I went to the doctor Tuesday because of a cold. Just an average cold.
I felt a tickle in my throat, accompanied by a cough, so I called the doctors office and was in and out in no time. I was almost embarrassed to be there and apologized: Im sure its nothing. I got a flu shot. Im just worried about a sinus infection or bronchitis.
Im sure its nothing. But what if?
It feels so decadent. Being proactive about my health. Going to the doctor. Having health insurance.
That wasnt the case until a couple of years ago.
Between 2010 and 2017, I didnt have health insurance. My job at the time didnt offer it and I couldnt afford it on my own. Im fortunate to be in a better position now, with health insurance through my employer.
Now, going to the doctor feels like a luxury. I can see a doctor for a cold. True, a cold is a viral infection and theres not much I can do about it. But Im prepared, this time. I can head it off before it develops into something worse, something that will require prescriptions and time off work.
It was nothing. But what if?
Not having health insurance turned me into the worlds biggest hypochondriac.
Treatment for most any ailment meant over-the-counter medications and a down-the-rabbit-hole review of my symptoms on WebMD.
A tickle in the throat and a cough probably means a cold.
But what if?
What if its bronchitis? Or strep throat? Or pneumonia? It could be anything: allergies, acid reflux, tuberculosis, hookworm infection, heart failure, the plague.
And, of course, the big one: What if its cancer?
It was terrifying, knowing how limited my options were to deal with anything from a cold to cancer.
A quick visit to the doctor could have eased my mind, if not my symptoms.
But when I didnt have health insurance, I couldnt afford answers. Sure, most clinics offer discounts to self-pay customers but they usually require you to pay up front. My illnesses and income rarely were so accommodating. Id suffer as long as I could. Just get through today, and hope things improve tomorrow.
When an illness required treatment that only a doctor can prescribe, I borrowed money from friends or relatives.
