How many of the retired or near retired folks see a doctor regularly?

Bear Paw Jack · Jun 23, 2026

Lots of us 60-90 year old folks grew up in the walk it off era. I suspect that includes a reasonably large group of folks here. I have a friend who’s an expat in the Philippines, but there are lots of folks who moved other middle eastern countries, Mexico and various South American countries. They moved because they hadn’t planned for retirement and their social security doesn’t allow for retirement, especially as single men. If they can barely afford to live, I suspect proactive medical attention is off the list.

In my 60’s I discovered it’s important to see certain doctors regularly and I’ve got type 2 diabetes so that makes it more important.
I make a point to see the internist at least twice a year for my diabetes,
At least once a year for the
Eye doctor I mentioned before I’ve had 9 eye surgeries.
Dermatologist
Urologist yes test your PSA every year regardless of age
Then add the cardiologist.
Proof is I’ve already got a stent and have had 2 ablations for my Afib
One year I went to the ophthalmologist and my A1C was high. The dr said it doesn’t happen often but 2-3 times a year someone comes in because they have gone blind and once it happens it doesn’t come back.
I went to the dermatologist a week ago, had 9 spots frozen and 2 biopsies. One turned out to be cancer.

How many of you have become proactive with your health?

Watertender · Jun 23, 2026

I try to look after my health as much as possible. Being married to a retired ICU RN has many advantages and her taking an active interest in my heathcare is one of them.

jg123 · Jun 23, 2026

Yearly check ups, and most likely new knees by the end of this year....

blume357 · Jun 23, 2026

For around 35 years I went by the option that going to a doctor was like calling a chimney sweep out to your house, they are going to find something wrong. I had this plan to be like the old bachelor farmer I read about that lived into his 90's and 'never been sick a day in his life' according to those that knew him. When he died they did an autopsy and discovered he had had all kinds of deceases and injuries and he 'just got over them'. This plan worked well for me until 2019 when one of my main arteries decided to close down completely.... now I see two different docs twice a year. This does not include the current orthotic one trying to fix my ankle.
From what I've read from a number of the members here I got nothing to complain about...

mirglip · Jun 23, 2026

I'm 70 and I'm proactive with my health. I eat healthy, keep the weight down, get plenty of exercise and avoid pill salesmen.

LDB · Jun 23, 2026

I see mine at regular intervals, as appropriate for that doc. GP twice a year for labs and updates on meds. Derm, Opt, Cardio etc. annually unless suggested otherwise. Dentist and cleanings twice a year also. IMMEDIATELY in an accident or illness. Frankly, only STUPID people don't do the same.

bedfordboy · Jun 23, 2026

yes’m, what he said

My dad had a stroke before he was 35 and passed away at 45, heart disease ran in his family. Lost my younger sister before she was 25 to colon cancer

You do preventive maintenance on your car it’s foolish not to do the same for your body.

Mobuck · Jun 23, 2026

I only go to the Dr if/when I need a script renewal or have some sort of injury. That means I go to the local Dr once/twice per year and cardio once. Hit the chiropractor as needed. Yearly visit to local Dr includes the required blood analysis.

foxtrapper · Jun 23, 2026

Poke the bear, can of worms just b prepared to hear it!

codebreaker · Jun 23, 2026

I suspect quite a few people think, what the doctor doesn't know, won't hurt him.

That was me for decades until I showed up in the ER. Now I have primary care doctor, cardiologist, ophthalmologist, and dental visits several times a year. I hate having to go but I do. After the primary care doc, I go get my favorite breakfast before my A1C number comes back, because what I don't know can't hurt me.

XUSNORDIE · Jun 23, 2026

Unfortunately I have a list of Doc's I see regularly now. The "walk it off" tough guy thing when I was younger began showing the results of it in my early-mid 50's. Now I'm held together by titanium plates and screws. Except for my right leg. It has a titanium knee but I will need my right SI joint fused shortly. The left was done last SEP. Trying to hold off until fall. My cancer scans are now yearly. I see the family Doc every six months. Seems I'm in the town Pharmacy every other week picking up a prescription. If it wasn't for my Wife I probably wouldn't be keeping up with it all.

Terry Morgan · Jun 23, 2026

Full blown gout will get your attention. Once you're in their care, they find other issues if you're over 70.

sceva · Jun 23, 2026

yearly exam with labwork and other appointments as needed

xTopGun · Jun 23, 2026

Thankfully my wife and I have good medical coverage and get checked every 6 months, in fact I'm heading that way for a tune-up in a couple hours . . . . . also, have to see about changing my BP med due to a couple possible related side effects

Johnnu2 · Jun 23, 2026

I'm a very healthy 81 yr old who doesn't exercise or eat that well (I don't eat "crazy" but I do have pizza one a week and a chee-burger and fires every now and then). My wife sneaks in some veggies quite often. I'm not overweight and don't have a "belly". I DO see a dr. annually for the usual blood tests; she says that she cannot understand why I'm SO healthy...my numbers are perfect (her words). Just for fun I went to a cardiologist for an echo-cardiogram and a nuclear stress test; all was "fine for a man your age". I won't be seeing her again (and certainly not annually as they all want$$).
I do have an annual ophthalmologist visit because Leupold told me that scope I sent in for a damaged (what do we call the cross hairs?) was fine and suggested I see a dr. They were right, I had/have macular pucker....no biggie, I can still hit a woodchuck at 200yds. When I recently went to renew my driver's lic. I forgot to put on my eyeglasses and passed the test. The nice lady asked me if I was wearing contacts, I said no, but that I just forgot to put my glasses on (I showed her they were in my pocket). She removed the eyeglass restriction from my license for the first time since I was 16 yrs old. I am blessed even though I don't go to church

.
WHAT was the ops question again....???
p.s. I might add that I think this remark was really unnecessary and somewhat insulting to us less intelligent folk; we don't need this on our forum IMHO of course. "Frankly, only STUPID people don't do the same."
J.

s4s4u · Jun 23, 2026

Frankly, only STUPID people don't do the same.

If I had done what doctors wanted me to do in 2015, Ida most likely been long dead shortly thereafter.

Gopher · Jun 23, 2026

I've told the guys I used to work with that your new hobby when you retire is going to doctors. Between type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, a heart doctor, a dermatologist, a bad back, and a shoulder, someone is taking blood or poking and prodding every three months. All that said, I'm in pretty good health for a 70 year old.

vito · Jun 23, 2026

Doctor visits and related visits like going for lab test or x-rays fill up a good part of my calendar. I never hesitate to call for an appointment, in part because it doesn't cost me anything and I learned long ago that ignoring a medical problem does not make it go away on its own. Seeking help for a kidney stone 12 years ago rather than just toughing it out until the stone passed was what saved my life. The doc ordered a CAT scan to locate and size the stone and coincidentally saw a mass on my other kidney. Surgery removed renal cancer and while I have only one kidney I am doing just fine.

Watertender · Jun 23, 2026

I've had a laundry list of health problems just recently. Fortunately I'm on top of them and getting through it. After dealing with cancer for 15 years I take my health problems seriously and try to live my life to the fullest.
My first wife didn't take her health care seriously and died at 51 years of age as a result. If she went to the doctor she wouldn't tell them if anything was wrong and said it was their job to find it if there was. It ended up costing her life.

jg123 · Jun 23, 2026

oldmarine69 said:
The majority of the older Dr's at the family practice's in town have retired, replaced by a bunch of early 30-somethings. I've decided that this new bunch doesn't know shite from shinola. I was in a couple months back for something or other. The youngster that they had me to see came in with a boy bun and wearing crocs! I had open heart surgery a few years back, for mitral valve replacement. He never listened to my heart, and pretty much rushed me out in less than 10 minutes, for his next victim. I told the folks at the front desk that I would be better off going to see my veterinarian.

Back in the day, thats what the old people said about your doctors now when they showed up. LOL

WAYNO · Jun 23, 2026

Of course I was also in the walk it off era. But time took over, and finally I'm in a time zone I must see doctors very regularly without choice. The Big C and joint replacements, I cannot any longer treat myself.

JackBull · Jun 23, 2026

Bear Paw Jack said:
Lots of us 60-90 year old folks grew up in the walk it off era. I suspect that includes a reasonably large group of folks here. I have a friend who’s an expat in the Philippines, but there are lots of folks who moved other middle eastern countries, Mexico and various South American countries. They moved because they hadn’t planned for retirement and their social security doesn’t allow for retirement, especially as single men. If they can barely afford to live, I suspect proactive medical attention is off the list.

In my 60’s I discovered it’s important to see certain doctors regularly and I’ve got type 2 diabetes so that makes it more important.
I make a point to see the internist at least twice a year for my diabetes,
At least once a year for the
Eye doctor
Dermatologist
Urologist yes test your PSA every year regardless of age
Then add the cardiologist.
Proof is I’ve already got a stent and have had 2 ablations for my Afib
One year I went to the ophthalmologist and my A1C was high. The dr said it doesn’t happen often but 2-3 times a year someone comes in because they have gone blind and once it happens it doesn’t come back.
I went to the dermatologist a week ago, had 9 spots frozen and 2 biopsies. One turned out to be cancer.

How many of you have become proactive with your health?

68 Havent seen an MD since 2000. See a Naturopathic doctor yearly.

mirglip · Jun 23, 2026

JackBull said:
68 Havent seen an MD since 2000. See a Naturopathic doctor yearly.

This is what I do. Get comprehensive annual blood tests and the Naturopath evaluates them and advises me on diet and lifestyle adjustments to keep me healthy. No pharmaceutical pills, no side effects. Age 70 now, been doing this 24 years.
Medical Doctors get bribes from pharmaceutical companies for some of the prescriptions they put you on. Like all our institutions, the medical sector is severely compromised.

Armybrat · Jun 23, 2026

Primary care doctor
Four cardiologists
Urologist
Dermatologist
Gastroenterologist
Chiropractor.

If not for their professionalism and expert care, I wouldn’t be here.

Primary care doc is a fellow Texas Longhorn fan, so we like to gab about football.
Urologist has a very gentle index finger, so I look forward to the appointments with her. She also does vasectomies…..

reuben_j_cogburn · Jun 23, 2026

I actually used to try and get medical advice from my vet... other than the dentist I haven't seen a doctor since 2003.... severed achilles tendon... those are hard to walk off......
The only reason I went to the dentist was because I had to pull a tooth and the root broke off....
I suppose I should but at the moment I'm kinda tucked out of the way... overall I feel pretty good tho.. I don't have the umpf I used to... I still hike, and I split off my firewood by hand...
I'll just have to call'er good fer now...
My 1st aid kit is gauze duct tape and whiskey.....

pawncop · Jun 23, 2026

Unfortunately I have way more physicians than I care to admit. But I’m grateful for their support in keeping me above ground.

When I was younger, I often felt that older folks would only talk about their latest doctor appointments, medication changes and was somewhat amused that they had nothing else to talk about.

I don’t talk about my stuff, but I now understand why they did.

I’m not complaining, just observing.

Tensaw · Jun 23, 2026

See doctors regularly, at 76.
Primary every six months
Cardiologist every six months
Dermatologist once a year
Dentist every six months

xTopGun · Jun 23, 2026

Hey, hey, I'm back..... Dr says I'm going to live another 6 months, and if I still haven't paid the bill she'll extend that to 1 year . . . . .

kmoore · Jun 23, 2026

Wellness check up with a real physical. Every 5 years Life Line screening. Eye, ears dr.s yearly. And Now Urologist yearly.

crstrode · Jun 23, 2026

The one and only reason I go the sawbones is to get meds refilled. The last med-check cost me $450. That was ONLY a med check. Doc only asked one question: "how many of these do you take every day" - no stethoscope, no sphygmomanometer, no thermometer - nothing.

It's a racket.

How many of the retired or near retired folks see a doctor regularly?

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