hit the knee reflex, and that that could be a symptom of nerve compression in the spine. Dr. C then wrote the prescription for a CPap machine, but also scheduled Mr. Adams for two separate appointments in the upcoming weeks - one look into his arm/hand pain, and one to explore the excessive leg reflex.

Why is it necessary to have two separate appointments? My cynical mind is saying "she gets to charge for two office visits," but maybe I'm wrong. I'm thinking that she could easily look at both problems in one visit. Heck, she could've probably looked at the arm problem while we were there yesterday and ordered X-rays or whatever other tests she thought necessary. And as for the possible compressed nerve thing - Mr. Adams hasn't had any apparent spinal symptoms at all; is there any point in running tests just because one leg jumped more during the reflex test? To my uneducated mind, a "compressed nerve" (the possibility she stated) seems like it would manifest symptoms of some sort - pain, numbness, something tangible. You know, the ol' "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" parable? Dr. R never expressed any concern over Mr. Adams' reflexes, but I guess the argument could be made that she's not a neurologist.

My main concern is to remedy Mr. Adams' hand/arm pain, which would mean keeping the first appointment, but I'm tempted to cancel the second appointment (the spinal compression) one just because I think it's unecessary. What does the Hive Mind think? Does this sound like a doctor racking up fees, or is there sound reasoning behind treating a non-complaint?

How do I talk to doctors?

bananaskin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:47:08 -0800

How do I talk to doctors in a professional manner? I work in nursing homes as a speech-language pathologist. This is a professional job which includes a master's degree and 1 year internship. I often have to talk with doctors in order to discuss a patient's progress, especially in the area of swallowing.

I often feel extremely nervous when talking to the doctors. This is partially because they act somewhat short, impatient. Sometimes, it seems that the doctors act downright arrogant and rude, accusatory without allowing for me to talk. I am also worried that I will look foolish, so this increases my nervousness. I often get tongue-tied and choose the wrong words because of my nervousness. (Yes, strange coming from a speech-language pathologist?!?! Hey, I can see my problem, it doesn't mean I can fix it! LOL).

Has anyone else been in this position? How do you handle talking with doctors in a way which allows them to continue to feel "in charge" and doesn't make it sound like you are talking down to them, although you may know more about a particular aspect than they do....and allows them to consider your valuable information?

Maybe I just need to hear stories from others who experience this as well. thank you......

If I'm so healthy, why do I feel like crap?

motsque — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:52:36 -0800

I'm thirsty, fainting, dizzy, and cold. Do you know why this might be? YAND, but have you been here? I'm 26, fairly healthy with some one controlled medical condition. Since Saturday, I've been thirsty. SO, SO thirsty. I drink and drink, and my mouth is dry again before the water hits my belly. My mouth tastes dry and disgusting, even after brushing.

This morning during an exam I started blacking out -- unusual because I was sitting down. Ears ringing, vision blurry, speech slurred. I laid around in a staff lounge until I started to feel better (about an hour and a half).

Went to the doctor --- it's not diabetes. No virus, no infection. My throat even looks normal despite a bit of a cough and a scratchy feeling. They checked my blood for glucose levels (I think that's what it was -- it was 90 and they said that was normal), and they checked my urine for infections and sugar or something. Everything is FINE.

YANAD, so you can't tell me why it is I feel like total crap despite normal tests. But maybe you can answer if you've ever had any similar symptoms, what worked out for you, and most importantly, how to stop dying of thirst.

I hate getting on the scale.

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:43:30 -0800

I've have boycotted getting on scales for a while now. However, I hate going to the doctor because I hate getting on a scale. This started when I was a child (I'm female) and has gotten worse throughout the years. For the past couple years, I've boycotted seeing the doctor, but I can't do that forever. What should I do? I'm a pretty healthy, female, late twenties. No major health concerns, but I do need to see a doctor again. But nonetheless, I am literally phobic of getting a scale. More inside. I have suffered from eating disorders/body dysmorphic stuff in the past. Right now I'm seeing a therapist and working on it. I haven't been on a scale in a couple years. It's fine with me, I have always hated weighing myself because although I don't look overweight, I've always been at the upper range of my weight range because I have bigger bones and a lot of muscle mass. However, just knowing that I've put on any weight has left me completely scared to see a doctor because I do not want to get on a scale, period. I'm OK with the way I look most of the time, and I've been exercising regularly, and just trying to be more accepting of my body. But truly, I can not bring myself to see a doctor for a physical or a couple other things I need check on because fear of getting on a scale. What should I do? Can I tell a doctor I do not want to get on a scale? Should I tell the nurse? I haven't had a regular doctor as an adult, so it's not like I have a doctor I really trust or feel comfortable talking to right off the bat about this. I've just gone to community clinics, planned parenthood, school doctors in my 20s. I feel like as long as I don't weigh myself, I'm dealing OK with this, but because of childhood stuff, and the way I was made to get on scales a lot (crazy mother), it's just a bad idea for me right now. Has anyone ever gone to a doctor and requested this? I haven't seen a doctor for about 2 years. My weight has fluctuated since then, although I know from feedback I'm more or less at a healthy weight right now, but still.... it's really causing anxiety.

"You should get that looked at" -- yea or nay?

greatgefilte — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:13:19 -0800

How far does -- or should -- a medical professional's ethical responsibility go when it comes to the health and well-being of strangers (i.e. people one might see on the street, or in line at the supermarket)? As a purely theoretical example, let's say I'm paying for my groceries and I notice that the cashier behind the till has some pretty characteristic signs of a disease that may be potentially serious, but that they may not realize they have. (For argument's sake, let's say Cushing's syndrome or melanoma.) Should I assume it's (a) none of my business, (b) something that is my business, but perhaps is not a good idea to address because I could be wrong and cause unnecessary anxiety, or they could already be seeing their doctor about it, (c) something I should definitely mention, or (d) something else?

If it's not venturing too much into the realm of ChatFilter, how would you feel if someone came up to you and said, "Excuse me, I'm a doctor/nurse/dentist, and I think you should get [x] looked at."?

How does one go about receiving an ADD diagnosis and medical treatment these days?

Rendus — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:12:48 -0800

I'm a 28 year old male in Las Vegas, Nevada. When I was in my late pre-teens, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, and went through various treatments (Ritalin, Adderall, then eventually easing off medications entirely). Now, due to a promising promotion and other life changes, I need to be able to focus beyond what my self-regulation allows me. What can an adult expect to go through to convince a doctor that they have ADD, and to convince them to treat it medically? Initially, I was diagnosed and treated by a Neurologist, through a referral from our family doctor. Later, I was treated by a Psychiatrist (for ADD as well as manic depression and obsessive/compulsive disorder). I haven't been treated medically for ADD since my mid-teens, so I don't know quite where to start.

As an added bonus, I'm currently uninsured and do not have a regular doctor. If I were insured, I'd just start at a general practice doctor and work my way up the chain from there. I'm hoping there are people here with experience regarding if a general practitioner will be willing to diagnose and medically treat ADD, or if it's still mostly in the realm of (more expensive) specialists.

What can one expect, going to a doctor with this sort of treatment request? At least when I was a kid, there was a great deal of concern regarding abuse of these medications, and they are controlled substances. I don't have medical records for my treatment as a child, and I'm not sure they'd satisfy any concerns a doctor may have anyway.

Any hints as to what uninsured pricing for these medications might be would be appreciated, but of less concern to me than going to the right person the first time, and getting things rolling.

(Please note: I am aware of, and respect the idea of non-prescription treatments for ADD. Unfortunately, they rarely work for me, and not to the degree I've experienced lately through other means. I'm at the point where I'm seeking professional medical treatment for the disorder.)

Can I complain about a doctor online?

arcticwoman — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:45:12 -0800

I had an absolutely terrible incident with a homophobic doctor. I have taken all the steps to report him to the local College of Physicians and Surgeons, and I hope he gets disciplined, but that doesn't address the systemic problem of homophobia in family physicians in my area (and it doesn't help me find a less homophobic doctor to switch to). I would like to blog about the incident, contact gay and lesbian associations, etc, but I am worried about being sued for libel/slander/I don't know. Will I get in trouble if I write publicly about this incident? Can I use the Dr's name? I'm in Alberta, Canada.

What can my health insurance company do with this information?

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:04:28 -0800

I want to consult a doctor about some possible health problems, but I don't want my insurance company to know about it. What do I do? For the last three months I have been insured through my very small employer's expensive plan with United Healthcare. Before joining my employer's plan I carried about seven months of short-term insurance, and previous to that I was uninsured.

In a few months I will be able to switch my health insurance to Blue Cross Blue Shield under my partner's very large employer's affordable and comprehensive group coverage. Meanwhile, United Healthcare is vigilantly documenting my medical history.

I'm suffering stomach problems, for which I've recently seen a doctor under my current plan. Because I was afraid of alerting United Healthcare to possible pre-existing conditions, I did not tell the doctor that a) I have a family history of kidney disease and b) I was told last year that I might want a screening for pre-diabetes.

It is time for my follow-up appointment, and the treatment my doctor prescribed has not done much good. In the interest of solving my stomach problem, I would like to be honest with her about my possible medical problems, but I don't want United Healthcare to have any reason to deny my claims, and I also don't want to have any problems establishing coverage with Blue Cross Blue Shield in a few months.

Should I be worried about what United Healthcare might do with this information? To clarify: I don't think either kidney disease or diabetes is an imminent health danger. However, they could be relevant to my stomach problem; I can suffer through until it's time to switch insurers, if necessary, but I'd really like to get started solving this.

How do I get up to speed with e/m coding?

EmptyK — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:33:12 -0800

e/m coding: who knows about it and where can I find more information? A question from Dr. Mrs. Emptyk: A bit of a physician-centric question. Does anyone know any good, free resources to learn more about e/m coding? I just started my practice and want to make sure I'm coding appropriately; whenever I try to look this up on the internet, I've only encountered a lot of ads that request money to take a course on this. I would love to know a simple way to know who should be coded as an established level 4 exam vs. a level 3. Thanks for any help/insight.

MD in Washington that specializes in sleep problems

queseyo — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:54:16 -0800

Recommendations for an MD who can help with long-term sleep problems, (SE) WA state I'm asking for my mom, who has had serious sleep problems (insomnia, inability to sleep through the night) for about a decade now. She has been to a sleep clinic, and does not have sleep apnea; however, they apparently were not terribly helpful beyond that diagnosis. She is on several medications that I would imagine are contributing in some way to the issue, but none of the doctors she has seen have been able to find a solution. I don't know specifically what she has/ hasn't tried, but I do get the sense that she needs someone who would be able to tackle the issue from various angles, ie, what medications is she on, and how are they impacting the problem; what is her lifestyle like, etc.

Her sleep has been getting worse, and she is wearing herself down. She lives in the Tri-City area but can travel elsewhere (Seattle or Portland), if need be. Does anyone know of any doctors who specialize in sleep disorders?

How can I see a doctor on Sunday?

gavtaylor — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 11:27:04 -0800

I'm really quite sick, but my doctors office is closed on Sunday (today). How can I see a doctor today? I have 'Health Net' insurance.

I have a really sore and stiff neck, a slight headache, and my tonsils and throat feel swollen. It is painful to swallow, and I've got some major mucous going on.

What Should I Tell The Doctor?

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:41:36 -0800

Doctor-Filter: I have an appointment scheduled to see a doctor this afternoon about some... sensitive issues. I'm wondering how free I should be with the information I give them, and whether or not certain factors might discourage them from giving me the treatment I feel like I need. To cut a long story short, I'm under a lot of stress and anxiety of late, and I have been for a while. I've spent many a sleepless night in various states of freak-out, and many restless days gnawing my own nerves ragged. Now, I know the standard reply is "get thee to a therapist"- which is good advice, and I have an appointment booked to see a psychologist next week... I'll see how I go with that, and take it from there- I feel like it could be beneficial... but meanwhile, I need help...

Here's the sensitive bit. I use heroin.. I guess it's a misguided attempt at self-medication. I have done off and on (/often on) for the last few years- not to the point of physical dependency (though on my days off I definitely go into minor withdrawal).. but I consider myself an addict. It's getting to the point where I'm ready to stop, and move on with my life. But I need help to do that.

Of course, when I go see the psychologist next week I'll be straightforward and upfront- no good to obfuscate the facts of the matter, of course! But when I see the doctor today, what I really want is something to help me get through the next couple of weeks without using- I want something for the anxiety, and something to help me sleep. I know that medication isn't an ultimate solution to these problems of mine- it goes to deep and runs too long- but I feel that pharmaceutical assistance would go a long way towards surviving the next few weeks.

I guess my question comes down to this: should I be open about my habit with the doctor when I go to see him (this will be the first time I've attended this particular doctor's surgery)? Or should I just focus on the general stress, anxiety and insomnia that I'm suffering at the moment? Telling a doctor that you (ab)use hard drugs probably wouldn't do me any favours when what I'm ultimately asking for is... psychotropic drugs. What do you think? What are the chances of them prescribing me anything anyway, one way or the other.

I really need help- and at last I'm reaching out for it. But I just don't know what to expect, or whether or not they'll even be willing to help me in the first place, considering as I'm one of "them"- a miscreant who has made a few wrong turns along the way, and now finds himself painted into a corner.

Any advice is much appreciated- thanks guys.

Oh, and I'm in Australia, if that makes any difference.