I had my birthday physical at the doctors office yesterday. I was so excited. Would there be many tests? Would I have something bizarre wrong with me? No and no. I was a little disappointed. But that’s okay. The end of the school year is so busy, it might have been hard to schedule a whole battery of tests.
One thing I wanted to ask about was getting another echocardiogram to check for HCM. My last one was in 2002 or 2003. If I do another one now, I’ll get set on the ten-year plan, and do another when I’m 50. He wrote me a referral.
Another thing I wanted to ask about was my back. Over time, the pain sensations have been changing, and I’ve been wondering what that means. The doctor gave me a referral for an MRI and a visit to a back person. He said she could give me some long-range expectations. I also asked about how to get reliable information regarding exercise for back pain people. He didn’t have any specific suggestions.
The doctor was particularly interested that my sinus cavity was swollen. He asked if it has been bothering me. No. He asked if I wanted to do anything about it. No. Since I made an off-handed remark about falling asleep during the day, he wondered if I was having sleep apnea and gave me prescriptions for allergy medicines and asked me many questions about my nose and throat and sleep. He stopped short of having me do a sleep study, but he did send me for an x-ray of my head and chest.
Things I learned about myself yesterday: I’ve gained eight pounds since last summer. My lungs hold five liters of air.
So many questions – Did they do the echo now or schedule it for later? When do you get your MRI? How do they measure your lung capacity? How can a doctor’s office be out of tissues?
I schedule the echo later, but it’s in that same building.
I haven’t scheduled the MRI yet either. I enjoy them, so I’m looking forward ot it.
I measured my lung capacity by breating into a tube. It was actually very funny. While I blew, the assistant woman said “Go, go, go, go, go!” very loudly. It made me grin while I was blowing.
There’s another tissue box by the sink, but he didn’t seem to notice them since he gave me scratchy paper towels after my prostate check.
GAH!
I was hoping to make it through without any mention of your nether regions.
GAH!!
I really need to schedule a physical…beings
I haven’t had one in a gazillion years. Just going to the doctor for something minor results in a year of tests for me though, so I hesitate.
I can’t wait to compare MRI results and see who wins!
I hear ya’, Peggy. I went for just a 90-day check up on 2/12 and have had regular “dates” there ever since thanks to the myriad of micro-organisms that seem to have taken up residence inside my aging body now. Took my final of five azithromyacin just now – supposed to stay in my system for ten days (from now or from when I started the regimen, who nows?) and clear up that upper respiratory nonsense with the coughing jags, etc. This morning I learned via voicemail that I’ll need a follow-up chest X-ray to check how the “congestion” in both lungs is doing. Maybe Brad can go for me…? He seems to enjoy these sort of prolonged health thingies…
I had to have a lung capacity test last year when I had bronchitis. My doctor was kind enough to do the test with me – he blowing into one tube with me blowing into another. When he walked into the room with the two tubes, I just looked at him and said, “Oh no. Arron said you’re really good at this.” He started laughing and admitted he was only good because he used the tube for kids. 🙂
How much does an echo cost?
I don’t remember. The last one was too long ago. I can let you know when the paperwork comes.