Annual Physicals

I get my physical every year. I really have no choice being that I work with children, it has to be done.
When I got mine done, I also made an appt. for my DH to get one. He went and turned out he had high blood pressure. My FIL had a heart attack (minor) this summer, but he required triple-bypass surgery so of course this scared the sh!t out of us all.
The blood pressure can be hereditary. I started cooking w/no salt and we dont use salt @ all anymore. He went back for another BP test and there was no change in his numbers.
Long story short. DH was put on meds and his blood pressure is back to normal
I think everyone should go once a year. Thats completley my opinion. I feel its a good thing to catch up on all vaccinations and such.

What does it detail? Beside checking you weight, lungs and blood pressure? Will they take blood? I don't remember that happening when i was younger, but i would figure they do it when you are older.

Also when should you start getting mammographys?

I'm 26 and my gyno has never suggested a mammogram for me... He checks them every 6 months...

Here is a good link from the National Women's Health Information Center that suggests when women should have screening tests:

Testing Timeline

ETA: There is also a separate link for women with a family history of certain conditions.

Father’s side – Men die of heart disease. Women on his side die of Cancer, if at all. (my great grandmother was 103 and self sustained when she died).

Mother’s side – Women die of a cancer but not as much as my father’s side. Men on my mother’s side are relatively healthy.

My childhood was ‘rough’ and affected my health long term. Added to my family history, I always have annual check ups. Blood work, etc. I’d MUCH rather be safe than sorry. My blood pressure is low. Not quite yet a concern but definitely lower than normal. Unfortunately I have a high pulse rate, which sometimes concerns my doctors.

I also think of it this way. Start now and catch stuff early. You can correct a lot of bad habits now with little trouble that can help you have longer healthier lives. It’s hard to change your ways when you’re older and used to things. Secondly, I see my father and uncles who ‘never see a doctor unless they have to’ because they come from a different time. Technology and Science have brought Medicine so far since then. I don’t want to be an older woman ignoring pain and suffering because I’m too stubborn or stupid to see a doctor.

I try to make my physical appt the same day as my OBGYN appt every year. I call early and get them set up on the same day. Lately, however, one is in the city and one is the island so I make my physical now with a dentist appt. It’s just works to pair it up with something so it feels like “Well, I’m already out and about so….”

I go for a physical every year, gyno every 6 months, dentist every six months, and will now go to the dermatologist EVERY year for a body scan when I had a scare a few months ago...

Please girls, take care of your health. Anything found EARLY is so curable!

Love you all!

Happy and healthy 2005!

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Posted by SeptWed

My Gyno tells me to come in annually...is 6 months the norm?

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I used to go once a year (annually), but when I started the pill about 5 years ago he said to come in every 6 months to monitor more closely because of the pill. I am careful about it, because I know people who have gotten blood clots due to the pill.