Is it wrong to go to the doctor too much?

[ImSad]

I'm a 17-year old male. I honestly believe that my parents are wrong.

I have health problems and want to visit the doctor. They simply tell me to wait and hold it off - and refuse to take me to see the doctor. They never believe that I have any problems at all and that it's simply 'all in my head'. There's nothing more than I hate other than hearing, "Oh, it's all in your head".

Examples:

I was having chest pain. It was going on for a week. I was getting worried. It was a pain I never experienced before. I asked them if I could go to the doctor and they flipped out. The pain went away, but all my questions were left unanswered. I never figured out what the problem was.

A month later, I had lower abdominal pain. I waited a week and the pain was still there. Again, it was a pain I never experienced before. I was getting worried, and so I asked them to go to the doctor. They flipped out again, calling me a hypochondriac.

Eventually the pain went away, but the doctors never diagnosed what it was.

Now, I've been having a terrible headache for almost a week now. I've been bugging my parents about going to see the doctor as that's what everybody online suggests is the right thing to do, yet my parents still get annoyed whenever I ask them. My mother has said "Oh, the doctor isn't available until next week". I don't believe her.

Usually when I have pain that doesn't go away after 3 or so days, I get worried and ask to see a doctor. Isn't that what everybody should do? Why wait until something gets worse? Especially if the pain is new and you've never had it before.

Don't get me wrong here. I'm not the person who asks to visit the doctor whenever there's a small problem. It's NOT like I ask to go to the doctor whenever I get a cold or a fever. I don't believe I'm a hypochondriac, as they suggest. I'm smart enough to know when something is wrong, and when something isn't wrong. I only ask to go to the doctor when I have a brand new pain for over 3 days. Am I really doing the wrong thing?

What should I do?

 

[patty6789]

If you were older, I would say, yes, without a doubt go to the dr. with a serious pain lasting 3 days or more.

The only reason I say, "if you were older" is that I have raised 2 children myself and I know that kiRAB/teens tend to get more aches and pains that really are nothing to worry about. (some call these 'growing pains')

I guess that my questions are, when was the last time that you were at the dr.?

Do your parents take you for annual check up's?

When do you turn 18?

Do you drive? Taking yourself to the dr. or the local health clinic may be an option?

Putting your age aside, after 3 bouts of pain lasting more than 3 days, I would say its time for a trip to the dr.:wave:

 

[92261]

ImSad: Can you get any help from the school nurse? Maybe she can help talk to your parents.

 

[twin17]

hi "sad"... by all means go to the doctor.. do you need your parents consent? i don't see why your parents are flipping out. when my 2 kiRAB needed to go to the doctor, i always took them.. even if i thought they were not really in the need.
i am by all means not a teenager.. but teenagers do get chest pains that could mean heart, they do get abdominal pains that could mean appendix, they do get headaches that could mean migraines or anything! please encourage them to take you, or just go yourself! it can't hurt, it will help ease your mind.
i am just the opposite of you.. i never want to go to the doctor.. and i am paying dearly for it now.. i have developed coronary problems because i DIDN'T go to the doctor and take care of myself.. so good luck, let us know how things turned out.

 

[dan49]

Sad I do understand your delima, and yes if your worried about something being wrong your parents should take you to a Dr. at least for a check up. Please understand though you have said on three different weeks you have had a different issue whether it was headaches , abdomen pain or chest pain.

Headaches are not life threatening and even my only children I just give then aspirin or tylenol. The abdomen pain that you had for a week probably you should have had checked out. No it is not wrong or crazy to want to go to the Dr. but many things at your age is nothing to worry about for most of the time.

I as a parent and have raised 4 children know that somethings are not seriuos and they do go away. As you stated in each case within a week your pains were gone. If your were much older on any of those problems I would say go, but your symtoms seem like they come and then their gone. In any case this is how I would handle it if you are that worried.

First, I would say go to your parents again and see if they will take you to a dr. for a check up. Do it in a way were you are not whining but say that you are concerned. If your parents are that adimant about not taking you you could try to speak to the school nurse on this, but beware this could cause personal issues with you and your parents. Its an option though.

Also in most states as long as your under 18 a Dr has to have a parents ok to see you in most circumstances.

Here are some additional questions to thing about.
Are you close to 18? If you are the public clinics are a place you could go.

Do your parents have health insur.? That is not a good reason not to take you to a dr but it one reason many people including children don't go.

Please sit down with your parents and talk to them and see if you can explain to them that you are worried and want to go for a checkup. If you do it in a mature way then I am sure they will see your side if not then. then are options I stated and other posts stated.

I am sure you are fine and I hope things go well for you.