Just Got A Shocker From My Doctor Today!

AprilSun said:
Add me to this! I'm not having another mammogram or colonoscopy!
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I stopped having mammograms a few years ago and declined the colonoscopy experience entirely. A year ago my younger sister was diagnosed with rectal cancer and the younger sister of my dearest friend with (by-then metastatic) breast cancer. Neither woman had been tested until symptoms appeared.

Both spent much of 2019 dealing with the emotional trauma that such diagnoses bring, plus radiation, chemo, surgery and numerous tests. Including the very tests they'd previously dodged, of course.

My sister's cancer is currently undetectable. My friend's sister is less fortunate - I don't know how much time she has left, but my guess is it's not long.

Their experiences scared me in a big way. I immediately scheduled the tests for myself. Mammogram was clear, colonoscopy showed a couple of polyps that were removed during the procedure. Zero copays.

Did I "need" those tests? Possibly not. But the peace of mind they brought was well worth the inconvenience and X-rays. I'm still in my 60s and am hoping for a lot of healthy years ahead.
 

Butterfly said:
You don't HAVE TO do that no matter whether you have a supplement or not. Medicare doesn't require you to do anything except pay the premiums. Medicare OFFERS a welcome to Medicare physical, but does not require one.
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Just wondered what kind of insurance would require that. Of course medicare doesn't and the medigap supplements don't as far as I know.
 

Floridatennisplayer said:
Since my Medicare starts March 1st........I also received a form letter today from my physician that I need to do a complete physical for my new provider. Uh, had it done 6 months ago. Kiss off!
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Just FYI for folks:
Medicare has no restrictions against pre-existing conditions, unlike private insurers. Therefore, once you are eligible and Medicare becomes the primary insurer, any private insurance you carry is secondary (unless it's a MediGap policy, which replaces Medicare but MUST follow Medicare rules).

Any doctor or staff trying to tell you that you "must" do something because of Medicare, is blowing smoke and just wants to bill the government taxpayers; e.g., you and me.

We belong to the Kaiser Permanente HMO. The annual wellness exam is a non-event because the doctors always try to see you at least once a year - although these days it's an electronic check-in (they have their own private email system).
 
mrstime said:
When my male doctor wanted me to have a mammogram I told him I'd have one as soon as he got his testicles done the same way. He turned white and never mentioned it again.
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Why would you care if the doctor recommending a mammogram was male or female? My Ob/Gyn and GPs have all recommended regular mammogram, and I considered their advice regardless of their gender.
 
mrstime said:
When my male doctor wanted me to have a mammogram I told him I'd have one as soon as he got his testicles done the same way. He turned white and never mentioned it again.
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My second son had testicular cancer which is no laughing matter. He was taken to the ER by his group home for a break through seizure. When I got there he said he had a stomach ache. After an argument with the stupid doctor and my strong insistence my very disabled son had a CT scan and other tests.

The results were a very bad UTI, and second stage testicular cancer. He had a stomach ache because the cancer had spread to his stomach. Testicular cancer is found the same way as breast cancer.

Woman have to self exam their breasts and men have to self exam their testicles. In married couples, it is often the spouse or partner who discovers the cancer. My daughter noticed an odd series of freckles on her husbands back, aggressive melanoma. 3/4 of the skin on his back was removed and he has a CT scan every 6 months for the rest of his life.
 
Lethe200 said:
Just FYI for folks:
Medicare has no restrictions against pre-existing conditions, unlike private insurers. Therefore, once you are eligible and Medicare becomes the primary insurer, any private insurance you carry is secondary (unless it's a MediGap policy, which replaces Medicare but MUST follow Medicare rules).

Any doctor or staff trying to tell you that you "must" do something because of Medicare, is blowing smoke and just wants to bill the government taxpayers; e.g., you and me.

We belong to the Kaiser Permanente HMO. The annual wellness exam is a non-event because the doctors always try to see you at least once a year - although these days it's an electronic check-in (they have their own private email system).
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The private insurance is primary if you having obtained that insurance through work, Medicare is secondary. When you have VA benefits, I think Medicare is still secondary, but idk. When you have Medicare, VA benefits, and a private medical policy through work retirement, I have no ideal who is the primary. 😂
 
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Aneeda72 said:
My second son had testicular cancer which is no laughing matter. He was taken to the ER by his group home for a break through seizure. When I got there he said he had a stomach ache. After an argument with the stupid doctor and my strong insistence my very disabled son had a CT scan and other tests.

The results were a very bad UTI, and second stage testicular cancer. He had a stomach ache because the cancer had spread to his stomach. Testicular cancer is found the same way as breast cancer.

Woman have to self exam their breasts and men have to self exam their testicles. In married couples, it is often the spouse or partner who discovers the cancer. My daughter noticed an odd series of freckles on her husbands back, aggressive melanoma. 3/4 of the skin on his back was removed and he has a CT scan every 6 months for the rest of his life.
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I am so heartbroken with this shocking news, you have had to endure.
I hope for the very best in care, treatments, love and caring, you all could have.
Try to stay strong.
My sincere thoughts are with you.
 
MickaC said:
I am so heartbroken with this shocking news, you have had to endure.
I hope for the very best in care, treatments, love and caring, you all could have.
Try to stay strong.
My sincere thoughts are with you.
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Oh my gosh, Micka, that is awful!!!! So happy you were strong and there to be an advocate for you son!!!!!

I think EVERYONE should have one actually. When you are disabled, or old, or just plain sick, you just aren’t thinking sharply. I know when I had an emergency gall bladder surgery, I agreed to more damn tests than you can shake a stick at. I was in pain, washed out, and just plain didn’t care at that point. Not in any shape to make decisions and unfortunately my husband was out of town.
Praying that your son and son-in-law are now better🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
 
MickaC said:
I am so heartbroken with this shocking news, you have had to endure.
I hope for the very best in care, treatments, love and caring, you all could have.
Try to stay strong.
My sincere thoughts are with you.
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Thanks @MickaC This is my son who is total care with a lot of medical issues so when he had cancer; we told him it was clear he just liked being the center of attention in the family. 🤣. He did fine with chemo and has been in remission about five years.

My daughters husband was so fortunate that she nagged him for months, yes, months, to get those freckles checked. It was the same with my husband when he had a small bump on his eye lip that looked strange. I nagged him until he got really mad at me and finally he had it checked to “shut me up”. It was an aggressive cancer as well.

It was removed, he didn’t need any other treatment, except plastic surgery to repair the eye lid after the cancer was removed. Some men can be so stupid.
 
Kathleen’s Place said:
My doctor lists all of the things I am over due for at my wellness visits
Mammogram
Colonoscopy
Bone Density
Flu Shot
Pneumonia Shot
the list goes on....
She just smiles as I say no to each one
When we get close to the bottom of the list she just says, “No, right?” and laughs
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I say no to the colonoscopy because I have so many intestinal issues and those can be dangerous. I got a mammogram and now need another one soon and biopsy. My friend, our dog trainer, had a mammogram and a double mastectomy. But she waited too long.

It came back as bone cancer in her hip. She had chemo, it was successful. Came back again, bone cancer in her spine, chemo, successful. Came back again, bone cancer in her collar bone. Tumor is shrinking and responsive, now they have found cancer in her brain. She is in her 50’s. Prayers for her, Brenda, are welcome. She fighting really hard to live.

I see no point to the bone density scan as well. Not like they can do anything about the results. I get the flu shots, the pneumonia shots, the COVID-19 vaccine, shingles shots, and any other shot they offer.

But I refuse certain MRIs that I need, cause I hate MRIs. I guess we are the captains of our fate and choose, at our age, just how much more we can endure.
 
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Aneeda72 said:
Thanks @MickaC This is my son who is total care with a lot of medical issues so when he had cancer; we told him it was clear he just liked being the center of attention in the family. 🤣. He did fine with chemo and has been in remission about five years.

My daughters husband was so fortunate that she nagged him for months, yes, months, to get those freckles checked. It was the same with my husband when he had a small bump on his eye lip that looked strange. I nagged him until he got really mad at me and finally he had it checked to “shut me up”. It was an aggressive cancer as well.

It was removed, he didn’t need any other treatment, except plastic surgery to repair the eye lid after the cancer was removed. Some men can be so stupid.
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Thank you for the reply.....i just hate that C word.
 
Aneeda72 said:
I say no to the colonoscopy because I have so many intestinal issues and those can be dangerous. I got a mammogram and now need another one soon and biopsy. My friend, our dog trainer, had a mammogram and a double mastectomy. But she waited too long.

It came back as bone cancer in her hip. She had chemo, it was successful. Came back again, bone cancer in her spine, chemo, successful. Came back again, bone cancer in her collar bone. Tumor is shrinking and responsive, now they have found cancer in her brain. She is in her 50’s. Prayers for her, Brenda, are welcome. She fighting really hard to live.

I see no point to the bone density scan as well. Not like they can do anything about the results. I get the flu shots, the pneumonia shots, the COVID-19 vaccine, shingles shots, and any other shot they offer.

But I refuse certain MRIs that I need, cause I hate MRIs. I guess we are the captains of our fate and choose, at our age, just how much more we can endure.
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My prayers to Brenda.
 
Well that was the male Dr and I got away with it until I jokingly told that to the female Dr that , she said "get the mammogram" she had just had hers a couple of weeks before. So I got my 2nd ever mammogram, and fortunately the last. Apparently after a certain age no one cares about mammograms, pelvic exams or colonoscopy's!
 
StarSong said:
Information is our friend. Being diagnosed with osteopenia led me to increase weight bearing exercises, to learn about non-dairy calcium rich foods, and to consume them every day.
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All of which are great things to do - for everyone; without any bone scans.
Much more important to prevent a problem in the first place with improved lifestyle than have tests & procedures to diagnose it.
 
Seems like she had an agenda to see what your POA said.

fmdog44 said:
told today I must bring my living will and power of attorney documents in for my next check up visit.
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Some doctors don’t want to treat patients who have DNRs since they don’t believe in ‘suicide’. She obviously had a political agenda.

If she didn’t have any of these issues, you’d better review her medical certificates. Is she still your doctor?
 
mrstime said:
Well that was the male Dr and I got away with it until I jokingly told that to the female Dr that , she said "get the mammogram" she had just had hers a couple of weeks before. So I got my 2nd ever mammogram, and fortunately the last. Apparently after a certain age no one cares about mammograms, pelvic exams or colonoscopy's!
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They DO care about mammograms --- most breast cancer strikes older women. It's just not the super aggressive kind that strikes pre-menopausal women.
 
fmdog44 said:
I was told today I must bring my living will and power of attorney documents in for my next check up visit. I asked why and she said, "blame Obama." I said "since when?" She replied, "Since he got it passed?" I told her I have never had the required since he got elected eleven years ago. She said they are tightening the belt. She added mammograms are now mandatory for women annually if they want medical care. Has anyone had any similar notices with their personal physicians?
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Thanks Obama.
 
saltydog said:
Thanks Obama.
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A couple of posts later FMdog said he checked out what the healthcare provider said and it turned out to be false info.

I agree with your sentiment though, Thank You, Obama!

Many parts of the ACA (insurance companies can't deny coverage because of pre-existent conditions, and dependents are covered until age 26) have been godsends to large swaths of the US population.
 
You'd think in this day and age, there would be a better way to check for breast cancer than putting women through the agonizing "squish". Men don't have to submit to this torture to check for cancer in their "nether regions". All they have to do is get an ultrasound. Can you imagine if men had to get certain parts of their body "squished" for a test? It would never happen. It seems like women's issues of any kind are addressed only after years of complaining and protesting. Eventually someone finally looks up and says, "maybe we should do something about this".
 
Kathleen’s Place said:
My doctor lists all of the things I am over due for at my wellness visits
Mammogram
Colonoscopy
Bone Density
Flu Shot
Pneumonia Shot
the list goes on....
She just smiles as I say no to each one
When we get close to the bottom of the list she just says, “No, right?” and laughs
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The only one on your list that hurts is the mammogram.
 


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