Introduction
 

Hi everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself being new here. My name is Charles, and I've never been good at talking about myself lol. But here goes,
I'm from Mississippi, and I guess having a father born in the early 40's who instilled into me the "suck it up and be a man" philosophy, is the reason I've put my body through so much in the short 33 years I've had it and really don't like to go to a Dr. if I'm able to walk in. I don't know if I'm the only one that feels like they look at me like I'm a kid trying to get out of school, and I feel like a hypochondriac if I tell them everything that's wrong with me. That has become a problem for me now because it seems I need so many of them and I'm not really sure a lot of times what comes back in these tests and not one of them will sit down and explain it to me in terms I can understand.
I have browsed around in here and I see how you help one another and treat each other with the respect we all deserve and I am glad to be able to join and learn from everyone, and maybe be able to be on the answering end of the questions one day for someone else.
:)
Charles

Hi, Charles, welcome to the community! We have many forums addressing specific medical issues, and others just for chat and fun. Jump in anywhere! If you have trouble finding something specific, let us know and we'll try to point you in the right direction.

Many of us share your frustration with tests and possible diagnoses--and being looked at as a hypochondriac! Feel your pain!

Thank you very much I really appreciate it and its a pleasure to meet you!

Nice to meet you!!
 

Thank you very much for your kind welcome! I really like that mouse :) Really nice to meet you!

Welcome to the forum Charles! I have only been here a couple of days and have found folks to be warm and helpful.
Unfortunatley,the whole 'man-thing' is still alive and well here in England,it takes some working around,but it is changing albeit slowly and when matters of health are concerned that can only be a good thing.
As to the tests and explanations,my experience is to ask questions,and if you are not satisfied,ask again and again if necessary.I feel that often explanations can be harder to understand because they are made in med-speak,this is done for speed and their own use and understanding of that vocabulary.I look at it in a simple way,and that is if I had to explain what the doctor had just told me,how would I do it in words that anyone who might ask me can understand,if I'm not getting that from the doc then I make sure that I do....:)