When you dutifully report for your annual (or regular) doctor's checkup, how do you approach it?

Which of the following is closest to your approach

  • I approach it as a test and try to score as highly as possible.

    Votes: 1 12.5%

  • I make a point of bringing up any problems that seem likely to be important.

    Votes: 3 37.5%

  • I bring up every problem that I can think of just in case it's important.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I just answer the questions and let things fall where they may.

    Votes: 4 50.0%
  • Total voters
    8
Ken Anderson

Ken Anderson

Greeter
Staff member
When you go for an annual checkup, as opposed to visits that you have scheduled to discuss a specific injury or illness, how do you approach it?
 
If I remember my appointment in advance, I make a point of exercising a little more than usual and being more vigilant about my diet, taking any supplements I might otherwise forget, so that I don't have to argue about cholesterol or high blood pressure medication, and if I do well, I feel as if I have scored well on a test. I don't refuse to tell my doctor about any concerns that I might have, but I usually schedule those visits outside of my regular checkup.
 
I don't do anything different to "prepare". I want the test results to show exactly how I'm doing in my normal everyday mode. My annual checkup has gone to semi-annual and I know the drill. My PCP is very good at asking pertinent questions and waiting on me to say whether I have any new concerns. She has stopped pressing me to take vaccines, statins, or colonoscopies.
 
Most of the time, we just went in because it was part of our Medicare medical care each year. The doctor that we had seemed not to think of it as anything important either, just something for extra payment each year.
However…… this year was totally different !

We have the Devoted Health Primary Care now, and we had our annual visit with them early this year, since we had just signed up. It was a video appointment, and we covered all of my medical conditions, she asked any questions she had, and I asked any that I had. We were on the conference for at least a half hour, and maybe closer to a whole hour.
Then, the doctor recommended new bloodwork, and sent me in for that early last spring, with a follow up one that I just had in August. The next appointment to discuss the lab work and see how I am doing will be next week.
The Devoted doctors seem to be doing a great job, and show and actual interest in my health and what i am doing to take care of myself and my health. I am really pleased !

Pretty much this is how it has been for both Bobby and I since we decided to take the Devoted Primary Care this year.
 
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I have an index card with my questions that I push across the counter after we do the ten minutes of our families. My PCP not once gave me a word about my weight. She was one of the few people who cautiously complimented and supported me when I decided it was time. Blood work was never a problem nor blood pressure. She knows I will not give up plenty of wine or good food but am willing to cut out sweets and junk. Fast food has never been an issue. Yesterday I decided to go for a final ten pounds to make it a full 100 after a year of keeping 90 off despite of SO retiring and me basically been limited to a hobble with the torn hip muscle/tendon. Plan A - size 8 jeans and high riding heels for a thing SO’s play date throws the first week of October. Why not?
 
Marie Miller said:
I have an index card with my questions that I push across the counter after we do the ten minutes of our families. My PCP not once gave me a word about my weight. She was one of the few people who cautiously complimented and supported me when I decided it was time. Blood work was never a problem nor blood pressure. She knows I will not give up plenty of wine or good food but am willing to cut out sweets and junk. Fast food has never been an issue. Yesterday I decided to go for a final ten pounds to make it a full 100 after a year of keeping 90 off despite of SO retiring and me basically been limited to a hobble with the torn hip muscle/tendon. Plan A - size 8 jeans and high riding heels for a thing SO’s play date throws the first week of October. Why not?
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Congratulations on your 100 pound weight loss and keeping it off for a year. Loosing weight, and then keeping it off is hard.
 
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Hedi Mitchell said:
To the best of my knowledge never done a annual test. I remember being asked about having one. I do have to have blood work done in order for my Rxs to be filled.
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Me neither. I go in when I have a problem or issue. Not just because.
Although, yesterday when I took my BP it was very high. I had gone to a fast food place the day before, which I don't do anymore, and had burgers on white buns, ff's...the day before. Could that be the reason? This morning it was back where it normally is. I didn't think it could move that fast. I thought I needed to work up to high blood pressure.
 
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Mary Stetler said:
Me neither. I go in when I have a problem or issue. Not just because.
Although, yesterday when I took my BP it was very high. I had gone to a fast food place the day before, which I don't do anymore, and had burgers on white buns, ff's...the day before. Could that be the reason? This morning it was back where it normally is. I didn't think it could move that fast. I thought I needed to work up to high blood pressure.
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I doubt the food caused the spike. BP goes up and down all day long. The main thing is, that it goes down. Mine goes up just talking about it. I take mine 3 times in a row,,about 2 mins in between. Try that.
 
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