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In justifying why insurance companies charge women significantly more money for the exact same health insurance policies as men, executives claimed that women visit doctors more frequently than men do. Many people would note that this is a good thing, as experts have long praised preventative care as reducing the costlier care required for health problems that go unchecked, then blossom into serious complications. When it comes to my household, though, we like to flip gender stereotypes on their heads.
One night, as we went to bed, I asked my husband when his last yearly check up had been.
He looked up a the ceiling. "Uh, maybe a year and a half ago?"
"Aren't you supposed to go every year?" I prodded, in the interests of journalism.
"The doctor said that, given my age and my overall good health, I could come every two years."
"That's great!"
"What about you?"
"Uh.... How about those Mets in spring training? They're sure shaping up to lose again this year, huh?"
To be honest, I don't have a primary care physician. Instead, I have in my contacts list (in alphabetical order) an:
-Allergist (2-3 visits yearly)
-Breast surgeon (2 visits yearly)
-Dentist (2 visits yearly)
-Dermatologist (as needed, but usually once every four or five years)
-Gastrointerologist (as needed, which hasn't been for over a year, but at one point was once a month)
-Gynecologist (1 visit yearly)
-Ophthalmologist (1 visit yearly)
-Podiatrist (only used once, after I stepped on a sea urchin in Hawaii)
-Reproductive endocrinologist (2 appointments to determine whether I had PCOS, but I keep the name just in case, sort of like the podiatrist)
With all my various parts cared for, who needs an internist? For the first time in four years, I did visit a primary care doctor back in August, but only because I went back to school and needed some forms filled out. That is when I discovered that my "regular" doctor left the practice at least two years ago. Ooops. The new doctor managed to screw up my vaccine schedule, which makes me less inclined to return for care. Whenever I need a new doctor for any of my various parts, I usually can just turn to friends for advice. (If I count my doctor friends, I also have two pediatricians, another dentist, another OB-GYN, another breast surgeon, and multiple colo-rectal surgeons in my contacts list. And one primary care physician who I would never trust, but that's another story.)
Probably it would be good to have a primary care doctor to coordinate all my files and keep track of what is going on with me and my team of specialists. Ironically, though, I hate doctors. The thought of adding one more doctor whose job it is to just follow along seems like such a waste of time. I have good cholesterol, my blood pressure is nice and low, and my sodium is a-OK. My weight is healthy for my frame, and I don't smoke, do drugs, or drink. I am the picture of good health, except for all the specialized problems that I have. (Also, I could use a good therapist to deal with my stress and frustration levels, if anyone in New York City has a recommendation.)
Incidentally, my husband's routine care involves the dentist (twice a year), the eye doctor (once a year), and the aforementioned primary care physician. Of course, if I lived in a small town without access to zillions of doctors, I would be relying on a primary care doctor for most of my care. As it is, I get by without a yearly physical.
Where do you stand with yearly check ups? Do you see the doctor more reliably than your partner, or is the reverse true?
Suzanne also blogs at Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants. Her first book, Off the Beaten (Subway) Track, is about unusual things to see and do in NYC.
