[Spontaneo]

When I lived with my loved ones, I did not have or need a doctor.

Once I moved away, I got a family physician.

Guess what?

I now have not only my family physician, but...

Now have a nurse practitioner, a podiatrist, blood work, tons of prescriptions, etc.

The grand finale? I have to go and have my eyes checked on this upcoming Tuesday.

Have you gone from nada doctor to all kinds of things?

[Jem Smith]

I always had an optometrist as well as a GP (general practitioner, I guess that's the same as a family physician). Here in Australia you go to a GP for most things and only get a referral to specialists if you need to. For example you can get a pap smear at your GP and might never be referred to a gynecologist. People are encouraged to go to an optometrist once a year though for check ups, like going to the dentist (though less often). Optometrists here bulk bill so you don't have to pay (it's through medicare).

I have had to see more different doctors in the last few years than I did when I was young though. When I was pregnant I had to get various blood tests and scans. Sometimes now I have to go to another place to get a blood test or to check an injury (like I had my foot x-rayed a couple of years ago).

[Spontaneo]

Medical appointments have become a pain!

[eldavis]

No i haven't though, i mostly go for natural.

[nakitakona]

That's terrible.

In our place before especially when I was a kid, there's only one doctor. We call it a surgeon. I didn't know if he's an internal medicine physician.

Since I was suffering from asthma, my parents brought me to doctor specialist in the capital city. We had left our home early in the morning to catch up with public utility vehicle.

Now we're beginning to have several doctors in various fields like children, general medicine, heart, nose and ears, surgeon, among others.

[Jem Smith]

Medical appointments have become a pain!

Yes. On the other hand, having access to good medical care is a blessing.

--- 25 Jun 2025, 10:16 ---

Now we're beginning to have several doctors in various fields like children, general medicine, heart, nose and ears, surgeon, among others.

That's a good thing though. Specialists can help sometimes when a general practitioner couldn't because it's impossible for them to know everything about every possible part of the body.