Have seniors been going to doctor's offices

[marybourg]

for annual (or postponed) check-ups? Not asking about symptomatic or follow-up visits, just routine, nothing to report, checkups.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Nope.

I'm not due for one until January anyhow, but I'm not setting foot in a doctor's office if I don't absolutely have to.

[marybourg]

4. That's how I feel, but I was due in May, and now my

Doc is pressing and I need a new thyroid Rx. Not that he ever changes it, no matter how my test looks.

[onecaliberal]

2. No. My husband isn't either.

[luvs2sing]

3. I have gone for my annual checkup because..

insurance requires it or our premiums go up. I’ve also gone twice for labs. Felt safe every time.

[Wounded Bear]

5. No. Have had a couple of televisits with the VA this year...

and one phone appointment.

Scheduled for an in-person visit with Dermatology, partly for a spot on my back. They looked a a picture I sent them and said it was "OK" but I'm way overdue for my annual. Hard to do that on Skype.

[Timewas]

6. Yes

Actually I skipped 2 appointments early on one was for a cystoscope for bladder cancer but since this area is pretty low on cases and the clinic I go to is very conscious and careful I go ahead now... Got my flu shot and had the bladder check last week and am doing a normal wellness appointment this week.

[Yonnie3]

37. I've got one coming up

I have a cystoscopy for bladder cancer in December. I've been having those since 1995, lately they are once a year.

[Timewas]

40. OK

I was at the 6 months point and probably about to go to one year but had another tumor show up so back to 3 months again for a bit...not fun but have lost 2 friends and one acquaintance to it so grateful that it was caught early and all small and stage 0 stuff nothing serious yet..

Using CBD oil

[Yonnie3]

43. It kept coming back for me for a while.

At first a couple of times in a year and then gradually less frequently over the course of ten years. Some precancerous tissue was found at about 15 years.

Each time it was smaller, less invasive and lower grade. It is very treatable if it is not the aggressive kind and if it is caught early.

Dozens of BCG treatments and regular checkups are the key to my success.

[Timewas]

44. My luck

My luck at the early catch was an MRI for a clogged femoral artery the image caught the bladder tumor at a very early stage. So far all low grade and not aggressive A very alert reading of that image saved me a lot of serious problems..No other treatments except one after surgeries

[getagrip_already]

7. almost there but nope.....

I turn 63 next year, but I've been pushing off every visit I can. The only things I've done this year are shingles/flu vaccine and a proctology exam.

I'm skipping routine physicals and dental visits for now. Heck, until last week I hadn't had a hair cut since january (never liked pony tails - it had to go).

[samnsara]

12. i broke a tooth so HAVE to go to dentist for a crown :(

[murielm99]

26. I have a broken tooth, too.

I am putting it off until I can't any more.

[northoftheborder]

8. Yes, have to show my face to get prescriptions refilled.

However, there was NO ONE (patients) in the office. Just the doctor, nurse, and receptionist. I have to go to eye doctor to get shots every six weeks, so have been there. But everyone is masked, careful cleaning observed between patients, so I feel safe.

The dentist did make me uneasy, although all masked.

[stopbush]

9. Yes. My annual check-up was this past Tuesday.

[Ferrets are Cool]

10. Nope

Doctor isn't happy, but understands.

[samnsara]

11. nope!

[beachbumbob]

13. Postponing all such check ups

[AirmensMom]

14. Not this one.

I'm due for eye exam, skin check, and a few other things that I haven't scheduled yet. I did go to the dentist in June and am due again in December ... but my dentist died (not Covid) so I don't even know where to start with that.

[marybourg]

32. Wow. Bad time to have to start with a new dentist.

Did the deceased dentist’s office arrange to send your records to a new dentist?

[AirmensMom]

42. Yes.

His wife kept it going for a year with temp dentists. But then she sold the practice and the deal fell through at the last minute, she has no more temp dentists she can call, and she’s thoroughly discouraged and demoralized. There’s a dentist a ways away who I’m interested in, but I just don’t have the energy to ask all the questions now.

[cilla4progress]

15. Just a blood draw, a mammo

and colonoscopy coming up. Yippee! Other office visits have been telehealth.

Your post gets to the heart of the problem: how confident are we that we know and understand failsafe protocols to avoid getting this monster? I mean, we know (we think) definite to dos and not to dos, but it feels like there are a whole lot of unknowns...known ones. With a hat tip to... oh, well, never mind... 😉

I mean, I just read yesterday that a lot of positives don't know where they contracted it!!

[AirmensMom]

18. Had a friend tell me last week

that her dad got it from getting a glaucoma treatment.

[snowybirdie]

16. Yes

Had to. Moved, needed new doc and Rxs ran out. But spacing was ok and all wore masks

[rzemanfl]

17. Put off as long as I could, but had to go because insurance requires.

Felt safe except for the guy in the Benghazi t-shirt in the nearly empty waiting room. He made my blood pressure go up.

[cilla4progress]

19. Oh, and here's an informative article on CNN

this morning.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/01/health/viral-dose-coronavirus-severity/index.html

[marybourg]

33. Yes, that's why I never believed in level 4 biohazard cleaning of

incoming packages and mail.

[Progressive dog]

20. Yes, this one did

just last week. Got my flu shot at the same time. Postponed my physical since March, office now has check in from parking lot and nurse came to get me. Waiting room was empty. I felt safe since numbers in NY for infections of corona virus are still low.

[elleng]

21. Not MD until have to, to renew prescription.

Did go to dentist recently.

[Shrike47]

22. Yes, I've been seeing doctors and my dentist on a regular basis. Otherwise, I stay home.

[Yonnie3]

23. Early on the Doctor canceled all my quarterly visits

While my visits are routine and noted as wellness visits, not follow ups. I have medical conditions that need monitoring. Blood sugar, Kidney Function etc. at six month intervals.

There is no immediate problem, but long term stuff needs to be checked. I'm not sure this fits your criteria of "check-up."

[marybourg]

34. Yes, that's exactly what I was looking for. Thanx.

[CountAllVotes]

24. All visits have been via Telemed and Zoom

It isn't quite cutting it.

Husband has a vein problem. Compression socks are the RX for it.

He is 84 and went from someone that was outside walking around and gardening to bedridden and they really do not care!

He's had two injections into the one eye he can still see out of as well.

As for me, RX check only.

I have no intention of going inside! They are doing blood draws out of your car in the parking lot I was advised last week so now I have to comply. *drat*

[unc70]

25. Yes. For annual and for overdue colonoscopy

Also lab work and a Covid test.

[lamp_shade]

28. Yes, but I stayed in my car. The asst came out, took my temp and B.P and asked some questions.

A few minutes later she came out with an ipad so I could talk to my doctor and answer a bunch more questions.
It worked out well... pretty much the same if I had gone into her office.

[hedda_foil]

29. Yes

I had my annual wellness check and got labs and dexa scan. Few other patients at any of the offices and I wore my KN95 mask and sanitized my hands as soon as I got in the car afterwards. I've only been out of the house a few times, with mask and social distancing.

[Wellstone ruled]

30. No Friggin way!!!!

Way to dangerous.

[Peregrine Took]

31. Nope. Only for emergencies.

Wearing my mask (!) I tripped on a hidden rock while out on a run, fell right on my face and broke my wrist.

7 hours in the ER then 3 trips to the orthopedic surgeon's office even though I didn't need surgery.

[marybourg]

35. Oh, that hurts just reading about it. Hope you're better now.

[safeinOhio]

36. Shoulder doc has me in rehab twice a week.

Just saw my butt doc to check his work. Coming up next month, urologist and endocrinology. Just the usual.

[lillypaddle]

38. Yes

I have been to all my doctors, cardiologist, pulmonologist, dermatologist, family doc, and even an infectious disease doctor. No, I'm not a hypochondriac! Actually, I have found the safety precautions at those offices very reassuring. As usual, wear a mask, wash your hands, etc.

[Nay]

39. I have, but that's because my doctors and dentist are very strict about the protocols.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

41. Yes, routine visits ...

... to dentist, primary physician, opthamologist. All require masks (except while hygienist/dentist is poking around). All require taking temp, asking covid questions, waiting in car until called in. All have new plastic barriers during interviews/tests.

[trof]

45. Yes.

Here our doctors have been taking all necessary/possible precautions.
WE wait in cars. They call us by cellphone.

[redstatebluegirl]

46. No, the first time I went in person was to get a flu and pneumonia shot.

I have had 3 video visits for routine visits to get my meds refilled. I did go to the eye doctor a couple of months ago and will need to see the retinologist in person in December for my Macular Degeneration. I don't want to let that go.

[marybourg]

47. Thanks all. I went to my doc 'cause I needed

my thyroid Rx. I was very skittish and kept running outside, until the doc finally showed up. Now I’m just waiting out the incubation period!