Are Polish People Hypochondriacs?

I am just curious here because I know most of my friends and family will rarely go to the hospital or the doctor unless it's for mandatory shots (going abroad for work, etc), major cuts/broken bones or if they are so ill that they have no option but to go.

Now on monday evening I had a pizza from a certain supermarket chain which I may have undercooked a bit. I got food poisoning. The proper bad boy food poisoning with full on gut wrenching pain and all that. I made it to work and almost passed out before...well we won't go into details...so they sent me home. When I got home I asked my flatmate if she had any painkillers (cos that is all I needed) but oh no...nothing doing but she had to drag me to the doctors (all this time in extreme pain) and then off to the hospital (a further half hour away, me still walking doubled over in pain). Only to be told I have food poisoning and I need to rest and to take some painkillers for the pain. Now not having a go at my flatmate, I know she meant well. However it was a waste of time for the doctors and a waste of recovery time for me.

Plus I hear about people just going to the doctor for all sorts of stupid things. Even just check ups (I haven't been for a check up as long as i can remember, neither has anyone I know) seem commonplace. Is it just me or are people much happier to go to the doctors here than back home? And if so, why?

Generally, they are. I did a class with 15 students, the maximum. They UNANIMOUSLY said that they were. Getting L4 here seems to be like getting the daily bread ;) Bez przesady, ale wiesz!?

ahem.... it's hard for me to bring that up, but they just don't like your class...
;)

What's L4?

An L4 is a form from a doctor legally freeing you from any work (during which time your employer still has to pay you and is legally prevented from firing you)

Traditionally not to hard to get, often for vague or nebulous reasons.

Basically, getting sick is a canny life strategy for many Polish people as many, many different kinds of problems can be solved (or at least postponed) by a lapse in health and long recuperation.

you made a show and don't blame flatmate;)


you are getting better and better :)

I was quietly lying about in pain listening to the radio and i heard her up and about so decided to ask her for some painkillers. She asked why and I said I had food poisoning and stomach cramps. Next thing you know she is telling me I have to go to hospital. I say that I don't need to, I just need some painkillers and asked again if she had any. But no, there was no stopping her. I now realise this is quite normal and in future to not mention anything.

Hahaha pgtx, dupa ;)

Oh, they liked it, a bit too much :)

like always, there are two sides of the story...
;)

The chaps I work with seem to find it impossible to allow themselves time off to be sick. They come in and spread their germs around.

if we are hypochondriacs , we are very smart ones.. your flatmate prob knows more then you on the subject.. some people tend to dismiss until they are in a situation that puts then in danger.. we at least are smart and dont let it get that far.

here in the U.S. the norm would be to get admitted and get Iv fluids and more then likely stay overnight for observation and test the stomach contents to make sure it isnt something that can progress into life threatening.

whatever hospital you went to sounds sounds like one to avoid.

I had food poisoning one time and didnt go, for three days I suffered. It could have turned on me for the worst. I wont ever ignore it again, the most painful time I ever had.

Yes, a nation of hypochondriacs.
Watch the advertisments on TV, they are always trying to sell you medicine.
There are more Aptekas (Chemists, pharmacists) here than any other country i have seen. One per person or something?.
And in the markets they will have a big stack of those pump things used to check blood pressure and a pile of thermometers beside them.

When i ask Polish people they wonder what I am talking about.
:)


I have not seen anyone take work off because of it.

To be honest I would say your links were paranoia inducing. It depends what sort of food you have been eating and on a lot of the symptoms.

And how does she probably know more than me on the subject? Has she done her food hygene courses up to a high level which involves knowing all bacteria, symptoms, foods that cause them, etc. I doubt it.

Keeping me in overnight for a bout of food poisoning?!? Fair enough if I had told them I had eaten raw meat or dodgy shellfish...but I hadn't, I had eaten a pizza. Yes it was sore and not pleasant...but drink plenty of water and take some painkillers and you are fine.

Basically, medical care is free in Poland if you work legally (insured by your employee or yourself). Why not use it when we think there is a problem? Your taxes go for it.....


I don`t think so. When I read statistics how many billions are spent on home medicine in other countries and compare it to Poland, I realise we are far behind USA and Western Europe.

Every day tons of viagra and other are taken in the USA.


She didn`t know what was happening. She saw you in pain and preferred to take some action. If she hadn`t and you had died of blown-up appendicitis, she would be one to blame.

I suppose there is always the 'what if she's right' factor, but i do think that people are a little to quick to go to the doctors. But to be honest you don't lose anything by going.

I do think I can here some people rattle as they go down the street. So many different pills and medications.

But, i suppose the doctor's know best

It's the same in the UK and not as many people use the doctors or hospitals. Just old people and hypochondriacs on a regular basis.

As for the what if she's right factor. I always would wait at least 48 hours with no change in symptoms before seeing a doctor. I had a headache for a week before I even thought about going to a doctor...then the next day it was gone.

Regards
Dead Next Week

What happens when a few doctors take a sickie?

National epidemic...

Governmental enquiries and rampant bureaucracy would follow. Vodka would become ever more the stock cure for life's ills. Sales would shoot up.

Would that push vodka prices up? I am not happy about that!

I admit that I have "PolishPhysicianPhobia" simply because they hand out medicine like candy. Poland consumes more antibiotics than any other nation in europe! I think it's ridiculous that a doctor prescribes antibiotics to a patient who has only been sick for 1 day (common cold/flu).

A deadly combination of poor pay for docs and greedy pharmaceutical companies are to blame IMO.


Check ups are a good idea as you age. In canada/usa doctors and governments constantly encourage people to get check for prostate/breast cancers, colon cancer etc.

I tell you, I got an awful shock about two years ago in Dublin, I got a bad dose of the flu, worst I've ever had, I charged 100 Euro for antibiotics, Scandalis!.

The doctors are in bed with the pharmaceutical manufacturers, at least here they give you cheaper alternatives, I think that's by law?.

So,as in UK there so many pubs are British a nation of alcoholics? :-)

I wouldn't dare speak for the Brits but yeah.

Have you ever seen the crap they put on TV?

then why ask if we are hypocondriacs if she was concerned for your health..

you ask if the whole polish nation is this way all because someone had concern for your health..

so we show you what could happen, then its paranoia inducing. well so is
movies about vampires and fricken space ships.. but that doesnt have anything to do with the question.

I gave links of what could happen, I also had a painful ephisode with it and was lucky.. no one can see inside your stomach.. so how can one know whats really going on.


I agree here, he prob put on a good acting show so he could get some attention.
seeing that he lived thru the ordeal, why make a big deal and make a statement of a whole nation when you only know a few people.. everyones views and feelings towards doctors/medicine are different.

it's called preventetive medicine and it's a msart thing to do.. otoh, i find that americans tend to run to the hospital for any little thing.. it's weird.


come to USa, you'll be shocked at the pill poppers here. every homemaker in the country is on xanax or something..

Defending their position, even though their L4 record speaks for itself.

Getting ill in Poland:

You've got a cold. All you need to do is to go to bed and wait until it ends.
You don't need a doctor to cure it. It's just a cold.
But to stay in bed, you must be absent from work.
To be absent from work and not lose your job, you need a little paper signed by the doctor.
So, you go to the doctor to get that paper. But the doctor will not leave it just like that.
The doctor will prescribe you some antibiotics so you don't feel that he ignored your illness.
You cold is a virus infection, so antibiotics can't cure it, but you've got the feeling something is done about your illness.
You are staying in bed with your little paper, taking the unnecessary antibiotic, and you think: "The doctor prescribed me such a strong antibiotic, so I must be really ill."

A Pole is sick for a week with no seeing a doctor; if he/she visits a doctor, stays sick for a week...
;)