MetaChat - Doctor appointment update:

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16 April 2008

Doctor appointment update: it did not go as expected.→[More:] I was in and out in under 30 minutes. As expected there was a quick taking of vitals and a brief rundown of my general health and habits. Ears, eyes, mouth glanced at. Back, chest and stomach listened to. And then...

...that was it. Got a probably unnecessary general referral slip for ADD stuff and a ticket for some blood work at a lab and I was out the door.

So. Great. But. As you probably could have guessed from my earlier post, I was expecting this to be a slightly more extensive process. Doesn't a guy who's well into his 30's and hasn't had a checkup in about 16 years need a little more poking and prodding (shut up, ethylene)?

Hell, what do I know. Maybe I'm obviously in such stellar physical condition that no further inspection was necessary. The whole thing just felt rushed, cursory. I'll probably try to find another GP for my next one.

Anyway, thanks y'all!

post by: 2or3whiskeysodas at: 19:11 | 14 comments

I'm not really surprised (although I got worried for a second there when I saw your post title); Western medicine GPs are stereotypically rushed and cursory. They're looking for big signs of illness.

Probably you're healthy as an ox and have nothing to worry about. If you were in your fifties and that was all you got, I might be concerned.

So no finger up the butt? I hope you're not disappointed. I mean, we talked it up so much in your other thread.

posted by Specklet 16 April | 19:18

Glad it went well, dude... I had my first physical in about 25 years last year, and it was more extensive than that, but they probably thought I was about to drop dead since I'd hit my forties and had not seen a doc in so long.

posted by BoringPostcards 16 April | 19:26

Sure, I mean, if anything happens to be really off it'll show up in the bloodwork, right? And although I do have some bad habits, I'm fairly fit. Eat well, get lots of exercise, blah blah blah. I will take this as a confirmation of my good health and dwell on it no further.

Yup, no finger up the butt, no sac fondling. Which is fine because that meant I didn't have to go buy flowers!

posted by 2or3whiskeysodas 16 April | 19:36

I'm glad it went well too.

From what I understand, Ye Ole Pokee is something that's not really necessary, during the yearly check-up, until you turn 40 or have a family history. Of course, ya know, you can go back and request it. Also, wait for the blood work to come in to know about other examination needs like cholesterol discussion.

posted by MonkeyButter 16 April | 19:38

Your reaction was pretty much the same as mine to my first physical in my mid-30's. Just kinda hey look at you. OK you're fine. My primary care physician was a little more cursory than I would have liked, especially since she was the one that said I needed a physical. I have a new Doctor I see now, and she's much better. More talking about stuff, and family history stuff about more than just cancer. Still no anal probes for me yet. My PSAs are just fine so far. I do get the hernia check regularly, but I have the beginnings of one, and it's something that runs in my family. Cough cough. Sounds like pretty much as I described.

posted by eekacat 16 April | 19:47

I'm not surprised either, 2or3. The doctor probably had his reasons for doing what he did. You have no family history, no complaints, you're young. Now you won't have to go back for another 16 years, ;-)

I went to the GP for the first time since 2002. All she did was ears, mouth, nose, and listened to the heart and lungs. Someone else did the anal probe.

"I didn't ask for the anal probe." Who can guess what movie this quote is from?

posted by LoriFLA 16 April | 19:49

"I didn't ask for the anal probe." Who can guess what movie this quote is from?

Passionfish! Funny how a line can stay with you for, oh, 15 years or so.

Oddly enough, I quoted that to The Fella just a few weeks ago. I vaguely recognized an actress in Matewan, another John Sayles film, and couldn't figure out who she was. Suddenly, I turned to him and intoned "I didn't ask for the anal probe," and we both placed her.

posted by Elsa 16 April | 20:13

Oh, doy --- glad to hear everything so far is going smoothly, 2or3whiskeysodas. It's nerve-wracking to go in for a check-up after a long time away.

(Don't tell my dentist where I live.)

posted by Elsa 16 April | 20:14

Oh, I love Matewan! I should find and buy, as soon as I find disposable income.

posted by rainbaby 16 April | 20:14

My physical actually DID involve a prostate check- and what do you know, my doctor is a woman. Tell me the universe doesn't have a sense of humor.

Not that I go to the doctor for jollies or even like that particularly... it's just ironic.

posted by BoringPostcards 16 April | 20:21

All right, Elsa! I love Passion Fish. I've probably seen it over a dozen times. I need to see Matewan, now!

posted by LoriFLA 16 April | 20:23

i told you not to look eager. It's not like they want to probe everybody.

Generally, the vitals and the full blood panel will tell them anything they need that they can't tell is off right from the get go without any complaints. It doesn't mean they're being comprehensive. It doesn't mean you have to stop your happy adventures in self exploration. Get to know yourself well enough to tell the doctor you know that lump wasn't there yesterday. You checked.

posted by ethylene 16 April | 20:24

I had my first physical at age 44. Seemed about right to me.

posted by arse_hat 17 April | 00:25

How many little viles of blood di they take? If three or more, they're running quite a few checks via the blood alone which is ALL GOOD in my humble opinion. (i'm now the type that tells them to take an extra tube because my last three they screwed up doing the tests on so I went back three times to give them a single halftube for 1 test which they promptly screwed up. Twice I had no white bloodcells. wtf?)

posted by dabitch 17 April | 07:39

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