Your GP - How Often Do you Go?

inforfun

pickarooney wrote: »

Save 60 euros but lose a day's pay?

They have not done that so far.

But i am also not someone who think that when you get a certain amount of paid sick days a year, you should consider them extra holidays.
In other words, i dont take the piss. Work here long enough for them to know this.

meeeeh

Well I was there two days ago just to check on some lumps and bumps and moles. Anyway nothing serious but I made sure to go because years ago I didn't bother going for ingrown hair. In the end I needed to go under general anaesthetic because they needed to go so deep to clean the infection and I was told I was very lucky I didn't get septicemia.

But in general I am healthy and most of my visits are stuff like pill prescriptions.

IvyTheTerrible

inforfun wrote: »

I was raised in a time you only went to see a doctor when bone was sticking out.
In school you had your annual check up and vaccinations were done then as well.

I havent seen one since i arrived in Ireland. Wouldnt even know where to go if i need one... (maybe i should look into that...)

Employer requires me to go see one after 2 days when sick.
Employer was told i am not going to spend €60 to hear from some guy that i have a cold and should get antibiotics as that seems the cure for everything.

Any gp worth their salt won't prescribe antibiotics for a cold.

mickmac76

I go to the GP a few times a year due to a serious medical condition. Luckily I was granted a medical card pretty much straight away once I was diagnosed. Don't mind the GP but I have to go to various hospitals about 15 times a year which is a severe pain.


Mick.

inforfun

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

Any gp worth their salt won't prescribe antibiotics for a cold.

I may hope so.
It is just that all the people around me who visit a GP seem to always end up at a pharmacy and come back with box of antibiotics.

intheclouds

inforfun wrote: »

I may hope so.
It is just that all the people around me who visit a GP seem to always end up at a pharmacy and come back with box of antibiotics.

Maybe because the GP has diagnosed that they need antibiotics? Whats the problem with that?

All this talk of visiting your GP and here I am sitting in his waiting room after deciding to go and have a review of my medication done.
Done all my research, so know exactly what I want changed.

dexter_morgan

I dont go to the doctor very often but my last trip there left me feeling a bit confused. I waited for over an hour before my name was called. I expected to see a male doctor as my problem was a little embarrassing. Instead I saw a beautiful female! I explained to her my problem and she said it was probably hemorrhoids but she would need to check manually. I was a little apprehensive as I never had anything put in my butt. She locked the door and gloved up. I stripped and curled up into the fetal position. She slid her finger in and poked around a bit. Then I got a raging erection. I am a heterosexual so this came as a surprise to me. Doc assured me that this was entirely normal. Then I had sex. When I finished I asked her how much I owed for the visit and she responded saying that it was on the house. That wrecked it for me. Left me feeling like a prostitute. My hemorrhoids cleared up so I guess it was not all bad.

GreenFolder2

I don't really have any reason to go unless there's something wrong with me or I want the flu vaccine or something.

Other than that, I don't really have any purpose for a visit.

jester77

Not so often, maybe once every 3 or 4 years. Last time was for vaccination updates earlier this year.

Gael23

Every 3 months usually. I have a long term condition so need bloods and prescriptions even though I'm feeling fine.
I had a bad experience with a GP a few years ago and after that it took me a god while to build the same relationship with another doctor

I go every 6 months as I'm on the pill and need to get my blood pressure checked to get the repeat prescription. So every 6 months since I was about 18 (that's right, Jesus!). I'm 27 now. Rarely go for anything else, never need to luckily. We have have an onsite medical centre at work where the doctor visits are only €15, handy out!

Wibbs

Last time I went was in the mid 90's IIRC. Not this century anyway. The local GP I'd not send a dog to TBH. She's next to useless. If it's a sniffle that'll resolve anyway it's pointless to go and if it's anything else, or she doesn't know, her next step is go to hospital for tests.

Going into sanctimonious mode for this one.

The question that strikes me about a lot of these answers is how often you guys are screened for STIs?

I get STI checked every year, usually in January after the Christmas rush (jokes), and even then, I think I'm not going often enough.

Maybe you're saying ye get these tests done in a clinic, and that's not always manned by a GP; I hope so!

Wibbs

Good point. Yeah I've had checks for the clap alright, but like you suggested that was clinic based.

Penny Tration

I go once every six months to get my blood pressure checked so I can get my repeat contraception prescription.

Other than that, I'd usually end up going once or maybe twice in a year, usually due to an accident or injury, or for a referral for something.

As for STI screenings, I don't go each year. I go when/if a relationship breaks up. I don't have casual sex, so my only risk is from boyfriends, so after a relationship ending, I go to my local clinic. Haven't been for a few years.

Ted111

intheclouds wrote: »

Maybe because the GP has diagnosed that they need antibiotics? Whats the problem with that?

Cold is a virus.

intheclouds

Ted111 wrote: »

Cold is a virus.

And?

Penny Tration

intheclouds wrote: »

And?

Antibiotics are for bacterial infections, not viral or fungal.

Ted111

intheclouds wrote: »

And?

The clue is in the words.

Antibiotic - Anti Bacterial - Bacterial Infection.


Anti Viral - Anti Virus - Viral Infections.


You would treat a virus with an anti viral. No effective one has been developed for the common cold.

Taking antibiotics for a cold would be as effective as drinking antifreeze.

theteal

STI checks?

Had a few back when I was enjoying my youth

I've been with her ladyship for 10 years now so not much need for that carryon

intheclouds

Penny Tration wrote: »

Antibiotics are for bacterial infections, not viral or fungal.

Who said they weren't?

A poster who thinks people get antibiotics for colds claimed that's why he doesn't go to the GP. I countered that perhaps the GP prescribed necessary antibiotics, ie, they required them. Is it so difficult to understand?

pickarooney

inforfun wrote: »

They have not done that so far.

But i am also not someone who think that when you get a certain amount of paid sick days a year, you should consider them extra holidays.
In other words, i dont take the piss. Work here long enough for them to know this.

It's been a while so I don't remember how it works in Ireland but where I work in France the first two days off sick aren't paid. The boss will often offer to dock holidays instead of deducting wages. From day three, if you have a doctor's note, the social security picks up the tab.

intheclouds

Ted111 wrote: »

The clue is in the words.

Antibiotic - Anti Bacterial - Bacterial Infection.


Anti Viral - Anti Virus - Viral Infections.


You would treat a virus with an anti viral. No effective one has been developed for the common cold.

Taking antibiotics for a cold would be as effective as drinking antifreeze.

Jaysus, serious comprehension problems going on!

Ted111

intheclouds wrote: »

Jaysus, serious comprehension problems going on!

You made a mistake. No need to panic about it. The skys
not going to fall in.

inforfun

intheclouds wrote: »

Who said they weren't?

A poster who thinks people get antibiotics for colds claimed that's why he doesn't go to the GP. I countered that perhaps the GP prescribed necessary antibiotics, ie, they required them. Is it so difficult to understand?

As i have the idea you are talking about me, i am goign to ask you to read my posts again.

You are taking 2 seperate posts together.
I dont got to see a GP when i dont go to work because of a cold.
Never claimed that every time i see people around me on anti biotics they got them because they went to a gp for a cold.

meeeeh

Ted111 wrote: »

You made a mistake. No need to panic about it. The skys
not going to fall in.

She didn't. Anyone who is not a complete moron or has no desire to intentionally misunderstand things would know that she meant they had a disease that required antibiotics not just a cold.

Btw my uncle ignored his 'back pain' for a year. He eventually went to the gp it turned out it was kidney failure because of a condition that went untreated. What followed was years of dialysis and kidney replacement. But because of medicines he was taking his blood circulation was so bad he first needed toe amputation, then foot needed to be amputated, then new kidney failure, dialysis again and finally he died two years ago. He was sixty. All because of a bit of 'back pain' and a bit of 'cold' that he ignored. The irony is he got his first diagnosis a day before he signed a deal that made him a millionaire and he could never really enjoy it.

Gael23

meeeeh wrote: »

Btw my uncle ignored his 'back pain' for a year. He eventually went to the gp it turned out it was kidney failure because of a condition that went untreated. What followed was years of dialysis and kidney replacement. But because of medicines he was taking his blood circulation was so bad he first needed toe amputation, then foot needed to be amputated, then new kidney failure, dialysis again and finally he died two years ago. He was sixty. All because of a bit of 'back pain' and a bit of 'cold' that he ignored. The irony is he got his first diagnosis a day before he signed a deal that made him a millionaire and he could never really enjoy it.

That story reminds me of a guy I knew years ago. He complained of breathlessness earlier for a while and just generally feeling off colour. One day after about 2 weeks had passed, his wife thought he looked a funny colour and gave him his marching orders to his GP. He got a heart attack and died in the doctors surgery.

Ted111

meeeeh wrote: »

She didn't anyone who is not a complete moron or has no desire to intentionally misunderstand thing would know that she meant they had a disease that required antibiotics not just a cold.

If you're going to call people morons you should learn to read first.
The texts of the posts are all there in black and white. Wishful thinking
doesn't change it. Or I really meant something else. They had a cold not
a "disease". Antibiotics are no good for a cold.

meeeeh

Ted111 wrote: »

If you're going to call people morons you should learn to read first.
The texts of the posts are all there in black and white. Wishful thinking
doesn't change it. Or I really meant something else. They had a cold not
a "disease". Antibiotics are no good for a cold.

As I said intentionally misunderstand...

Btw you really are discovering hot water here.

Ted111

meeeeh wrote: »

As I said intentionally misunderstand...

I know you said that. And you're wrong.

I think you're having trouble with the concept that these posts are all
here to read. There's no point in back tracking or repeating yourself if
you have nothing else to say.

Jesus.

Gael23 wrote: »

That story reminds me of a guy I knew years ago. He complained of breathlessness earlier for a while and just generally feeling off colour. One day after about 2 weeks had passed, his wife thought he looked a funny colour and Ave him his marching orders to his GP. He got a heart attack and died in the doctors surgery.

For every one of those though there's about 20 borderline hypochondriacs who clog up the health system with non-issues.

midnight city

Jesus. wrote: »

For every one of those though there's about 20 borderline hypochondriacs who clog up the health system with non-issues.

A very misunderstood bunch the hypochondriacs. They are quite often mentally unwell. Most instances they have actual physical symptoms but they misread these as being much more serious than they are.

picturehangup

I go as little as possible, only when absolutely necessary, and can't cure myself.

andekwarhola

Really rarely for random stuff. I need to be pretty poorly to do so.

Always go for an annual health check (Bloods, ECG, Cholesterol etc) though.

branie2

I go to my GP when I'm sick

Gael23

I dont get sick that often, once maybe twice a year at most. Thats with the exception of 2014. As I said previously I've got a long term condition which up to 2014 I just lived with and if I needed medicines but had no need to see a doctor i'd just rang and ask.
Now thats all changed and I'm on much stronger drugs which need close monitoring so more GP visits but they are getting further apart. After the setback I got in 2014 I tend to be much more cautious and if theres any way I dont feel well i'll go in rather than risk going back there.

Captain Peanuts McDrummie

I've been quite a few times this year, but that's because I've got an issue that's required me being referred to a specialist in hospital. Before this year, it was about 10 or 11 years since I'd seen a doctor. Luckily, I have a medical card otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford the doctors visits / medication.

lukesmom

I go once a month as I'm withdrawing from a drug (prescribed) that is notoriously difficult to come down from. Worse than heroin. So I see her and discuss how I'm doing with the latest drop.

noaddedsugar

Once every 6 months, they insist I go in and get my blood pressure checked before they will give me a new contraception prescription.