Gross medical question: doctor or no doctor?

Quoth

First, history: I have always been a really healthy person, my grandfather is a doctor and my grandmother is a nurse, and we're the kind of family that prefers walking it off to taking medications. Most of my visits to a medical professional involved sprained ankles or mandatory vaccinations.

So recently, I started to get sick with some frequency, and my boss encouraged me to see a doctor. One thing after another kept happening, which culminated in the doctor basically accusing me of being a depressed hypochondriac because I was complaining of excessive fatigue. It turned out to be a reaction to my allergy medication, and once I stopped taking it I was fine, although then the allergies kicked back in, etc.

The problem is that I have this huge zit-like thing on my back. WebMD says it's a boil or an abcess (same thing, I guess?) and seems to indicate that if I am careful about it, it could clear up on its own within a week or so.

However, there are also some symptoms that mean I should see a doctor, and I have some of them. These include:


The boil is on your face, near your spine, or near your anus.
A boil is getting larger.
You are in a lot of pain. (I'm not sure what constitutes "a lot" but I can say that ibuprofen doesn't help)
The area around the boil is red or has red streaks leading from it.


My dad told me I have a staph infection and I'm going to die unless I see a doctor, but my dad is by no means an expert. After the whole shit with my doctor thinking I'm nuts, I'm uneasy about going to see him and having him basically tell me to suck it up and go home. I just had to see him for an infected lip last month, and he was kind of short with me and it felt like he sent me home with some antibiotics just to placate me. And of course, now I can't help but wonder if I AM a hypochondriac and I'm just in denial. Or if I'm making a big deal out of nothing.

Long story short, should I go to the doctor or should I tough it out?

Sikarian

If your doctor thinks your insane, find another doctor.


You know, one who cares about patients. This thread is worthless without pics?

But honestly, if it was me, I'd chill and not do anything about it. If you're worried though, look up a different doctor in your healthcare plan's book of allowable doctors

Or just any random doctor if you do not have such a book. Heck, go to a free clinic...get a few opinions on it.

mastman

if you have to ask to see a doctor, you should see a doctor. They can in fact conjure up cures and/or treatments. Sounds like you have medical insurance, so I don't know why you wouldn't want to go.

oh, and go to a new doctor

Thanatos

Find a new doctor. If it looks like it could be a staph infection, you should have it looked at.

I mean, really, if the guy makes you feel like shit, how are you ever going to talk about him about a lump in your testicles or something?

Crashtard

This is how I've always felt about going to a doctor. If something happens and I'm unsure whether or not I should go then I go. If it's bad enough that it makes you uneasy then you should probably see the doctor again. Just go to one that cares.

Grid System

Thanatos wrote: »

I mean, really, if the guy makes you feel like shit, how are you ever going to talk about him about a lump in your testicles or something?

I don't think that particular problem will be one the OP has to deal with personally.

But yeah, find a new doctor. Are there walk-in clinics you can go to?

Quoth

I don't think there are walk-in clinics round these parts, but I am currently trying to track down a new doctor that can see me on short notice. When I had my lip infection, I tried to find another doctor but all of the recommended ones were booked for a month. So now I'm soliciting more recommendations.

And yeah, no lumps in my testicles, what with my having a vag. And I have a special nice doctor for that, thankfully.

VThornheart

Indeed. Both get a new doctor and see a doctor. There's no sense NOT seeing one. I mean, that's what they're there for. At least, if they're not douchebags like your current doctor.

Daenris

Even if you can't get a new doctor on short notice, you should probably go see your doctor about this. Even if he/she was an ass before, this is a case of concrete visible symptoms to diagnose. It would be better to see an asshole doctor now versus seeing a new and nicer doctor in a month or so.

TSR

Sounds like a Staph infection to me. My younger brother gets them from time to time.

See a doctor ASAP. They will lance and drain the boil and put you on antibiotics, which is better than the alternative (if it is in fact Staph): Developing worse symptoms and going to the hospital. Those boils can also leave gnarly scars - extra incentive to get it taken care of fast.

Quoth

Thanks guys, I think now I'm pretty set on seeing any doctor, even if it is the douchebag. The pain in my back is only getting worse, to the point that things like breathing and moving are uncomfortable. That's probably not okay.

So yeah, gonna change the title and hopefully get this locked. Thanks again!

Edit: Okay, can't figure out how to change the title. Could a helpful mod call this fixed and lock it?