Has Anyone Done An Annual "Wellness " Visit

rbtvgo said:
We are next, so protect yourself and stop with the denial. just my opinion. bob
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I agree.
I have three months' visit to my Primary Dr., although he asked whether I'd come to see him either 6 months or 3 months. I told him I live close to his office and chose 3 months visit.

Last visit, I asked Sleep and Skin meds. just in case my current Sleep med. regimen does not work and he sent them, both to CVS. which I appreciate him what would happen if current Sleep-regimen stopped working. 6 moths is too long for me to wait to see the Dr.

I admit I'm twilight age and a good-nite sleep is crucial to me, because I love chores and garden which I enjoy enormously.
 

Amanda76 said:
I agree.
I have three months' visit to my Primary Dr., although he asked whether I'd come to see him either 6 months or 3 months. I told him I live close to his office and chose 3 months visit.

Last visit, I asked Sleep and Skin meds. just in case my current Sleep med. regimen does not work and he sent them, both to CVS. which I appreciate him what would happen if current Sleep-regimen stopped working. 6 moths is too long for me to wait to see the Dr.

I admit I'm twilight age and a good-nite sleep is crucial to me, because I love chores and garden which I enjoy enormously.
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What sleep med regime are you talking about? You mean sleeping pills?
 
I have to routinely front the GP's surgery every six months for new scripts. He checks my BP and orders blood tests to make sure the medications are still effective and safe.

I have a personalised health care plan and once a year I see the practice nurse who asks questions before handing me over to the GP. Podiatry is the only addition to an otherwise uneventful plan and is subsidised by the federal government.

The practice nurse also comes to my house every 2 years for another questionnaire to see how I am coping at home. I'm coping quite well ATM but should that change it will not go unnoticed.

Because of my age, I am also required to submit a form signed by the GP, to state that I am fit to hold a drivers licence and do not require eyeglasses when driving. He gives me an elementary eyesight test without wearing my specs and I have been scoring 20/20 for long distance vision.

Because of bulk billing, I am charged nothing for any of the above, including the blood tests and home visits.
 

My wellness exam consists of me taking the reins after the nurses weigh mešŸ’©, check my blood pressurešŸ’©, and make me read an eye chart with and without my glassesšŸ’©

After the doctor greets me and asks the standard ā€œhow are youā€, I smile brightly and say great! I still have my horses at home, Iā€™m still mowing 4 acres with the 4-wheel drive tractor, and the only reason Iā€™m not Bushhogging is because the farm tractor needs injectors.

He then asks how Iā€™m getting along with the farm since husbandā€™s passing and I reply itā€™s a good thing I was raised on a dairy farm, so Iā€™m still hanging in there.

End of wellness exam, BP meds renewed, I donā€™t owe them any money thanks to BCBSTN, and I am out the door, walking with a cane because they likely have half a file cabinet regarding the Grade II spondylolisthesis.

My drivers license was renewed this past spring for eight years, so Iā€™m good on that until Iā€™m 86šŸ˜³
 
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MaidMarian said:
Iā€™m new to the ā€œwellness visitā€ even though Iā€™m 70 years old. My past doctor gave me an annual physical every year and it was always covered by my insurance even though itā€™s the same insurance I have now with this new doctor. I donā€™t understand how it was covered as my new doctor told me that the ā€œwellness visits started in 2011!
I am really concerned about not getting an annual physical. How can a heart problem be detected if the doctor doesnā€™t even listen to your heart? Or check your lungs? Or listen to your carotid arteries to hear if a blockage is detected?
My old doctor gave me an EKG every year since I was 60.
Iā€™m really afraid that at this age a serious problem that could be caught early and successfully treated will be missed!
My old doctor did a urinalysis to check my kidneys , he palpated my thyroid gland since I have hypothyroidism. He took all of my pulses and examined my legs for swollen ankles to check for peripheral artery disease, he checked my hearing.
He checked my breasts and abdomen .
I am really worried that nobody is doing this anymore!
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The body is amazing. If we pay attention to it, it will let us know when something is off kilter. Long story, short, Ive been missed dx a few times, therefore I listen to my body.
 
OldOld said:
I hope you live to 150 years old.
šŸ«”
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so do I, but I doubt it. Look! we are old. We are all in the same boat. We all have the same problems. New world, different world. Old world is gone. Let me say it again, the old world is gone.
So after you moan the loss you step up to the plate and reach out for help. Find the doctors you need. Make the appointments. Discuss your issues and concerns and follow what they ask you to do. If you want yesterday with the way your doctor treated you. If you want the way we use to do things.............it's gone!
Moan and complain but it wouldn't change things......so don't moan and complain. Do what you need to do to protect yourself. I feel it to. Don't like it but, it is what it is!
 
rbtvgo said:
so do I, but I doubt it. Look! we are old. We are all in the same boat. We all have the same problems. New world, different world. Old world is gone. Let me say it again, the old world is gone.
So after you moan the loss you step up to the plate and reach out for help. Find the doctors you need. Make the appointments. Discuss your issues and concerns and follow what they ask you to do. If you want yesterday with the way your doctor treated you. If you want the way we use to do things.............it's gone!
Moan and complain but it wouldn't change things......so don't moan and complain. Do what you need to do to protect yourself. I feel it to. Don't like it but, it is what it is!
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Not sure what you said have anything to do with me.
šŸ¤”
 
My mom used to go to a doctor who, after 30 seconds into the consultation, started looking at his watch about ever 15 seconds. At two minutes, he would just get up and walk out of the room. When mom got annoyed enough, she asked him about it. He said that he only allows 2 minutes per patient. After that, she started going to another doctor, but he wasn't much better.
 
we live in a different world. We have our families and friends and we have medical attention that has changed its whole way of being. We don't have the family doctor anymore.
We have our primary care doctor and specialist. We don't have the comfort in knowing that "DOC' was looking out for us. Those days are gone. Doctors, today do their job, they are for the most part very good. but they are not your friend. Herein lays the problem for most of us. We are looking for someone who has our back, so to speak.
They are not there anymore. The needs, as expressed are met at your request but they are not looking out for you anymore. They don't have the time, given their workload as dictated by the Hospital administration.
My primary care doctor spends 40+ hours on the computer and about 16 hours a week seeing patients. Is it their fault??? I do not think so. I have no answers. Just stop bemoaning the loss of the past. It's a waste of time. Take care of yourself, listen to your friends and family and go to the doctor. Denial accomplishes nothing other than you pass away earlier than you should have.
 
rbtvgo said:
we live in a different world. We have our families and friends and we have medical attention that has changed its whole way of being. We don't have the family doctor anymore.
We have our primary care doctor and specialist. We don't have the comfort in knowing that "DOC' was looking out for us. Those days are gone. Doctors, today do their job, they are for the most part very good. but they are not your friend. Herein lays the problem for most of us. We are looking for someone who has our back, so to speak.
They are not there anymore. The needs, as expressed are met at your request but they are not looking out for you anymore. They don't have the time, given their workload as dictated by the Hospital administration.
My primary care doctor spends 40+ hours on the computer and about 16 hours a week seeing patients. Is it their fault??? I do not think so. I have no answers. Just stop bemoaning the loss of the past. It's a waste of time. Take care of yourself, listen to your friends and family and go to the doctor. Denial accomplishes nothing other than you pass away earlier than you should have.
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Same here where I live.
I went three different GPs after my old GP retired 7 -9 years.
First GP was friendly and nice, but he was unable to prescribe my BP med. My BP was suddenly changed, getting 'High'mark which needed a new BP med.
The second GP was an retired age and was successfully stabilized my BP by a new prescription, but afterwards I was placed his 'nurse practioner' who was just pestering my personal stuff along with cognitive test. It was 45- one hour drive and spent half a day or more.
My third, the current GP asked me to bring all rx'ed med bottles which I did at my very first visit. He sent rx'ed meds to CVS, 6 months or more refills. He did not examine other than 'Heart' by using stethoscope. He did both Blood test and Urinary test which showed 'green.' On my recent visit, he sent my old/rx'ed meds. both skin and sleep to CVS by his Laptop. I always bring my previous rx'ed bottles and box to show him I got them in the past.
He is an expert on his Laptop by using his fingers and very fast. My old GP, on the otherhand his nurse sent rx meds to CVS., never used Computer/Laptop. He did more health examines and more tests making sure I'm in good health range.
There seems 'pros and cons' as for GP practice.
I know that if any health issue, I need to seek for Specialist, not GP.
 
Iā€™ve had the annual Wellness exam every year since turning 66 years old. Iā€™m 72 now. Iā€™ve
liked them mostly. Doctor and nurse review all basic things, then update those things. Go over current meds. The memory test is always done.
Eye test. Hearing test. Done.
 
Just a thought. Seems to me that a lot of issues here have to do with GP's and specialist that are not connected. In other words they have no access to your records unless you provide them. My case is much different in that I have one organization, or medical group that oversees my GP and specialist.
Good or bad it seems to make life simpler. Within the system I am connected to, all records, appointment and medications are available to all the specialist and the gp I go to. I realize that we all have different medical coverage and available resources. So my thoughts can seem somewhat strange to a lot of you.
Not sure this helps but if you have an organization or medical system that is available to you It might be worth investigating. Just a thought.
 

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