In the last post I talked about what characteristics of your symptoms should lead you to contact your physician. This time I want to discuss what else to consider.

Some people are very happy with their doctor, trusting them completely.  While it is great to have so much confidence, there are times when this can cause a problem.  I have heard people who are having significant symptoms say that since their physician is not available when they need to be seen, they will wait. Sometimes the reason is that it’s after hours and they don’t want to bother their doctor. Sometimes they know the on-call doctor isn’t their own, and they don’t want to talk to them.  The reality is that all physicians are trained to handle such after hour calls.  Delay can sometimes lead to complications that can be life threatening.

Another thing to consider when deciding when to contact your doctor is the day of the week.  Since most doctors have limited or no office hours on weekends, you should plan accordingly.  If it is Monday and your symptoms are not critical you can wait a day or two to see if they improve before making an appointment to see your doctor. On the other hand, if it is already Thursday you probably should make an appointment before the weekend so you can avoid a costly trip to the emergency room.  The potential seriousness of your symptoms should always be the deciding factor.  For a potentially life-threatening situation, it doesn’t make any difference what day of week it is – just call 911.

For Your Health – Dr. Bob