Going to the doctor over something small

The Raptor · 16-11-2016 9:12pm #1

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.

Chancer3001 · 16-11-2016 9:14pm

Thought you meant you went to see the doctor about your penis

Stanford · 16-11-2016 9:14pm

Your GP sees many things daily and is there to help, go and get your mole checked, it may save your life or allow you to stop worrying

Atlantic Dawn · 16-11-2016 9:15pm

Go and get it checked.

Lovely Bloke · 16-11-2016 9:16pm

itchy mole = cancer

he'll probably do a small surgery on you, lop it off and send it off for confirmation of the cancer

Stanford · 16-11-2016 9:16pm

Chancer3001 thats not helpful

16-11-2016 9:16pm

See the doc on this. It's something worth checking out.

Its not your fault that docs fill up their waiting rooms with chronically ill perscription renewals so that people who are actually sick can't get appointments and need to go to ER.

The Raptor · 16-11-2016 9:18pm

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

itchy mole = cancer

he'll probably do a small surgery on you, lop it off and send it off for confirmation of the cancer

Can GP's do this or do they send you off and get it done in the hospital? It would be great to go in and out and not worry about it after that and any more appointments.

16-11-2016 9:18pm

There's a difference between something small that will be small, and something small that may be serious.

Dislocated a couple of fingers before and people ask what did the doctor say and I'd wonder who would go to a doctor, as if they're gonna perform intricate surgery, I'm not a classical pianist. Had a hernia operation last week and due to my own foolishness I've kinda stretched the stitches and bled a good bit, and a few said to go to the doctor but again, what will they do realistically.

In the other hand a mole changing may not be a small thing at all.

Ted111 · 16-11-2016 9:18pm

Chancer3001 wrote: »

Thought you meant you went to see the doctor about your penis

How come you know so much about ops dick?

The Raptor · 16-11-2016 9:19pm

Stanford wrote: »

Chancer3001 thats not helpful

I wish i had a small penis. I probably wouldn't be worried about this small mole.

The Backwards Man · 16-11-2016 9:19pm

Would you not be better going to a vet?

The Raptor · 16-11-2016 9:20pm

Ted111 wrote: »

How come you know so much about ops dick?

Except I don't have one.

midnight city · 16-11-2016 9:20pm

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.

If you are paying they will be delighted to see you.

Stanford · 16-11-2016 9:20pm

Most GP don't do minor surgeries any more because they are GPs and not surgeons, he/she will probably refer you to a Dermatologist who does these procedures every day.

16-11-2016 9:21pm

The Raptor wrote: »

Can GP's do this or do they send you off and get it done in the hospital? It would be great to go in and out and not worry about it after that and any more appointments.

Of course they could do this but most will send you to a hospital/consultant to do it and waste more time, which if it were something serious would not be appropriate.

The Raptor · 16-11-2016 9:22pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Would you not be better going to a vet?

At least they get things done in the one day which is what i want.

Ted111 · 16-11-2016 9:22pm

The Raptor wrote: »

worried about this small mole.

Your supposed to go the doctor in exactly this situation.
Text book cancer prevention.

Also since they're getting a nice fifty quid or whatever I'd say they would happily let you visit to discuss the latest styles in white coats.

16-11-2016 9:22pm

The Raptor wrote: »

Does anyone ever go to the doctor and feel so stupid for going.

Poorer, yes. Never silly. I went about a mole a couple of years ago (herself was pressurising me) and the gp sent me to a specialist straight away. She had a hand-held thing and went around my back with it examining. It was ultimately nothing, but (the wife's) peace of mind is nice to have.

looksee · 16-11-2016 9:23pm

I had a dodgy mole removed from my back by my doctor, he did a great job of it. He sent it off for analysis and it turned out to be slightly suspect but nothing to worry about.

The Raptor · 16-11-2016 9:24pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Of course they could do this but most will send you to a hospital/consultant to do it and waste more time, which if it were something serious would not be appropriate.

Better not waste any more time so.

clairewithani · 16-11-2016 9:25pm

I pay €50 per visit. I don't feel one bit guilty about taking up 5 minutes of gp's time, mostlt to tell me what i already know. €10 per minute. He is well paid.

the evasion_kid · 16-11-2016 9:27pm

At the rate I see people dropping around me,you would nearly wanting to being getting any little niggle looked at..

16-11-2016 9:27pm

looksee wrote: »

I had a dodgy mole removed from my back by my doctor, he did a great job of it.

Glad to hear ther are still some real doctors around! Keep him!

Ayuntamiento · 16-11-2016 10:09pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Glad to hear ther are still some real doctors around! Keep him!

There are plenty of excellent doctors around. I don't know where all the negativity on this thread is coming from. You couldn't pay me any amount of money to put up with the whingers and begrudgers that a doctor has to deal with on a daily basis.

OP my GP removed a suspicious mole for me last year. Just call around and ask does the GP do minor surgery. Plenty of them do.

Fleawuss · 16-11-2016 10:11pm

Amputation is the only cure. Off with his head!

16-11-2016 10:26pm

Not trying to freak you out or anything OP, but a mole giving you trouble is NOT "something small". I mean it might be something small, fingers crossed it is, but it could also be something major. Speaking as someone who does not hold a medical card I'd make damn sure whatever doctor I'm handing fifty plus notes over to does not dismiss my concerns as trivial.

Also, some doctors do carry out minor ops in their offices under local anaesthetic. These tend not to be GPs however, and are usually specialists or surgeons.

But yeah, you really do need to go get that checked out, wasting the doctor's time is not something you should be thinking about here.

Ayuntamiento · 16-11-2016 10:30pm

Also, some doctors do carry out minor ops in their offices under local anaesthetic. These tend not to be GPs however, and are usually specialists or surgeons.[/quote]

Plenty of GPs do minor surgery in their practices and those that don't can usually refer you on to one of their colleagues.
A 5mim search on google will easily put you in contact with one.
Some moles are located on areas of the body that require more complex surgery/general anaesthetic and in that situation you might be referred on to a plastic surgeon.

Miss Demeanour · 16-11-2016 10:46pm

I was putting off going to the doctor for that very reason as in I was wasting his time/ being a hypochondriac. Visited yesterday thinking he'd send me on my merry way and have been referred to a specialist in the next week so if in any doubt....just go!

16-11-2016 10:55pm

Ayuntamiento wrote: »

Also, some doctors do carry out minor ops in their offices under local anaesthetic. These tend not to be GPs however, and are usually specialists or surgeons.

Plenty of GPs do minor surgery in their practices and those that don't can usually refer you on to one of their colleagues.
[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah, I know some of them will. I'm just saying it wouldn't be so common practice that you would normally expect it as part and parcel of the service provided by your "average GP" if you know what I mean. For instance an ENT (ear nose and throat) doctor would probably do something to fix persistent nosebleeds in his office a lot faster than a GP would.

Anyway, my point is still the same, OP needs to get something checked out and any thoughts of wasting a doctor's time are just silliness.

CarrickMcJoe · 16-11-2016 10:59pm

The Raptor wrote: »

At least they get things done in the one day which is what i want.

Yep, but then youll have to wear the collar or shame....

The Raptor · 16-11-2016 11:01pm

CarrickMcJoe wrote: »

Yep, but then youll have to wear the collar or shame....

If it means not going back, i would gladly wear it.

CaptainR · 16-11-2016 11:03pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Would you not be better going to a vet?

Doctors have it easy, you can tell them where it hurts, vets have to really investigate. As well as that a doctor treats humans, a vet treats a load of different animals AND theres not too much of a risk of a GP being pissed on (well some risk)

CarrickMcJoe · 16-11-2016 11:09pm

CaptainR wrote: »

Doctors have it easy, you can tell them where it hurts, vets have to really investigate. As well as that a doctor treats humans, a vet treats a load of different animals AND theres not too much of a risk of a GP being pissed on (well some risk)

Vets don't deal with the drug fuelled walking dead or aggressive drunks on a nightly basis. Not that easy..

Father Hernandez · 16-11-2016 11:10pm

Haven't been to the docs in years, since I was a kid. Anytime anything small is wrong, I'll ignore it and usually goes away, not wanting to be a hypercondriac!! Planning to go the weekend as have been told my friends & family something is up with ribs/chest so fingers crossed!!

maudgonner · 16-11-2016 11:22pm

CaptainR wrote: »

Doctors have it easy, you can tell them where it hurts, vets have to really investigate. As well as that a doctor treats humans, a vet treats a load of different animals AND theres not too much of a risk of a GP being pissed on (well some risk)

One has to put up with a lot of whining, cattiness and bullshít.

The other one's a vet.

CarrickMcJoe · 16-11-2016 11:25pm

Father Hernandez wrote: »

Haven't been to the docs in years, since I was a kid. Anytime anything small is wrong, I'll ignore it and usually goes away, not wanting to be a hypercondriac!! Planning to go the weekend as have been told my friends & family something is up with ribs/chest so fingers crossed!!

I'm the same but had a chest pain 2 years ago one weekend and something said I should go. I did and ended out rushed to hospital with a heart attack. Lucky to be typing this now. If you have chest pain go to A & E . NOW!

Ayuntamiento · 17-11-2016 8:46am

CaptainR wrote: »

Doctors have it easy, you can tell them where it hurts, vets have to really investigate. As well as that a doctor treats humans, a vet treats a load of different animals AND theres not too much of a risk of a GP being pissed on (well some risk)

Vets and Paediatricians face pretty much the same issues! Neither have patients who can tell them what's wrong.

failinis · 18-11-2016 7:47am

I often do feel like I am wasting their time but you are paying them so they better not complain its nothing.

The mole is a small issue that could be a big one (or nothing). Better to just get it checked.

Normally I would say "wait till you have 2 or 3 issues to bring up with dr so its a worth while visit" but I would not delay seeing your gp so do not do that.

They likely will either numb it and take it off for tests in your gp surgery or if its not available you get sent else where.

Goodluck op and honestly the chances of it being bad is low. But its bad enough to not ignore. I think you know that anyway.

Outlaw Pete · 18-11-2016 9:24am

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!

murpho999 · 18-11-2016 9:27am

This is exactly with the GP is for.

People who are dying go to hospitals so you're not taking up any space.

Also, they get well paid for it so I don't see the problem.

Best to get small things checked and give you peace of mind rather than it becoming a bigger issue later.

Widdershins · 18-11-2016 9:39am

Deleted User wrote: »

There's a difference between something small that will be small, and something small that may be serious.

Dislocated a couple of fingers before and people ask what did the doctor say and I'd wonder who would go to a doctor, as if they're gonna perform intricate surgery, I'm not a classical pianist. Had a hernia operation last week and due to my own foolishness I've kinda stretched the stitches and bled a good bit, and a few said to go to the doctor but again, what will they do realistically.

In the other hand a mole changing may not be a small thing at all.

Regarding your fingers, most people go there for a reduction which is where they put them back into place. There's a 'correct' way of doing it. Did you do it yourself or did the fingers go back in by themselves?

You can get arthritis or just pain in future, where you've had a dislocation, so maybe that's what people are on about.

Karmella · 18-11-2016 9:45am

Definitely get it checked out, I ignored a 'spot' under my eye which wasn't healing for 18 months! :eek: I had to have surgery to remove it. So it may be 'something small' but could wind up being serious!
The surgeon did an awesome job in fairness - you would never know that I'd had 'work done'. The procedure itself took all of 15 minutes. They cut it out and put on a skin graft from the back of my ear!
There's types of cancerous moles that are contained so usually once they are removed that's it.
I don't know if you have VHI cover and are anywhere near a VHI clinic they actually remove moles for free.

Maximus Alexander · 18-11-2016 9:55am

Is there anything to be said for just lopping it off with a nail clippers or something? I'm very irresponsible when it comes to these matters.

BetsyEllen · 18-11-2016 10:01am

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

itchy mole = cancer

he'll probably do a small surgery on you, lop it off and send it off for confirmation of the cancer

It doesn't necessarily mean cancer, Jesus are you trying to scare the OP?
I've had 2 moles removed in the past OP and both were absolutely fine.

They were removed in literally minutes (I had to go to the hospital) and I have no scarring. It was completely painless as well, they numbed the area and I didn't feel a thing. Small plaster for a few days and that was it.
Results were back within a couple of weeks.

If you don't want to go to your GP (which is silly by the way) you can go to a mole screening clinic, google it - there's one in Dublin.
You pay for the screening but then if you need the mole removed, you can claim it on your health insurance if you have it.

whoopsadoodles · 18-11-2016 10:02am

You say that you feel bad because there are people dying in the world.

Some of those people would no be dying if they had gone about something small.

Not to scare you, but better to have yourself reassured now and to feel foolish for paying €50 to have a freckle inspected, than to be told a year from now that if you'd just come in when you first thought about, you'd be much better off.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 18-11-2016 10:15am

I wish I went about something small, because it wouldn't have escalated so severely, cost me a fortune, or gave me a leaking brain. I've spent 6 months trying to keep a condition from getting worse not even stabilising it, I have to get a camera shoved down my throat, granted there's been worse shoved down but that's besides the point,when a simple blood test and regular medication this time last year would have been enough for me to not even notice I had it.

18-11-2016 10:40am

Widdershins wrote: »

Regarding your fingers, most people go there for a reduction which is where they put them back into place. There's a 'correct' way of doing it. Did you do it yourself or did the fingers go back in by themselves?

You can get arthritis or just pain in future, where you've had a dislocation, so maybe that's what people are on about.

Popped back in. The first time it was gross, bent sideways at a perfect right angle, got a shock when I looked down but in a second it snapped back into place. Had to bring wife to hospital a few days later so went for an X-ray while I was waiting in case there was any chipped bone floating around. Second time was a wrench backwards when wedding ring got caught on a rock and I was nearly de fingered, lots of blood as ring went through skin, just left it go.

Ayuntamiento · 18-11-2016 10:40am

That sounds awful Lexie. What happened to you? You don't have to say if you don't want to. I'm always interested in hearing other people's symptoms that prompted a diagnosis so I have some awareness what I should be looking out for.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 18-11-2016 10:50am

Ayuntamiento wrote: »

That sounds awful Lexie. What happened to you? You don't have to say if you don't want to. I'm always interested in hearing other people's symptoms that prompted a diagnosis so I have some awareness what I should be looking out for.

Just hypothyroidism that went completely untreated and neglected which went into myxodema stage, caused some gland in my brain to swell up and leak, with levels that went 344 over what it should have been. It's actually a very simple condition to treat and look after but an absolute nightmare when it gets to profound hypothyroidism. You need higher meds but they can't move you too fast because it can throw you the other side of it, but not take enough you get swollen up, skin cracks, can't eat, vomit constantly, always feeling on the brink of passing out, eye sight getting so bad but opticians saying they can't helpnyou until they've stabilised it, arthritis in your joints, no periods, no energy. And still, the medication is being risen so slow that it's just not even staying the same it's getting worse

The Raptor · 23-11-2016 7:19pm

So, i know i have to get this checked out and i should stop wasting time.

However, my doctor has awkward opening times. He's open again on Friday evening. Then more than likely won't start the process of sending me to get it checked out until Monday.

Does anyone know, can i just walk into any doctor's office if i give them money to see me.

Going to the doctor over something small

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