Any Doctorphobics here... ??

I had a call from the Medical Centre we are registered with, about some voluntary vaccination boosters for the Teenager. During the call they checked our address and it was the first one we had when moving in some 12 years ago. "Time to update the details luv" The lady chirped.

But it occurred to me that I have seen my GP only once in twelve years, and that was a wonky back muscle. I haven't gone to any screenings of femail bit cancers, no health checks, no MOTs probably advisable as I'm turning 50 soon...

The same with the Dentist. I had successfully avoided The Chair for decades until a Portuguese chicken bone chipped off a bit of my back tooth and I was forced to get my stuff together and meet Mr Devil. Now I meet Mr D rigorously every 6 months and still have no issues with the said teeth, but at least I feel like a good person who has regular dentist appointments.

So, if you are sort of healthy and have no specific issues, should you see a doctor or do some tests anyways? What tests? How do you go about this, just call your GP and ask for a general screening with stethoscope and whatnot?

 

You wont get any routine tests from my doc, he dont even like seeing you for an appointment.
I think he has to pay for it out of his wages, mean old git.

Only routine thing I've ever had done was an aorta scan a month ago, apparently you get one when you turn 65.

 

I am firmly of the opinion of "don't fix what's not broken". In saying that, I have had a few things "broken" since I turned 65, nothing before, never had yearly checks, and I now only go for essential checks or procedures ... like a root canal tomorrow!

 

I go to all the routine checks that I am invited to , mammograms, smear, skin checks( had skin cancer) bone density, bowel screening and a medical every 5 yrs....oops just remembered I must book that now.

Hubs has the same 5yr one, bowel screening also heart checks ( he has a problem) and very regular prostate checks at the hospital, not relying on the PSA as @shiney rightly said it is not accurate.....completely missed hubs cancer 6 yrs ago!! Had a test done in the Nov ...all clear.....had to go in for some unrelated minor surgery in the Dec.....'sorry to have to tell you but you have prostrate cancer and will need to have surgery to remove it !!!

Life is too precious .

 

To put it in a nutshell what I'm trying to say is @Selleri , I don't run to the Dr for every ailment....haven't had a need to since my last surgery back in 2016...but when asked I do attend all the screenings that I am entitled too.

If I were you then I would go for the sake of the Teen ....what would happen if you became poorly....and surely you would want her to learn the good habit of taking responsibility of maintaining her health too.
Go,go,go!!

 

Same here @Upsydaisy both of us go to and arrange for whatever screening and/or tests that are available but otherwise very rarely visit the Doctors. Fortunately neither of us have needle or Dentist phobias. I would rather know about something in advance than find out too late.

I have had two root canal jobs done and it wasn't any worse than having a filling and two crowns fitted (I must have boosted the NHS coffers a bit).
A flu jab every year and quite honestly the needles are so fine you can hardly feel it has been done.

 

I guess you pay for them Clive ... what does a root canal and crown cost? I am okay about tomorrow,. My dentist is fab, took two teeth out last month, was over before I knew it and he had to crack one root to get it out.

 

Here you go Vicky, multi- tasking as I row!!

NHS dental charges for 2019-2020 increase by 5% | SpaDental Group

 

Thanks for that Upsy. Actually, it is about the same as here ... mais or menos. Like there with the NHS, we have the SNS, but dental is all private.

 

I always use NHS dental, cant afford private.
Although finding a dentist that still takes on NHS patients is getting harder.

 

Eek, what does private cost? I remember last time I was in UK, on the IoW in 2004, I lost a filling and was told by some emergency service I had to go to the mainland! Politely I said "no way Jose" and got an appointment in Shanklin ... for 10 minutes during which time he did a filling, which promptly fell out within weeks! In 2005 T'other half went in IoW (I was in Portugal) and was told by NHS Dentist initial consultation was £60 and at that point they would tell him what it would cost in two weeks ... at which time he came back to Portugal. Disgusting ... farcical ... so we transferred our 'funds' to Portugal. Now we are not eligible there.

So, what does a root canal and crown cost privately please someone. xx

 

Dunno, but I know I cant afford it, I guess it varies as they probably charge whatever they want.

I dont think NHS dentists charge for initial consultation they call it a checkup and its about half that price, I think that was probably private.

 

It does vary quite a bit.....this could give you anhttp://www.whatprice.co.uk/dentist/private-prices.html#axzz6G7rY0wl4 idea.