Yes that’s probably it. I distinctly remember the six month period when my skin sagged. It went from youthful to old lady. That was pretty dramatic. But it was a long time ago.Originally Posted by Teacher Terry
Yes that’s probably it. I distinctly remember the six month period when my skin sagged. It went from youthful to old lady. That was pretty dramatic. But it was a long time ago.
I'm like happystuff and iris lilies. I rarely go to the doctor. However, I did get a physical last year from our local physician's assistant. DH goes to the same PA.
So, DH goes and comes back with sheafs of prescriptions for all kinds of referrals to all kinds of doctors. He wants a Completel Blood Count--he gets it. He wants a trip to the audiologist--he gets it. He wants a sleep study--he gets it.
OTOH, the PA is very, very chintzy about giving me referrals for what I want. She did send me to an ophthalmologist to confirm my ocular migraines to make sure it wasn't burgeoning blood vessel. And she did send me to get a bone density test. I've had osteopenia for years, and osteoporosis in my lumbar spine. I held off on medications for a decade, but I'm thinking of going for it now. I have a family history of osteoporosis, and kyphosis is unattractive and painful, so I really don't want to find myself there. I've done years and years of market research on bisphosphonates, and while I'd rather not take them, I don't think they are harmful. Side effects are pretty rare.
But my concern is my heart. I don't have a lot of knowledge about my heart, and my Smartwatch tells me I don't have AFib, but I would love to make sure there is nothing wrong there because my heart rate variability is very low. However, my PA won't refer me.
Also, she doesn't give me routine blood tests. I'll press her again this year.
But aside from those things, I certainly don't sign up for everything.
"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every, every minute?" Emily Webb, Our Town
www.silententry.wordpress.com
Burgeoning blood vessel, eh? I've had ocular migraines from time to time (ah, the many delights menopause brings)--though not for ages.
I've had them for decades (the first one I had was while teaching Sunday school in the 90s)--but they are rare, which always made them scary--my particular symptoms are no headache, but prisms in my field of vision and aphasia. I was happy to eventually Dr. Google my own diagnosis of a simple ocular migraine, and an MRI and my ophthalmologist confirmed my diagnosis. Now I just take a couple of aspirin and lie down for a half hour when they come on--which again, thankfully, is very rare. Maybe 2 a year, if that.
"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every, every minute?" Emily Webb, Our Town
www.silententry.wordpress.com
I have to see my doctor yearly so she will renew my prescriptions. Catherine, I think your doctor is doing you a disservice as blood work should be yearly at our age and the request in regards to your heart is reasonable. I don’t need a referral for anything.
Yeah, I have friends who want to know stuff so they do lots of testing. I have one friend who took the DNA test for family health background and he’s not adopted. He knows his family. I’m not sure what that would reveal if you have a pretty good handle on your parents’ diseases and the diseases of their parents. What good is that?
I had gout exactly one year ago. I’ve not had a problem since. My same friend takes medication for gout. Of course his is probably much more severe, but why would I take medication when this rears its head so seldom?
I have hearing loss. My cousin asked me “have you been to an audiologist?” I told him no why should I. The audiologist will reveal I have hearing loss. Big surprise.
I have no problem wearing a hearing aid if it’s necessary, I just haven’t determined that it is necessary yet because I’m not out there in the working world and I don’t really have to hear people. Of course now that everyone is wearing masks it makes it doubly hard for those of us with hearing loss. I hate masking for this reason.
"Now Jane can chime in about the prevelance of statin drugs." “I’ve dealt with people like you and I know that I can’t push too hard. “ Hahaha!
Doctor? What doctor? I saw one around the time I retired, some 27 years ago. I've had a few issues that cleared up, and a couple that haven't--like tinnitus and lameness. I'm not worried about osteoporosis, and like many of you, I wouldn't take the drugs anyway. I mentioned the Barbara Ehrenreich quote: "I'm old enough to die."
Just curious if you don’t mind, did I understand you would not have a mammogram? If so why not? I have two friends that will not, one had valid reasons, one was scared. Mom had BC and that was how it was found, so I get mine. I had a low bone density a few years ago probably due to my 1970’s era of thin is in and starving myself. I declined any drugs for it and went to a specialist who agreed, but I do get tested every 2 years incase I should feel I need to change my mind.
At this point, it's moot. There's no history of it in my family, and if I have it, it's slow growing. I'm skeptical that all the mangling and radiation is worth it. I'm skeptical that constant tests are productive, except for the money they bring in (and the anxiety they produce). The book The Last Well Person by NM Hadler resonated with me. Most of my relatives lived acceptably long lives without a lot of medical intervention, and I aspire to that
I will take a simple blood panel for basics. Got really mad at doctor for slipping in a Vit D test which per Medicare was not medically necessary (due to her coding). Now we are watching all the tests.
Note: She was pushing a sleep study when I have no issues with sleep. She also wanted hubby to get one and thought the CPAP might be good. He got a Oura device that measures his sleep and it is good and much better diagnostically because it is over time than a sleep study which is one disrupted night.
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