The 100 Years Club Installment #91: My Visit to the Nurse’s Office

Part of back-to-school season is that dreaded health check.

Like school bus interiors and exteriors, our body parts change as we age.

We remain driveable and workable, provided we fuel ourselves with quality gas, get regular service, and tackle issues before they become too big to fix. We can be great classics, just like those vintage machines!

So, I took advantage of my free “service appointment” and scheduled my first-ever visit to a PCP (primary care physician) for a comprehensive check-up.

I resisted for a very long time.

I was busy with work and life and caring for everyone except myself. Plus, to be perfectly honest, I am a little kid when it comes to doctor visits, terrified that a physician will find something wrong.

In one week, I endured a comprehensive physical exam, a bone scan, thyroid and breast ultrasounds, and a 5-vial blood draw.

As with all medical visits, I discovered a bunch of things that I really didn’t want to hear. Of course, that leads to even more visits to doctors and nurses. However, dealing with them will help ensure that I join “the centenarian club.”

So, I am now committed to:

• Gowning up and following doctor’s orders, dealing with the lumps, deficiencies, and brittle bone crap that comes with aging.
• Stay positive throughout the process. Use technology whenever possible to streamline it. Viewing test results, consulting with doctors, and scheduling appointments can all be done online, creating less disruption to your work and play day.
• Only speaking with close friends and family (on a limited basis) about my health. So many people my age use their medical visits and ailments as a primary topic of conversation. Focusing on our aches, pains, and problems puts us in a negative headspace (and bores people younger and healthier than we are). This blog post is, of course, an exception, and its primary purpose is to inspire you to get your ass on the table and make sure your body is in the best possible condition.

I also recommend that you advocate for your health and well-being, asking lots of questions, getting second opinions when necessary, and staying strong if you are uncomfortable about something your doctor is saying or doing.