I've never understood the need to run to the doctor for every little sniffle. Here's a clue people, they still can't cure a friggin cold, ok?

I guess I'm at the opposite end of that spectrum. I have to be nearly dying before I'll finally go see a doctor. They usually bitch me out for not coming in sooner.

I once stabbed myself in the hand with a very long knife while working. Severed an artery. That happened around 8:00am. I worked a full day and then after going home I went to the emergency room to get it stitched up. No big deal.

I don't tolerate whiners very well.

don't go looking to me when you've got a headache for sympathy. I do understand where you are coming from. But I don't really need to hear it. Suck it up, take a tylenol, and call me in the morning... about something entirely different.

VERY well said. That old Army saying about looking for sympathy in the dictionary comes to mind if you're wanting it. It's right between shit and syphilis...

"Don't complain about your problems to others, half of them don't give a shit and the other half are glad you're going through it."

Your mother was a wise woman.

I find myself with the same attitude. Especially with my middle son, Bret. He is the worst sick kid on the planet. He gets a cold and whines and cries and acts like he is dying. It drives me crazy. I mean I feel bad for him but dial it down about twenty notches. I hope the kid never has any serious illness or injury. I don't think he could take it.

My attitude when I'm sick is to suck it up and take some medicine and get on with my day. I have to be dying to stay in bed and take a day off. I haven't been to the doctor in forever. Years. The only time I went to the doctor regularly was when I was PG. Hopefully, I will stay in good health so it won't be an issue and I know that I won't ever be preggers again. Thanks God.

Does every minor ailment have to be acknowledged by someone with a lot of intials following his/her name? Maybe this is just a Canadian thing?

Nah, it isn't exclusively a Canadian thing. I work at a large hospital and one of the big problems here is how the Emergency department is constantly clogged up with people who are hypochondriacs. I don't get it. Like Mason, I won't go to see a doctor unless I absolutely, postively have to.

"Don't complain about your problems to others, half of them don't give a shit and the other half are glad you're going through it." Your mother was a wise woman.

I agree.

I get sick more than the average person.  I get colds year round, but I don't go to the doc about them.  I WILL go to the doc if the home remedies I've tried for my ailment hasn't worked and I've been sick for longer than a week with no improvement.  Like this week....I pissed fire for a week and when the cranberry juice didn't work and I was running a temperature, I went to the doctor and got some antibiotics.

Most of my physician's appointments lately are due to the car accident.  Every time I think I'm done fixing things, we find something else that's broken.  I'm seeing 2 different specialists now, and have the prospect of another surgery coming up.  So yeah, I see a lot of docs and I often blog about it.  I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm just writing about things because I can't talk to Dave about them.  He doesn't deal with me being ill very well and I don't have anyone else to talk to.

 

Ok, now I've got that out of the way....the last time I was in the ER having a chunk of glass removed from my son's foot, I got to talking to the med tech and he told me some of the stories about people who come in with non emergent complaints...like the lady who wanted a physical so her child could go to camp and who bitched when a man with a broken arm got seen before her.  Another family bought their child in with a runny nose, and whilst they were waiting they proceeded to have a Burger King picnic in the waiting room - and the child ate her kid's meal without complaint.  Yeah, she was sick alright. 

My husband is the kind of person who, when he's sick, will retreat to the bedroom and then the histrionics start.  I can't stand that....

 

I am not a Doctor person either.  I have been blessed with good health so I dont get sick much.  And even then, I dont go when I do get sick.  I figure if my body can lick it, then it will be stronger.  Seems to work.  My ex was always taking pills for something or anotehr and always getting sick.

Perhaps it is because of I am one, but I avoid Doctors at all costs. Most of the time it is because I can figure out pretty much what is going on. Same with my kids. They are acting sick, I have a good idea of what to look for (I have my own otoscope and such, so I give them a quick home physical), and only go to the doctor if I am really concerned, or know I need a prescription.

I'm sick, I have a headache, my tooth hurts, I'm feeling weird, do I need to take a pill? What no sympathy? OK I'm just messing with you!

I'm lucky not to get sick too often and like most of you don't like to go to the doctor unless it's really, really serious. However, my son who's asthmatic I hate when he gets sick because when he is it's bad news; even a sniffle I have to be really careful with him so I take him to his doctor on a regular basis. No sucking up for his condition. My girls on the other hand don't usually get sick except a sniffle or two here and there. My oldest freaks out when she gets ill.

I guess it just depends on the individual and either you're going to tolerate their whining and commiserate with them, cause some people are just like that, or you're just going to tell them to suck it up...

Nicky,
I was thinking of this article yesterday morning. This lady came in the bakery and all of a sudden had a coughing fit. It happens, I know. However, she was just walking around the counter coughing her brains out and NEVER covered her mouth. Then she started doing these nasty sneezes. Oh my gosh, she wasn't so old that she could get away with it. It was so gross. Nobody wanted to wait on her. I know that might sound callous, but it is true.