ScottSD said:
Couldn't agree with you more.
As far as doctors go....who goes to doctors? I don't think I have been to one in 10 or 15 years.
Congratulations; I'm glad that you haven't had any major medical problems.
We (DH and I) are both basically healthy - I take no prescription drugs, and he takes 2 - I am 59, he is 62.
That said, he had cancer several years ago - 3 primary cancers (i.e. not related to each other, all different) diagnosed and treated within 9 months. He takes thyroid because he has none of his own (thyroid removed because cancerous). (Going to doctors was a good idea that year
) His borderline high BP could be handled by losing weight, but that is something we are still working on.
2 weeks ago he had a pain in his stomach - his (and my) first reaction was to wait and see (because "who goes to doctors?"). It got worse. DH has a
very high pain threshold, so if he says it hurts you can bet that it really
hurts. So, we went to the urgent care, and then for an ultrasound, and then he spent the night in the hospital after emergency hernia repair. He saw the surgeon yesterday for his post-op check (he is doing great), and was told that had he waited even just 6 more hours before seeing the doctor the bit of intestine poking through his belly muscle would have needed to be removed, and everything would have been much harder, much longer, and more dangerous (and, of course, more expensive).
So, who goes to doctors? People who need to - that is, if they are smart. Doctors are there for a reason; they are a tool to be used. Yes, many people use them to excess, and don't do for themselves when they can, and don't bother to learn how to take care of the little things - but to put out the blanket question of "who goes to doctors?" in that way only points out to me that you are still young enough to have not needed to.
Sorry for the rant. It just bothers me that doctors are painted with such a broad brush - they are not evil people out to steal your money; they are professionals doing their job.
Now, Big Pharma is another matter - they
are evil entities out to steal your money
