Oh, absolutely. Despite my negative experiences I in no way endorse avoiding doctors. As noted in my story, doctors at the urgent care clinic saved me from a much worse time (possibly even death).

I'm just saying (with way too many words) that there are reasons other than stoicism or machismo that people avoid going to the doctor. Were I the OP, I too would have not gone to the doctor for seemingly mild symptoms, and would have suffered as he/she did.

Most of us have no good way of knowing which issues are medically treatable and which aren't.

Ah, I see. Agreed, definitely more than just machismo.

What magic combination of words did you utter to get the antibiotics you needed? I had a terribly painful bacterial infection once, and six urgent care clinics and ERs all refused to help me unless I had a CT scan first. After a month of this humiliation, I wound up smuggling Augmentin across the border and felt better within 24 hours.

I had an obvious lesion with a head, which the doctor swabbed. Though I did have to go to a second doctor - the first thought it was a less serious infection.

They also seem moderately good at heart and cardiovascular disease, it being insanely common in the US.

Those are much better off prevented than treated.

But you got a point: they suck at preventing CVD, which is a shame.