How often do you go to the doctors in a year if you are NOT sick?

[Helena]

.

I stay as far away from doctors, hospitals and drugs as possible.

[bingybear]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShokWaveRider All info in OP. Pacemaker, for electrical issue not blockage or anything like that, just congenital AV node failure. Has not been adjusted for 10+ years but coming up to it's due by date. See Cardiologist for that. Generic BP meds (Free at local Supermarket). BP in check.

so paroxysmal AV block I assume. I'm not sure everything is in the OP. How do you know that the AV block was congenital? Have you had it since birth? Did you have beta blockers before getting the AV block. I've read some beta blockers have been linked with AV blocks. From what I understand you can get this from some tic bites (from discussion with my latest Cardiologist.)
you say that you just have BP meds. So you don't have any cholesterol lowering drugs, correct? Those can require more periodic blood tests.

I'm also under the belief that there will be many more frequent device checks as the replacement time becomes closer. This may be due to the telemetry my PM has.

I see my GP twice a year, Cardiologist once a year and 2 device checks a year typically.

edit - my understanding is the minimum standard with pacemakers is 2 cardiologist visits and 4 device checks.

[FreeBear]

Interesting, seems divided into 2 groups: frequent fliers (more than yearly, often multiple docs) and "ain't broke, don't fix" group. I hope to stay in the latter group as long as possible.

[Scratchy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShokWaveRider My doctor (GP) wants to see me every 3 months need it or not. All he does is spend 5 mins asking how I am, renews any prescriptions I may need and then proceeds to bill the insurance for $227. As a result I have stopped going as I feel fine and my BP is in Check. I check it every day at home. I do see my Cardiologist Tech every 6 months to get my Pacemaker checked as it is due for replacement next year. Lately I have not been to see my GP for 9 months and he refuses to renew my prescriptions without an office visit. Not an issue yet as I have about 6 months supply of my BP meds. Whaddyall think? I am tempted to change docs.

Perhaps ask him whether he would be comfortable seeing you less frequently if you monitor your blood pressure yourself at home.

[COcheesehead]

Once a year. Annual physical.

[COcheesehead]

For the folks not seeing a doctor at all, is it a money, fear or ignorance is bliss issue?

[LOL!]

I have to chuckle for those that are taking prescriptions and then kinda think "there is nothing wrong with you."

I take no prescriptions. I go to my family physician about once every 2 years for a physical.

My family physician is not a gatekeeper and cannot perform orthopedic surgeries nor remove kidney stones, so if something like that comes up, I just go to a specialist when needed.

[6miths]

I am healthy, low-risk and on no meds so I have gone years without seeing a doctor for 'routine' care. A broken bone, torn muscle or vaccination here and there for episodic care. I do get recommended screening tests which now means I am down for every 5 years or so. Definitely not money as it doesn't cost me anything at the time. Perhaps a healthy respect for what medicine is and isn't capable of?

[dirtbiker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShokWaveRider My doctor (GP) wants to see me every 3 months need it or not. All he does is spend 5 mins asking how I am, renews any prescriptions I may need and then proceeds to bill the insurance for $227. As a result I have stopped going as I feel fine and my BP is in Check. I check it every day at home. I do see my Cardiologist Tech every 6 months to get my Pacemaker checked as it is due for replacement next year. Lately I have not been to see my GP for 9 months and he refuses to renew my prescriptions without an office visit. Not an issue yet as I have about 6 months supply of my BP meds. Whaddyall think? I am tempted to change docs.

I'm a family doc. I ask my patients to come in once a year for a checkup if they are healthy and take no medications. If they're on medications, I ask that they come in every 6 months at a minimum. If they're on a lot of medications, on controlled meds, and/or have a lot of other medical issues, I ask to see them every 3-4 months, on a case-by-case basis, sometimes even more frequent. Based on the limited information that you have provided (IOW, without actually being able to review your chart), I would ask you to come in every 3 months. If you told me you really didn't want to every 3 months, I'd compromise and make it every 6 months, but no longer than that.

As a physician, my license is on the line for every action or inaction I take. If I'm prescribing a medication and don't see you in the office for an extended time, and then you end up with complications that could have been prevented with proper monitoring, I'm likely liable in a court of law. What you may see as an inconvenience or a money grab, likely isn't (not saying there aren't unscrupulous doctors out there). It's much more likely that your doctor wants to make sure the meds are working properly, there aren't side effects, that proper monitoring is done, and that no new problems have cropped up, before he/she puts their license on the line to write out another prescription.

I sometimes have to remind my more difficult patients that I'm not just a pill dispenser at their beck and call. I have dedicated many years of my life acquiring my education and expertise in my field in order to best treat my patients. The best treatment is sometimes refusing to prescribe a certain medication or requiring regular monitoring in order to prescribe a medication.

[Teacher Terry]

My GP makes me come in yearly or won’t renew my medications. The CPAP doctor won’t order supplies if I don’t go yearly. I go yearly for skin check to a dermatologist.

[RetireAge50]

Every couple years preventative visit since about age 45. Prior to that for high school physical. No medications.

[dirtbiker]

And I would also like to touch on the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" crowd. Every person is absolutely entitled to live their life as they see fit, and if they don't like seeing doctors, that's absolutely their choice.

This being said, waiting until something is wrong often means that it can't be fixed. Big issues are often caught during a physical exam or on routine tests when they are rather minor and can be treated/cured and before they cause any symptoms for the patient. The "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" group often comes in once it is too late, and treatment options are rather limited. The issue is that you probably don't know if it is broken or not.

I don't know how many times I've seen a patient who says he/she is "healthy" with no medical issues, yet hasn't been to a doctor in 5, 10, 15, 20+ years. It's not that they're healthy, they are just unaware of their medical problems. When I see them, their blood pressure is sky high, they've been an undiagnosed diabetic for a long time, and their cholesterol is through the roof. Often, they have kidney disease as a result, vascular disease, etc.

Please don't wait until it's broke to go to a doctor. It may be too late then.

[easysurfer]

Once a year for annual physical with GP .

Also, more recently, annually with dermatologist and ophthalmologist.

[kcowan]

I have my schedule down pat.
GP/PC once a year after doing blood tests
Cardiologist once a year
Ophthalmologist every few years
Dental tech for cleaning once a year
Dermatologist every four years for mole scan

Other appointments as dictated by findings or other need.

[ABQ2015]

I am 64 this year. See PCP once a year for brief checkup, renew prescriptions (statin and ACE inhibitor/diuretic for high BP), and to get bloodwork done. But also visit dermatologist once a year, periodontist once a year (with cleanings every 3 months), ophthalmologist twice a year (early macular degeneration), and an annual mammogram. Then there is the dentist and optometrist.

Had visit with new PCP last week. Will now have a third prescription for acid reflux - was previously on OTC medication. Was referred for a colonoscopy, a bone density scan, new shingles vaccine, and physical therapy (sciatica). The medical stuff just keeps increasing. The good news is that the next PAP exam will be at age 65 and my last one. I would not be surprised if my PCP asked me to come in every 6 months. She did not mention this but may be waiting for my blood test results to decide.

[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by COcheesehead Once a year. Annual physical.

This, I used to do. Now that I am on medication for "essential high blood pressure" and it is the only medication I take, I may have to come every 6 months for the prescription. Don't know yet.

[bushpilot]

GP, never. Dentist, when I feel like it, generally about 5 years. Eye doc, when I need new glasses, 3 or so years.

So far it works for me.

[W2R]

I see my internist/endocrinologist every six months to get new prescriptions for my BP, cholesterol, and Type 2.

Before I was 59 I didn't need any regular medication, and I only went in when I was sick or needed medical approval for a (working) cruise.

[gerntz]

Am I sick if I have ongoing conditions treated such as glaucoma risk, allergies/asthma, dermatitis? I do have these conditions & so I make some 20+ visits/yr.

[pb4uski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aja8888 Once a year...annual physical.

+1. Sounds like OPs GP is milking him to me.