People With Ailments Reveal Why They Still Haven't Visited A Doctor

Maybe Give It A Name?

I've had a bump on the side of my neck for months. Feels like a lymph node and is in a spot that one should be, but still it shouldn't be a noticeable bump.

It's not huge, just noticeable when I feel around there.

But I've got no insurance and make $12 an hour, so f-ck me I guess.

Paragraph_Appraiser

It's Such An Efficient System

Because the soonest I could get an appointment is not until the 3rd week of May.

So, I'm waiting.

bored-now

The Beating Of A Heart

Because I can't find a doctor that's accepting new patients.

My chest pains just aren't going away.

MediocreBunch

Keep That Reality Nonsense As Far Away From Me As Possible

i don't want to admit something is wrong, i want to ignore it for as long as i can because when it is acknowledged it feels more real?

i don't know how to explain it but i guess the reality sets in or something and things go down hill from there.

Reddit_why

When The Problem Is The Cause Of The Problem

Severe social anxiety.

I don't-talk-to-anyone-but-immediate-family-in-over-a-decade social anxiety.

HikageShinkansen

Yep...Any. Time. Now...

MRI is expensive and I'm sure the random pain in ribs that has been bothering me for 2 years will go away anytime now.

Brokenbluebelt

You Know Your Own Body

Because I have been trying to get my doctors to believe me and take me seriously for years and they won't listen. They keep treating one symptom instead of looking at the whole picture.

polkadotprincess2317

Can't Run Forever

I'm afraid a doctor will not listen to me when I say that it really interferes with my life when, two days before having a period, I become suicidal, unable to be around family and friends, have no hope for the future, and actively struggle with not self-harming.

Last time I tried talking to a female OBGYN and she cut me off with a, "Yeah, you can just avoid your period forever" despite me saying that my insurance won't let me get a new pack of birth control pills until the entire pack is used (including the placebos)...

mori_parade

So, Age Is The Issue?

A lump in my testicle, reduced lung function from years of smoking, random chest pains either from the smoking or drinking to excess at least once a week. I think I'm gonna get the lump checked out after gcses with a friend who has a 50/50 chance of getting ovarian cancer.

Did i mention I'm 15?

an_eclectic_lemon

If I'm Not Dying, I'm Fine

Maybe it's normal. It's probably normal.

Also this other problem would probably be a plastic surgeon's job so let's just hide it in shame I ain't paying for sh-t if it's not gonna kill me.

icedteaaddict666

New Causes To New Diseases

A general distrust for doctors' abilities. About 6 years ago I kept having almost daily headaches; I now know these were caused by too much sugar intake (I drank energy drinks daily at the time). A year worth of tests and going to the doctors office and nobody with a medical degree could figure it out and they just kept sending me home 'cause there was nothing wrong with me'. DAILY HEADACHES IN A 14 YEAR OLD IS NOT NORMAL. My mom had to try some alternatives after several months of no answers and eventually solved it. And my mom is in no way a medical expert.

I have good reason to believe I have Graves' disease but I don't go to the doctor because of the above; I just don't think I'm gonna go home with an answer, even if I spoon-feed it to them (kinda worried I'm gonna be told I'm being a hypochondriac, which also happened multiple times 6 years ago). So now I just try to tell myself all the symptoms I have have other causes.

stroopwafel-mp4

Darn, Again!? Really!?

Because I can't remember to call and schedule an apointment.

Thanks for reminding me that I forgot it today, yet again.

BriefInteraction9

Was It Worth It?

Some of my guts started popping out of my stomach like 6 years ago. No big deal, just a hernia, just push it back in. If I had to sneeze I'd hold a fist against it to keep all my bits in place.

About the same time I developed a growth on my back. It didn't hurt so it was out of sight, out of mind.

Years pass. Girlfriend is freaked out by both of these things. "You have insurance, go get it checked out." "Nah, it's fine."

Out to eat with my parents and my guts keep popping out so I keep pushing it in, except it makes a pretty loud gurgle and my mom hears and starts crying when I tell her what's up. Makes me go to the doctor.

Doctor is worried about the growth. Really worried. Wants to put me under the scalpel and cut it all out. Okay, sure, that's cool. He removes half my back. Charges me 8k, insurance pays for 4k. Great big scar on my back from staples. Turns out it was benign.

Three weeks later under the knfe again for the hernia. I've met the deductible on my insurance so I only have to pay 2k this time. The next week at the follow-up exam the doctor tells me it really wasn't as bad as it looked and didn't even really need a mesh. "It would have probably been several years before it became a real issue, but it's better you got it taken care of."

But was it? Probably. My torso's all staple scars and I still owe like 8k after all the anesthesia, hospital, meds, and follow-up exams.

But the good news is it got my mom off my back.

Psychobilly_Mariachi

Not Everyone Can Fix Everything

I've been to docs for 15y with the condition that's really bothering me, and there's no fix, it seems.

So I've stopped going. At some point you realize docs can't fix everything

It's All Real

To avoid the thousands of dollars in tests to have the doc not know what it is and to assume I'm just making it up.

piberoni_pizza

Time =/= Money

Last time I went for something small I got charged $400 dollars to have someone spend 5 minutes with me, have me go do a few tests and then tell me it's not bad enough for them to do anything.

lordnoak

Nothing Like Being Totally Right

I live in the United States.

We don't go to doctors. We just accept being sick.

TonyPeanuts23