How often do you go to the Doctor?

[dejr_8]

My wife and I go when we are sick. Maybe once, twice a year.

I think this is an interesting topic because my 79 year old mother refuses to go see the doctor for routine visits. She also refuses to go see the doctor when she is sick.

I think it is a generational issue. In her younger years, I think by the time they went to the Doctor the prognosis wasn't going to be good. So it is not better know - I guess that is her reasoning.

 

[happygirl]

Usually only when I'm sick

 

[Amy]

Well, I never skip my yearly gyne/mammo exam. I'm a BC survivor, so I still see my oncologist every 6 months. As far as seeing my PCP, I try real hard to go for a yearly "well check", but that tends to get put off unless I'm sick. I figure between the gyne and oncologist, that's 3 routine checkups a year already.

 

[mjkacmom]

I go to the gyno once a year (need my prescription). I don't remember being sick with anything that required a visit to the doctor - even my kids rarely go to the pediatrician, except for well visits, unless I suspect strep.

 

[EthansMom]

I go for my annual GYN appointment, get a flu shot every year, and go when I'm really sick (usually bronchitis or pnuemonia) or injured (sprained my ankle not too long ago).

Years ago, DH's Grandmother died from ovarian cancer... She had never had a regular GYN appointment. Caught early enough, she might have lived a while longer.

DH has always disliked going to the doctor. About 9 years ago, he had a bad stomach ache that lasted for days. He promised he'd go to the doctor if he was still sick on Friday, but didn't go. Saturday, I dragged his butt to the ER. His appendix had ruptured... he almost died.

OTO, when we were in the ER of a major city hospital, I couldn't believe the people who were there for things I wouldn't have even gone to see my GP for; one young woman had been throwing up for 24 hours (hello, you've got a stomach bug or ate something bad!) and another woman who looked to be in good shape came in because her leg had just started tingling (I'd have waited a day or two and gone to my GP... I mean if you can walk and aren't in pain, it's probably something minor that will resolve itself).

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I'm in my upper 60's and a cancer survivor. I go to my PCP about every 3-4 months for routine follow-up and specialists as needed but at least yearly.

One thing that helps is I have wonderful insurance. I am retired from the Federal Government and have BC/BS and pay just as much as a current active employee. Basically BC/BS will pay anything that Medicare does not pay; all I have to pay is a drugs copay (plus my premiums, of course).

 

[kingcrab]

39 y.o. male,

Luckily I havent been sick or had a cold in years(havent missed a day of work since my daugter was born in Oct of 2006), went to the doctor last year for a quick check-up, & before that I think it had been 3 or 4 years since my last visit.

 

[punkin]

Not often enough. I have not been to a Gyno in 3 years and not had a real full physical in 9. I rarely get sick other than the occasional cold. My DDs are on my back to go. I have no excuse. I am fully insured-just lazy and I hate doctors (not personally, you understand, just professionally).

 

[NMAmy]

A couple of times a year--I go for a yearly exam and then as needed throughout the year.

My mother is 76 and she is very on top of going to the doctor(s). She is a firm believer in taking care of herself and always has been.

 

[4nana]

We're seniors (72-62yo) and the opposite of your Mom . We feel by having annual physicals, if there should be anything wrong, hopefully we could get an early grasp on any health issues. We're faithful about having our physicals and flu shots annually, also lifetime pneumonia shot. I also do my well woman/gyno, mammo and endo annually. Thankfully we're blessed we're rarely sick, but surely don't hesitate going to dr if we are.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Without insurance, I do to the emergeny room only when I have to. I can't afford to go at all, but if I have to, I have to.

 

[Snoopymom]

I also think it is interesting.

My parents who never went to the doctor are in their 60's and have started to get regular physicals, checked out for skin cancer, colonoscopies, etc. and they make sure they take their blood pressure and cholesteral meds.

I'm still surprised whenever they mention an appointment or a med and I tell them how grateful I am that they are doing this every chance I get.

They are the hardest working and busiest people I know, actually in the process of building a lake house, doing all the work they can physicially do themselves, just amazing!

I hate to go to the doctor, but since adopting ds, I feel more of a responsibilty to take care of myself and it looks like my parents are still providing a good example

 

[Micca]

I'm diabetic and my doc wants to see me every 11 weeks. I guess it's worth it because my bloodwork looks very good each time. He's keeping a close eye in the event things start to go downhill.

I'm a typical guy who would go for years without seeing a doc. I haven't been for being sick (flu, etc.) for years.

 

[monkey68]

Probably too much. I'm a klutz, so I'm constantly hurting myself somehow. And if I go to my school clinic, I don't have a copay which makes it easier to go.

 

[Stitchfans]

If it wasn't for needing my prescriptions refilled I'd never go. In the past when I was younger I went for many many years not seeing the doctor. Don't like them and don't trust them. I put them on the same level as a lawyer. They hit you when you are at your lowest and take you for as much money it is humanly possible. They only see dollar signs not the human being standing in front of them.

 

[waltsgirl]

I go every 5-6 months for a check-up due to medications, go in-between if I am sick and have my yearly check-up

 

[Pakey]

52 year old female. I never went to the doctor, even when I was sick, because I was too busy. Then I ended up with advanced stage breast cancer because I was too busy to go every year for a mammo. For the past 3 years, I have averaged an estimated once per week medical appt of some sort.

Yes, dissers, it can happen to you too. Please go every year for your annual checkups.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

52 year old female. I never went to the doctor, even when I was sick, because I was too busy. Then I ended up with advanced stage breast cancer because I was too busy to go every year for a mammo. For the past 3 years, I have averaged an estimated once per week medical appt of some sort.

Yes, dissers, it can happen to you too. Please go every year for your annual checkups.

I would happily go for checkups if I could afford it. And those free clinics aren't always convienent for everyone.

 

[C.Ann]

Several years back, I would have said once a year.. Now I have health issues that have me running all over to various doctors a lot more often than I would like.. Grrr.. Gotta do what I gotta do though.. Thank goodness I have some sort of insurance - even though it's pretty lousy.. If I had to depend on the ER, I would probably just die and get it over with..

 

[jimmalru80]

3-4 times a year to get my blood tests for cholesterol and liver enzymes evaluated.