I usually just assume it’s viral. But then again my dad is a doctor so growing up whenever I’d complain about anything I pretty much just got, “It’s viral, suck it up!” 
Though I guess that’s a good point. Sometimes it is [del]lupus[/del] bacterial.
I used to have a horrible doctor. His solution to everything was either the wrong pill or a colonoscopy. (I’m not kidding.)
Due to much prodding from my wife and my boss, I now have a new team of doctors, all of whom are amazing (with the possible exception of the dermatologist, but he’s not horrible). My internist has taken good care of me, treating what he can and farming out the rest. He has reduced my blood pressure from a near-stroke level to 120/80. He has eliminated my blood sugar problems, and is effectively treating my COPD. My podiatrist has successfully diagnosed my perpheral neuropathy, and the (fairly expensive) medication is working. My dermatologist correctly diagnosed seborrheic dermatitis on my left leg (which his medication is clearing up), but misdiagnosed my right leg. Instead, my internist gave me antibiotics for imbedigo, and it cleared up. My psychiatrist has prescribed me medicines that calm me down, and very effectively treat my OCD, anxiety, and panic attacks.
But the internist is the key for me. He works almost like a general contractor. He’s the one who scheduled all the other treatments, and took care of referals and such. He’s the only doctor I’ve ever had who takes my blood pressure himself. It has always, for me, been the nurse who did that before the doctor came in. But my guy says he likes to be “hands on” with his patients, so he gets to know them better. Oh… and check their credentials. If you see “Duke University” or something like that, where he received his MD degree, that’s good. But if you see “Dudleys Medical College”, at least check it out first.
So, I’m very satisfied right now.
Also, Lynn mentioned above about being a good patient, and I think that’s important. You have to ask questions, and follow up with more questions to get through all the jargon. Don’t take, “You have imbedigo” as an answer. Ask what it is, whether it’s contagious, how you might have gotten it, and all that. For one thing, you’ll know if you have a good doctor, because the bad ones will evade or give stupid answers.
[Farnsworth]This is uncomfortable and humiliating! Now if they could put it in the form of a suppository…
I hate suppositories. They’re so hard to swallow!
Yeah, for my hurty hands, I was tested for lupus, among other things.
It wasn’t lupus.
I wouldn’t. Because there is no such thing.
I believe you mean “Impetigo.” No?
:smack: Yes. Sorry.
I’ve had them pull out my big toenails like teeth, stitch up my busted head, and drain and shunt my cauliflower ear. You must be leading a less hazardous life.
Holy cow, what are you, a cage fighter?
One of the nicest things about my doctor is , in the rare event I do ask to see her, I see her. A nurse or PA may take vitals, but the doctor always sees me in person. She never makes me feel rushed. My last complaint was a foot that had been sore for 6 months. She ordered an x-ray but told me I’d probably be referred to an orthopedist, which she did. She monitors my thyroid levels and recommended a great surgeon when my thyroid had to be removed. When she noticed my coughing (which I didn’t bother to mention to her, being used to it), she had a breathing test done and started me on asthma meds as needed.
StG
I saw my pediatrician until I was 19 or so, then I went on to my dad’s doctor - who took over the practice from dad’s ORIGINAL doctor (yeah, from 1950 onwards!) So the family just sort of defaulted to him.
I’ve never particularly liked my doctor - he’s a pill pusher for sure. He likes to yell about smoking and weight but to be honest, what’s he supposed to say?
I don’t particularly like his scheduling practices, either - hour wait, 10 minute appointment, come back in 6 weeks.
But, I haven’t died under his care yet, so whatever.
HOWEVER…the last time I went to see my doctor for an ailment (earache) I wound up seeing a new nurse practitioner in his office (because you can’t actually see a doctor unless you schedule your ailment weeks in advance).
She determined I didn’t have an earache, my TMJD was acting up due to stress, my BP was high, I was quite overweight and let’s get you checked out.
I’ve been seeing this RNP for about a year and a half now and I actually really like our visits. She sees me on time, sees me for 30 minutes, talks to me, works on things with me, gets my BP and cholesterol down, helps me find the right medications for me. Just plain old helpful.
She’s started making me see the regular doc every so often now (“He’s my boss, you have to see him.”) Absolutely dreadful. Glad she still sees me, tho.
I almost did a spit-take when I read this. My best friend and I had the same doctor when we were teenagers and we had a long-running joke that his solution to everything was to touch your penis.
"Doc, I’m feeling kind of depressed . . . "
“Let me touch your penis.”
"Doc, I’ve got this bad hang nail on my big toe . . . "
“Gonna have to touch your penis.”
"But doc . . . "
“EH EH EH! Penis.”
God, I don’t know which I’d prefer: letting him fondle my penis, which would surely retreat like a turtle head; or letting him push a camera past my sphincter, which my glutes would surely squeeze tightly closed.
Finding a decent doc definitely takes some shopping around! In fact, one of the big reasons I was reluctant to leave the western Maryland area to move to WV, was that my health is not good, and I had good doctors in Cumberland! In fact, I went back there last week to have my kidney removed, so it could be done by a urologist I knew and trusted, and who knew me and my kidneys, rather than risk losing the time establishing a relationship with a new one!
Now I have to go through the ordeal of finding another PCP and urologist. Sigh.
Oh well. At least since I’ve already had a complete hysterectomy, I won’t have to worry about finding an OB/GYN until my 9YO is old enough to have one!
Oh, and I love the suggestion upthread to ask a pharmacist for doc recommendations. In fact, there’s a neighborhood pharmacy less than two blocks from me. I believe in the next couple of weeks, I’ll stop by and ask the pharmacist for a couple of recommendations.
Yeah, me too! In fact the last one I took was useless; didn’t help. I might as well have shoved it up my ass.
Naw, but that list sounds like, huh? Most are from wrestling (real kind, not WWF). And I busted my head open when I was just six, but it was a the small town general practitioner doc who put stitches in my melon, not the ER.
I’m glad it’s not just me. 
Nowadays, I diagnose myself, and imagine what my doctor would say (bed rest, fluids, etc.) If it gets more serious, then I see the doctor (fever over 100, lasts more than 3 days, etc.) It rarely gets more serious than that though.
Here’s a story:
I was sick for about 4 months. It started as a flu in the flu season of '04, and changed to a cold. I would feel better for a few days, then it would get worse. On Chistmas Eve, my mucous started changing colors: green, yellow, red, yellow, etc. I called it “Christmas snot.” I went to the emergency room that day because if I didn’t I would have to wait until at least Dec. 26th to see a doctor, and hopefully they could give me a round of antibiotics from the ER pharmacy (stores were already closed on Dec. 24th.) After a 3 hour wait, I finally get the antibiotics and a diagnoses of sinusitis. Didn’t work.
Next to my working place, there was a Chinese doctor/herbalist/acupuncturist. I say, what the hell, and go see her. She tells me that the initial flu weakened my immune system, and that’s why all these new infections keep occurring. She gives me some medicine and an acupuncture treatment, and within a week, I’m cured. My coworker gets sick as well for 2-3 months, and I let him try that medicine as well. After one dose, he’s fine.
This year, same thing happens: 72 hour flu, followed by a cold. I go to her again, and she gives me two sets of pills, one to kill the germs and one to boost my immune system. A week later, I’m fine.
So you went to the ER for a non-emergency on Christmas eve, and they’re wasting YOUR time?
Hey screw you, I had Christmas snot.
I’ve counted at least four posts in this thread that say “don’t go to the doctor for colds and flu; there’s nothing they can do”. This is true for colds, but there are drugs that can reduce the severity and length of flu, and they are most effective if given within the first 24 hours. So I’d say at least consider going to the doctor for the flu, especially if you’re fragile in some way (very young, very old, pregnant, immuno-compromised, etc.)