Going to the doctor over something small

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

So glad I have steel balls :eek:

_Jamie_

The Raptor wrote: »

Does anyone ever go to the doctor and feel so stupid for going. Like there are more people dying and i don't want to take up space.

I have a mole in an awkward spot. It's at the back of my neck. I couldn't see so i took a picture of it and it looks OK. But it's itchy.

I'm kinda hoping the itch is nothing but isn't this always a thing they want you to get checked out.

I'm going to go caps lock here but YOU ARE NOT STUPID AT ALL TO WANT TO GET THIS CHECKED OUT!!!! Cancerous moles can often look only slightly different at the start and by the time they get gnarly-looking, they could have penetrated deep into the skin and started to spread. Many cancers often have only mild symptoms in the early, curable stages. Better to get things checked out. Cancer is highly unlikely but it's much better to be safe. I am an advanced cancer patient who put things off for way too long. Please listen to me. You are overwhelmingly likely to be fine but don't take that risk.

failinis

failinis wrote: »

I started to get severe pain mid ovulation on my left side - I could really feel when I released an egg, only on my left ovary. Feels like someone stabs you.

Period changed, I was vomiting and passing out from pain in the bathroom - told by GP "its a period its meant to be sore".

Had a MRI for another reason, they spotted a rather nice cyst on my left ovary. :rolleyes:
I need to get a mild operation some time next year to see if I have endometriosis etc.

If you have any major changes in yourself, maybe its some dumb ass cyst, bring it up if you notice anything else.

Oh, I've been thoroughly checked and have had two MRIs a few years apart. In my case it does seem to be just ovulation pain. People should always get it investigated though, just in case.

I hope that operation goes well and you get yourself sorted with the minimum of discomfort or fuss. I'm glad it was spotted!

retro:electro

Op just to put your mind at ease I had two moles removed a few years ago and nearly had the leg torn off myself from scratching one of them the itch was so bad. Had a biopsy done and turns out all was okay but it's worth getting them checked out anyway.

_Jamie_

pragmatic1 wrote: »

Yeah I felt like a tit going to the doctor over a bad headache. Turned out I was having a Brain haemorrhage and was sent to intensive care in Beaumont.

Always take care of your health.

I hope you are better now, pragmatic1.

_Jamie_

Outlaw Pete wrote: »

Just reading this story this morning.. crazy how such a short space of time so much can change for people.

Although in saying that, have had family that did go and get checked out early and it was fcuk all use to them and so maybe it wouldn't be for that woman either, who bloody knows with anything in this God forsaken world, but get it checked out anyway I suppose, sure you might as well, but just don't be surprised if you die anyway is all I'm saying.

Salud!

Yeah, TBH, in the linked story, I'd say it was too late by the time she had started to experience the abdominal pain. It mentioned she had only been experiencing the pain for mere weeks. I'd say the metastatic horse had long since bolted by that stage.

pragmatic1

_Jamie_ wrote: »

I hope you are better now, pragmatic1.

Cheers mate. Yep made a good recovery.

Ursus Horribilis

I had two moles removed a couple of years ago. One was worrying me a bit because it was raised and a bit itchy. The other one was removed just to have it gone. Both were grand as it turns out.

I've health insurance so the doctor referred me on to a private hospital to have it done on the day ward. I don't know what the delay would be in the public system. As far as I can remember, I had an appointment to have the moles taken off within a week of seeing the doctor. It was a very straightforward procedure and only took a few minutes. It was painless afterwards too which was a surprise. The surgeon told me on the spot that neither mole appeared to be malignant but he sent them on to the lab anyway.

In short, get yourself to a GP and have it removed. You're torturing yourself without having any of the facts. You might as well have them first before you start fretting.

retro:electro

I went public and was waiting 12+ months.

FanadMan

I had three moles that my ex thought they were dodgy looking so she she insisted I go to my GP. She sent me to hospital to have them removed - was too much to remove 3 in one go in her surgery. A few jabs of local around each, grab with forceps and cut them out. After being stitched up was out the door. Think the whole thing including the queue took about an hour.

Forgot about going to get the stitches removed - the skin had nearly grown over them. Having them removed was more painful than the mole removal!

But was better getting them checked than having to worry.

Mellor

I'm due to go get my moles checked next week. GP inspects them with a small magnifying scope.
I've no itches, concerns, irregularities or anything. It's just a routine check every 12-18 months for piece of mind.

AudreyHepburn

A mole changing shape or color or feeling or itching/hurting when it didn't before is not a small thing OP.

Go to your GP and go now.

You're right it could be nothing but equally it could be something serious.... is that a risk you really want to take?

Ayuntamiento

Just to add to all the reassurance above, I had a mole removed last year by my GP in his practice. Appointment at 7.30am. I was at my desk in work at 8.15am. The whole thing was relatively painless and I can't describe the weight off my shoulders when the results came back benign. Insurance paid for it but I think it would have been 100eur without it.
I'm a huge worrier when it comes to my health but equally i'll put off doing the right thing for as long as possible. Find yourself a good, trustworthy GP and you'll never look back.

The Raptor

So i went to the doctor today and i felt he was trying to dismiss me. He's going to write a letter for referral but this can be two years to get seen too. I have waited two years to be seen before.

He said it was a skin tag. Even though it was a bit bigger than a skin tag. I have had a skin tag before. They hang off your skin. This isn't hanging off.

It could be a wart. Except i have never had a wart in my life. The most common place to get them is on your hands and feet and i get it at the back of my neck. It's not a wart.

It's sore and it's itchy. Its not the scary type of cancerous moles. But there are other kinds of cancerous moles as well. I was crying begging to go privately. He was saying it can cost 800 euros and he would put his house on it that it's not anything to worry about. It's not him that has to worry about it. I don't care spending a couple of hundred. Or what do i spend, 5 grand on a funeral.

I was looking at another gp and they have a dermatology specialist. So i think i will get a second opinion and make sure its a skin tag before i stop worrying. At least they would know what they're looking at.

whoopsadoodles

The Raptor wrote: »

So i went to the doctor today and i felt he was trying to dismiss me. He's going to write a letter for referral but this can be two years to get seen too. I have waited two years to be seen before.

He said it was a skin tag. Even though it was a bit bigger than a skin tag. I have had a skin tag before. They hang off your skin. This isn't hanging off.

It could be a wart. Except i have never had a wart in my life. The most common place to get them is on your hands and feet and i get it at the back of my neck. It's not a wart.

It's sore and it's itchy. Its not the scary type of cancerous moles. But there are other kinds of cancerous moles as well. I was crying begging to go privately. He was saying it can cost 800 euros and he would put his house on it that it's not anything to worry about. It's not him that has to worry about it. I don't care spending a couple of hundred. Or what do i spend, 5 grand on a funeral.

I was looking at another gp and they have a dermatology specialist. So i think i will get a second opinion and make sure its a skin tag before i stop worrying. At least they would know what they're looking at.

You'll pay around €250 for a private consultation which is all you need initially. You can decide what to do if needed after that. He can't refuse to write you a referal letter. Make an appointment and ask him to fax a referral to whoever you go to.

The Raptor

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

You'll pay around €250 for a private consultation which is all you need initially. You can decide what to do if needed after that. He can't refuse to write you a referal letter. Make an appointment and ask him to fax a referral to whoever you go to.

I probably should have pushed for it, but i wasn't thinking. There's a dermatology gp and i was on their website and they seem to do alot of dermatology type of things, which cost €75 for the first consultation which isn't too bad. I'm hoping i get an appointment next week.

The Raptor

I don't know why he was turning me off from going privately and quoting me 800euros.

Could i not get the initial consultation and go from there.

The Raptor

I don't drink, I don't smoke, I'm a cheapskate with everything i do, why the fk can i not spend a couple of hundred on getting something checked out, to make sure it's not cancer.

The Raptor

I'm sorry for ranting.

Ayuntamiento

The Raptor wrote: »

I don't know why he was turning me off from going privately and quoting me 800euros.

Could i not get the initial consultation and go from there.

If you got an initial private diagnosis and it was found to be cancerous you would then become a priority patient in the Public system.

I went to a GP that does dermatology and he was great. Getting the mole assessed cost the same as any GP appointment -60eur.
I believe that you can also get moles assessed at the VHI swiftcare clinics. You'll have to pay if you're not a member but it's another option.

I'd be inclined to think that your GP is probably correct in his assumption that it's nothing to worry about. What would he have to gain by 'fobbing you off.' It's a lot easier for a GP to refer everything to a specialist. That way they're never in the wrong.
But you're entitled to seek piece of mind. The only way to be 100% certain with a mole is to cut it out and get it pathologically assesed.

The Raptor

Ayuntamiento wrote: »

If you got an initial private diagnosis and it was found to be cancerous you would then become a priority patient in the Public system.

I went to a GP that does dermatology and he was great. Getting the mole assessed cost the same as any GP appointment -60eur.
I believe that you can also get moles assessed at the VHI swiftcare clinics. You'll have to pay if you're not a member but it's another option.

I'd be inclined to think that your GP is probably correct in his assumption that it's nothing to worry about. What would he have to gain by 'fobbing you off.' It's a lot easier for a GP to refer everything to a specialist. That way they're never in the wrong.
But you're entitled to seek piece of mind. The only way to be 100% certain with a mole is to cut it out and get it pathologically assesed.

I'm definitely getting a second opinion on this. For peace of mind more than anything. If it means spending some money on it, that's OK with me.

I'll see if i can get an appointment with a GP that does dermatology. If not, i will go back and ask to go privately. Screw spending Christmas worrying over a spot.

Ayuntamiento

You won't have problem finding one. Google Dermatoscopy GP Dublin/Cork/wherever you are and there'll be a good few options. If the surgery has a dermatoscope then they're well set up for dermatology. Good luck.

Mellor

The Raptor wrote: »

I don't know why he was turning me off from going privately and quoting me 800euros..

Because he has looked at it and it's not a mole. His professional advice is that it's not necessary. Do you still think it's a mole?

The Raptor

Mellor wrote: »

Because he has looked at it and it's not a mole. His professional advice is that it's not necessary. Do you still think it's a mole?

Doctors can miss things. They often go for the easiest option first. And he wasn't someone who specialises in skin issues. Even the doctor himself wasn't sure, he said it was bigger than normal for a skin tag. Moles can often be skin coloured as well, so I'm sorry for being a bit worried over it.

Surely spending a few hundred is better for peace of mind instead of waiting a few years with a sore spot and worrying and letting it get worse. Some people doesn't have an issue spending two hundred euros on a weekend of drink. I don't see the issue if i want to spend money and it checked out quicker, just in case. I'm not normally a hypochondriac, hate going to the doctors. But isn't better to be safe.

Mellor

As I said in my other post, I get all my moles checked every year or two. Im in no way against looking for peace of mind. But you asked why the doctor was unconcerned. The answer to that is likely that it's not a mole.

And sure, doctors can miss anything. But I'd imagine he'd recognise a mole. You are right that they can take different forms, but the ones that become melanoma comprise of excess pigment cells. Melanocytes.
From what you describe, it sounds possibly like a epidermal navus. If it's sore see a specialist and get it removed. You don't have to put up with it if it's not cancerous.

Wesser

It's might a seborroic wart. Check it out on dermnet.nz. Also known as seborroic keratosis.

http://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/seborrhoeic-keratoses/


They are non viral warts that often occur on the neck. That might be what he means by ' wart ' . Harmless. Different to a viral wart on your foot.

But, yeah, get a second opinion if if helps you.

The Raptor

I'm probably over reacting but i think i'd rather get it checked out properly and get it done soon.

I'm after reading online that a doctor told someone they had a wart on their face for the past two years but it was actually cancer. So doctors can be wrong.

I think i'll rest easy when a dermatology doctor has a look at it. There seems to be two gps here that has an interest in dermatology and moles. I'm hoping i get to see one of them next week.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

peace of mind is worth every cent, if it costs you a few hundred to know for sure that it's nothing to worry about, then do it.

Chancer3001

LexieOnRale wrote: »

peace of mind is worth every cent, if it costs you a few hundred to know for sure that it's nothing to worry about, then do it.

Absolutely agree

Youre here for a finite lump of time. Might as well prolong it

The Raptor

I got this removed. I did have to pay but I'm hoping it's the end of it. The doctor who removed it said it could be a wart. So they themselves aren't sure what it is. It doesn't help that there are types of skin cancer that can look like a new spot or wart. I hope they are right and it's just a skin tag or wart.