50-year checkup. Anyone else doing or did this?

[propita]

Since I just turned 50 last month, Hubby and I thought it would be good to have my parts checked, like a 50,000 mile tuneup.

I've been seeing a GP and cardiologist and got a clean bill of health on those systems, after an angiogram cleared up the doctor's confusion that, no, I'm not "a heart attack waiting to happen" after all. That's what the cardiologist had been telling me for three fricking years!

During all that cardio stuff, they saw a shadow on my lungs during tests and had my lungs rechecked after six months. I didn't mind because my old job had me near so many fumes and no air hood, so it's nice to know my lungs weren't damaged.

Anyway, got to an endocrinologist about my thyroid. That is hopefully being correctly treated now, after being undiagnosed for three years and then undertreated another two years.

Next stop, dermatologist, since I'm pale and Dad had three kinds of skin cancer. All clear there, but I should continue to coverup in the sun. Don't even have to go back unless I notice something.

Tomorrow is the "fun" one...a colonoscopy. The liquid tastes terrible! Then I read that I could've out some crystal light in! Damn! Well, half a gallon the night before and everything is clear almost immediately. Evidently, unlike Hubby, I'm NOT full of shit as he was. He lost FIVE pounds from before drinking anything until just after the procedure! Yeah, he was full of it alright.

So I'm expecting all to be well.

Nice to know all I needed was inspections and tuneup, and not an overhaul.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I haven't been to a doctor for five or six years. And I'm two years overdue for that recommended colonoscopy. But, y'know, I've been busy.

I've got no worrisome signs or symptoms, though, so I'm not worried. I'll get to it eventually. Or collapse unexpectedly, one or the other.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I am current on a GP Management Plan. I see my doctor 2 or 3 times a year but that is mainly for prescriptions. I also see the nurse once or twice a year to discuss my plan with her. She takes my blood pressure at that stage.

As part of my plan I currently seeing an exercise therapist at my local medical centre, she usually checks my weight each visit.

I also have my blood and blood pressure checked when I donate blood (every 3 months).

I am on the pap test registers and breastscreen register so I get reminders every two years to have those done. I am also taking part in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

I had a colonoscopy in 2005 so I must be due for another soon.

 

[propita]

It's strange, being sent to doctors and having them tell you things that scare the mess outta you, then being told, "actually, you're pretty healthy." Overweight, but healthy.

And if there's any truth to the "your longevity is determined by your mother," I got another 35 years. Time to have some fun!

 

[Melakon]

If longevity is determined by your mother, I should have died 7 years ago at 55. Or maybe I'll take after her father, who lived to 102. My oldest sister made it to 78.

 

[propita]

Well, made it through. Then came home and slept a few hours before even bothering to eat anything.

Hubby mentioned stuff I asked, but maddeningly, wasn't describing things chronologically. I didn't know if he was talking about the first appt, our own talking, or after I was done. Evidently, just as he did, I was able to have conversations I have NO recollection of. But Hubby wouldn't go start-to-finish, but was mixing up the different conversations, leaving me VERY confused.

But he was there the whole time, let me sleep, and took me to chipotle, my fave fast food, even though I always order the same thing: chicken salad.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Congratulations on making it through. Hopefully there were no findings and you won't have to do it again for a long time.

 

[propita]

Yeah. Actually the worst part was preventable--the flavor of the liquid.

Being...occupied in the bathroom? Doable. I had a crossword puzzle and iPad ready. lol

The test? As posted, utterly not remembered. I remembered being wheeled in on the gurney, talking with the doc and assistants, and saying that I was going to go to sleep now. Yeah. Then I woke up...well, I woke up a few times, but don't remember most of them. Got up, got dressed, and went home.

Oh, you have to fart. Seriously, they won't let you leave until you pass gas. Which really isn't hard to do since you've been pumped with air. And it wants out. The better part is that, since your system is clean, it doesn't smell bad at all.

No more for 5 years. Hubby had something questionable during his, so they want to see him in 3 years, which is next year. He doesn't mind. He says the liquid tastes good and he likes the "clean" feeling. Well, yah, that's cause he's full of 5 pounds of shit.

 

[mimic]

And I'm two years overdue for that recommended colonoscopy. But, y'know, I've been busy.

My grandpa died of colon cancer in January. A colonoscopy would have caught it, but he didn't bother. He was asymptomatic until it had reached Stage 4 and spread to his lungs, and he lived 1.5 years past diagnosis. Just sayin'.

 

[RJDiogenes]

You're unquestionably right. I really should do it. I get an additional week's vacation starting in December, so maybe I'll set something up next year.

Sorry about your grandfather.

 

[propita]

Sorry, too.

The doctor found diverticuli (I'm told, since I don't remember him saying it), but not a problem.

I may have to see a gastroenterologist about this daily heartburn. A few decades of it now, and I'm told it could cause secondary problems.

I suspect I sound like a hypochondriac, but taking a Pepcid complete every night to not taste acid is not good.

 

[thestrangequark]

There's something morbidly fascinating about all these medical procedures, thanks for sharing them! Now I know what I have to look forward to in 20 years.

Though, for my age, I've had more than my fair share of medical procedures, I think. Propita, I can relate to your experience of drinking nasty liquid, that's for sure. I had a CT scan for which I had to drink barium. I recall sitting in the Radioactive Patient Closet, and being brought a tiny dixie cup. The tech poured the barium from a giant bottle into the cup. It was unpleasant, "Banana Smoothie" flavored barium, as I recall, but downing the cup wasn't too bad, and I thought, I can handle this -- any more would make me puke, but that little bit wasn't so bad. Then the tech set the giant bottle down and told me I had half an hour to finish it. That is some nasty stuff.

But it pales in comparison to potassium. In my entire life, I have never tasted anything that is even in the same class of repulsiveness as potassium. It is so monumentally vile that it is really indescribable to anyone who hasn't experienced it. I've always been the type to just down a foul dose of medicine in one gulp and get it over with, but with potassium that was impossible. I had to drink only one tiny little dixie cup of the stuff, but I recall it taking me at least 30 minutes to do so. The nurse kindly brought me apple juice in which to dilute it, but the tiniest drop made the whole cup of juice taste just as foul, so ultimately I took it straight. To make it worse, potassium burns when given intravenously, but I was so deficient at the time that I had to both drink it and take it through the IV.

 

[propita]

I feel for you! Had an upper GI about 25 years ago for GERD. That stuff tasted awful and I had one hell of a reaction. I was told I looked like death warmed over; literally tired of breathing so hard. I'm told they've changed since then.

And I've posted elsewhere about the dentist. Root canal? They're a breeze after the second, and much easier than getting an implant.

Geez! How in the world can I have all this shit going on over the last 25 years and be healthy? All I can think of as a comparison is having an old car's various systems tested and rebuilt as needed.