Do You Avoid Doctors? Which of These 6 Excuses Fit You?
I actually like seeing Dr. Delfs. Because I see her regularly, she knows me and shows an interest in both my life and my health. She makes me feel better, emotionally and physically, when I visit. Well – usually.
I’ve just learned that a shocking percentage of adults over 65 avoid going to the doctor for a variety of reasons. This behavior puts them at great risk.
According to a survey by the Mesothelioma Center, 16% of seniors NEVER visit a doctor after noticing health symptoms, and 17% wait over a week. That’s a third of the senior population risking serious health complications by avoiding their doctors. And this trend has probably worsened since the pandemic started.
What are these “slackers” thinking? Why would they avoid much-needed care when it’s the best way to continue a healthy life?
Are you one of them? I blush to admit that sometimes I am.
Which of these (foolish) excuses fit you? (I’m guilty of the first two.)
I’ll Wait to See If My Symptoms Disappear
“Give it a few weeks, and if you’re still experiencing these symptoms, come back in.” How many times have I heard this advice from my doctor? I often wait out those few weeks on my own before going in, but there are some symptoms that require immediate attention, especially in this era of Covid-19.
Symptoms like severe pain, a bloody stool, or unrelenting diarrhea need to be diagnosed quickly. It’s best to call in and let the triage nurse help you decide whether to wait out your symptoms or not. You can also schedule a one-on-one virtual appointment to check in with your doctor.
I Can Self-Diagnose
The Internet is a tempting tool, especially in the arena of health. It’s interesting to look up symptoms on the Mayo Clinic or WebMD site, and if they’re minor problems, that’s probably OK.
Of course, your doctor is the best person to evaluate your situation. He/she will ask questions and check out other things you may not have considered.
Another problem with self-diagnosis is that you can make a serious misjudgment. Don’t work yourself into a lather over a self-diagnosed case of cancer when your problem is a simple case of heartburn.
Let your doctor help you sort through the information and order the tests required to rule out more serious ailments.
I Can’t Afford to Pay a Doctor
It’s important to have an annual physical even when you’re healthy. Your doctor can evaluate symptoms you’ve experienced recently and help screen you for any more serious conditions that may be in early stages – the best time to intervene.
If you believe you can’t afford such preventive care, contact your local health department and ask about programs to help cover your medical costs. Every state (and country) has safety nets for individuals who can’t afford care, but you need to be proactive in accessing them. Make that call!
I Just Don’t Have Time
What could be more important than maintaining your health? You’re probably retired, and perhaps you’re a busy retiree. If you have time to watch a television program or sit with a book or magazine, you have time to see your doctor.
This, my friend, is the weakest of excuses. It sounds more like denial to me. Make an appointment for a physical today.
I Hate to Bother Someone to Take Me to the Doctor
Many of us need to rely on public transportation or on others to get us to important appointments. Most communities have special services like senior buses or rides, but you need to make a contact for an appointment.
Also, there’s nothing wrong with calling on a friend or relative to bring you to a doctor. Wouldn’t you do the same for them if you could? Have the grace to let others help you.
I Don’t Want to Hear the Bad News
We’re all very good at denial, but ignoring symptoms out of fear is the worst thing you can do. With nearly every health issue early intervention is the best way to overcome it – or at least to slow it down.
In addition, the time you’ll spent worrying will do two things: delay treatment and undermine your emotional well-being. We all know that a positive attitude is one of the most effective treatments, so it follows clearly that worry and depression have the opposite effect on your health.
According to the U.S. National Council on Aging, “approximately 80% of older adults have at least one chronic disease, and 77% have at least two. Four chronic diseases – heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes—cause almost two-thirds of all deaths each year.”
Don’t you owe it to yourself to take good care of yourself as you journey into the final decades of your life? Make these years healthy and productive by scheduling an annual physical exam and visiting your doctor whenever you experience new health symptoms. You’re worth it, and your loved ones will appreciate having you around longer.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Have you ever decided not to visit your doctor even though you needed to? Which symptoms do you usually ignore? What reasons have you come up with to not visit your doctor? Do you go for an annual physical exam? How do you feel afterwards? Please share your thoughts and let’s have a conversation!
Here’s another reason for avoiding doctors after the age of 65 when you have Medicare: pressure to go off of any mood-stabilizing medications and use ECT to cure any mental disorders, however slight.
According to a doctor I saw for five years, I’m a normal post-menopausal woman. Technically, I’m not even post-menopausal because I take the controversial but highly effective Wiley Protocol. It tricks your body into thinking it’s fertile again, and really does remove all menopausal symptoms. You won’t look 20, but your skin will be beautiful and elastic.
So, here’s my story. I live in the United States, in Seattle. As you know, Washington and California are sanctuary cities, so we often get doctors from places where there are travel bans like Afghanistan. My doctor who prescribes mood stabilizers prescribed medicine that has worked for two decades (since I became perimenopausal.) Mood disorders go hand-in-hand with menopause. How can you lose your most potent hormones and expect to carry on?
Somehow my doctor got together with an internist who had seen me for my mood disorder. To make a long story short, my internist had written a bunch of observations that were completely untrue, and provably so. So, finally, my new doctor found the internist’s notes, and now he believes that: I’m paranoid, delusional, and a few other things I won’t name. My internist even quoted me as stating that I was an overweight, middle-aged Harpy. Somewhere in my notes, it mentions ECT treatments. Everyone will try to convince you that ECT is a wonderful new therapy, but it’s not. I know first-hand of several people who tried it and ended up as vegetables. One was my 75-year-old Aunt. One person I know of received third-degree burns from her “therapy.” Most people lose their short-term memory, so they are unable to process information. I’m still working in my profession as a programmer, so something that profoundly changes my brain is out of the question. If you have ever had a heart attack, ECT will likely induce another.
I’m really distressed that ECT has made a comeback in the U.S.. Partly I think it’s because Medicare will pay for it instead of supplying medication.
So basically, once you go on Medicare, you are likely to be killed by the medical profession. (There are black box warnings about the machines being used causing morbidity.) The machines and process are NOT approved by the FDA.
Talk about misogyny. I know I am going to hear from all kinds of people espousing the joys of ECT, but please don’t bother. It does have the male-desired effect of reducing the older female demographic. Once you’ve lost your mind you won’t be able to complain. I don’t know who is expected to take care of the vegetable that remains, but that’s not a problem for the medical industry. I was going to immigrate to California, but ECT has become popular there as well.
What’s really horrible is that I’m affluent enough to afford the thousand dollars to purchase real insurance instead of Medicare, but that is not allowed.
I keep getting told to my face that I’m post-menopausal and therefore not wanted by society. It’s even a diagnosis in my chart. Again, my chart is full of blatant errors, written by people who think menopausal women should be put away.
We in the United States live in a horrible third-world country run by terrorists. We always had a first-class system, but, if you are an older woman, you’ll be told by the state (or your doctor) when your time is up.
Good luck!
If the USA would implement universal, single-payer healthcare, more people would see their doctors! Bernie Sanders supporter and former volunteer!
As it is currently in the USA, medicine is for-profit and doctors push unnecessary screenings and meds without getting to know their patients and looking deeper “under the hood.”
Women patients are often dismissed or bullied. I quit all screenings at age 74–this includes mammograms (after being lectured for using hormone creams and having “dense breasts” and called back for further testing more times than necessary) and colonoscopies (horrible procedure for someone not at risk).
Like other commenters, statins were pushed on me because I have high cholesterol genetically (am lifelong runner and vegetarian). Refused and eventually fired that primary care.
A lot of docs are just shills for Big Pharmacy and for-profit screenings. Patients beware!
Have had 7 surgeries during the past 10 years, all necessary, all solved problems. The screenings (unless one is at-risk) are a waste of precious time.
Generally I like surgeons much better than primary care physicians.
HOORAY for you, Diana. I am TOTALLY in your camp on single-payer health, though that may not be the whole answer for better care by physicians. I’ve had great luck with physicians, save a few experiences, but I have GREAT concern for people who can’t afford our overpriced health care. We also need to find ways to control the Big Pharm companies. I have friends paying thousands a MONTH for meds that should be inexpensive.
Thanks for your response!
Ann Marie
I’m not sure the problem is that we don’t have a single payer system. Medicare is a single payer system, and it is supporting all the nonsense you mention above. I think that breast exams are good, especially if you are on hormones. (I have dense breasts as well.) I really loved my cardiologist who was pinch-hitting as my internist. I did have one unexpected heart attack, and, despite the fact that my BMI is normal and I work out three hours a day and eat right, my cholesterol levels were high. As it turned out, I have a genetic disorder that doesn’t allow my body to process cholesterol properly, and that’s why I had a heart attack. It almost killed me despite how healthy I am. My mom died at the age of 72.
I am glad my cardiologist saved me, but it required test after test to determine whether I could go back to a normal life. Also, because I’m on hormones, she had screening tests for everything that could go wrong when you are on hormones. Insurance covered most of the expenses.
The horror is the recommendation for ECT. I don’t know where that came from, because I would be willing to pay extra to do brain scans to figure out what, exactly, is wrong. I would go on extra hormones if that would help.I don’t want to be rescued from a heart attack only to be made a vegetable by ECT.
Diana, I believe you can opt out of the tests you deem unnecessary. However, those of us with additional resources should be allowed to do the maximum necessary to live a long life as a biological 40-year-old.
I function as someone much younger than my chronological age, which is 69. I don’t even have wrinkles! I take Zumba lessons with 20-year-olds, and I have not had a single complaint.
I think as we age we are fearful of going to the Dr.- one is going for a reason. But will the answer be bad news? As we age we think about our future…when in our younger years we had the world to enjoy and explore, we had a long future. Now in our 60’s perhaps some think, how much of a future do I have? My family doctor is great. We discuss things. But as I age my body is needing more attention than it needed before.
You’re so right. Our bodies DO demand more attention as we age, but at least we have the time to deal with it. Retirement has its perks, doesn’t it?
Doctor I was seeing wanted to put me on statins (20 years ago) and when I told her no she said “then why are you coming here”……and that’s when I ended my doctor relationship and I haven’t been back (yet)
Brenda, you are a wise woman. Last September my doctor wanted to put me on statins after taking my cholesterol test without me fasting! I said, “no thank you”. I will get my levels down by staying away from full fat diary, especially daily ice cream eating and eating oatmeal and other healthy foods. I did lose 10 lbs. so we will see in a few months if I was able to control my cholesterol on my own. My hunch is yes. It’s all about the money, sad to say.
I have been on a statin for years because my cholesterol was very high. I tried lowering it with diet and it remained high. I have had zero bad effects from taking it. I have had no serious medical issues other than the very minor ones everyone goes through. I really think it depends on the person and their body and how it functions/reacts. Everyone is different. It’s not a one size fits all situation. But I agree, doctors are not God’s. You have to take part in your own health care both mental as well as physical and be your own advocate. Staying out of the doctor’s office or a hospital for as long as possible (for anything other than routine maintenance), I think is what should be the end game here…
I think another reason is that many doctors are so dismissive and just want to slap you on pills without ever acknowledging the cause of your problems. They just want to stop the symptoms. It is rare it seems to find a great doctor who will work towards finding the cause and working on that in terms of lifestyle, etc. I cannot tell you the damage to my health that came from doctors I “trusted” who slammed me on meds that caused awful side effects AND never treated the original cause.
Marie,
I totally agree with you. Doctors have treated me for minor ailments such as poison ivy, bug in eye, Lyme Disease, acid reflux, and the medications prescribed caused worst problems, one being gallstones! I avoid doctors at all costs now and take my health into my own hands. So far at age 74 it’s working! We need to be the captain of our own ship.
It’s important for all of us to learn to advocate for ourselves, insisting that doctors listen to us. I’m sorry you went through all that. There’s something to be said for having a family doctor who knows and respects you. If you can find it, it’s a treasure.
Hi! By this age…73…I’ve been through a few things…luckier than many. Thyroid cancer, pre cancerous intestines, noncancerous lump in backbone removed, prehypertension…..etc…rarely sick. Just a few surgeries…lol.
Doctors are like weathermen, use educated guesses. Medical arts…..arts…
We lay people have to hope for the best guesser. Beware of big pharma.
Just because they passed a lot of classes,got a degree, doesn’t mean they have inborn intuition.
So many meds can help you as well as kill you, or cause what they are said to get rid of! Tv ads make most meds sound like they want to test on you, take your money and put your life at further risk. But hey,, it might work! Ser iously?
Whom decided those were good inventions? 2 plus 2 was always 4….not maybe,or only for a few. Honestly.
I still work full time. Have had a variety of docs. Hard to find time for them all sometimes. Lousy way to use your 2 days off. And some can’t see you on those days. Retire and see more with less money? Oh joy.