[Misc] Health check ups…..

[PILTDOWN MAN]

I had a parent with Munchausen-by-Proxy, if you know what that is, you’ll understand that I am extremely adverse to making doctors appointments and the stress they can cause. It’s only after ten years of therapy and with support that I have been able to make and keep these appointments and I am so glad I did.
For the first time in my life I feel in control of my own health. It feels brilliant.

You poor sod.

 

[The Clamp]

You poor sod.

It was unpleasant. But also now to be in control is a brilliant feeling. I wish I’d got to grips with it earlier.

 

[jessiejames]

I have a basic check up every 5 years for my HGV licence. Eye sight should be done every year for free as my dad had Glaucoma however i dont keep to this rather at the moment go every 2 years.
Thank you [MENTION=37204]the[/MENTION]Clamp reading yours and others on this thread i am going to book up a full medical with my doctor just to be on safe side.
With my job i need to really be carefull of what i eat as i have put on some weight, very little exercise when not multi drop driving.

Just going to finish my fag, eat my fry up brunch then book appointment before i have my fush and chips for dinner.

 

[timbha]

Out of interest and asking for a friend…. undertaking a full medical at “our” age is likely to highlight something like higher cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. At what stage would you need to notify my (ooops their) travel insurer?

 

[The Clamp]

Out of interest and asking for a friend…. undertaking a full medical at “our” age is likely to highlight something like higher cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. At what stage would you need to notify my (ooops their) travel insurer?

Good question. Once you have it under control maybe?

 

[Jim in the West]

Used to have an extremely comprehensive check up every year, was included as part of the company’s health insurance package. Loads of tests, questionnaire to be filled in beforehand etc. Even included a full fitness test. Missing it to be honest, was comforting to go through so many items and be told what’s what. Only real issue they ever identified for me was a heart irregularity - as a result of that got instantly referred for further tests with a consultant cardiologist and had scans etc (incidentally saw him a few months ago after he contacted me suggesting it was worth a follow-up - and he saw me quickly on the NHS)

Considering paying for the test periodically….cost was about £750 last time I looked, although in the age group now where I seem to be getting invited by for various screening things anyway (bowel cancer this week - ironically just after finding out my brother in law has it)

I'm in the same boat ref the tests. I was very lucky to have them paid for every year, from age 40 to 56. I now pay myself, but have them every other year. Incidentally, GPs aren't really that good at spotting skin cancer, so I have a separate annual check up with a specialist - it's £120, but well worth it. I've had a suspect mole cut out just in time (it's a simple procedure - they just freeze the skin with a spray and you don't feel a thing). I spent my childhood playing on the beach in the summer without anyone thinking about sunscreen - so I'm a bit paranoid about it.

 

[BLOCK F]

:74 next month and age has come with blood pressure medication which works well.
I am overweight and have been for quite some time now, despite being pretty damn’ fit and slim in my younger days. My mobility is seriously hampered by having quite severe spinal stenosis and this doesn’t help my efforts to exercise. I have also had bilateral knee replacements carried out 17 years ago, but they continue to function well.
Biggest deal at the moment is an abdominal aortic aneurysm that luckily was discovered during a routine ultrasound scan for stomach pains. I have it monitored by scan every 3 months and at the rate it is growing I face an op, probably in the next 12 months or so. Good thing it was discovered as if it bursts, the chances are overwhelmingly that you are a gonner. Am on stronger statins than previously due to the aneurysm.
Anyway, that’s enough to be going on with.

 

[The Clamp]

I'm in the same boat ref the tests. I was very lucky to have them paid for every year, from age 40 to 56. I now pay myself, but have them every other year. Incidentally, GPs aren't really that good at spotting skin cancer, so I have a separate annual check up with a specialist - it's £120, but well worth it. I've had a suspect mole cut out just in time (it's a simple procedure - they just freeze the skin with a spray and you don't feel a thing). I spent my childhood playing on the beach in the summer without anyone thinking about sunscreen - so I'm a bit paranoid about it.

I’m having one removed on Thursday. Not because it’s cancerous but it’s in a very irritating place. Agree, £120 is well worth it.

 

[Dick Swiveller]

Had a yearly check up since I started on blood pressure meds 15 years ago or so. One year, they were rough taking the blood and sent me to A&E on a Friday night in case I was having a heart attack due to high potassium levels. 4 hours later, they were less than impressed at my doctor wasting their time. Had to instigate the annual blood test myself the last few years as they stopped prompting me and had my most recent one a couple of weeks ago. Had a text two days later booking me another one with no context. Phoned up and I might be pre-diabetic. Some people inherit a house. I inherit high blood pressure and maybe diabetes. Deep joy.

Well worth catching this stuff early though.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Apologies for just picking up on one aspect of your post. My experience of varifocals is that you must spend a decent amount of money on brand lenses. Everyone I know who has tried to do varifocals on the cheap with someone like Specsavers have had issues and not been able to get used to them. The pricier lenses are totally worth the money as you wont get hardly any distortions and when it comes to fitting stick to Boots, Vision Express or small independent.

I spent around £260 on lenses alone but brilliant from day one

Totally agree - if you really want the benefits of varifocals then you have to pay more. Some of the cheap ones punted out by the likes of Specsavers are not much different to bi-focals but with poor transition.

I had used Zeiss lenses (expensive but good), switched to some from Vision Express (not quite so expensive) and had to get them changed after two weeks as I couldn't get used to them. Just had a pair of Ray Ban shades reglazed as transistion varifocals through a small local optician and their premium lenses are nearly as good as the Zeiss but a fair bit cheaper.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

I'm in the same boat ref the tests. I was very lucky to have them paid for every year, from age 40 to 56. I now pay myself, but have them every other year. Incidentally, GPs aren't really that good at spotting skin cancer, so I have a separate annual check up with a specialist - it's £120, but well worth it. I've had a suspect mole cut out just in time (it's a simple procedure - they just freeze the skin with a spray and you don't feel a thing). I spent my childhood playing on the beach in the summer without anyone thinking about sunscreen - so I'm a bit paranoid about it.

Who do you use for these tests? Mrs DCH used to be not as careful in the sun as she should have been so could be worthwhile.

Something to scare the youngsters on here. I remember my Dad used to slather on the suntan oil during the summer - basically frying his skin - which was the done thing back in the day. Not sure how he has got to 80 without any known instance of skin cancer.

 

[Deleted member 37369]

Apologies for just picking up on one aspect of your post. My experience of varifocals is that you must spend a decent amount of money on brand lenses. Everyone I know who has tried to do varifocals on the cheap with someone like Specsavers have had issues and not been able to get used to them. The pricier lenses are totally worth the money as you wont get hardly any distortions and when it comes to fitting stick to Boots, Vision Express or small independent.

I spent around £260 on lenses alone but brilliant from day one

I was going to say exactly the same. I've been with Eyesite in Brighton for more than 20 years - they're on the pricier side but I've now had two pairs of varifocals that have been spot on. I can no longer where contact lenses as I'd then have to wear reading glasses. Tried a varifocal setup with contacts - but everything is a compromise. With my varifocal lenses I can put them on and forget about them whether I'm driving, reading, or whatever!! I also paid a bit more to have 'transition' lenses - so I don't need sunglasses anymore!

 

[The Clamp]

Who do you use for these tests? Mrs DCH used to be not as careful in the sun as she should have been so could be worthwhile.

Something to scare the youngsters on here. I remember my Dad used to slather on the suntan oil during the summer - basically frying his skin - which was the done thing back in the day. Not sure how he has got to 80 without any known instance of skin cancer.

I had an ex who did similar. She’d slather on baby oil I think, and lie on the driveway. She looked good in our late teens. I’ve not seen her for decades but I imagine she looks like a Ronsealed walnut by now.

 

[timbha]

Good question. Once you have it under control maybe?

I suppose my (friend’s) concern is that once something has been diagnosed you are obliged to inform the insurer who may increase your premium or refuse to cover you. If you don’t disclose it and subsequently make a claim they will contact your GP, ask about pre existing health issues and then reject the claim.

 

[METALMICKY]

I was going to say exactly the same. I've been with Eyesite in Brighton for more than 20 years - they're on the pricier side but I've now had two pairs of varifocals that have been spot on. I can no longer where contact lenses as I'd then have to wear reading glasses. Tried a varifocal setup with contacts - but everything is a compromise. With my varifocal lenses I can put them on and forget about them whether I'm driving, reading, or whatever!! I also paid a bit more to have 'transition' lenses - so I don't need sunglasses anymore!

Ditto all round. I have Transitions lenses too and trialed some varifocal contacts. As you say regardless of different types varifocal contact lenses have not been perfected yet and either close or distance will be a compromise. Any optometrist saying different is not being totally honest and lots of stuff on the web highlighting issues. My cricket days are long gone so I can easily cope with glasses alone.

 

[The Clamp]

I suppose my (friend’s) concern is that once something has been diagnosed you are obliged to inform the insurer who may increase your premium or refuse to cover you. If you don’t disclose it and subsequently make a claim they will contact your GP, ask about pre existing health issues and then reject the claim.

I think you would have to tell them. Even more of an incentive to get those numbers down!

 

[origigull]

Ditto all round. I have Transitions lenses too and trialed some varifocal contacts. As you say regardless of different types varifocal contact lenses have not been perfected yet and either close or distance will be a compromise. Any optometrist saying different is not being totally honest and lots of stuff on the web highlighting issues. My cricket days are long gone so I can easily cope with glasses alone.

I have one contact lens for close work and the other is for long distance. The long distance eye is the dominant eye. I get on well with each.

 

[amexer]

Totally agree - if you really want the benefits of varifocals then you have to pay more. Some of the cheap ones punted out by the likes of Specsavers are not much different to bi-focals but with poor transition.

I had used Zeiss lenses (expensive but good), switched to some from Vision Express (not quite so expensive) and had to get them changed after two weeks as I couldn't get used to them. Just had a pair of Ray Ban shades reglazed as transistion varifocals through a small local optician and their premium lenses are nearly as good as the Zeiss but a fair bit cheaper.

Interesting comments about varifocals. I have always thought a varifocal prescription was the same whoever you went to. For simple reason they have my prescriptions for 10 plus years I have always gone back to Asda. Happy with service. Are some of you saying if I went somewhere else my varifocals would be different

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I may, or may not, be dead.

 

[The Clamp]

Apologies for just picking up on one aspect of your post. My experience of varifocals is that you must spend a decent amount of money on brand lenses. Everyone I know who has tried to do varifocals on the cheap with someone like Specsavers have had issues and not been able to get used to them. The pricier lenses are totally worth the money as you wont get hardly any distortions and when it comes to fitting stick to Boots, Vision Express or small independent.

I spent around £260 on lenses alone but brilliant from day one

Good advice, thank you.