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I need to find a doctor...

S

StormRider

Diamond Member
I've been having some health concerns lately -- enough for me to be thinking about going to a doctor. I'm trying to work up the courage to find a doctor and make an appointment.

On my health policy web site, they have a search for medical provider (primary care) feature. I noticed that I can search for "general practice" or "family practice". Which one would be more appropriate for me (single 44 year old male who hasn't been to a doctor since I was very young -- before puberty)? I don't understand the difference between them.

Also, what exactly will happen during a checkup?
 
That's one of the things that scare me. I'm embarrassed by two things -- I'm fat with summo wrestler man-boobs and a tiny penis. But I have to overcome my fears because of I'm worried that I have something seriously wrong with me and that I might have waited too long to see a doctor about it.
 
General practice and family practice will be about the same thing. Just go in for a check-up or physical...and take it from there...your insurance may have special provisions for a physical however, so read your policy carefully, or you could get stuck with the entire bill...
 
General practice.

General physical checkup will take place, the doc will probably want to take blood.

 
Originally posted by: StormRider
I've been having some health concerns lately -- enough for me to be thinking about going to a doctor. I'm trying to work up the courage to find a doctor and make an appointment.

On my health policy web site, they have a search for medical provider (primary care) feature. I noticed that I can search for "general practice" or "family practice". Which one would be more appropriate for me (single 44 year old male who hasn't been to a doctor since I was very young -- before puberty)? I don't understand the difference between them.

Also, what exactly will happen during a checkup?
Click to expand...

you'll fill out a form or two with a bunch of boxes for check marks to find out about your medical history and your family's medical history. then, the doctor's going to check all of your body's systems to make sure everything's working fine (eyes, ears, nose, throat, abdomen, hair, skin, heart, blood pressure, lungs, etc.). the doc will probably end up taking blood work if it's indicated to take it due to your history (family history of high cholesterol, diabetes, past liver/thyroid/etc problems, etc.).

 
Heck, he may even grease up the rubber-glove for ya since you're over 40...gotta check that prostrate ya know...:shocked:
 
I know it can be scary, but remember physicians are there to help you and not judge. A checkup usually means physical exam, and yours will and should be thorough. The most uncomfortable parts will be the hernia check (cough cough), blood draw, and possible prostate check. At your age you should most definitely go. If he/she has any concerns you will most likely get referred to specialists.
 
Originally posted by: eits
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: StormRider
I've been having some health concerns lately -- enough for me to be thinking about going to a doctor. I'm trying to work up the courage to find a doctor and make an appointment.

On my health policy web site, they have a search for medical provider (primary care) feature. I noticed that I can search for "general practice" or "family practice". Which one would be more appropriate for me (single 44 year old male who hasn't been to a doctor since I was very young -- before puberty)? I don't understand the difference between them.

Also, what exactly will happen during a checkup?</end quote></div>

you'll fill out a form or two with a bunch of boxes for check marks to find out about your medical history and your family's medical history. then, the doctor's going to check all of your body's systems to make sure everything's working fine (eyes, ears, nose, throat, abdomen, hair, skin, heart, blood pressure, lungs, etc.). the doc will probably end up taking blood work if it's indicated to take it due to your history (family history of high cholesterol, diabetes, past liver/thyroid/etc problems, etc.).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. It sounds like it might take a bit of time. Also, should I pick a general practice or a family practice? There seems to be more family practices than general practices according to the search results.

Also, the above won't require me to completely disrobe, right?
 
Originally posted by: StormRider
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: eits
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: StormRider
I've been having some health concerns lately -- enough for me to be thinking about going to a doctor. I'm trying to work up the courage to find a doctor and make an appointment.

On my health policy web site, they have a search for medical provider (primary care) feature. I noticed that I can search for "general practice" or "family practice". Which one would be more appropriate for me (single 44 year old male who hasn't been to a doctor since I was very young -- before puberty)? I don't understand the difference between them.

Also, what exactly will happen during a checkup?</end quote></div>

you'll fill out a form or two with a bunch of boxes for check marks to find out about your medical history and your family's medical history. then, the doctor's going to check all of your body's systems to make sure everything's working fine (eyes, ears, nose, throat, abdomen, hair, skin, heart, blood pressure, lungs, etc.). the doc will probably end up taking blood work if it's indicated to take it due to your history (family history of high cholesterol, diabetes, past liver/thyroid/etc problems, etc.).

</end quote></div>

Thanks for the info. It sounds like it might take a bit of time. Also, should I pick a general practice or a family practice? There seems to be more family practices than general practices according to the search results.

Also, the above won't require me to completely disrobe, right?
Click to expand...

You might have to disrobe. Also, at your age, the Doc might want to do the colonscope.

 
Originally posted by: compuwiz1
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: StormRider
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: eits
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: StormRider
I've been having some health concerns lately -- enough for me to be thinking about going to a doctor. I'm trying to work up the courage to find a doctor and make an appointment.

On my health policy web site, they have a search for medical provider (primary care) feature. I noticed that I can search for "general practice" or "family practice". Which one would be more appropriate for me (single 44 year old male who hasn't been to a doctor since I was very young -- before puberty)? I don't understand the difference between them.

Also, what exactly will happen during a checkup?</end quote></div>

you'll fill out a form or two with a bunch of boxes for check marks to find out about your medical history and your family's medical history. then, the doctor's going to check all of your body's systems to make sure everything's working fine (eyes, ears, nose, throat, abdomen, hair, skin, heart, blood pressure, lungs, etc.). the doc will probably end up taking blood work if it's indicated to take it due to your history (family history of high cholesterol, diabetes, past liver/thyroid/etc problems, etc.).

</end quote></div>

Thanks for the info. It sounds like it might take a bit of time. Also, should I pick a general practice or a family practice? There seems to be more family practices than general practices according to the search results.

Also, the above won't require me to completely disrobe, right?</end quote></div>

You might have to disrobe. Also, at your age, the Doc might want to do the colonscope.
Click to expand...

he probably wouldn't get an endoscopic exam unless the doc found something wrong. a prostate exam, however, is likely, depending on age and when his last exam was and his symptoms.
 
What type of symptoms are you experiencing? Chest pain? Shortness of breath? Others?

Good for you, for finally making the decision to get yourself checked out.
 
A check-up will be a brief exam, (as Eits said,) involving your medical history, family history, and some generalized tests. A physical can include much more detailed tests, and may get "invasive"...but should provide much more information than a check-up. I doubt you'll have to dis-robe for a simple check-up, (maybe down to your skivvies) but a GOOD thorough physical will probably have you dressed in one of those sexy gowns with the opening in the back...
 
Originally posted by: Platypus
What do you think is wrong with you?
Click to expand...

I have two concerns. The one one is that I'm worried that I might have skin cancer. I have had a spot (about the size of a quarter) on my arms for about 9 months and it hasn't healed. It started as a small little itchy bump. One night, I rubbed and applied hydrogen perixode (it fizzed and turned white and oozed a clear liquid) to it and put a dab of anti-bacteria ointment on -- along with a band-aid. The next morning the surrounding skin swelled up. Since then nothing has improved. It's like a purple/pink/gray abnormal growth of skin. It just won't heal. I've tried anti-bacteria ointments, anti-fungal creams, soaking it in water, and even applied bleach to the area to try and kill it. So, I'm beginning to wonder if it is skin cancer. Sometimes it fools me into thinking it is getting better but then it doesn't.

I have already made an appointment to see a dermatologist to have a look at it. I made it about two weeks ago and the appointment will be in about 2 more weeks. But right after I made the appointment, my upper back and underarms started to feel tender and then the area under my chest. And before that I've been having weird pains that I've never experienced before. I have had pains in my neck when I turn and in my left shoulder blade. Also, sometimes I think I feel little sharp needle pains on my skin. So, I started to get worried about maybe it's spread through my lymph systems. I'm hoping that since the pain seems to fade and then flair up and then fade maybe it's not cancer? Because if it was cancer it would be constant? So, I'm hoping it's some weird infection that can easily be cured with the right anti-biotic.

And I have been feeling slightly dizzy lately -- I'm not sure if I'm imagining this. So it makes me worried if cancer has spread to my brain or something.

My other concern is that even before this, I have been having skin problems. Awhile ago, the skin on my face broke out in zits. It was a bad break out. It did not seem normal in it's intensity. In the past, when I pop a zit, it will heal without any marks. These zits do not pop easily -- they seem to be deeply rooted and when they do pop the marks don't heal. I have little hard purple bruised bumps there. I experienced little sharp needle like pain in my skin around that time.

Also, there was a time when my groin started to smell bad for a period of time. Even though I wash that area well with soap and water everytime I showered (and I showered twice a day in the summer). I never had that problem before. But it's faded and seems to be normal now. But it made me wonder if I was having trouble with fighting off skin infections -- like my immune system was weakening and it couldn't fight off bacteria or yeast growth in that area.

It just seems that I have been having skin problems, and that things don't heal like they used to. It makes me worried that my immune system is weak or that I have a weird infection of some sort.

Possible reasons I can think of:

I have not been getting enough sleep so my immune system is weaken.

In the past I started to use a lufah(?) to wash my wash in the shower. Because of my cheap skate nature I probably used it too long (it had pink discoloration similar to the pink/orange mold in my shower stall if I don't clean it) before throwing it out. Did I srub this mold into my skin and caused a weird infection?

The growth on my arm is skin cancer and it has spread.

 
for the love of god man, see a doc as soon as possible
go to the hospital even

something is really wrong
 
Originally posted by: StormRider
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Platypus
wow.. yeah I would definitely get in to a doc immediately with that.

Are your lymph nodes swollen?</end quote></div>

I can't feel anything that seems to be swollen.
Click to expand...


Check in your armpits, under your jaw line in your neck, etc.

I wouldn't wait for a normal appt man, go to an urgent care facility with this ASAP.
 
1. Stop posting
2. Get in car
3. Drive to hospital
4. Explain your symptoms to the nice people there
5. Find out WTF is going on with your bod
 
Swollen lymph nodes don't only mean cancer. Could just be an infection. Go to an urgent care facility (or the ER) today. The sooner you get checked out, the sooner you know. Not knowing is the worst part.
 
That's your body fighting an infection of some sort.. seriously get yourself to a care facility right now... there's nothing to fear here except what is going to happen to you if you wait any more.
 
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