Photo by NCBrianWhen was the last time that you visited your doctor? Were you sick, or were you just getting a checkup?
Any time that you visit a fitness website, they always recommend that you visit your doctor before starting a new program and that you keep your doctor informed of what you are doing. I think that that is a good idea. I think that seeing your doctor every year for a physical is also a good idea, no matter how healthy you are.
Today I followed my own advice. It’s been 14 or 15 months since I last visited my doctor, mostly because my doctor left the practice that I was going to and insurance is not a big fan of my visiting anybody other than my primary care physician. His new practice isn’t taking any new patients, so I had to switch my PCP to the person assigned to me by my original practice.
Not surprisingly, I am healthy. I haven’t had a female doctor since I was a young teenager, but it was not as awkward as I thought that it would be. She asked a bunch of questions to which I answered no to almost all of them, did a few tests, and spent a little time talking about my exercise and diet.
Was the trip absolutely necessary? Probably not. I am still happy that I made the trip for a few reasons:
- My blood pressure is nice and low. Good to know.
- I don’t have any obvious cancers that have gone unnoticed (either skin or otherwise.)
- My heart murmur is all but unnoticeable these days.
- I confirmed that I don’t need pre-meds any more when I visit the dentist. (That’ll save a few bucks and keep me from taking unnecessary antibiotics in the future.)
- There is a record of my good health should that ever become necessary.
- I got to meet my new doctor before I actually get really sick.
- I was offered a flu shot 2 or 3 times. I got one through work a few weeks ago though.
- There is no junk in my retinas or my ears that I need to worry about.
When was the last time that you visited your doctor?
A few weeks ago for my blood work 🙂 I avoided that whole finger probing thing for prostate cancer, hee, hee. I promised her a good time next year for my physical though!!
In August for my annual exam. I knew my doctor was a runner, so I told him I was about to run the Beach to Beacon, which was a miracle considering I couldn’t run even 1/4 mile last October. My cholesterol went down over 30 points, and my blood pressure was much better, also. My doctor told me, “I just had to stop running finally because of my knees, and it annoys the hell out of me to hear you tell me how much you’re getting out of running!” LOL, I’ve known him for a long time, so I thought it was funny.
My running partner just went to her doctor and her weight loss for this year was 34 pounds! She was disappointed that the female doctor didn’t express any excitement or congratulations at all. Some of these doctors just don’t “get it,” do they??