Doctors and Testing and Drugs, OH MY!

Does anyone else rejoice when they have a week clear of doctor appointments? I look at my calendar and I’m like, “Wow! I can breathe easy this week.”

There’s the:

Annual general checkup (which requires a visit to the lab first, so that’s two appointments right there).

Dental cleanings (and God forbid you need any work, then you’re in for at least two more visits).

Annual eye checkup (and if you need glasses, you’ve got another appointment to pick them up).

Annual gynecological appointment (one less appointment for men).

Annual mammogram (one more less appointment for men).

The dermatologist (annual skin cancer checkups followed by biopsies or whatever else they do that literally tears you apart which may require about three appointments).

Pain management (which may require several appointments depending on what’s wrong and will ultimately lead to physical therapy appointments).

Physical therapy (this happens approximately once every one or two years after a certain age and requires at least six to seven appointments).

The cardiologist for some (this will require at least an annual appointment, but there will be about three appointments if this is your first time due to various testing).

The gastroenterologist (which may require extensive visits because you need an initial appointment. Then, naturally, you’ll need a colonoscopy, probably an endoscopy, then follow-up visits depending on your diagnosis, so you’re looking at approximately four visits).

The orthopedist (if you broke something, you’re in for a few visits including diagnostics, otherwise the occasional shot in the shoulder or hip).

I’m sure I left out a doctor or two for some, but if you ever wondered why there’s so much traffic, now you know. We're either driving to and from our appointments or picking up our drugs. Not that I didn’t have some of these appointments while I was working, but now they have become my job.

Stay healthy out there, folks!