Between the time I finished having my children (1988) and when I was diagnosed with breast cancer (2007), I rarely went to the doctor. I was fairly healthy, and aside from an allergy pill now and then, I did not take any medicines, and I did not see the need to do wellness checkups or regular screenings. I have always had excellent health insurance, but Blue Cross probably didn’t recognize my name back then. Ah the ignorance of youth!
Once you get a diagnosis of cancer, you have more doctor visits than you can imagine and you are on the frequent flyer plan for insurance. Luckily for me, that all slowed down once I became cancer free, which I have been for 12 ½ years.
Now I have a yearly physical or what they call a wellness checkup, do regular screenings and take a slew of pills—some prescriptions, but mostly vitamins and supplements like CoQ10, glucosamine and fish oil.
Are they making a difference? I assume so, since I feel good but maybe it is a placebo effect. Regardless, I will keep taking them.
Today was my annual wellness check, and I got a flu shot—something else I now do every year.
I have never actually had the flu, and I sure don’t want it.
I was in and out fairly quickly today, which is also nice. Next week is bone density test, and I am told I need the new shingles vaccine (but they were out of it today).
I have friends that insist that they don't need to go to the doctor, that it will just make them sicker. I guess you need to look at all this medical stuff like taking care of your car.
You need oil changes every so many miles, and you need to have your tires rotated, and a new filter now and then. So, consider your blood work as an oil change, and your blood pressure like testing the air in your tires.
You want your car to last a long time, and the same is true of your body. So, go get a tune-up!