How many of us see our doctors at least once a year? (If you don't, you probably already know that you should... Preventive health care begins with you). I have to see my physician annually, or he won't refill my prescription, and I need my prescription. He says it is for insurance purposes, but I think he just likes to check in with me-- and I am fine with that. We go over my blood pressure, make arrangements to check my cholesterol. I take care of breast exams and my pap with my ob-gyn. However, one of the things I have been thinking about this summer, as time grows near for my annual appointment, is that I don't always remember to mention things to him at this appointment. It has been a long time since I have seen or talked with my doctor. I just reached out and touched wood, automatically after I typed that. Knock on wood-- that could change on a dime. How many times have you walked out of an appointment, especially your annual, and thought, "I wish I had mentioned this..." Because sometimes it is worth just having things checked out, and making sure your physical exam is truly thorough.
Think about this: If you know your annual physican is drawing near, start carrying around a little notebook and recording changes you have noticed, or something that may seem minor, but might be worth mentioning.
This year, in my little notebook, I have: fatigue-- is this normal? I take a lot of naps... I seem to be developing an allergy to milk-- but could it be something else? That isn't a food reaction? Could you look at these spots on my face-- are these acne scars, or something else? I don't remember seeing them last year...
I have had a lot of friends who have gone to the doctor for what seemed to be pretty innocent symptoms-- and they had cancer instead. I think especially with the recent news about some pretty innocuous symptoms that could be forerunners for ovarian cancer, it's not too much to pay a little extra attention to what our bodies are trying to tell us. And then to tell our doctors, on our bodies' behalves.
