Poll:Number of doctors you see regularly

[Car-Guy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound Do they have DIY for A1C?

A1C test kits are available at Walgreens for about $40 dollars. No prescription required. You get a throw away meter and everything you need for two test all in one box. Just add a little blood. Results at home in about 5 minutes. A family member uses these kits at home once every 3 months and her doctor has been accepting the results without additional A1C testing in the office.

Be sure to check the expiration date on the box before buying/using.

[Another Reader]

Last year I would have selected none. Staying away from the medical vultures was my plan. This year everything went haywire, and I can no longer check that box. Hoping to get back to the original plan next year.

[Car-Guy]

If I could get off BP meds (need a doctor to write the prescriptions), I'd quit going until I felt I had a need.

[Walt34]

Until a bit over 2 years ago it was just the PCP and gastroenterologist (had an ulcer once, long since healed). Then the afib started, several different treatments for that until I got a cardiac ablation, which seems to have worked. So now I see a cardiologist and an electrophysiologist every six months.

[rodi]

When I donate blood I get some minimal blood work for free. (And I get a juicebox when I'm done.) They let me know Iron, Cholesteral, and blood sugar on the blood bank website about 3 days after the donation.

Iron is actually faster - if you're anemic, you are barred from donating right there.

[Freedom56]

I see a doctor once per year for an annual check-up with blood tests. I stay in shape by biking about 100-120 miles per week (sometimes more) with my wife. Since I started cycling just before retirement, my resting pulse dropped from the high 70's to the mid 50's.

[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Car-Guy A1C test kits are available at Walgreens for about $40 dollars. No prescription required. You get a throw away meter and everything you need for two test all in one box. Just add a little blood. Results at home in about 5 minutes. A family member uses these kits at home once every 3 months and her doctor has been accepting the results without additional A1C testing in the office. Be sure to check the expiration date on the box before buying/using.

Interesting. I did not know such kit exists. So, that's $20/test. Sounds inexpensive.

But then, I look at the Sonora Lab pricing for self-ordered tests (see post#40), and see this.

Diabetes Management Panel – includes Glucose & A1c: $21.

I wonder what is included in the panel, but that looks better than the DIY kit. Diabetics who actively control their diet can readily monitor the progress with this self-ordered test. I am not afflicted, but wonder if other people know about the availability of all this self-help stuff.

[braumeister]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound But then, I look at the Sonora Lab pricing for self-ordered tests (see post#40)

Their prices are all quite low compared to other places where you can order your own tests.

For example, here is one of the biggest:
https://requestatest.com

Sonora Lab's $21 for the glucose/A1C test is a far cry from the $52 (currently on sale) price at RequestATest.

[ls99]

None, once a year a nurse practitioner for "wellness check"

[NW-Bound]

A visit to an NP for a wellness check is the same as one to a doctor. That ought to count as one.

My doctor does not do anything more that an NP could (the stethoscope listening, the abdomen pressing, the fondling and poking, etc...). And indeed, many doctors use PAs to handle most office visits.

[Paracelsus]

I go to an ophthalmologist about 4 times a year for eye pressure checks - I have glaucoma.
I go to an orthopedist for my arthritic joints to get cortisone injections 2-3 times a year.
I rarely go see a regular doctor for annual physicals - maybe once every 3-5 years.

I'm on no prescription drugs.

Currently looking at insurance plans for 2017 - hate the classification questions of how many visits I need a year - I'm very healthy but need regular maintenance checks. Also hate that I can't find a plan that has these three doctors on it that I have a 18 year history with them...

[brett]

Had a physical when I started a new job in 1980. Had another physical when I started a new job in 1986. Had the next physical in 2013 because I promised DW (a former RN) that I would. The MD actually asked me why I came. Full work up, no issues other than some weight to loose.

Had a physical this past June. All the usual blood tests. Full work up. No issues. Next one is scheduled for 2018. Hopefully I will have no reason to venture into the clinic prior to then!

We have universal health coverage so there is no direct cost involved.

I consider myself very fortunate. Vision get checked every two years depending on whether my reading glasses still let me read.

[6miths]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound I made the point to see mine at least once a year. One year, I skipped and he had my file put away in storage (I could have moved, or died). Had him for a long time, and hate to lose him for 2017 because he's not on the new insurer's list. PS. By the way, even when I feel healthy, it's good to have a blood test to see if anything's amiss. High blood glucose, triglyceride, or kidney malfunction may not have any symptom until it is too late.

One may feel reassured seeing a doctor on a periodic basis or getting blood work but the truth is that there is no good evidence that this is beneficial and there are reasons to believe that it may be harmful even above and beyond the time, costs and potential pain involved. If you have specific risk factors then there may be some benefits but if you are a healthy weight and feel well then it is unlikely that there is more benefit than risk. Most (All?) professional organizations do not recommend routine, periodic MD visits or blood work for most people.

[outdoorgirl02]

I have quite a few "ologists" due to an autoimmune disease that affects various body systems. The ones I see most often are the rheumatologist and ENT. I recently acquired a dermatologist after having my first skin checkup and getting a basal cell carcinoma removed that the derm found. I hope I don't need any new specialists in 2017.

[Just_Steve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6miths One may feel reassured seeing a doctor on a periodic basis or getting blood work but the truth is that there is no good evidence that this is beneficial and there are reasons to believe that it may be harmful even above and beyond the time, costs and potential pain involved. If you have specific risk factors then there may be some benefits but if you are a healthy weight and feel well then it is unlikely that there is more benefit than risk. Most (All?) professional organizations do not recommend routine, periodic MD visits or blood work for most people.

Yeah I believe that.........Oh wait, no I don't.
My cancer was found from a routine blood test and I had no risk factors.
But hey, YMMV.

[redduck]

1. Cardiologist
2. Ophthalmologist
3. Urologist
4. Dermatologist
5. GI doc
6. ENT

I see them as needed, which turns out to be about once a year for each. I think I get blood work yearly. I make sure I see the dermatologist yearly. I'd like to see the Urologist on a bi-weekly basis because he's hired this blond PA chick who does a prostate exam like you wouldn't believe. However, it seems as if Medicare has deemed a bi-weekly prostate exam as entertainment and not as a medical necessity. Go figure.

[6miths]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just_Steve Yeah I believe that.........Oh wait, no I don't. My cancer was found from a routine blood test and I had no risk factors. But hey, YMMV.

Lucky for you. Possibly. Not so lucky for others who had false positive tests or who had a true positive for a cancer that was never going to cause them significant harm and went through extensive treatment nonetheless. The lets do more tests and give more drugs and do more treatments crowd has billions of dollars in their corner, the folks who espouse that things should be beneficial and cost-effective not so much.

[panacea]

Just a PCP that I see biannually for check-ups. Recently changed to a younger doc who's closer to where I live and also has more expertise in sports medicine. Just increased my health insurance deductible so I'm counting on good health for another year!

[Lakedog]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6miths One may feel reassured seeing a doctor on a periodic basis or getting blood work but the truth is that there is no good evidence that this is beneficial and there are reasons to believe that it may be harmful even above and beyond the time, costs and potential pain involved. If you have specific risk factors then there may be some benefits but if you are a healthy weight and feel well then it is unlikely that there is more benefit than risk. Most (All?) professional organizations do not recommend routine, periodic MD visits or blood work for most people.

+1

I hit 60 this year and do not typically go for routine checkups. I exercise regularly (weights/run) and eat what I consider a healthy diet (low carb). I take no prescription drugs or even over the counter meds. I did have a colonoscopy about 4 years ago and have had blood work done very sporadically in the past. I plan to go to a doc when I have an issue but not likely otherwise.

[Danmar]

Splitting our time between 4 homes, makes health care a little more complicated. Have 3 dentists, 2 PCP's ( personal care physician? We call them GP's). Various specialists in Canada, Cleveland Clinic for big immediate things, emergency walk in clinic in Arizona, concierge type service in Toronto. So far no major health issues.