Medical self care

[Gardenarian]

I'm wondering how much medical care most people do at home vs going to the doctor.

I broke my finger the other day and as it was fairly minor I decided to just tape it (to another finger) and skip the doctor, xrays, etc. I dislike going to the doctor; it's basically a waste of an entire day, I have a co-pay, and there are all those sick people there. (I also avoid xrays whenever possible.)

We practice a lot of preventive care at home. We have a blood pressure monitor, thermometer, bandages of all shapes and sizes, make home remedies, have used Dentemp (http://www.drugstore.com/dentemp-maximum-strength-temporary-filling-mix/qxp15415?catid=183798) rather than go to the dentist to have a crown or filling replacement, and do a lot of research.

I guess the deciding factor is if I can identify what's wrong fairly easily, and feel that home treatment will be as effective as what the doctor recommends.

How do you feel about this?

[ctg492]

My son is 27 and to this day if he thinks I am being cheap, he holds up his hand and says remember the pop sickle stick and tape to fix my broken finger when I was 12. It bends the other way kinda :|(

Setting that aside the internet has made for better or worse a self diagnosis easier then it used to be. I do that when ever I feel the need to. Preventive care is a great thing, but knowing when to go in is good too.

[peggy]

I suppose it would depend on which finger. If it doesn't heal right, I'd hate to lose the 'fine' motor skills of a finger. Now a toe, that's a bit different. I broke my little toe and just let it heal. it did hurt and was a hassle with shoes and all, but going to the doctor wouldn't have changed that.

[ApatheticNoMore]

No where near that much self-care, but I'm not one who runs to the doctor for a cold or mild case of the flu (as in: hurry up prescribe antibiotics even though it's probably viral!), or even a cough that lasts awhile (although if I've had one for a month, it's probably doctor time). I'm not a fan of most prescriptions, though I'll take antibiotics when indicated.

I'd have a bone set by a doctor if I broke it, I'd just want it aligned right ...


have used Dentemp rather than go to the dentist to have a crown or filling replacement

that doesn't sound advisable, decay can often get under the filling and crown, a dentist will clean it out if it does.

[sweetana3]

I love my dentist and go regularily.

I do not love my doctor and have to by dying to visit or once per year to get my RX's refilled. A cold is a cold and even the flu can be trreated at home. It is a lot easier now that I am retired and can sleep for 7 days if necessary. When I was working and they hassled me about being sick, I came into work probably contagious and showed them just how sick I really was.

I only treat the symptoms I have and only if they are bad. Children's Benadryl for congrestion and a drippy nose (smaller dose), some kind of aspirin or alternative for aches and swelling, ashtma medicine for deep cough, etc. Lots of hot liquid, sleep, reduced activity.

I thought I broke a little toe but the interenet told me there was little they could do but tape it so I carefully wore shoes and socks and kept moving. After a couple of months, it was fine.

[Mrs-M]

I'm on the fence Re: this. On one hand, I like to think people try and take care of the little things that come and go, things like common colds/flu, minor aches/pains (particularly with explanation), etc, while on the other hand, I also like to think that people take the initiative to seek medical attention when other more serious things arise.

Even though (here in Canada) we have world-class medical coverage, I always took the time to carefully weigh-over family matters and concerns (medically) when something or another would rear it's ugly head. Simple (common) things like diaper rash when the kids were babies, was always dealt with at home, as were common colds/flu, diarrhea, too, but when it came to something questionable where possible infection, etc, was at the route cause, it was off to the doctors office.

One thing prevalent today, that wasn't as prevalent in the past, is people running to the doctor for everything.

[Tussiemussies]

I practice a certain type of siritual healing along with herbs, vitamin and aromatherapy treatments. If I am not better in a bit, then I am off to the Dr. :)

[awakenedsoul]

I do a lot of self care at home. The only time I've been to the doctor in the past 20 years was to get antibiotics from an ear infection, (I was teaching lots of kids ballet at the time,) and to have ear wax cleared out of my ear. I eat a clove of fresh garlic every day. It's really great preventive medicine. I drink a pot of green tea each afternoon. Now that's it's colder, I've started making chai tea again, too. (from scratch.) I've read a lot about hormone balance through diet, and have added more nuts and grass fed meat to my diet. It's working. I haven't had the hot flashes, insomnia, or mood swings that many women get. My body is still really trim, too. That's important to me to maintain. I walk or bike every morning for an hour or so. I do yoga or pilates almost every night.
My hip was out of alignment last year, and it's taken me about a year to self heal it and get my pelvis back in it's correct position. It's amazing the difference, though. I didn't want to have a hip replacement like so many dancers do once they are older. The best healing for me has come from having a good cry. Now that I'm learning to knit socks and sweaters, I've gotten very frustrated and I just let myself cry. My back and hip seem so relieved! I believe a lot of aches, pains, and back problems are due to repressed negative emotion. I also believe in a clean house. Negative environments really affect me.

[ctg492]

awakenedsoul, do you not go for mammograms and all those lady type checkups? colonoscopy either? If you choose not to have those done, why not? I f I may ask. I do not think I have been to a doctor for an illness in years and years aside from two hernias from the no pain no gain line of thought. I feel I am in super shape, vegetarian/runner and biker,non smoker or drinker, but somethings I can have no control over so I will have those things done.

[Kestra]

It depends on whether I think they can do anything or not. About the broken finger, I wish I'd gone to the doctor as I didn't realize my finger was actually broken/dislocated until it was too late. I thought it was sprained and by the time I realized that one joint was screwed up it would have been healed enough that they would have had to re-break it. And I wasn't going through that. However, when I thought I may have broken my toe, I didn't go, because it wasn't out of alignment, so figured broken or not the treatment was the same.
For general illnesses, stomach or virus, I'll just deal with it at home unless it was going on for a long time and eventually I'd go in.

[Gardenarian]

Yes, my finger is just a bit smashed, not crooked and I can still bend it a bit. The collective knowledge of my neighbors and the Internet say "just tape it so it can't move." If it seems worse or not improving, I'll go to the doctor. I was kind of undecided about this decision, which brought me here. I've had a lot of medical decisions to make in the past year and it can be quite perplexing!

I think the efficacy of mammograms is questionable... though I did get one last year, as well as pap.

[Florence]

I am 65 and have decided no more mammograms or paps. I do everything I can to stay healthy and avoid doctors. I do go to the dentist twice a year for teeth cleaning.

[Blackdog Lin]

I had coworkers who ran to the doctor at the drop of a hat - or the littlest sniffle or pain - and never understood it. Virtually all of our (admittedly minor) health concerns take care of themselves with time and common sense. Bad cold or flu: time and common sense. Boo-boo gets infected: time and common sense treatment. Fall down and swell: wrap, time, and common sense treatment.

Several years ago I shut 2 fingers in a "two-ton" vault door. Taped them together for a week, took painkillers, and today I just have a bent finger and a little loss of sensation. No biggie, and saved a bunch of money and hassle by selfcare. DH had what we thought was a spiderbite - o.m.g., it was gross. Pus out the wazoo and I had to treat and tape it up with a half-inch of gauze twice a day, and it still drizzled down his back. We treated that spot for 3 solid months before it healed, which WAS getting worrisome. (then 2 years later he had the same thing happen in the exact same spot, and I realized any spiders weren't gonna bite him in the same spot, did some research, and the man is obviously prone to abscesses. I am now a whiz at treating abscesses. We treated one on his arm just a few months ago. Neosporin is my friend.)

So we're a self-care kinda household. I realize one of these days I could get bit by this philosophy.....but so far it works for us.

[Blackdog Lin]

(sorry, double post.)

[sweetana3]

I am a believer in genes and family history. We have nothing in our family history until the later 80s and early 90s. My dad just got remarried at 87 which was 2 years ago. So I am not going for the colonoscopy and have no more mammograms. Did two full scan diagnostic mammograms with ultrasound and the radiologist was surprised my doctor even ordered them. I am also willing to take responsibility for whatever comes.

[Gardenarian]

Interesting replies! You all made me a little worried about my finger, so I took advantage of a work service I've never used - the school nurse! She took a look at my finger and said "well, you could have it x-rayed, but if it were me I'd just tape it up and keep it in place for 4-6 weeks." So I feel good about that. And it only took about 5 minutes, no co-pay :)

In general, I'm trying to get away from relying on authorities and experts and take more responsibility in every aspect of life, from home maintenance and health and exercise to homeschooling. The older I get the less faith I have in experts in any field. It's part and parcel of becoming more self-reliant, which is a big part of simple living to me.

[Mighty Frugal]

I go for a yearly exam with blood work and PAPs. I also get my thyroid nodule measured every year (if it grows it's an indication it may have turned cancerous) and colonscopies every 5 years (runs in my family)

Haven't had a mammogram-over here 50 is the age to begin if no family history. And I have read reports where mammos didn't prevent any deaths..who knows anymore!

I avoid at all costs xrays, etc. And don't run to the doctor for every ailment (I had an ear infection over the holidays that cured itself)

For my children, I trust my gut. Once my youngest had a sore on his foot. dh said it was nothing, but my gut told me differently, so when I examined it I noticed the sore foot was swollen so we went to doctor and it was a staph infection. They told me if I waited a day or two more he would have had to been hospitalized for possibly weeks while they gave him antibiotic drip (not sure if they were trying to scare me)

So, I guess I am not so good with self care-haha..although I am trying to build up an herbal first aid kit. I have Manuka honey, rosemary oil, tea tree oil and want to buy some sambuktol

[pinkytoe]

I normally try to talk myself out of going to the doctor but hope I would make the right decision in a true emergency. My mother, a hospital pharmactist, always told me that docs were at their best in emergencies. Based on all of my past experiences and observing those of others, a trip to the doctor for non-emergency things usually ends with some common sense guidelines, diagnostic tests, and a prescription or two. And very often, treatment that is not necessary and occasionally harmful. Nothing seems to be healed anymore without a pill. For the past three years, I have elected not to have all the female "preventative" screenings. Why? Personal choice - anytime I try to explain my beliefs about it, someone comes back with how some test saved their life so it's an argument I can't win. I have watched various relatives and co-workers diagnosed with cancer and the treatment always seems much worse than the disease.

[Tussiemussies]

I normally try to talk myself out of going to the doctor but hope I would make the right decision in a true emergency. My mother, a hospital pharmactist, always told me that docs were at their best in emergencies. Based on all of my past experiences and observing those of others, a trip to the doctor for non-emergency things usually ends with some common sense guidelines, diagnostic tests, and a prescription or two. And very often, treatment that is not necessary and occasionally harmful. Nothing seems to be healed anymore without a pill. For the past three years, I have elected not to have all the female "preventative" screenings. Why? Personal choice - anytime I try to explain my beliefs about it, someone comes back with how some test saved their life so it's an argument I can't win. I have watched various relatives and co-workers diagnosed with cancer and the treatment always seems much worse than the disease.


I agree with you pinkie, for me it looks like many die from the chemo therapy and I wonder if other countries have some better treatments than we do. I read something about this once but cannot remember the facts...

[awakenedsoul]

awakenedsoul, do you not go for mammograms and all those lady type checkups? colonoscopy either? If you choose not to have those done, why not? I f I may ask. I do not think I have been to a doctor for an illness in years and years aside from two hernias from the no pain no gain line of thought. I feel I am in super shape, vegetarian/runner and biker,non smoker or drinker, but somethings I can have no control over so I will have those things done.
No, I don't have those done. I feel they are too invasive. I just don't agree with Western medicine. It's not for me. I'll take my chances with those types of cancer. I'm not trying to convince anyone else, that's just how I feel. I believe doctors are too eager to do surgery and to prescribe meds. It's big business.
It's good that you do what's best for you. My life is pretty stress free, which helps a lot, too.

[HumboldtGurl]

Since we can't even afford to use our insurance with it's $10,000 deductible, we pretty much have to be bleeding at a major artery or out cold before we will go to any doctor. We've learned lots about taking care of ourselves at home! Having bad health insurance has made us a lot tougher, that's for sure!

[Float On]

Just today, I've cancelled my follow up appt with the ortho for the broken ankle for I think the 5th week in a row. Now that it's at about 92% of former use I don't see the need for more x-rays and a $75 office visit just to tell me "your doing good lets see you in 6 mts".

I've superglued a major cut on the pad of my middle finger... just call me 'scar finger'.
I've taped my own broken toes.
I feel better off Blood Pressure meds than on.
My mom is one of 10 neither her nor her sisters or brothers have had any breast problems at all, I had one mammogram and probably won't have another unless I notice something. I only have one sex partner (DH) so I won't have another pap unless I notice a change.
I've raised two boys with only two emergency room visits. I consider getting impaled on a tree limb a valid reason for an ER visit. I questioned sending the other to the ER when his wrist was slit by a scissor blade but I wasn't home and my DH isn't as handy with bandages, superglue, etc. (no more sword fighting was allowed in the house).

We do go to the dentist once a year.

[flowerseverywhere]

It seems every time I go see the MD they find something else wrong and want to give me a pill.

case in point, for some reason in my mid 50's I suddenly developed awful allergies. The things immediately mentioned by the MD were allergy shots, antihistamines, nasal sprays and inhalers. What improved my symptoms about 90% were nasal irrigation, mattress and pillow anti-mite covers, not replacing pets when they left this earth, and when they were alive keeping them out of the bedroom. I also have no live plants in the house, and DH vacuums and dusts every few days for me. Simple measures instead of pills and shots really improved my health. Of course, if my breathing we compromised I would have had to go the medical route, but these environmental changes were very helpful with no negative side effects. I found the info on the internet on the allergy association website.

I also believe that our food is making us sick- too much processed food, mass produced meat, genetically altered grains and seeds so we try to eat as close to natural as we can.

as an aside, I had a foot injury and could barely walk, and the first MD wanted to do immediate surgery to reposition the heel bone. I got a second opinion and they second MD gave me exercises and I figured out putting a pillow at the foot of my bed helped my foot to stay upright and straight all night. I did a lot of water exercises as well and I am at about 90% healed. But I had to figure out most of this myself.

I still see the MD a few times a year and I think they get aggravated at me but I have good insurance so they put up with me!

[JaneV2.0]

My criteria for seeing a doctor: uncontrollable pain or bleeding, inability to breathe...

"I feel better off Blood Pressure meds than on." I read somewhere (The Last Well Person? Good book.) that blood pressure medication is a frequent cause of falls in the elderly. It used to be taken for granted that blood pressure went up with age; now we're all supposed to have the metrics of twenty-something athletes. Phooey.

I agree with many of the posts here. Our high-profit medical system is mostly about pushing pills and procedures. (A friend's relative regularly drove something like two hours for shockingly over-priced cancer treatment that had no effect on the course of their illness.) Except in the case of emergency/trauma medicine, it's mostly about covering up symptoms. Diagnosis of anything more obscure than a compound fracture seems to be a lost art.

The more pills you take, the more likely you are to throw off your body's ability to regulate itself and cause all kinds of new problems. The healthiest people I know and have known are those who avoid regular doctor visits, including those in my family who died in their nineties.

[HappyHiker]

Love you folks--you're after my own heart and practice. I self-doctor in 99% of my ailments. Usually rest, heat/cold, herbal/folk remedies cure most everything. I wouldn't attempt to remove my diseased gall bladder (if I had one), but other than that and similar situations, I let my body heal itself with a little help from holistic and alternative care.

Our body is a wondrous creation--it WANTS to be healthy...and fails us mostly when we abuse it with bad fuel, stress and mechanical breakdowns from some activity gone wrong.

Except for flu--which is the spawn of the devil.

Even now I'm fighting off a flu that wants to come visit but has been held off with lots of vitamin C, some extra zinc, and regular applications of a saline nose inhaler.

[awakenedsoul]

Hydrotherapy is great, too. One time I felt like I was getting really sick. I filled the tub with cold water and got in. It was a shock to my system, but the effects were instant. I could feel my bladder shrinking, my heart speeding up, my skin reacting, and poof! the flu syptoms vanished. I went back to bed and was able to sleep. (the ultimate healer.) It clears the aura, too. Another one that helps me is taking a warm epsom salt/baking soda bath. (Up to a pound of each.) It's great if you sensitive to your surroundings. I think I'm going to go take one now...

[Spartana]

Went in for my annual blood letting at the VA hospital lab today (results with the Dr tomorrow and next comes the brain scans andhearing tests and womanly scans - bleck - hate them all). Unfortunately those kinds of things are not something we can do at home but I do try to do as much self care as possible. Mostly don't go to the Dr unless I am in serious pain - and even then wait to see if it gets better or not - or if I was hurt badly enought that I thought I might die without immediate help. Otherwise it's self care all the way.

[fidgiegirl]

Hydrotherapy is great, too. One time I felt like I was getting really sick. I filled the tub with cold water and got in. It was a shock to my system, but the effects were instant. I could feel my bladder shrinking, my heart speeding up, my skin reacting, and poof! the flu syptoms vanished. I went back to bed and was able to sleep. (the ultimate healer.) It clears the aura, too. Another one that helps me is taking a warm epsom salt/baking soda bath. (Up to a pound of each.) It's great if you sensitive to your surroundings. I think I'm going to go take one now...

What do you mean by "sensitive to surroundings?" Like, bothered by odors or clutter or noise, or something else?

Your bath sounds wonderful, that's why I wonder. :)

[Tussiemussies]

Hydrotherapy is great, too. One time I felt like I was getting really sick. I filled the tub with cold water and got in. It was a shock to my system, but the effects were instant. I could feel my bladder shrinking, my heart speeding up, my skin reacting, and poof! the flu syptoms vanished. I went back to bed and was able to sleep. (the ultimate healer.) It clears the aura, too. Another one that helps me is taking a warm epsom salt/baking soda bath. (Up to a pound of each.) It's great if you sensitive to your surroundings. I think I'm going to go take one now...


Hi awakened soul, have read in the Spiritual Sience Research Center that putting your feet in warm water so they are about two inces apart and ankles covered,with about a half of a container of salt and chanting the name of your version of God , is only beneficial. I used to love baths too but they say a lot of negative energy is taken on during the bath and it is much better to shower.... Just letting you know a different point of view...PS the water should only ever be dumped down the toilet and the bucket you use should only be used for this purpose...