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Originally Posted by cschin4
My way of dealing with this - Don't run to the doctor for every ache, pain, symptom, etc. Most things are self-limiting.
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This is so true. I see it every single day in my office.
A typical visit goes something like this:
Dr: What brings you in today?
Patient: I have a terrible cold that I just can't get rid of.
D: How long have you been sick?
P: I woke up with it this morning.
D: What have you taken for it?
P: Nothing.
I am constantly baffled by people who come to the doctor for the most minor of problems without ever attempting to take care of them on their own. If I do some heavy work and my back gets sore, I take some Advil. If I have cold symptoms, I'll pick up some NyQuil. Unless symptoms are persistent or severe, it would never even cross my mind to go to the doctor. And I was like that long before I was a doctor myself so I can't attribute it to that.
Of course, the flip side is that patients that won't come in until they are half dead. That isn't a good plan either.