So I haven’t seen a regular MD in years because of past awful experiences (I’ve had to see specialists about other things, though.) I have a birthmark that I really, really need removed. The LAST time I saw a nurse practitioner, she said that it was harmless but would eventually need to come off. So here’s the question, and it’s really not a medical advice question (I don’t think, anyway):
Is it possible to just go and get this one thing taken care of? I know that I should get a general checkup too, etc, etc, but I just can’t handle everything at once because of all the phobias. (Yes, I’m seeing a therapist too!) I have to take one thing at a time or I will never be able to do this at all. Can I just go and say that I have to get this issue taken care of before I can even think about tackling anything else? Or will they just refuse to see me at all? All advice appreciated!
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Yes, it’s allowed here (with the usual caveats about asking medical questions of strangers on the Internet), but not in GQ. I’ve moved your thread to IMHO.
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Look up Dermatologists in your local area. Call them and ask if they take appointments or if patients have to be referred. Whichever one takes patients, make your appointment, head in, say “please remove this” get zapped or sliced or frozen (as the case may be) and walk out probably less than 1 hour later.
(If the mole is in a convenient location, wearing of the paper “robe” is optional. Dress in clothes that allow access to the birthmark, and then you don’t have to take anything off!)
Lasciel: fellow doctor/hospital-phobe. (Keep working at it! It gets better, I swear!)
Do you have insurance? If so, you may need to see your primary care doctor for a referral to see a dermatologist. Or you may be able to just go see a dermatologist without a referral. If you don’t have insurance, then you can just go see a dermatologist. If you have insurance and the dermatologist says the thing doesn’t need to come off, then removal would be cosmetic and not covered by insurance. Anything removed except for skin tags has to go to pathology, so that would be an added expense if you’re self-paying.
All advice appreciated!