Had this little disagreement with barbara about who handles health issues better, men or women? She surprised me when she said guys are absolutly horrible when dealing with sickness. Shoot I think us guys my be a little better!

Any opinions out there?......Kirk

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2002

Answers

Oh Kirk..do you really want to get into that here. I think you know the true answer to this one.:o)

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2002

Truth, or what you want to hear Kirk???

Honestly, dealing strictly from personal experience, as a whole women handle things, especially very bad news, better, and are better at following instructions to remedy the situation, lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, etc. Rock of the Earth sort of thing.

The exception is my father, he, like my Grandfather, are as solid as bedrock and nothing flags them for long. My Dad dealt with prostate cancer and beat it, even after the bungling doctors misdiagnosed it first and just gave him the TURP procedure, totally missing the cancer for 8 months. Then he had the prostate removed, thankfully, the cancer was still confined to the organ itself, this was over 7 years ago now, and his annual bone and blood scans for cancer are clear. Unfortunately, Dad is impotent from the procedure, but, stoic that he is, says he would rather be alive than have plumbing that still works, although he is continent, for which he is very grateful!

Cancer sure puts the things that are important in life in perspective, and makes you grateful for what you DO have in life, life is so very precious, and you don't really realize exactly how precious until cancer is staring you smack in the face.

Kirk, you will be OK, I just know it, my uncle's doctor's were SURE he had cancer too, was just a giant prostate infection that once it was cleared up, he was fine, but during the infection his PSA was through the roof!

Seriously consider taking saw palmetto in theraputic doses, even the old time doctors are starting to realize the benefits of taking saw palmetto, reduces the testosterone receptors sensitivity to the by products of testoserone metabolism, and has the exact same effect, sans side effects as Proscar, there are scads of reliable double blind tests here in the USA to back it's effectiveness up, if your doctor needs additional proof.

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2002

Please note: The following is personal opinion, only!

Depends on what the problem is, I think. Some issues, women are more likely to get help than men - depression, for instance. Women are better at dealing with GI disturbances (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) as well - at least until they pass 60 and get obsessed with their bowels - weird!! Men are better with surgeries; especially ones that leave visible scars; and they are a lot easier to get out of bed and get moving afterward. I've found that if I give a man pain med and tell him it will help; he believes me. Women fuss and worry about what if it doesn't help. Women are better at dealing with having a cardiac problem than men; but once diagnosed, they worry about every twinge they feel in their chest or arm. Men worry that they won't be able to do things whent diagnosed with cardiac problems; but then don't pay attention to the warning signs. Men are touchy when it comes to their plumbing - I wish all catheter orders for men came with sedation orders as well (and one for the nurse, too, please!); and with anything to do with their butt - wanna torture a man? Walk in with an enema bag or a suppository... Women are better than men when it comes to needles - IM injections especially. As far as dealing with the possibility of serious illness - neither one; it hits both sexes hard.

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2002

The worst about getting medical care are . . . . DOCTORS! I personally know one that, in the midst of a heart attack, had to be physically dragged out of his clinic and away from his patients to get treatment himself! Fortunately, he wasn't a cardiac doctor -- his patients would have really freaked! I know of a whole bunch of other doctors who did similar things. Although, I believe they made relatively decent patients once they were actually hauled into a hospital bed! Hmmmm. Come to think of it, though, they were ALL MEN! ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2002

I had to laugh cause Barb gets so mad at me for not asking enough questions! she came to my last appointment and spent half the time grilling this poor guy who, I'm sure, didn't know most of the answers. I on the other hand just want the tests run and don't care what the docter thinks. I get in and out of that office FAST!!!

We laugh at each other most of the time but I know she wishes I'd do it her way! Ha!.....Kirk

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2002

I'm sorry but I hate it when my husband gets sick, he is such a baby.

Once, my son was sick and after being up for three days, I was trying to sleep. Since my husband picked up my son's virus, he was wandering around the house moaning. I asked him if he was going to sleep in the bedroom or living room so I could get some much needed sleep and he said he didn't know then proceeded to follow me to which ever room I was trying to sleep in, moaning. I finally told him that although I felt sorry for him being sick, I had to get some sleep.

Another time he commented on the fact that my son and he both got sick but I never did. I had to point out that I was sick too but had to take care of both of them. He didn't even notice.

Thank goodness that since we've been taking vitamins and eating better, my son and I don't get sick much any more. And more important, my husband doesn't get sick often!

It took several people (including his supervisor)to get him to go the the hospital for a tetnus shot when he stepped on a nail.

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2002

Your post really cracked me up Dee!!!! My Mom once said her wost child was her husband!!. Hmmm I think my wife said that about me too.....kirk

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2002

Kirk, you asked for it. In my experiences with clients the worst ones are all men. They whine about EVERYTHING. And ask for meds within 2 hours of the pain if they can.

Don't have a link, but remember that in my military days we women were told that women were better equipped psychologically to handle the stress of war.

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2002

I think all you have to do is look at the different t.v. commercials to know who handles sickness better. Have any of you heard of Dr. Dad?? Nope...just Dr. Mom! But, I kinda wonder if men are more "capable" of taking care of themselves when they live alone?? Seems like whenever there's a wife around, the husband just sort of slips into the "please take care of me" role. Just like alot of women unintentionally slip into that nursing role. And of course, there's always that Macho thing....:-)!

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

From my experience, when a man is sick, even with just a cold he goes to bed and can't be expected to do anything. But when the woman of the house has a cold (or worse) at the same time as the man, she is expected to go to work, buy the man what he needs at the store on the way home, cook him dinner and baby him no matter how awful she may feel herself. I've seen this happen to my grandparents, parents, friends, and unfortunately now to me!

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Not much of a debate is it? All the guys around here are hiding!!! Ha! Ha!......Kirk

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

I can only speak for myself. Both of my past wives and my mother all got mad at me because I lock myself away when I get down and stay hid for the duration, not even willingly taking fluids or medications. I just want to go comatose until its over.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Jay...I would think that they'd be happy that you didn't "whine" to them the whole time :-)!! Good for you!

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002