I can tell you that I fear the doctor like nothing else in the world.

I honestly think I'd rather drop dead than know I'm going to drop dead. But if I thought I was having a stroke I'd most likely get into the emergency asap.

I'm not sure what it is, but I don't like doctors at all.

There was a story on MSNBC.com last year that said most men do not see a doctor from the period after high-school until they have their first heart-attack. It's stupid.

On the flip side a lot of people get carried away and go to the doctor with a case of the sniffles.

I got sick about two years ago, worst I'd ever been. I lost my voice for ten days, had lost hearing in one ear, and a bunch of other symptoms before I went in.

The doc gave me antibiotics, yelled at me for never doctoring and being overweight, but then told me I'd probably respond really well to the antibiotics because I had never had any. He said he wished more people would let their bodies fight basic illness because they rush off to get meds too quick and their body starts building up immunity to them.

Wow, he should definitely go to the dr.

I'm not that way. I'll give things time to see if it just needs to "run its course" but when the course keeps lingering on, I'll go to the dr.

I have a friend that runs to the dr. for every little thing. Its to the point that it is almost funny at times.

I remember when this guy had sprained his ankle. He went to the dr. and the dr. told him to wrap it up and take it easy for a while. He told me he was getting mad because the dr wouldn't tell him how long he should take it easy . . . the dr kept saying just until it felt better. He argued with the dr until the dr finally told him two weeks. SO, this guy "took it easy" for two weeks to the hour.

He was as serious as he could be when he told me "I can finally get back to normal tomorrow afternoon because my ankle will be healed". I asked him how it felt and he said "It feels fine now, but the dr said it would take two weeks to heal."

duh. he should go....

thats something that I am coming around to. I haven't seen a doctor in years for a regular check up. I figured if it ain't broke, don't go fix it. or if it ain't hurtin and is still workin its good.  The last time I got looked at was by a nurse for a  life  insurance policy. This was about 2003  I think. everything was fine. BUt I am closing in on 40. I believe in trying to live a healthy life. A doctors input pretty soon would be smart.

well I just called my husband and told him what I observed with my brother-in-law so he could tell my sister when he wasn't around. She was on the phone when this happened. I wouldn't put it past him not to tell his wife.

I hope someone can talk your brother-in-law into going to see a doctor.  While he may not have had a stroke yet, he could possibly have a clogged artery somewhere that is causing those symptoms.  Or it could be something totally different going on, but he needs to find out what it is.

I too am one that doesn't go to the doctor like I should.  I have my once a year check-ups, but that's about it.  They keep telling me I'm getting to the age where I should be having all these other tests done.  I on the other hand feel I know my body well enough that I would know if something's not quite right.  Plus I see a lot of other women my age already popping an enormous amount of pills for various things, and frankly, I think most of them are taking way too many pills when things such as a change in diet/exercise would help them a lot more.  I'm not ready to carry around a small medicine chest with me just yet. 

my last doctor was a pill pusher. Said I needed a lifetime perscription of Zyrtic for $90 a month. with insurance. Guess what. I didn't need a damn thing other than to ride out what I had for a couple of weeks.

Woo... if this has been an off an on thing it could still be potentially serious

It sounds like a TIA - Trans(ient) Ischamic Attack - sometimes known as a mini stroke. Sometimes the big full blown stroke may never come but sometimes it can be around the corner...

Tests could possibly diagnose as could a CT scan or MRI or whatever technology they're using at the moment and it could be treatable -sometimes even just with a regular dose of daily aspirin. If he goes to the Dr they can look at other factors like diet smoking? and cholesterol levels etc - all contributory factors to stroke...or explore other diagnostic avenues...like stuff that people don't want to face up to like dare I say it brain tumours whether or not malignant....fluid on the brain....blah, blah...

I don't mean to sound morbid but sometimes these men just need told!!! I think they feel it would reflect on their manhood....their pride....they're breadwinning role...they don't want to be/appear weak...and it's easier to be in denial. Sometimes it can be a simple thing like men are scared of losing their driving license etc...

When my dad had his first mini stroke the hardest thing for e was phoning in to his work to tell them he was sick...cos I knew that this meant he would never go back to his beloved job again...He's been a bus driver for 30 years and it went from under his feet the minute a TIA was diagnosed ah he had to relinquish his Public Service Vehicle license for ever. He could still have his regular license and did work in driving again but not his buses... He took his Warfarin and made a full recovery (never ditched the cigarettes though unfortunately), and eventually  six and a half years later has a couple of more mini strokes until he was debillitated...and succumbed to associated dementia and eventually finished off with pneumonia...at the age of just 59...

-- Edited by pipsar6 at 14:24, 2008-01-11

Pip, you sound like a nurse!

Youngest stroke I saw was 19 female - smoked and on the contraceptive pill