Health Care Advice

[Savs]

Okay, I have a confession and a few questions.

The last time I went to a doctor was a time in 1994 to learn if I had strep throat. (I didn't.) Besides childhood visits, the only other occasion before that was 1992 for a general check-up, or whatever it's called. The fat fuck (1) told me to lose some weight because my BMI was too high, and (2) made me hold a vial of my own blood which in very short order made me pass out.

Fast forward to present day: It seems I'm getting older, as all humans are wont to do. I have therefore been thinking that perhaps I should give a doctor's visit another try.

Here, then are my questions to you, good Sirs (ladies, I know this is freaking you the fuck out, so just ignore, please). How often do you go to the doctor? What happens? Are they gonna stick a needle in my arm? A finger up my ass? Will he/she consult some look-up table for my BMI, and then proceed to give me a stern stalking to? Will he/she cup my balls and tell me to cough? Are they just gonna tell me to breathe deeply, thump my chest a few times, and tell me I'm good to go? If the latter, that doesn't sound so bad to me!

I'm gonna be fitty four soon, and probably should start acting my age. Maybe I should be a bit more responsible. I don't know. Maybe it's a mid-life crisis going on this morning in Chez Savs. In any event, please tell me what most people do regarding doctors visits, and share any tips on what to expect. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

[Farback]

I was an infrequent visitor until I had a heart attack in 2014. I'd only go for flying/scuba/fire service medicals when required for advanced courses; rare occurances. Around 50, I relented to the wifes 'encouragement' and got a full medical including the bonding experience of the finger. Not as bad as it's made out to be, unless you feel two hands on your sholders rather than one.

I had a heart attack triggered from smoke inhalation (I was fire chief at the time) in February 2014. That led to my first time in a hospital as anything other than a visitor. I was in good physical shape, but my blood had been thickened by CO from the call the day before and clotted on previously unknown blockages in my coronary arterys. I was not happy to be having someone else's heart attack. Anyway, I've had to take my health and doctor visits more seriously since then. It's not so bad. At this point, three years out I have blood work done every six months or so and see this kid who went to school with my son, since my old doctor retired. I take a 81mg aspirin and a 20mg statin every day. This irks me, but my choices now are fit or dead, and take my damn drugs. I'm 61 now, so although I don't run to the doctor for minor nonsense, I would recommend an occasional checkup. A lot of things that start happening at our age can be caught early.

[BobGrant]

I'm gonna be fitty four soon, and probably should start acting my age.

This is highly overrated after age nineteen or so .

[Manveer]

Keep in mind I'm 32, so your experience may be a lot different...

I used to go to annual health screenings at work because they were really convenient. Not physicals, but they took blood and a blood pressure reading, told me my BMI ( ).

After several years of not getting a physical, I went last fall before an international trip. They took blood, measured blood pressure, asked me about my family history of various diseases, did some "strength tests" (lol), BMI again. That's about it from what I can remember.

The doc freaked a little about my ALT/BUN/creatinine levels. Those were elevated due to training and creatine supplementation.

[Murelli]

Okay, I have a confession and a few questions.

The last time I went to a doctor was a time in 1994 to learn if I had strep throat. (I didn't.) Besides childhood visits, the only other occasion before that was 1992 for a general check-up, or whatever it's called. The fat fuck (1) told me to lose some weight because my BMI was too high, and (2) made me hold a vial of my own blood which in very short order made me pass out.

Fast forward to present day: It seems I'm getting older, as all humans are wont to do. I have therefore been thinking that perhaps I should give a doctor's visit another try.

Here, then are my questions to you, good Sirs (ladies, I know this is freaking you the fuck out, so just ignore, please). How often do you go to the doctor? What happens? Are they gonna stick a needle in my arm? A finger up my ass? Will he/she consult some look-up table for my BMI, and then proceed to give me a stern stalking to? Will he/she cup my balls and tell me to cough? Are they just gonna tell me to breathe deeply, thump my chest a few times, and tell me I'm good to go? If the latter, that doesn't sound so bad to me!

I'm gonna be fitty four soon, and probably should start acting my age. Maybe I should be a bit more responsible. I don't know. Maybe it's a mid-life crisis going on this morning in Chez Savs. In any event, please tell me what most people do regarding doctors visits, and share any tips on what to expect. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Brazilian law requires that I have a check-up every year on my company's expense. There's usual lab work and a doctor's appointment, where they check the lab results, weigh me, take my blood pressure, measure my waist and listen to my lungs and heart. Men over 35 have to get an ECG and there's some sort of prostate related lab work, but I'm not in that demographic. Dentist and nutrionist appointments also happen once a year. This is all I do and I believe it's enough for me.

In this country they recommend all males over 45 get a prostate exam (DRE - digital rectal exam) every year, to scan for cancer. I believe you would be up for the finger in this country, Mr. Savs. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate- ... tions.html points out to age 50 on the US, but conditions to PSA results.

What I would do if I were you: go to a doctor, do the lab work he tells you to do (he'll ask for PSA, I'm sure), go back, get the exams/tests he wants you to get (ECG, DRE, etc.), listen to what he says and do what you think is sensible.

[Allentown]

What I would do if I were you: go to a doctor, do the lab work he tells you to do (he'll ask for PSA, I'm sure), go back, get the exams/tests he wants you to get (ECG, DRE, etc.), listen to what he says and do what you think is sensible.

This seems like good advice.

[broseph]

34 year old male, 5' 11", 220-ish#. I work in the medical field.

Everything is very departmentalized now. You will probably be scheduled for a "new patient visit," where they'll give you an order for lab work (off site), ask a few general questions, and not really DO anything. That comes later. At a subsequent visit.

I don't work in primary care, but this was my experience after not going to the doctor for over a decade. I went because I thought I had sleep apnea. Turns out I have 50 events per hour, and CPAP has been a game changer.

[mgil]

I have a female PCP.

The ball fondling and finger poking feels okay.

I get my blood tested.

They tell me I'm fat, but it's not a big deal since my vitals are still in good order.

[ColoWayno]

If you want to avoid lifting related blood work questions you will have to take two weeks off prior to getting your blood drawn.

They really have no clue how to account for this. I had the high "liver enzymes" and did the two week break to prove to my doctor what I had been telling him. Even after that each trip back has been like Groundhog Day.

[cwd]

Yep, your checkup will just be an interview, bp/pulse/weight/etc, possibly a gentle and misguided scolding for being big & strong, and a set of follow-up appointments.

One will certainly be a blood draw, so if you are phobic about that be sure to look away.

One will probably be a prostate exam, given your age.
Ideally your proctologist didn't go to medical school on a football scholarship, but even if you get this wrong it turns out even big fingers won't hurt (except your pride).

At 50, my doc recommended a colonoscopy, which I took my own sweet time getting around to.
It was the 2nd worst thing doctors have ever done to me, 1st was having my wisdom teeth removed.
But now I can cross colon cancer off my list of things to worry about.

Other than the procedures themselves, what are you afraid of?
If you have high blood pressure, or are pre-diabetic, it's better to know than to have that condition and not know.

[Savs]

Oh wow. A sincere thanks for all the good advice and words on what to expect. However,

did some "strength tests"

I believe you would be up for the finger in this country

What I would do if I were you: go to a doctor, do the lab work he tells you to do (he'll ask for PSA, I'm sure), go back, get the exams/tests he wants you to get (ECG, DRE, etc.), listen to what he says and do what you think is sensible.

[cwd]

As I get older, it gets easier for me to deal with doctors.

They are mostly younger than me now, so they are kind of hesitant to take an authoritarian tone when scolding me for being "overweight".

And I'm very clear in my own mind that they are just consultants I hired, to get access to test results and prescriptions. All the decision-making power rests with me.

[OCG]

And I'm very clear in my own mind that they are just consultants I hired, to get access to test results and prescriptions. All the decision-making power rests with me.

Yup. I don't know exactly how it works over in 'Merurica, but here a doctor will quite thoroughly explain what he's going to do and why, in order for you to make an informed decision. As long as you're conscious and coherent, your medical treatment is your choice.

[ColoWayno]

Can I Piggy back on this thing?

I just had my bicep tendon unattached and reattached (proximal end) and rotator cuff repaired. At about 9 days out I have yet to experience any serious discomfort even though I'm doing all the passive motion rehab stuff they have been giving me.
I only used a little over half of the Percocet they gave me and none at all for the last 4 days. Since I started it before the nerve block wore off I don't know if I needed it at all.

I watched Rip's shoulder rehab video (not meant to be a "rip" session) and thought it was going to be a miserable few weeks. He said he didn't sleep more than 10 minutes at a time for weeks. I've been getting some pretty sweet sleep.

Oh, and I'm a whiny bitch when it comes pain, so if you were thinking this had something to do with awesomeness think again.

I am going to ask my surgeon and PT this stuff and more, just thought I'd run it through here first. Just want thoughts or knowledge from experience.
So here are some of my questions ( maybe dumb)

• is pain a necessary signal to get the healing factors to the scene?
• is the rehab too conservative?
• should I be looking into any of the newer treatments available like platlet rich plasma therapy?

I'm enjoying not being in pain, don't get me wrong, I just wonder if my body is getting to it.

My PT seems like a very black and white fellow. Asked about playing the piano and I'm sure he pictured me playing one of Tchaikovsky's piano concertos. In my mind I'm doing 5 finger scales with my arm not moving.

For the record I'm doing the 5 finger scales.

Maybe I'll post this somewhere where the good Dr's can see it since I don't think we have any MD's here, yet.

Thanks!

[cwd]

Yup. I don't know exactly how it works over in 'Merurica, but here a doctor will quite thoroughly explain what he's going to do and why, in order for you to make an informed decision. As long as you're conscious and coherent, your medical treatment is your choice.

I think that's standard everywhere. As a child we experience doctors as scary authority figures.

As young men we mostly don't interact with them and that memory of "scary doc who must be obeyed" lives as a ghost in our heads. I think this is partly why men so often avoid doctors.

As a 51-year old guy, my new mental model of "doctor" is "that nice young lady who hesitantly suggested I might want statins if my cholesterol goes much higher".
She's not scary at all.

[iamsmu]

See what you can find out about the doctor before making an appointment. I fired a doctor, got some recommendations from a specialist. She gave me a few names of GPs she knew. One of them had a blog or something where he recommended HIIT and Crossfit. I figured he'd be better than the idiot who prescribed me (at 35) beta blockers for mildly elevated BP.
. . . I like my GP. I'm a little light now, but simply ignores the BMI warnings that are autogenerated. He's never even mentioned it. Blood work is off site. I don't always do it if I don't feel like it. . . . I had mildly elevated TSH levels for a while after an injury. My family has a history of thyroid problems. My GP thought it was probably a result of the injury. We retested in a few months and all was well. Someone else would have probably put me on some thyroid medicine even though I had no symptoms of a problem other than the blood test. . . .

All in all, try to find a good doctor. You'll have to ask around. Don't just go see whoever.

It's good to have a GP, as you might need them. It's often hard to get into see someone for the first time. (My wife doesn't have a GP and it drives me nuts. . . ) I almost got stuck in the ER because I hadn't seen my old GP in years. They wouldn't release me unless I could have the rat poison monitored immediately. . . Long story. Just have one on hand at least.

[Murelli]

Maybe I'll post this somewhere where the good Dr's can see it since I don't think we have any MD's here, yet.

I know two doctors who have a website and a forum about strength training, with barbells, and health, specifically medicine. I would say you could try that.

My limited knowledge, not being from the health area, is that pain is a signal and it's really individual, so if I were in your situation I would be pretty happy and would resume training with a lot of tip-toeing but without abnormal fear. Remember to use straps/hook grip from now on, because biceps.

[ColoWayno]

Thx, I am pretty sure I am a ways off from regular training. Yep, I thought I'd go over there after I had my thoughts together. It takes a while to type these days.

[fishwife]

I think what to expect depends on where you are. If you're in a big city with lots of specialists and hospitals, a primary doctor really does very little and will refer you out to labs and specialists for almost everything more complicated than giving you a vaccination or writing you an Rx. In less healthcare-dense areas, primary doctors do a lot more. Also, the roles that nurses and PAs can play in your visit will differ according to laws and customs in your state/area.

[Savs]

I think what to expect depends on where you are. If you're in a big city with lots of specialists and hospitals, a primary doctor really does very little and will refer you out to labs and specialists for almost everything more complicated than giving you a vaccination or writing you an Rx. In less healthcare-dense areas, primary doctors do a lot more. Also, the roles that nurses and PAs can play in your visit will differ according to laws and customs in your state/area.

There are lots of great hospitals here. According to her bio, my doctor specializes in infectious diseases and came through Harvard Med School. I'll probably be in very good hands. Just gotta get up the nerve to go.

what are you afraid of?

That's a pretty broad question, but I'll use my powers of deduction to assume you're talking about the thread topic. In that case, I'm afraid of needles and hospitals. In general, I'd have to say heights, tsunami, crocodiles, and water buffalo.

Can I Piggy back on this thing?

Of course! Sorry for, umm..., drifting off topic on your "science" thread.