In April or May I need to make an appointment with my doctor for a “Wellness Checkup” I have to get a wellness checkup because (knock wood) I am pretty healthy every year, with thankfully small everyday complaints every once-in-a-while. My doctor is in another city about three hours from where I live now. I refuse to get another doctor if I can avoid it because my doctor is nearly perfect. Recently, I read in the newsletter from his practice that he is not retiring as yet but he is limiting his days to three days a week. His practice that he started many years ago is in a large building and now houses lots of new equipment and other doctor’s and nurses. However, when he leaves, I leave. I just better never ever get sick again. I have been very lucky in my life that I have had two wonderful doctors as a child, two terrific doctors when I had my two boys, three great orthopedic doctors and two GP’s as an adult. Since I moved to the big city I have had two issues that arrived and made it necessary for me to visit a doctor but since I live so far from my preferred doctor I had to visit a nearby emergency clinic. Both visits I had two different women doctors. One was so concerned about my infected thumb that she made me incredibly nervous. The second time I needed to visit was for my “soar throat from Hell” and the second female doctor whisked me in and out and had no interest in my pain or feelings at all.
Now let me tell you why I like my doctor from my old neighborhood.
He listens to you. Let me say that again. He actually listens to you and he lets you talk. He asks questions and he listens again. He gives you his time without making you feel boring or unimportant. He has actually asked me about my life to see if that could be an issue to any of my problems. After he has listened and checked vital signs he will give you an opinion and a plan to make the illness or problem go away. I have actually received follow up letters and phone calls from him and or from his office staff to see if his plan has worked or not. If not, he has written me, to let him know and we will try a new plan.
Made me think about calling his job and position “A Practice” We say that a doctor practices medicine. A doctor doesn’t advertise, “ We guarantee you will be 100 % after your appointment.” There is no new battery added with a five-year warranty… like the one I recently added to my car. My mechanic told me, “You have a problem with this battery lady… I will fix it, no charge, guaranteed”. Doctor’s call it a practice because they are always learning and trying out new ideas and new medications and trying out new recommendations. They keep reading and trying new techniques.
It is an ongoing learning experience. You see maybe that is what we are all doing in this life anyway. We talk and think and we try to come up with a plan to navigate through the problems and the worries and the issues that arise. When it doesn’t work we have to come up with another plan.
Life Plans, Prescriptions, Medications:
Raised children … worked out pretty well so far. Keep up the good work.
Marriage well, tried and tried again… didn’t work, still friends. Work on a new plan.
Work, sometimes fun, some work experiences wonderful. (Keep it up) Some work situations … horrible … quit, try again.
Aging, some things are great., some things need to change … form a new plan. Add volunteering. Add some regular exercise. Add new friends and experiences.
Life, add taking a chance every now and then.
Depression, add more sleep, add a creative outlet or two.
Slight depression, add a nice strong Martini and or a large glass of wine or two.
Not working? Add a bowl of pasta and a hot chocolate chip cookie.
Boredom – Call a best friend and go to lunch. Get a pet.
Feeling icky- get nails done, dye your hair, buy a new pair of shoes.
In a Rut- plan a vacation, now.
Keep this up until you reach 90, then, make a new plan.
Until Next Week…
Is There Sex After 60? (Navigating Single Life After 60) 