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

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Job requires an annual physical. A couple other maladies mean I’m back 6 months later for blood work.

No more NOS parts in stock for my model year. What’s available is expensive and of questionable quality, I’m trying to keep ahead of the scheduled maintenance.
 
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 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?
Click to expand...
My story parallels yours so closely that it’s scary ! We may be cousins !😁
 
buckeyeshooter said:
I am in my latte 60's. I get a check up every 5 years. I do 10 rounds of Muay Thai (3minute round/ 1 minute rest) 3 days a week outside under a tin roof in 95 to 105 degree heat with a Thai pro or trainer. I figure if I had issues, they would be easily seen with my exercise program. I had high blood pressure 15 years ago when I moved to Thailand, but now that I eat better and do a more cardio type workout instead of heavy weightlifting I feel better and have lost 120 pounds. I am within 10 pounds of my high school graduation weight. I have no high blood pressure today and my check ups come up as healthy.
Click to expand...
60 lattes may be at the root of your medical issues . . .
 
I'm 81 and I go to my family doctor once a year for blood workup and general physical. I have to go to my skin doctor twice a year because I always have skin pre-cancers burt and I have had two actual cancerous tumors that have been surgically removed. We go annualy to both our optometrist and our dentist. I remember being around 41 or so and I had a boss that I traveled with quite often and he was like 8 years younger than me. I told time that I jsut don't go to a doctor unless I was sick because I didn't see the point. He told me maybe you can get by with that for awhile but he thinks by age 40 you needed to go more often. Well a couple of years later I went in for a physical and found out I was pre-diabetic. Doctor told me I needed to change my diet, get more exercise, and otherwise I would probably be diabetic within 5 years. Well, I did all of those things and here I am 30 years older and not diabetic.

Now, fast forward a number of years and my boss had been going for regular physicals and they called him and reminded him it was time for his routine coloscopy.. He told him he was quite busy right now and he would call back to scheule it. The nurse said no, let's just get it on your scheulde and get it done. He agreed so they set it up. Upon doing the colonoscopy they discovered that he had colon cancer. They set up his surgery and all went well and he is good just has to continue with routine colonocopies. I'm sure that saved his life.
 
LDB said:
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.
Click to expand...
Same but anything but a bone sticking out I see NPs is seems like.
 
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codebreaker said:
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. :)
Click to expand...
I almost feel normal now. Thanks.
 
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.
Click to expand...
I was the "walk it off" category too! However, I've got a wife who believes that's why women live longer than men!
When we got lost in town while driving one time, she said "turn here -- turn here"! It as a urologist clinic and she MADE me make an appointment! I had prostate cancer and was only 60 years old -- so had them remove it! THAT was the first time she saved my life!
Since then I've had several other surgeries including open heart surgery -- and that was the second time she saved my life!
Yes, I now see the doctor and the dentist regularly!
 
It seems like I'm at one doctor or another very nearly every week; sometimes twice a week. PCP, Cardiologist(s), Urologist, Gastroenterologist, Orthopedic Surgeon, Psychiatrist, Ophthalmologist, Epidemiologist, and probably 1-2 others that I'm overlooking. And FWIW, they don't check your PSAs after age 70; they figure that you'll die from something else before prostate cancer kills you. I've got diabetes, two fake knees, and I'm on my second Reverse Shoulder Replacement (right side). I've had skin cancer excised, I have the beginning of esophageal cancer caused by hiatal hernia, GERD (caused by the hernia), and a pacemaker. Most of these ailments became evident in my 60s.
 
Well, I'm not going to go into it as in depth as many did here.

I'm 73, I go to the Doctor, Dentist, Ophthalmologist on a regular basis as well as the VA (for audio, feet) and the ER if needed (once so far, for a broken back).
 
Gopher said:
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.
Click to expand...
I was recently in the hospital for an angiogram ( which I passed). Nurses gave me what I think is a back handed compliment. They said "You are in excellent condition - for a person of your age." I will be 84 if I manage to survive for another two months.
I go to cardiologist about every six months and he gave me the best diagnosis I have ever had - "You are boring."
 
crstrode said:
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.
Click to expand...
No, you have a bad doctor, and apparently do not communicate with him. Also, the dosages should be on the computer screen in front of his face.
 
What frustrates me is the number of Indians that I see who are in poor health. Almost every medical need will be provided for them free of charge by their Tribe and/or the BIA. My Tribe even has vans to take us to the doctor and back. Just like many of the Whites I encounter, they simply do not go to the doctor.
 
I try to stay away from doctors as much as possible. I was told I had high blood pressure several years ago and they put me on meds and the meds made me miserably sick. I stopped the meds and immediately felt better. I started instead taking raw garlic, grape seed extract, and cayenne pepper. A Dr told me that when they take your blood pressure at a doctor's visit that is not an accurate way to take it because many people get stressed out going to a doctor, so it's going to be high. He told me to buy a blood pressure monitor and take my blood pressure at home twice a day for 2 weeks. I did, and guess what? I don't have high blood pressure. It's normal for BP to go up when you are stressed. It's also normal for your BP to be higher as you get older. They want everyone to be 120/80 and that is not realistic for someone over 60. 120/80 blood pressure for everyone sells lots more pills.
 
My 95 yo mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Went to a cancer clinic on the advice of the emergency room doctor that treated her.
First doctor, surgeon, went thru the motions but that's it since my mother was inoperable. That doctor at remains the lead of the team for my mother.
Second doctor, oncologist, was unprepared for the consultation and really didnt want spend any time with her. She is too old to be given any cancer meds.
Third doctor is a radiologist. He spent time with her because there is the possibility of using radiation the stop the bleeding.


Not one doctor asked about her diet or suggested anything to make her comfortable. No mention to avoid sugars and processed foods which feed cancers. Hell, there are supplements they "may" help and in her case would only help. Yet no mention of any diet adjustment. If they cant make money on it, ther really dont care.

I have very little respect for any MD until they earn it.
 
Last edited:
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 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?
Click to expand...
You do realize that if you went to your mechanic that often he would finds things to fix on your car, even though its running fine. Just sayin'
 
Wanna see your doctors choke?
Tell them you are more concerned with QUALITY of life, not QUANTITY
Have told that to a couple of cardiac doctors and thought they were gonna have a heart attack of there own.
 
bobski said:
VA annual for me.
Click to expand...
I've been doing annual Dr. visits for a physical since the early 80's. In spring of 2015 my doctor spotted something on my chest x-ray he didn't like & sent me to a local clinic for a no-cost low dose CT scan. It lit up. A biopsy confirmed the little lump in my lung was cancer. They took out the upper lobe of my right lung that fall. I've been getting regular scans yearly since then - no recurrence!.

Hell yes I see my doctor regularly. I always listen to his advice & sometimes follow it ;-). I just turned 79 this year.
 
Doctor and labs twice a year, same for the Dentist. Eyes annually and others if the Doctor finds anything that needs looking at. On meds for Type 2 diabetes, prostate and high BP (thankfully at the very edge of of needing it). Stay reasonably active and watch what I eat and per the Doc am in excellent shape at for 76.
 
I see the docs regularly, do regular blood work, take the meds they prescribe, and my wife sees that I eat the good stuff she prepares. Quit smoking/drinking years ago. I'm over eighty and can't do many of the bits of yard work, etc, that I was doing ten years ago . . . no surprise. Lost my wonderful long-time PCP several years back and the replacement is OK. My 40-year ophthalmologist recently retired on me, and I'm "breaking in" a replacement . . . OK so far.
 
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