Yesterday I went to the doctor. No, I’m not sick. I went to have some blood work done. You know, test the cholesterol level, thyroid level, and whatever else kind of test they are supposed to do, on, you know, “middle aged” people. I haven’t been to the doctor in quite some time, and I didn’t even HAVE a regular doctor. For the past 15 years, while I was in childbearing mode, my ob/gyn or the midwives were my doctors. I’ve gone to the midwives a couple of times in the last 5 years for the basic “yearly” check up and stuff, but honestly, now that I’m not having kids and don’t plan on having any more kids, I don’t especially enjoy hanging out in the waiting room with all those pregnant women. So, I made an appointment with a new doctor, but ended up not even seeing that doctor, I saw the nurse practitioner instead.
As she was asking me what I was in for, and I said I just wanted some blood work done, she looked at me with a quizzical look. “Any symptoms?” Um, no, not really. I feel ok. “So, you’re perfectly healthy?” she asked me. Perfectly healthy? Well, of course not! I’m obviously overweight, but must we bring that up? I’m thinking. And I have this here stupid broken toe, but I’ve already suffered for four weeks with that thing, so it seems a little bit late to bring that thing up.
“Well, I don’t know about the ‘perfectly’ healthy part, but I would say, that I’m basically healthy.”
“That’s very proactive of you,” she said. What is this? Am I the only person who ever comes in for a “check-up”? I mean, this is pretty new for me, too, but must you make me feel so odd for coming in?
She finally sent me to the phlebotomist, who, no surprise, really had to stab and poke and check the other arm, then DIG around in there to get a vein. I am NOT an easy stick. But she Did get a vein, and got enough blood to do the necessary tests.
As I was leaving, I stopped by the payment desk, and asked about Cole’s bill. I brought him in about a month ago with a different doctor in the practice for some x-rays and then some mole removal, and I haven’t received a bill. She looked him up, and said, “It looks like there’s a zero balance. Your insurance must have covered it.” Hooray! We’ve met our high deductible! Thank you vein surgery.
I was just curious, so I asked her to look up how much those visits were. Over $500, and we don’t have to pay ANY of it. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
So we have to do ALL our routine doctor visits between now and the beginning of the year. Flu shots, physicals, mole removals, bring it on. Because come January, we’re NOT going to the doctor again.
Yes…you have 3 months to get it all in… Good luck!!
So how did you do with your cholesterol levels and stuff? Did they tell you?