Just a question

[Elizabeth]

Do those of you who are properly self sufficient use the medical services? e.g. dentist

Just curious

[Helsbells]

Although I am not totally self sufficient I cant see myself ever giving up the medical service completely, I mean it would just be silly wouldnt it? if you broke your leg or something your gonna need a bit more than some arnica cream!

Seriousely though you have to pay council tax pretty much wherever you live so I would feel entitled to use the medical services.

[Annpan]

I don't think that there is any reasonable way to be totally self-sufficient. I mean you would be talking about growing your own wheat, using self made tools, making your own pots.... to take self-sufficiency to the extreme would be madness, if not impossible.

I haven't seen the dentist in a while, but could do with it. I don't use the doctor as much as most people I know. After the appalling treatment I received from Health Visitors and Midwifes during labour and early baby days I wouldn't be in a rush to use their services again. I prefer to figure things out myself, but if I suspect something wrong I would be straight to the doctor/dentist/surgeon. Your life may be dramatically shortened if you don't seek proper medical advice when needed.

[Clara]

Not often. I certainly take an ish approach to using them, empowering myself with knowledge about my health, looking into natural alternatives etc. I can't actually think when I last saw a conventional gp.

I had private non-medical midwives for my last birth and this one will be attended by conventional midwives, though again privately. I've used the local nurse for the blood tests that the midwives insist upon and had scans at the hospital.

My DD recently had to go to the local health centre after eating some poisonous berries (stomach pumping a 2yo, horrid experience), and they were getting terribly confused and worried about the fact that they had no records for her - along the lines of "but she's 2, surely she must have seen a doctor before", well no actually, I'm glad you're here but I won't come running to you everytime she coughs!

[the.fee.fairy]

I use the services when i need them, but other than that, i tend to stay away. Apart from last week, the only tim i've seen the doctor in the past year ended up with me being rushed to hospital and being told that i should have seen him sooner...

However, the stupid doctor last week just reminded me why i don't go that often...i had tonsillitis, and he started asking if i wanted help giving up smoking (umm...nope...the tonsillitis was doing a pretty good job), and whether i'd booked a smear test lately. I was really annoyed, I felt like death warmed up and the last thing i was interested in was getting my bits poked. I did ask him whether having a smear test would prevent me getting tonsillitis in the future, but he gave me that 'i have no sense of humour' look. At least he didn't start telling me i should be on the pill like all other doctors do...i really can't see how the pill would help my tonsils...

[Annpan]

I was really annoyed, I felt like death warmed up and the last thing i was interested in was getting my bits poked. I did ask him whether having a smear test would prevent me getting tonsillitis in the future, but he gave me that 'i have no sense of humour' look. At least he didn't start telling me i should be on the pill like all other doctors do...i really can't see how the pill would help my tonsils...

LOLOLOL

[lsm1066]

I use the doctor for diagnosis and the homoeopath, herbalist, clinical nutritionist or osteopath for a cure, unless it's definitely a doctor thing, like when I found out I had severe kidney problems that required surgery. No amount of arnica cream could have fixed that either ;) Dentist is another matter entirely though. I'm absolutely terrified of the dentist and can't even sit in the big chair without gas and air! I always take my kids though, and they have no clue about my phobia. Just because I'm psychotic doesn't mean they have to inherit that from me as well!

Doctors can be real idiots though. My mum went to one recently with problems with her knee. She'd actually injured it when she caught her foot and twisted it, but because she's nearly 70 he pronounced that it was her age and there was nothing he could do about it. To which she responded that he could say what he liked but she had no problems at all with the other knee and that, to her certain knowledge, they are both the same age. He gave her a look the suggested the fact she was between him and the door was cause for concern.

Lynne

[pumpy]

I do find that as i get older, & all me" bits & bobs" are wearing out, i do have to visit the local surgery more often. However, as we live in a villiage, the doctors soon get to know who are genuine, & who are "frauds"! But i have no hesitation in using the N.H.S., having paid into the system for years..........tho' i only go as a last resort, for fear of wasting their time.

[invisiblepiper]

:To which she responded that he could say what he liked but she had no problems at all with the other knee and that, to her certain knowledge, they are both the same age.

Good for your Mum! _ I get ticked off when 'age' is mentioned as a reason for eveything!

& all me" bits & bobs" are wearing out,

However .............. I know this feeling - its just starting - but I hate Isaac Newton!!!!!!

[the.fee.fairy]

I'd quite like to find a local homeopath. J was brought uo using homeopathy rather than conventional mediecine and he has the immune system of the average junkyard dog! Despite frequently being in the right position to catch the tonsilitis, he's managed to avoid it twice now.


Its definitely someting that i'd like to have a look into in the future. The thing is, i never think about it unless i'm ill, and usually when i actually notice that i'm ill, i'm really ill...