# How do you decide when to go to the doctor? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 9, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-doctor/722074 "2015-06-09T16:04:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-doctor/722074/61 "2015-06-11T21:09:42Z")
I know when I have a sinus or ear infection (because I’ve had so many of them) and need antibiotics, so I go then. For obvious things I go. Otherwise I ask my wife, since she’s a Nurse Practitioner. We get a lot of calls at our house because she’s everyone’s medical expert and I’m everyone’s tech support. ---
**Author:** ![ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-doctor/722074/62 "2015-06-12T02:12:29Z")
My criteria for a doctor/ER visit are pretty straightforward. I’ll go if one or more of the following occur or are occurring: 1-some part of me that used to work, doesn’t 2-a part of me that used to be inside is now outside 3-I’ve been knocked unconscious 4-I’m having more trouble than usual breathing (I have asthma) 5-some (large) foreign object has (deeply) pierced my flesh 6-a part of me is no longer attached 7-I’m bleeding uncontrollably 8-I have a fever above 103 for more than a day 9-unexplained swelling/growths/lingering discoloration 10-pain greater than my notably high level of tolerance for more than a day or so Last time was 8-10 and it turned out to be Necrotizing fasciitis. I spent a month an a half in the hospital, 5 weeks of which in the burn ICU, needed 7 surgeries and was out of work another 2 months. When I had decent insurance, a visit every 3 months for a check-up and prescription refills was tolerable. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-doctor/722074/63 "2015-06-12T03:51:31Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Now that I’ve passed the big five-oh, every time I see my doctor, he says, “When do you want to schedule your colonoscopy?” > > Nice open ended question! Yeah, yeah, I know I should do it. But I don’t wanna! Another vote for “get it done”! Colonoscopy is the single most cost-effective screening test. Precancerous polyps can be snipped out quickly with no problems. Allowed to grow, they can become colon cancer. And colon cancer is an ugly way to die. The test isn’t that bad. I did it without sedation, and it wasn’t terribly painful. (And it was kind of cool to see inside parts.) It’s even less uncomfortable with sedation. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-doctor/722074/64 "2015-06-13T00:00:50Z")
I should be more pushy I think. I get there, the doc says how are you and I say ‘fine’. What the hell am I doing there then? Well, I don’t want to moan but it hurts to peg the clothes on the line … now I have to wear a neck brace for six months. I’m good at deciding when other people need to see a doctor though. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-doctor/722074/65 "2015-06-13T13:05:47Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Another vote for “get it done”! > > Colonoscopy is the single most cost-effective screening test. Precancerous polyps can be snipped out quickly with no problems. Allowed to grow, they can become colon cancer. And colon cancer is an ugly way to die. The test isn’t that bad. I did it without sedation, and it wasn’t terribly painful. (And it was kind of cool to see inside parts.) It’s even less uncomfortable with sedation. Plus, in the recovery room, nurses encourage you to fart. When else do you get encouraged to fart? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decide-when-to-go-to-the-doctor/722074.md?page=3)