Fifty Plus (50+) - How often do you go to the doctor?

Now that we are "over 50", I'm wondering if everyone is trying to do a better life style and stay out of the doctor's office. My husband is finally coming around to the fact that he must eat more fiber, fruits, vegetables etc. to make himself feel better. Getting him to go the the doctor for a yearly check up is impossible. I only go once a year for my yearly checkup. Last time I went into the doctor, he wondered why I was even there since I just wanted a yearly check up. He wouldn't even schedule for me to get blood work done, I guess he thought I was to healthy.

I only go when I can't stand the pain anymore. (Oh, and when my
blood pressure prescription runs out). Doctor's offices are full
of SICK people.

You need to do whatever it takes to get him to see his doctor! At his age it's very important to have an annual checkup. Tell him to "grow up ;) " and see the doctor, and you'll give him a Tootsie Pop. :)

I used to go once a year whether I wanted to or not for regular testing (or occassionally if I got physically injured). Two years ago I got cancer and well now I am a regular visitor with not one but several doctors. That sucks. I'm usually in someone's office every 3 months. Hoping that eventually slows down and I get back to once a year or I'll even accept twice a year.

I get called back every 6 months just to be asked "Any Problems"? Can't see the sense in really but they have to earn their exhorbitant salary.

I try to schedule my yearly checkup about every three years.

I try to schedule my yearly checkup about every three years.

Sadly, I am no better.

Sadly, I am no better.

Oh I do lots better than that! I schedule my yearly checkup once every two years :).

Rick / OCRR

I'm supposed to go the the doctor once a year? I don't get sick once a year.

I go pretty much every year. Since my insurance requires a wait of at least 12 months for them to cover it, it tends to be about every 13 months.

Then there are the occasional unscheduled trips... one every few years. Ankle, chest pains, ear infections... those kinds of things.

I have to get a DOT physical every year but that hardly counts "What color is this blue card?" The company doesn't care what lies we tell the doctor as long as we get recertified.

I actually got scoped last fall. Found out I had a perfect (tushie). Other than that it's pretty much just the big three: Can't work, can't have sex, can't ride my bike.

I have to go every 6 months to have my thyroid levels checked, but other than that I go when I have to--no regular checkups.

unfortuantely because of some injuries in the Marine Corps and AO exposure I am a regular @ the VA,every 3 months for check-ups

My Dad was like that Litespeed. By the time we forced him in, his prostate cancer was advanced and had spread out to his spine. He shriveled and died a painful death that could/should have been avoided by seeing a doc regularly.

I have a yearly exam, which includes a PSA test and digital prostate exam. I gladly open wide for this exam, I've seen what the alternative brings, and I'm not having it.

Good luck, I hope hubby sees the light and goes in for a check up.

For every Horror story of NOT going to a doctor I will give you a Horror story of "False Positives."
A classic happened to my wife: She is healthy as she can be but feels compelled to get a Mammogram. Positive Test Results. She gets a biopsy. Infection from the biopsy which took months to clear up with all kinds of medication. The Mammogram test was false positive.
I can give you a series of similar stories including a doctor trying to pay for his divorce with unneeded operations. He got caught and made the news. How about all the staph infections in hospitals? You go in with cosmetic surgery and fight for your life against staph.
I go to a doctor when something seems to be wrong. If nothing is wrong, do not fix it.

My Dad was like that Litespeed. By the time we forced him in, his prostate cancer was advanced and had spread out to his spine. He shriveled and died a painful death that could/should have been avoided by seeing a doc regularly.

I have a yearly exam, which includes a PSA test and digital prostate exam. I gladly open wide for this exam, I've seen what the alternative brings, and I'm not having it.

Thanks for posting your story. Not that this would ever happen to any of us (well difinitely us girls) but we all take our health too much for granted. I know I put off going to see the doctor and it was almost too late. Thankfully a good friend forced me to go and my cancer was found early.

It's a small thing to see the doc every year and a small thing to do that not so nice testing (like colonscopies) if it prevents something so much worse. Shifty I feel for your dad and your family for having to go through what he did. But it's a good thing you got the message and see a doc regularly.

I have lost enough weight and gotten in good enough shape that my doctor let the annual physical slide right by this year. What a nice treat. bk

I go every 6 months and have to see the doctor so he can order my A1C and related blood work, but thats so he can charge me a couple of hundred for the office visit instead of just the lab fees, after all he just built a multi million dollar med pavalion/cosmetic surgery, spa center and needs to make the payments. Its a shame I think he is actually a good doctor, if I didn't my cynicism would be a more comfortable fit.

I am a bigger fan of prevention/healthy choices than I am of going to the doctor...

Once a year...

Annual exam - PSA, blood work and prostate. Cheap insurance against the big C. He wanted me to have a heart/artery scan (purely preventive - no symptoms) but I haven't got around to it yet.

Recent colonoscopy.

Have had a couple of conditions which caused much more frequent trips to the doc. My trigeminal Neuralgia flared up again recently, and I had to see a neurologist simply to get the Rx renewed, as it had been a long time. Of course, the darn stuff went into remission again shortly afterwards.

My bout three years ago with atrial fibrillation required a lot of doc visits, until I got the ablation and got it fixed. Gone now and no more cardiologist.

Now my wife and docs - that is an entirely different thing . . . .

I do think there is an average increase in MD visits as one gets a bit older. Not for everyone, but as an average.

Whatever happened to house calls? :(

According to some lists, doctors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S..

When my wife and I were first married we were visiting my grandparents. My wife commented to my granfather that he sure seemed to be in good health. He replied " I don't know if I am or not, I haven't been to a Dr. in 17 years". He died the next year of cancer. By the time he went to the Dr. there was nothing they could do for him.
I go once a year to have my prostate exam, once a year or two for general bloodwork check. I went to the walk in clinic last month with a sinus infection and they said I hadn't been there since 05.

I go when my wife makes me.,, got to be more careful,,, last time they give me a colonoscopy,,,,I stayed awake for the whole thing.

For every Horror story of NOT going to a doctor I will give you a Horror story of "False Positives."
...................................................................I go to a doctor when something seems to be wrong. If nothing is wrong, do not fix it.


The problem with that attitude, as regards prostate cancer, is that nothing seems to be wrong until it spreads to another organ or your bones... that's when the pain begins. The only way to detect it is with a PSA test (not 100% accurate), a digital exam, and if one of these is a positive indicator a biopsy (very painful).

I was lucky to have the cancer removed just in time and there is no sign of cancer now. But I will guarantee you that you will not want to go through a year like I have since last March as I continue to struggle with the healing process.

I go once a year to have bloodwork done and have him analyze the results. Usually everything is fine and he writes a year's worth of scrips for my antihistamines and nose spray for my chronic sinus condition. Once in a while my cholesterol will be up and I have to eat better and ride more for a month or two and come back for the all clear. Beyond that I may have to go in occasionally for a sinus infection. To live in Georgia is to live with allergies.

My father also stayed away from doctors, even after a number of episodes of shortness of breath. He paid with life ending acute congestive heart failure. I almost joined him. Went nine years without a visit but at age 55, and still too young to die, I told wife to get an appointment as I kept getting some chest pressure when I was digging out a tree stump. Fortunately when the pressure came I stopped and quit for the day. Three weeks later I had the triple bypass. Changed diet as I'm also Type II diabetic, and began the battle to lose weight. Doc says I should be checked 4 times a year, but 3 months goes by too fast. Lucky if I get in 3 times a year. I do schedule the annual check every year on my birthday, after the bike ride.

Whenever my wife tells me to.

For every Horror story of NOT going to a doctor I will give you a Horror story of "False Positives."
A classic happened to my wife: She is healthy as she can be but feels compelled to get a Mammogram. Positive Test Results. She gets a biopsy. Infection from the biopsy which took months to clear up with all kinds of medication. The Mammogram test was false positive.
I can give you a series of similar stories including a doctor trying to pay for his divorce with unneeded operations. He got caught and made the news. How about all the staph infections in hospitals? You go in with cosmetic surgery and fight for your life against staph.
I go to a doctor when something seems to be wrong. If nothing is wrong, do not fix it.

Who will live longer...the hypochondriac or the denialist?

Four years ago my wife had her annual mammogram scheduled for an AM appointment in the city, 90 miles distant. Storms were forecast for the day, some severe, and she didn't want to go. I encouraged here to go. So, she went.

The radiologist who did the scan was confident enough to tell her it was cancerous, about the size of a pencil eraser. Usually a radiologist will never tell you what he thinks it is. Three weeks later when excised, it was about the size of a walnut....diagnosed as Stage 3C of an agressive nature. A second surgery followed a few weeks later to excise lymph nodes. Then there was the chemo and radiation.

Had she not had the mammogram, with an immediate follow up, I have little doubt that the mother of my children and the love of my life would not be here today. Note, in three weeks, it went from a probable Stage 1 to Stage 3C.


Last Friday we buried one of my best friend's wife. She had a similar experience two years before my wife. The second recurrence was stage 4 when detected.

Cosmetic surgery is for the vain. If you get a staph infection from having an unwarranted surgery you have simply played with probabilities and lost. But not taking advantage of medical science and diagnosis is, in my opinion, foolhardy. Just sayin........

Modern medicine can detect abnormalites far earlier than the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" attitude. Sorry Will, but we differ significantly on this opinion.

The problem with that attitude, as regards prostate cancer, is that nothing seems to be wrong until it spreads to another organ or your bones... that's when the pain begins. The only way to detect it is with a PSA test (not 100% accurate), a digital exam, and if one of these is a positive indicator a biopsy (very painful).

I was lucky to have the cancer removed just in time and there is no sign of cancer now. But I will guarantee you that you will not want to go through a year like I have since last March as I continue to struggle with the healing process.

First of all: I am not trying to convince anybody.
I am 66 years old and I am a gambler with life. I have taken risks which the average person would not take. We did Sport Mountain climbing, no ropes. Swimming across lakes unsupported.
Call me lucky or reckless. I thrive on risk taking under some of my control. I would not do a Cross Country bike race in April 2008 if I would want to live forever. Going down from Mingus Mountain at speeds over 50 MPH with cars around you all depending on a 23 mm inflated piece of rubber is scaring me more than prostate cancer.
At my age the fear of Alzheimer's is very real. The fear of clinical depression is never absent. I know far more people with these issues than Prostate Cancer. We will bury someone this weekend.
I do what I can to deal with all these issues. My solution for the moment is hyper activity. I will let you know if that works. So far so good.

I get yearly exams, including mammograms, and blood work. If I'm ill or injured I'll schedule an appointment. We have decent health insurance, and after years of not having it and playing the odds, it seems prudent to me to take advantage of the benefits. I like my doctor a lot, as he's not a "here's-a-pill, hope-it-helps" practitioner. He cycles, too, and we enjoy swapping stories.

Should something be amiss I like to think that my yearly exams would catch problems early. Monoborracho's story makes me a wee bit unsettled, however.

Yearly exams, its what you DON'T know that will kill you, and dentist 4x year (reg dentist 2x, periodontist(sp?) 2x). Gonna keep my teeth. Got a brother 2 yrs younger 59 soon who hasn't a tooth in his skull.

Now that we are "over 50", I'm wondering if everyone is trying to do a better life style and stay out of the doctor's office. My husband is finally coming around to the fact that he must eat more fiber, fruits, vegetables etc. to make himself feel better. Getting him to go the the doctor for a yearly check up is impossible. I only go once a year for my yearly checkup. Last time I went into the doctor, he wondered why I was even there since I just wanted a yearly check up. He wouldn't even schedule for me to get blood work done, I guess he thought I was to healthy.

You need a new doctor that is more in tune with preventive medicine. That is criminally negligent behavior.

Yearly exams, its what you DON'T know that will kill you, and dentist 4x year (reg dentist 2x, periodontist(sp?) 2x). Gonna keep my teeth. Got a brother 2 yrs younger 59 soon who hasn't a tooth in his skull.


I'm totally with you on this. I only saw a dentist twice till I entered the service, and both times it was to pull teeth. So now I have a mouth full of metal...fillings, crowns, and bridges, all because of poor dental treatment at a child.

I'll have a root canal done on every tooth in my head before I ever have another one pulled.

Red Rider---I agree with you. If I have a nagging bump or ache I get it checked. My GP exercises regularly and his son did the fast ride across America last year, so he understands bicycling. I was in to see him last week and the first question he asked was "how many miles you got in this year?".

I didn't mean to make things unsettling for you by relating my wife's story. I don't think I had ever told it here other than to say she had cancer. Its hard to discuss because it changed her whole life and watching her live with it is painful. I hold my breath everytime she goes back for a checkup. Having the lymph nodes removed limits some of her activities. Mosquito bites can become serious due to lymphedema, so we don't sit on the back porch on summer nights. She can't hold her arms up for extended periods (like on a bicycle) without her arm beginning to swell, so a couple of hours is her limit. I know more about breast cancer than I ever wanted to know.

Just remember to get the regular check ups. Self exams are good, but by the time a self-examination detects a lump it often has become invasive and spread. One other note - my wife had NO HISTORY of breast cancer in her family on either side, for at least two generations.

My Dad was like that Litespeed. By the time we forced him in, his prostate cancer was advanced and had spread out to his spine. He shriveled and died a painful death that could/should have been avoided by seeing a doc regularly.

I have a yearly exam, which includes a PSA test and digital prostate exam. I gladly open wide for this exam, I've seen what the alternative brings, and I'm not having it.

Good luck, I hope hubby sees the light and goes in for a check up.

+1000

I've seen the alternative. I'll gladly submit to yearly finger-up-the-arse if it even remotely decreases my chances of it. This last exam was by a woman doctor. I was a little apprehensive but the overall checkup was a good experience. I like her.

With chest pains right before the new year I have been in the doctor's office or the hospital every 2 weeks since. Normally I see my primary care physician every three months and two specialists annually. Colonoscopies every 10 years so far. Diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc makes doctors and drug companies rich. Unfortunately going to the doctor's office in cold and flu season can be dangerous in itself.

The problem with that attitude, as regards prostate cancer, is that nothing seems to be wrong until it spreads to another organ or your bones... that's when the pain begins. The only way to detect it is with a PSA test (not 100% accurate), a digital exam, and if one of these is a positive indicator a biopsy (very painful).

I was lucky to have the cancer removed just in time and there is no sign of cancer now. But I will guarantee you that you will not want to go through a year like I have since last March as I continue to struggle with the healing process.

Hang in there dog bait.

Had A Triple in 99 and went to the doctor over a minor problem- He informed me that I was of a certain age- and Bend over. 7 months later and R. P. done and 3 months later back to work.

I think I have mentioned it before but My doctor spotted it early and I had no problems other than recovery. I also had no Symptoms either so a Doctor that was on the ball and I am still around. Now I have the problem of remembering to get a PSA test done every 6 months and If I don't do it off my own back- I have the Surgery phone me at work to make an appointment-Now.

I'm on "maintenance" meds for depression and ADHD, and my doc won't write me any more Rx's if I don't get some face time w/ him every year or so, so....

Scott P
Bend, OR

Twice each year, just to keep ahead of the curve. That also helps keep the FAA pilot's license (every 2 years) and the car racing licenses (annual) current, and keeps me abreast of any changes in weight, BP, blood chemistry, etc. Cheap insurance!
JH Bahn

I go every year for a blood test and prostate check
colonoscopy every 3 yrs. as I have a family history
I am 53

Last time I went into the doctor, he wondered why I was even there since I just wanted a yearly check up.

I had that experience once. I'll bet that receptionist asked me four times, in slightly different ways, what I thought was wrong to make me come to see the doctor. She wasn't going to accept "just wanted to get a check up". People must not do that very much anymore.

Couple of other things that I found amusing:

They have a spot on their form that asks how I would like to be addressed. I wrote by my last name. When it came my turn they called for me by my first name. Not a big deal but why did they ask if they weren't going to check the paper and follow my wishes?

Next thing they ask is how much I weigh. Why? Have you ever had them not weigh you?

Incidentally, I once had a pretty good doctor who explained that baseline tests, even for healthy people, are a good thing. Shortly thereafter a running friend of mine had bad heartburn one evening. Now this guy was a pretty good runner so his resting heartrate was probably in the high 30's but he hadn't had any baseline tests. I think that it took 2 or 3 days in the CCU for them to figure that out. Even if you have insurance that covers 80%, that's a significant out-of-pocket cost.

<<Modern medicine can detect abnormalites far earlier than the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" attitude. Sorry Will, but we differ significantly on this opinion. >>

I go for an annual checkup and blood work and a stress test every couple of years. Last time I went for the annual, back in Oct, a small spot on my face which I thought was nothing turned out to be cancer which has since been removed leaving a 2" long scar down the side of my nose. If the doc had not insisted I had a second opinion it could have been serious. 13 years ago, my wife, during a routine exam, was diagnosed with a first stage melanoma and a breast lump which was malignant. Had she not had the checkups, she would not be here now. Preventative medicine is the way to ho IMHO.