I am in a condition right now where I feel I need to see a doctor. My family is insured, and making an appointment wouldn’t be a problem–but I have some concerns because the problem really is rather embarrassing–and I’d rather my family not know.
I don’t know how the insurance plan works because I’ve never read over any of it before–I was just wondering–can somebody out there tell me how to go about asking a clinic for a discrete appointment? And if such a thing is even possible–whether or not the insurance bill can be done discreetly, too? My father balances all the bills and payments in our house, and he -will- notice any charges for stuffs he is not familiar with.
I’m over 18. But the last doctor I saw was my pediatrician–when I was 17.
I think that you should probably talk to your parents about it. It probably won’t be as bad as you think, and they may even have some helpful input (your mom probably knows already. I have no idea how she would know, but moms can do that!).
However, if it’s really that embarassing, I would suggest that you see about going to a clinic. You’ll have to pay in cash, but generally they charge on a sliding scale.
It all depends upon the insurance/coverage company. For the Blues [Cross/Shield], there is a co-payment that you hand over before services are given. You must show your insurance card as well, if you are claiming payment from them. In short order or maybe up to a couple of weeks, a confirmation form will be sent to the address of record, ie: to your address or the prime insurance holder which will give information on the provider, the patient, date and type of service [with a coded service id which details what was done, ie: direct case, lab services etc]. The confirmation will also show what the insurance company paid and whatever else you must pay above and beyond the original copayment. Your Dad would be the prime insurance holder if he is the one who pays for the insurance [plus his employer] and you receive care as a dependant.
If you decide that you do not want your dad to find out about your visit, I would suggest that you go to a free clinic if nearby. There are several types, ie: local health dept, independent free standing clinic that is funded by good hearted types, nonprofit organizations such as planned parenthood, women’s clinics, std clinics etcetcetc. You are over 18 so any laws pertaining to your health which require your parents to be notified [ie sexually transmitted disease or pregnancy] do NOT come into play. Ask about payment schedules when you make your appointment; they could ask for a fee based on a sliding scale or for a contribution - their primary reason for existance is to provide services to those who can’t pay. You are probably overage to receive any services from any Adolescent Health program.
Are you in school? Forget about any high school clinic - they’ll notify your parents. Check the Student Health Center if you are in college. They tend to be more sympathetic to your need for privacy.
You’ll have to do some footwork, but it is better in the long run to seek care now before your condition gets worse.
You might want to consider letting your folks in on whatever ails you if there is a long term impact on your health. They don’t need to know right now. Most likely they will not need to know in the future. On the oft chance that you will need some future support [emotional or whatever], let your folks in at the beginning - after your first visit.
Thanks for your help. Unfortunately–I can’t find a non-profit clinic anywhere (searched online and in the yellow pages), and my college’s health office doesn’t take appointments on the weekend, anyway.
My family and I don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things–and there’s a great deal of underlying resentment against them, too–that’s why I’d rather just not confront them. I’ll be moving out soon, anyways, hopefully!
But again–thanks fer yer help. It’s given me a few options to look into.
Ashley, do not do doctor’s job: do not make the diagnosis youself! When you call for an appt., and the receptionist asks, "What the problem?, tell her something like “I don’t know… my belly aches…”. Later, ask the doctor to write a “good” diagnosis in your chart (and all insurance forms will repeat it). An M.D. cannot wright everything, but a “good” one can always wright “cystitis” for a STD, or “amenorrhea” if you are pregnant.
Not knowing what your specific condition is, it’s hard to say, but if you are wanting reproductive health services (pap smears, gyno exams and the like) try your local branch of Planned Parenthood. They are very discreet and charge on a sliding scale based on what you can afford.
If it’s mental health problems, and you desperately need to talk to someone, check your local phone book for suicide hotlines.
If you are bleeding, go to the ER and deal with the fallout later .
I believe that anything you say to your doctor, since you’re over 18, must be held in confidence LEGALLY. If you want to make very,very sure, though, try your school’s health services so as to not involve the folks.
Anyways…After reading all of yer posts, and going over the board again, I realize that there really -isn’t- much of a reason for being shy on the boards. So Here I am again to explain a little more about my condition–the only reason I’m doing so is because it’s the weekend, I can’t schedule an appointment until Monday, and I’m hoping somebody out who knows more about medicine than I do could offer at least a little advice.
I’ve been having bouts of urinary incontinence. Usually just small, intermittent, and sometimes unnoticable leakage–but since it began this last Friday, I -have- had two complete and utter accidents. Both happened in the privacy of my own home–and I’m lucky since I’ve been alone but now I feel too paranoid to really go out. And I attend classes for almost 4 hours every weekday. The accidents begin when I suddenly begin ‘trickling’ without really a sensation of ‘fullness’. The odd part is that after I either manage to stop the stream or completely empty my bladder, it isn’t always ‘full’. (i.e.–my bladder doesn’t always fill to it’s max capacity first.)
And now for the particulars…
I’m 18, reasonably healthy and physically fit, recently got over a touch of some kind of flu (during which I upped my liquid intake), and have noticed a dull ‘pressure’ in my lower abdomen, which is not painful, but noticeable.
I’m male (as stated before), haven’t had any recent sexual intercourse, at least not with another person. ;P, and am not really sure what I expect any of you guys to reply. Or -if- you’ll reply. But hey–you never know 'till you try.
Those sound like the main things that could be causing your problem. But it is something you should see a doctor about. Have no fear, the only real difference between going to the doctor when you’re 17, and when you’re 18 is that the doctor is the only one in the room with you, and you have to tell him your problems yourself. Don’t worry about it. Your doctor has heard things far more embarassing that some simply urinary tract problems.
It seems like you might have a bladder infection. Easy to get and easy to cure and nothing to be embarrassed about. You can get one by having some dirt on your hands when you urinated that managed to leave some bacteria behind, which migrated up your urethra. No sweat. Mom and Pop shouldn’t question that if it shows up on the insurance. You probably have a family doc anyhow and if there is some reason you want it kept quiet (like you might have managed to get it from some lady you dabbled with), he will.
Or you can try webmd.com & search around. They have some great information. You don’t have to wait until mon for an appt. Just walk right into a hospital & they can treat you but its expensive that way.
Ashley,
what Tigre said is correct, but impossible to do: a doctor’s office has to fill out many insurance forms, your diagnosis will be coded with multidigit number, fed into databases, etc. That’s the consequence of our heath care system. The time when one was examined and treated by a private phsician, and the records were kept private, is gone. All this does not mean that your neighbors and friends will learn about your condition. It’s more like revealing it here: we do not know you, nor do the clerks of the insurance company. You’re only insured # XYZ1234567890 for them. You’ll have to deal with your father, though. If it turns out to be something minor, he’ll get over it. If it’s something more seroios, he got to deal with it, sooner or later. It’s bad, when one’s child gets sick, but life sucks.
It’s impossible to diagnose any disease without seeing and talking to the patient personally. This is one of the reasons you’ll make your appointment on Monday. Incontinence may be a symptom of various diseases, from “banal” lower urinary tract infection to kidney disese to brain condition. The latter may be benign post-flu encephalitis or it may be an incurable tumor or anything in between. Do not panic. In your age, the possibilities are sharpely limited. And you have none of gynecological conditions suggested by Tigre. Whatever you have is not life-threatening or disabilitating. Go for a walk, watch TV or read books. Do not drink alcohol, do not eat spicey foods. Relax, the life is barely beginning. Many people on this BB would swap places with you,with or without the incontinence.
The problem you describe is fairly common. Your doctor sees this sort of thing very frequently. You don’t have cancer, or anything serious.
Given that things just started on Friday, the cause is most likely a urinary tract infetion. These are easy to treat with antibiotics such as Septra. This diagnosis can easily be confirmed by testing your urine for white blood cells, enzymes and nitrites. Try not to be embarassed about this common problem; many people have had this problem at one time or another.
If you are under a great deal of stress, that can occasionally cause this problem. The lower abdominal pain you palpate is probably your bladder.
People your age can get prostatitis, but if you have not been having pain for some time this diagnosis is less likely. THe chance you have prostate cancer is too low to entertain.
In the meantime, drink as much as you can, urinate often, and try to relax. This is not the end of the world, and you will get better.
.