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How often do you go to the doctors in a year if you are NOT sick?
06-12-2019, 07:19 AM
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#1
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Florida's First Coast
Posts: 7,723
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How often do you go to the doctors in a year if you are NOT sick?
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.
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06-12-2019, 07:23 AM
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#2
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 13,926
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More info needed. 3 months sounds like a lot for a totally healthy person, but for someone with multiple scripts, a pacemaker, and BP that needs to be monitored...idk if it's that bad?
Maybe split the difference with him and go every 6 months. I have no scripts or issues and I go annually.
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06-12-2019, 07:26 AM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 18,731
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Once a year...annual physical.
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06-12-2019, 07:27 AM
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#4
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Florida's First Coast
Posts: 7,723
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerides
More info needed. 3 months sounds like a lot for a totally healthy person, but for someone with multiple scripts, a pacemaker, and BP that needs to be monitored...idk if it's that bad?
Maybe split the difference with him and go every 6 months. I have no scripts or issues and I go annually.
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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.
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"Never Argue With a Fool, Onlookers May Not Be Able To Tell the Difference." - Mark Twain
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06-12-2019, 07:33 AM
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#5
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,225
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I go once a year for a physical, but I don't have blood pressure problems or a pacemaker. I would ask the doctor to explain why you should go every three months. Changing doctors is always an option.
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06-12-2019, 07:37 AM
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#6
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,913
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Last time was 7 years ago for a post retirement checkup. Before that...probably 25 years ago for an employment medical.
Plan to go for another checkup in the fall.
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06-12-2019, 07:38 AM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 10,936
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My preferred/favorite doctor retired about 5 years ago. I went to him once a year (or as needed) before he retired. No testing of any sort, unless I complained about something. He took my temp, BP and listen to my heart. Then we talked for about 10 to 15 mins about "whatever". He was more from the school of "if it ain't broken, don't fix it".
Have seen three different doctors since then, just to get my BP meds renewed. They all want to do chest xrays, ekg's, blood work, etc, etc, each time. Still looking for another one with the old school philosophy.
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06-12-2019, 07:40 AM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 9,525
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Don't, unless I have an issue. There my best to live healthy and take one day at a time.
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06-12-2019, 07:47 AM
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#9
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Florida's First Coast
Posts: 7,723
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I think Annually would be a good approach in my case for GP visit. I understand they may need to still justify the BP meds even though I have been on them for 20 years. Pacer check is a different matter and not really applicable to this post, I was aiming at GP if there are no current issues.
One other reason I may change is because his office staff cannot seem to get things right, billing, coding and they call me for tests I do not need, eg. Colonoscopy when I just had one 2 years ago and got told by the guy that did it that I do not need another for 5 years and that kind of thing. They make a lot of mistakes and do not always follow up on requests, i.e. refills between appointments etc. or get the quantities incorrect, issue a soft script, when I need a hard one, that kind of thing.
They also call every 3 months to remind me to make an appointment. I just tell them I do not need one.
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"Never Argue With a Fool, Onlookers May Not Be Able To Tell the Difference." - Mark Twain
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06-12-2019, 07:52 AM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 18,731
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShokWaveRider
I think Annually would be a good approach in my case for GP visit. I understand they may need to still justify the BP meds even though I have been on them for 20 years. Pacer check is a different matter and not really applicable to this post, I was aiming at GP if there are no current issues.
One other reason I may change is because his office staff cannot seem to get things right, billing, coding and they call me for tests I do not need, eg. Colonoscopy when I just had one 2 years ago and got told by the guy that did it that I do not need another for 5 years and that kind of thing. They make a lot of mistakes and do not always follow up on requests, i.e. refills between appointments etc. or get the quantities incorrect, issue a soft script, when I need a hard one, that kind of thing.
They also call every 3 months to remind me to make an appointment. I just tell them I do not need one.
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Sounds to me you need to find a new doctor.
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06-12-2019, 08:26 AM
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#11
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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I was going every three months for awhile . They had a sign at the office that said if you were on so many medications Medicare required a visit every three months .That must have changed because i am now on every six months . Two BP meds and inhalers for COPD .I also see a pulmonary doctor yearly .
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06-12-2019, 08:31 AM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Huntsville, AL/Helen, GA
Posts: 6,002
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My internal medicine doctor wants to see me every 6 months. I was there this morning for meds to fight a cold.
My endocrinologist sees me every 3 months because I'm on an insulin pump and Medicare requires me to see him quarterly and document my blood sugar levels 3x per day.
I do see a cardiologist yearly, but he just does an EKG and sends me on my way.
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06-12-2019, 08:36 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,181
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I see my regular physician and my cardiologist once a year. Unless something comes up from those annual exams and tests, that is it. If something does come up, either one usually has me follow up in 3 (only once) or six months, depending on what was found in the annual exam. But that is about it.
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06-12-2019, 08:41 AM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,145
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Several times a year! They always come up with an excuse to have me come back.
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Retired since summer 1999.
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06-12-2019, 08:51 AM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Tampa
Posts: 11,299
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Twice a year to my Primary.
Twice a year to the Eye Doctor.
Twice a year to the Dermatologist.
Three times a year to the Periodontist.
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TGIM
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06-12-2019, 08:57 AM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,024
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Once a year for a wellness exam, blood work, and flu shot. I have high blood pressure, so any time we change meds, there's a follow-up 30 days later.
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06-12-2019, 09:10 AM
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#17
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,970
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Twice. Once for an annual blood test that is required for a prescription I am on. And once to a Urologist for the never-popular prostate check. In fact , for the blood test I don't even see the doctor. I just show up, they pull the blood, the end. By law here, in order to be considered "under a doctor's care" to get a prescription I do need to actually say "hello" every 2 years whether I'm sick or not. SO I guess that averages out to 2.5 times per year when I am not sick or not otherwise scheduling something like a colonoscopy.
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06-12-2019, 09:16 AM
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#18
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 984
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No schedule - last visit to a doc (for routine blood work) was 4-5 years ago. No meds or known health issues. I do make an effort to eat healthy (low carb) and exercise regularly.
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06-12-2019, 09:17 AM
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#19
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 629
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Once a year for a check up to get my prescriptions renewed. Also go to the dermatologist once a year for a skin check.
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06-12-2019, 09:21 AM
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#20
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Northern Ohio
Posts: 3,182
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Roughly every two years. If I ain't broke...
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