Strange Thoughts of a Strange Man

I have, for the second time in my life, just been asked if I am a “working gentleman”. Why do I find this such a strange phrase?

The first time, many years ago, it was asked of me by a prospective cleaner so that she knew whether I was at home all day or if I was at work. Bit irrelevant really as I wouldn’t be needing a cleaner if I was at home.

This time I was asked by a receptionist at my doctor’s surgery as I was asking about Saturday appointments – something that has recently been introduced at my local surgery for “people who are working”. Fair enough, I suppose. People who can be seen at other times should be seen at other times.

I just find working gentleman an odd way of asking whether I work full time and would prefer a different phrase. I don’t know what but something that didn’t make me sound like an elderly rent boy would be a start.

Labels: Doctor, odd phrases, Working gentleman

The BBC are currently touting this on their website as news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8154200.stm

Yet again they are pointing the finger at men and labelling them as lazy, ignorant, macho idiots who don’t bother going to their GP when something is obviously wrong.

This story was “reported” a few months ago and has only resurfaced due to the recent disclosure that the footballer John Hartson has been diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer.

I have every sympathy with Hartson: he is younger than me, has to be a lot fitter and has a wife and young family. It is a tragic case and I wish him well.

I do, however, take exception to the BBC again perpetuating the myth that it is always the man’s fault that things like this are not caught in time. Reading further down the article reveals a comment that perfectly illustrates why I feel this way:

Frankly, if you're a male of working age, doctors also assume there can be little wrong with you. I asked for a general check-up when I reached 40, and as well getting a slightly frosty response, was asked "well, do YOU think there's anything wrong?" It's not embarrassment, it's being made to feel you're wasting the time of NHS staff.

I have had to make two or three trips to see one of the GPs at my surgery before I am taken seriously and have some action taken. One of my friends has had the same experience at a different surgery.

Undoubtedly there are men who do not go to the doctor because it’s not something “blokes” do but those that make the effort often feel that their GP considers them a waste of time. If you get that feeling often enough you begin to think that a visit to the GP is in itself a waste of time.

Labels: BBC, Doctor, GP, Health, Male, Men, News

I went to the doctor again this morning. I wasn't happy with the way that the GP I saw a few weeks ago and the MediCentre doctor I saw a few days after that both seemed uncertain about the rash on my arms and legs.

They both agreed it was probably guttate psoriasis although the second one wasn't really making that much of a distinction between guttate psoriasis and plaque psoriasis.

By the way that word is one of the worst ones to type! Psoriasrs ... Psosiarsis ... Psoriasis.

So because I was unhappy about the uncertainty and it was spreading, I decided to see another of the GPs at our local practice, the one who is a dermatologist. If anyone would know, he would.

Within seconds of me whipping off my shirt, he confirmed it was guttate psoriasis. Hooray!

He told me three things:

1. it will go away but after weeks or months


2. the ointment I got from the MediCentre is useful although I don't have to use it as often - I need only use it once a day but I should also use aqueous cream about an hour beforehand as a moisturiser (no-one mentioned that!)


3. it spreads mainly on the arms, upper legs and torso so my face will be unblemished and my career as an international male model is unharmed.

At least I am more certain about what is afflicting me. I hate it when there is doubt.

Labels: Doctor, Guttate, Psoriasis, Skin