talleymonster

I have an appointment with a doctor on Wednesday. I haven't been to the doctor in almost 3 years. I just want to get a regular check up.

The last time I went it was for a Glucose Tolerance Test.

Anyways, I haven't had a check up since I was a boy. In other words I've never had a grown up checkup, with the exception of high school physicals (cough!).

Are there any questions I should ask the doc?
Anything I should expect? I'm thinking it's too early for anything prostate related.

I just want to be sure that I am healthy. I'm a little overweight. I am also hypoglycemic. I alm also a smoker


I kind of did want to ask him about products like Ginko Biloba, Focus Factor, etc. I seem to have a hard time concentrating these days. I was a bit ADD when I was a kid and I think it has just carried into adulthood. The thing is I don't want any drugs that will seriously alter my person. Perhaps there are less disruptive drugs available?




Thanks for any suggestions and/or help!




P.S. This appointment will also be my official weigh in. I'm fairly positive that I am below 200lbs now, but the last two weeks in a row I splurged on the weekends. I don't dare stand on my 5$ Megalomart scale. It varies by about 15 pounds every time you step on it, and it never truly goes back to zero when you step off.

Richard_Rides

Ask him for a Disabled Placard so you can park in the good spots.

Pamestique 

I think the thing to do is just be honest with the doctor. No sense hiding things he needs to know. Make sure he knows you smoke (the questionaire you fill out before the exam will ask anyway) and if you have any issues, now is the time to bring it up.

No a bad idea to get into a normal routine regarding checkups. Find out what the doctor feels is appropriate for your age, weight management, basic health etc. I'm assuming you aren't diabetic but obviously there were some previous concerns. If you lost alot of weight in 3 years there still might be a risk of diabetes.

By the way, why are you still smoking? You are aware of all the health risk correct? Being alittle overweight is nothing compared to what that cigarette smoke is doing to your body. Lung Cancer is the #2 for male death from cancer.

Nothing your doctor won't tell you!

talleymonster

I expected somebody to call me on the smoking.
I wouldn't post it if I couldn't handle the recoil.

It's just hard to quit. I job description changed and it came with a little more stress, and there you have it. I desperately need to quit! I'm at a pack and a half a day. I quit for a year, but started back up again after smoking a cigar one night.

Anyways, I'm 2 weeks shy of turning 24. One summer I went from 230lbs to 180lbs in a matter of 5 months (2002).
But then I went from 180 to 260 in 1.5 years (2004).
Now I'm back down around 200 or so from riding and eating healthy. Hoping to get it down to around 170-180 and see how I look, feel, etc.

cooker

I don't think you need to ask him anything, beyond telling him about any complaints you have, like the concentration problem. Hint: under the circumstances, I would write a list to take with you.
Could the concentration problem be due to simple fatigue? A lot of people short-change themselves on sleep.

talleymonster

Well I get about 6 - 8 hours a night....more often 6 hours rather than 8.

cooker

Instead of considering taking drugs, why not try catching up on your sleep for a week or two and see how that affects your concentration?

djnzlab1

HI,
If your having problems with withdrawls welbutrin can help take the edge off.
The quicker you get off Cigs the better.
Certian People have harder time quiting addiction, it could be genetic.
DOn't beat your self up join a support group, visit a web page , see the video about quiting.
tell yuor freinds to not lend you a cig if your out.
Try the nicotine Gum, nicotine candy, what ever it take.
Its better to chew nicotine gum than breathing the chemicals in the smoke things like radon gas, a radiactive item that leads to lesions.
Doug
The good news is you'll alot more energy and require less sleep to feel good and you'll ride better and longer.
PS I won't get into the sex problems from smokin ,trust me it aint good.
I quit 5 years ago gained afew pounds so what.. it better to be a little over weight than smoke.

DnvrFox

Your number one health risk is smoking, and that is what the doctor will (should) tell you.

Ask the doc suggestions for stopping smoking.

Hugely more important that losing weight.

Good luck.

LarDasse74

Jeez! You're only 24 and you smoke a pack and a half per day? Now's the time, buddy - it's not going to get any easier.

Maybe this is one of the things you should talk to your doctor about - those little temporary nicotine tattoos or that cigarette flavoured gum or whatever.

There is nothing I care less about than whether a person smokes - your business, one less person on earth a little sooner doesn't bother me a bit, but you are sooo-ooooo young - it's sort of pathetic, to be honest.

As for me, I am going to take up smoking when I turn 90

10 Wheels

Asked the doctor if he smokes.
I had one that smoked told me I needed to lose 20 lbs.

Bone Head

I quit in '91. I understand how difficult it can be / how difficult it was for me.

You quit once for a year.....you can do it again. "Ya Gotta Wanna........"

RedC

If you really want to quit smoking, tell the Dr that. There is a prescription drug called Chantix that takes the craving away and kinda makes the cigarettes taste not as good. It's really worked well for a lot of people but regardless of how you quit you need to remember that like Lay's potato chips you can't have just one.

The older you are the more difficult it is and no matter what you do even after years you will occassionally want another one.

DnvrFox

Wrong.

You wouldn't have posted that you smoke unless you wanted us to tell you to STOP!

talleymonster

You may be right. Probably looking for a little bit of group encouragement.

lil brown bat

I think everybody here understands that it's incredibly difficult to stop smoking. That doesn't make it any less of an imperative. I watched my mom die of smoking-related illness, and it was not a way that you want to go, and it is inevitable: if you continue to smoke, it will lead you and ugly death, unless you walk in front a bus first. I watched my mom lose her stamina, then lose her mobility, then suffer a stroke, then die. Is that what you want for yourself? It is what you are choosing if you choose to smoke. As hard as quitting is, that's just what the choices are.

talleymonster

I watched 2 of my Grandpas go the same way. Saw them wither away until I got the phone call.

cooker

Are you saying the fact he smoked meant you weren't overweight?

DnvrFox

WTF - then why do you smoke?

I'll share stresses and strains in life with you one-to-one, and can guarantee that when you are done with your list, mine will have lots of items to go.

Stop using smoking as a crutch to control stress. That is what exercise is for,

bongo_x

I don't want to be a jerk, but I really hate it when people say they don't do something because it's hard. Please come up with a better excuse. Say you just don't want to quit, it's worth it to you, you hope to get cancer, whatever. Dying of lung cancer is probably hard too. Lots of things are hard, doesn't mean they can't be done.

Sorry, but that's just a pet peeve of mine.

BTW, I smoke an around 3 cigars a week and it's never made me want to smoke cigarettes.

bb

talleymonster

I'm not saying "my life is so hard, a cigarette is my only escape". Nor do I know anything about how difficult your 68 years of life have been compared to my 23. Kind of a one sided comparison if you ask me.

Bottom line : Cigarettes are extremely addictive. I've been smoking 1.5+ packs a day since I was 17. As I said, I quit before - I can quit again. Until now, I truly did not want to quit. That has always been part of the problem....I actually enjoy smoking, sadistic as it may sound. But now I want to quit. I have a family now. I have been taking all the right steps to live a better, healthier life. Cigarettes are one of my last remaining crutches. And now I am tackling that.



bongo_x Have you ever been a habitual cigarette smoker?

Nola_Gal

As for the smoking, you will decide what you want to do and you will do it. If you're lucky, you will be honest with yourself about what it is that you decide. I smoked for 20 years. It is really hard to quit. I am 45yo, and while not old, I'm not 24 anymore. I'm starting to see finally, that the decisions I make today have a big effect on tomorrow. I quit smoking about 10 years ago but am now trying to reverse the added weight and loss of strength that went along with a desk job and sedentary life. The thing I try to remember to ask myself is "Am I willing to forego what I want today for what I want most?" (Can't claim credit for that but don't remember where I heard it.)

Lastly, someone else suggested fish oil. THere have been studies looking at the beneficial effects of fish oils (Omega 3's) for dealing with ADHD>

Good luck!

talleymonster

I actually take 4000mg of fish oil daily in my cocktail of vitamins and supplements.

Nola_Gal

I love the stuff! I started taking it about 8 months ago after going through a series of flu's and sinus infections. I was looking for something to support immune function. I haven't been sick since AND, my nails are stronger too!

DnvrFox

BRAVO - GO FOR IT!