Nah, the older men I know either won't go to a doctor because they didn't need them when they were younger, are scared of them, can man up through whatever pain they have, whatever. These are folks with Medicare, so at least access to doctors. These are all married men with kids. They don't go until they're literally forced to and by then, it's already too late and they just die.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago

I won’t go to a doctor because my experience with doctors is they tell me I’m imagining it, refuse to order any tests, then send me a bill for hundreds of dollars for the privilege of hearing them gaslight me about my symptoms.

I won’t open up emotionally to people for similar reasons: experience of it going wrong.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sounds all too familiar. I blame the pain pendulum swinging too far the other way. Doctors do a he'll of a lot more then manage pain... but to a patient pain is usually the number one reason they are in front of the doctor. When the doctor will not even write the smallest script to alleviate their pain, or even worse accuses them of being a drug seeker either directly or with their indirect language (that we can all read through) men tend to give up. If you can't even help me with the easiest part, or are going to become adversarial about it then what's the point of going to the doctor? Obviously that question is rhetorical...

They really need to loosen their grip on low level pain meds and really start diverting people into pain management programs when necessary. This opioid backlash has only hurt the general public. Pain doesn't just disappear if you don't treat it, this just leads more people into buying diverted scripts, becoming their own doctor and then eventually using fentanyl pills or just "heroin".

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't go to the doctor because even with insurance it's too expensive. The whole billing system is complicated as fuck and makes it impossible to predict how much an appointment will cost. Then on top of that if you need more tests or specialists that's a huge pain in the ass. My mom got to the point that managing my grandparents healthcare shit was basically a full time job. Nooo thanks I'll just off myself if I get to that point.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That's a whole nother layer, and is also why I have a decade gap in my medical history. Then the doctors and nurse practitioners have the gall to gasp that I haven't seen a doctor regularly in 10 years...

One protip is if you don't own anything, you can just let those bills go to the void of collections. Collections will run a hard game at first, just trying to recoup the 2% it paid for the debt. But after awhile they give up... can't draw blood from a stone.

[–] Shadywack 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'd rather die than ever see the medical bill.