High blood pressure (in athletes)

[zoom-zoom]

It sounds like alot of people here go to the doctor alot. Curious--how often do you go? I go once a year max; sometimes I extend it to once every two years. Then it's only to my women's health nurse practitioner for my annualish exam.

1x/year for pap. 2x/year for asthma follow-ups. In 5+ years of running and biking I have only had one injury that sent me to the doctor...well, aside from that sprain that had me in urgent care for an x-ray a week after the fact (I was pretty sure it wasn't a fracture, but everyone else urged me to have it confirmed). For a while I was in the office every couple of months with sinus issues...the neti pot put a stop to that garbage!

[ultraviolet]

Until I started having chronic migraines, the only regular doctor visits I made were my once a year gyn exams. Other than that, I really only went if something was wrong (cold longer than a week, injury, etc.). I had a whole slew of visits with various specialists when we were trying to figure out my migraine issues. The last time I went to the doctor to check-in on how things were going on that front, we decided that a once a year check-in was fine unless or until something came up--recurrence of the migraines, a change in nature of the migraines, or some complication/problem related to the bp meds. Mostly he's worried about my pressure dropping too low, so I monitor every day at home. So far, I'm on track to not have to see him again for a while.

[Crankin]

Tulip, the chest pain was not "chest pain," i.e. cardiac. It was my normal congestion/asthma, which I have had all of my life. If I get a sinus infection, it can go quickly into bronchitis, if it's not caught in time. She just freaked out and did not listen to me when I told her my symptoms... and if she had half a brain, she would have seen "allergies" written all over my chart. It's like as soon as they look at my birthdate, they judge me as an unfit, unhealthy person, despite the fact that I look like I am in great shape.

[emily_in_nc]

1x/year for pap.

I don't know your situation, but my PCP advised me that since I've never had an abnormal pap and am in a long-term monogamous relationship, I only have to have a pap every 3 years. This after years and years after having them yearly. I guess they've changed the recommendations. Works for me!

I do go to my PCP (no separate gyn, she does my pelvic exam too) yearly not because I'm sick but b/c preventive care is 100% covered by my insurance. Basically, we talk, she renews my asthma inhaler Rx, does a pelvic and breast exam, and tells me how great my health is. She's a runner and a cyclist so totally gets me.

I can't even remember the last time I had to go for a sick visit...

[zoom-zoom]

I don't know your situation, but my PCP advised me that since I've never had an abnormal pap and am in a long-term monogamous relationship, I only have to have a pap every 3 years. This after years and years after having them yearly. I guess they've changed the recommendations. Works for me!

I think I could go less often, but insurance covers it and it always seems that I have some female issue or another that I need to address (I have endo, adenomyosis, and 8 years or so after having thermal ablation my periods are getting heavier, again...and my cycles have been stupid short for years, so it always seems that I'm trying to find another way to push back the inevitable hysterectomy until I am at least in my mid-40s).