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I don't want to turn this into any kind of a "lecture" thread about what people should or shouldn't do, but my husband and I have almost completely different opinions and views about calling or going to the doctor. He will call his doctor for anything more serious than a bad cold, while I won't go to the doctor unless I am in serious pain o have a symptom that I know should be investigated. (The last time I went to the doctor, other than for my Medicare wellness exam when I turned 65, was for when I had the Shingles when I was about 56; and I have never had a mammogram.)
I think my reluctance is because I know that I am healthy and I feel good (knock wood to both!), and I don't want to spend the time or money for no good reason, although we both have excellent medical insurance. I admit that I am "cheap", but this attitude has saved us thousands of dollars over the past 40 years -- and at this stage of my life, I really don't care if I live another 20 years -- or even ten!
Last edited by katharsis; 05-13-2022 at 07:45 AM..
We both see our doctors regularly, as we both have minor health issues (and the occasional acute issue that for my wife required surgeries) that need monitoring and occasional medication changes for optimum health. Based on family history and my own, I could live (and be healthy) until my late 90s or more - and I'd like to. I doubt many people are as healthy as you, OP, and your approach appears to work for you so far.
My 95-year old mom goes to her GP once per year. I think the last time she went to a dentist was in the 1970s. The last time she went to a specialist was in the 1980s - an ophthalmologist for cataract surgery. She's never had a colonoscopy. She's never had a mammogram. She's an RN who worked in medical/surgical at the county hospital most of her adult life and believes for the most part that people get well despite their medical care.
My 70-year-old brother last went to a doctor in 1977, although he does go to an optometrist about every 5 years or so.
My now-departed MIL viewed going to the doctor as a social activity, and would schedule 4 or 5 specialist doctors visits per week, weather she needed them or not. That way she'd be able to take the shuttle bus from the independent living facility along with a dozen other seniors. It was an outing for her.
I go to the doctor if I'm in a skiing accident & need trauma care. I haven't needed trauma care for maybe 6 or 7 years, knock-on-wood.
I pretty much go every year, as I have some conditions which require prescriptions and I need to get blood work done in order to get them renewed. Other than that, pretty much never. I would rather be home in bed if I feel miserable with a cold or flu or something. Generally, I can't imagine dragging myself out of bed, showering, dressing and driving to a dr. appointment when I feel awful. All I want to do when I'm sick is stay in bed and sleep! I do, however, get a mammogram every couple of years and have done so for many years now. I also have done Cologuard type tests for several years, but never done a colonoscopy. And during my "reproductive" years, I went to a gynecologist on an annual basis as well for birth control, pap smears, etc. So, guess I can't say that I "never" go to the doctor!
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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That used to be me, until about age 45 I only went when I had a temperature of 102 and needed medication, broke a bone, or had a kidney stone. Then in 2019 I was diagnosed with cancer and that changed drastically. I'm clean now after surgeries and chemo but I see regularly:
Oncologist every 6 months
General Practitioner every 6 months
Urologist once a year
Nephrologist once a year
CT Scan every year
I've only gone when in pain, or when a situation I used to easily resolve, couldn't be. Heart attack, incarcerated hernia, hip surgery. And really painful neck issue.
Other times, E coli, food poisoning (so bad I should have been hospitalized) severe sprained ankle..... If I could get by, I did. Pain, severe pain usually is my catalyst.
My 95-year old mom goes to her GP once per year. I think the last time she went to a dentist was in the 1970s. The last time she went to a specialist was in the 1980s - an ophthalmologist for cataract surgery. She's never had a colonoscopy. She's never had a mammogram. She's an RN who worked in medical/surgical at the county hospital most of her adult life and believes for the most part that people get well despite their medical care.
My 70-year-old brother last went to a doctor in 1977, although he does go to an optometrist about every 5 years or so.
My now-departed MIL viewed going to the doctor as a social activity, and would schedule 4 or 5 specialist doctors visits per week, weather she needed them or not. That way she'd be able to take the shuttle bus from the independent living facility along with a dozen other seniors. It was an outing for her.
I go to the doctor if I'm in a skiing accident & need trauma care. I haven't needed trauma care for maybe 6 or 7 years, knock-on-wood.
I think the majority of former healthcare professionals share your mother's approach, myself among them :-). I do have an advantage of knowing what is going on, or knowing what possibilities could be, so I seek medical care only when I think I need it, which has happened exactly once in the past 30 years (interestingly, also for an ophthalmologic issue 6.5 years ago - I am 62 now). I do monitor my blood pressure by myself, because it is borderline, and avoid coffee, sodium and sugar in hope it will not take off above the limit of 120/80 (where it has been sitting firmly for the past couple of years). Nothing else to do right now. Oh, and I have been to a dentist more recently than the 1970s, but not every year, or even every 5 years. But I just had a big dental drama in Feb/March, a horrendous abscess, and had the first permanent tooth ever pulled out (but it is a far back molar, and I do not miss it at all; what a relief it was to have it removed! - so yes, medical services are certainly great for some purposes, but are way overused in situations where they have no real purpose). Your 95 yo mother is very prudent in weighing risks vs. benefits of medicine .
I go to the dentist twice a year for routine cleaning and exam and to an optometrist once a year for eye exams, but I haven't been to any other kind of doctor for checkups or problems in many, many years. I haven't felt the need to. I did get my COVID shots and booster, and will get a second booster in a month or two.
I take my 86 and 80 year old parents to their appointments, but other than that, I slipped on some ice a couple years ago and had to see a Dr for work comp. Otherwise, I avoid Dr's unless there's no choice.
Most of my experiences over the years is they have no idea what to do if it doesn't involve prescribing a pill or cutting you open.
I had a torn muscle one time, the Drs advice? Get a massage.
I'll take care of myself. Been doing it a long time now.
I will see the dentist if I need to, and every 3 years I'll go to the ophthalmologist for new glasses.
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