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Thursday, June 16, 2011

The Endless Medical Loop.

Maybe it's the middle-aged-me talking, but does it seem to anyone else that your entire year can be taken up with one doctor, doctor-related, specialist appointment after another?  And add to that the interspersed veterinary appointments and I swear I am in some waiting room every month!  Did my annual check up, to be followed up by mammogram, annual dermatologist body check, eyes checked, gyno check, dentist check, Scrappy check, Bernie check, Boyz check, Cookie check, etc.  And, although I am very lucky to have insurance, the co-pays are popping up all over.  I never had to pay a co-pay for the bloodwork for my annual exam.  Do now.  Never had to pay a co-pay for the mammo.  Do now.  And...because I couldn't get in to see my actual doctor for my annual exam, I am expected to come in for a six-month follow-up.  I say - if you don't trust your nurse practitioner, go hire someone else.  Once a year is waaay plenty enough for me.

Just my two (and growing) cents on the subject.

10 comments:

judy said...

My husband has over $100.00 of co-pays a month at the VA,NOW ON THE OTHER HAND MY OLDER SISTER IS 68 AND IN PERFECT HEALTH BUT RATHER THAN HAVE MEDICARE TAKE OUT $100.00 A MONTH SHE HAS 1 PHYSICAL FOR $100.00 BUT I KNOW THIS CAN'T STAY THIS WAY FOREVER-i HOPE YOU FOUND OUT YOUR VERY HEALTHY

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

I try to avoid the doctor like the plague. I am over do for my appointments and I always ask my vet if he can just give me the check up while I am there. Then he rolls his eyes at me. What.. a very reasonable request. And maybe I need my distemper shot anyway.

mtnchild said...

Oh I agree!! I have to wait to pay off the most recent medical need before I can go on with another need. Between me, the dog and the cats, it can take a while. I have another year until Medicare kicks in, but I'm not sure that will be any better ... well it won't help with the animals ... LOL. As an example, I need my 6 mo. bloodwork redone, but I'm CALLING the doc to set that up instead of going in. I will go see him when the results are in saving one appt. charge.

Thank goodness I'm really pretty healthy.
Yvette

Susan said...

Judy - There's no good way of getting around this stuff! Yes, I am healthy as a horse.

Jane - What a hoot! I told my vet I might need a rabies shot and he wanted to know who I intended to bite. I think there should be a human/animal doctor so you can get it all done at one time. But, frankly, they're both so damn expensive it probably wouldn't save you anything.

Yvette - Yes, thank goodness for good health. My doctor is loathe to do anything on the phone. I have to insist.

Erin said...

I agree! I finished up my dental stuff last week, but as soon as I schedule my eye appt then it all starts, mammogram, physical, yada yada yada!

Mama Pea said...

I know my body well and if something is amiss, I'll have it checked. I take many precautions to insure I am healthy and stay healthy. We are shamed or scared into thinking we NEED all these tests when in most cases, it does nothing but support the medical, drug and insurance conglomerates.

Do you know that most people start to die when they get the prognosis? How many people have you heard of that die two/three months after they are told they have cancer?

I know my viewpoint on this is different than most people's but I believe our current medical system is not healthy.

Judy T said...

Ha! I've been avoiding calling to set up my annual appointment with my ARNP. But I know her, she won't give me refills on my prescriptions that I need if I don't come see her. It's a game we play... how many refills will she give me before I HAVE to come in... grrr....
Judy

Sue said...

I hate the way medical care has gotten. I have 2 prescriptions I have to take for migraines and acid reflux and that means I HAVE to come in twice a year. Then I get the whole spiel about needing this and that (which I never do!). I've been labeled "difficult" . I wish I didn't ever have to go. What ever happened to the time when people never needed to go to a doctor. Why are we all so sick now?

BrokenRoadFarm said...

Right there with you...had my annual checkup the other day as well. I am happiest when I only have to see a doctor once a year!! (I told her that too - she laughed!)

The Apple Pie Gal said...

I do my best to stay away! Fortunately, I seldom have need to go. I take my animals for their annual shots but never seem to do my own -check ups that is. All shots current for me :) Sometimes I just don't want to know...