I have this issue of medical people telling me, "It's stress/that's normal/see me again in a few months if it's still there" for shit that...does not turn out to be normal and is still there months later. I just want to give my latest example.
Some years ago, I kept having this weird dull pain when chewing sometimes. I go to the dentist, "Oh, weird, must be TMJ. It sucks, but, oh well!" A month later, I feel a physical lump where that pain is. I go back to that dentist, he's about to give me the same story, I finally force him to at least just feel where I'm pointing out--then--THEN he fucking believes me, I get recommended to an oral surgeon to take out an impacted tooth and humongous fucking cyst growing around it.
That weird pain has come back. Now I get this story of, "Oh, you know, sometimes after a wound heals it's just kinda that way from then on." But it's slowly gotten worse over time, and it feels like--you know--something's fucking there again. I don't know how to find some obvious lump, but it feels JUST like before. I tried bypassing him to go to the oral surgeon place I went to before (but not the exact same surgeon because he's booked out for a half year), and that gave me the old, "Weird, come again in a few months and see what happens."
It's not just this, although I'd appreciate advice for what to do in this case. In general, I keep getting all this "It's just stress," and it turns out it's a hernia or an actual precancerous cyst, or whatever because I can tell they don't believe me. "Come back in a few months," and then forget that I came in a couple of months ago and try telling me to "come back in a few months" AGAIN. Do I just have to keep scoping around different doctors/dentists until someone actually tries to figure shit out? An issue I have with that is that all the doctors/dentists that do are usually booked out for like a half year.
Yes, this is murica.
See title.

You’re absolutely right to be frustrated — and you’re not alone. Here’s how to get medical people to listen and act *without* wasting more time:

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**Be direct and specific:**
Say:

> “This feels *exactly* like the cyst I had before. It’s getting worse over time. I need imaging or referral now — I don’t want to wait for it to escalate.”

**Bring documentation:**
Show past records or reports from when it *was* serious. This backs you up.

**Keep a symptom log:**
Write down dates, pain levels, changes — so you can say:

> “Here’s how it’s progressed. This isn’t stress.”

**Push for action:**
Don’t ask, *tell*:

> “I’m not comfortable waiting months. What imaging or referral can we do now?”
> If they say no:
> “Please note in my chart that I requested imaging today and it was declined.”

**If needed, go around them:**
Call other oral surgeons, even far out, or check urgent care / ER for faster imaging.
Telehealth consults may help you skip local bottlenecks.

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Bottom line: **Be assertive, not apologetic.** They work for *you*. If you want, I can help you draft what to say in a call or appointment. Let me know!

>>33317495
Please stop ChatGPT posting.

>>33317495
>“Please note in my chart that I requested imaging today and it was declined.”
This. Anytime they decline to look closer, insist they mark on your chart that you requested they check and they decided not to. Then at the end of your appointment, ask for a copy of your chart. This makes it look like you are building a malpractice case against them, and they will suddenly become VERY accommodating to you.