Annual Check-ups

monami

statins give doctors huge profits, they want the whole country to take them, our forebears managed perfectly well without them on a worse diet

Do they actually? Source?

Harris27

I love to hear about people of a certain age not getting health check ups good for you and keep going!

Huh? What's good about NOT getting health checks?

I would say it is a well run practice that they want to check on you. I feel like a nuisance when I ask for help.

I was pushed to statins by the practice nurse, even though the doctor say not necessary yet. It made me feel less than myself (generally grotty, if that makes sense) - lots of tests found nothing, and then I saw a post about the effects - with lots of "me too". I stopped taking them and my count recently (I was offered one of those research checks) was 5.2 ( should be 5 or under) with 1.4 LDL ( that is the important number should be under 3) - so they said very healthy for my age.

(My DH is 6+ and 2.4 even though he takes them)

Do look at your counts and ask again if it is really necessary, and what dietary changes you can make to help - I changed to skimmed milk with plant sterols for example. It is common for our age group to be put onto them to prevent heart attacks and strokes though, so a further more detailed conversation might be an idea

I love to hear about people of a certain age not getting health check ups good for you and keep going!

LadyGracie

I’m 75 this Friday and have never been called for a check up.

That's probably because you're not on any medication such as blood thinners, BP levellers etc. Happy birthday for Friday!

I was called for a check up when I became 70 but never since - I'm now 81. I'm not on any medication so maybe best not to suggest one, as they'd probably find something wrong. I managed to cut my hand a few years ago and have had a few other health problems for which I've made appointments and been seen to quite promptly.

Visiting surgery with painful knee, Dr said you haven't had you're annual check for 6 years, so booked me in and was called back due to high cholesterol, finally talked me into statins, but pleased to say after 3 months my cholesterol has halved , so I'm in a good place with that. Still haven't sorted my knee, but today have had to go for Dvt test , and that was clear, so move onto next stage for answers,, 😁🙄

I should have had annual checks from 70 - 75 years. Had nothing for 15 years. Discovered this 3 months ago when optician was shocked to learn I'd no tests. Blood pressure can affect eyesight so she referred me for a check, hence discovering the 15 year oversight. Nurse checked weight and blood pressure, both fine. Blood sent for tests. 2 weeks later invited to see GP to go over results which were all fine. GP did comment I had never been given statins and at my age now 79, I would not be prescribed them. GP told me to arrange a check up every birthday. Couldn't believe I'd had no checks for the recommended 5 years never mind 15 years.

I’m 78 and three quarters and have never had one of these check ups!

monami

statins give doctors huge profits, they want the whole country to take them, our forebears managed perfectly well without them on a worse diet

They do not, they get points through the Quality Outcomes Framework for managing cardiovascular disease.
Or do you have different accredited evidence monami?

Our forebears died younger, often due to clogged arteries, something statins can help reduce.

Esmay

My surgery used to do a full blood profile and a yearly check up with the asthma nurse .
Now they ask you to fill out a form detailing weight etc .
Or you can speak to the pharmacist.
It's taken me six weeks to get an appointment with him

My friend applied for a job at the surgery and said that it's the worse job that she's had and resigned as soon as possible having taken sick leave.

There’s only one person at our surgery pharmacy that seems to know what they’re doing. They told us they’d moved to another surgery as ours was so bad an only to move back again because the other one was even worse. Prescriptions are never ready, although when told they’re not ready it’s because they haven’t bothered to look on the shelf.

Oh & prostate check up

MT62

My husband isn’t on any meds, he’s almost 65 I never been asked to come in for a mot.
He now has a mole that has popped on his head, so want him to phone & book a Gp visit & also see the nurse for bp, & blood work.

He’s hasn’t ever been asked 🤦‍♀️oh for an edit button!

My husband isn’t on any meds, he’s almost 65 I never been asked to come in for a mot.
He now has a mole that has popped on his head, so want him to phone & book a Gp visit & also see the nurse for bp, & blood work.

OH and I get annual check ups, our is next week, blood tests blood pressure ,weight,

statins give doctors huge profits, they want the whole country to take them, our forebears managed perfectly well without them on a worse diet

I have a long-term conditions check once a year around the time of my birthday. I do height, weight and blood pressure at home and send the results in via the Surgery's Engage Consult app and then go in for a blood test. If there's a problem my GP will text me.

Momac55

I am being pressured to take statins and I don’t want to

Then just say no. It’s your choice.

I am being pressured to take statins and I don’t want to

My surgery used to do a full blood profile and a yearly check up with the asthma nurse .
Now they ask you to fill out a form detailing weight etc .
Or you can speak to the pharmacist.
It's taken me six weeks to get an appointment with him

My friend applied for a job at the surgery and said that it's the worse job that she's had and resigned as soon as possible having taken sick leave.

An annual check-up? I can't even get an appointment with my GP for love nor money! I recently had to be taken by ambulance to A&E and on being discharged, was told to make an appointment with my GP to get further blood tests done. That was over a month ago and I'm still trying!

I don't get an annual mot as such but as a type 2 diabetic I have my full diabetes check once a year when they do full bloods, weigh me, check my feet with a filament (i have peripheral neuropathy in my feet) and check the pulses in my feet/ankles. it's pretty thorough and I have a consultation with the diabetes nurse when the results come in.
other than that I have a medication check when I resist statins as they don't agree with me.
I book bowel cancer checks and mammograms every year - i'm 78 almost 79. in fact i've just had both tests done and they're both clear.
I ring for the bowel cancer check and they send me the kit. and I ring my local mammogram dept and book.
I got told that I was being pro-active with my health care!!

How strange that you find the offer of free check ups anything other than a welcome addition to your life. You are getting a £200+ freebie that monitors your health, offers advice and potentially free prescription drugs to bolster your health. Looking a gift horse in the mouth comes to mind.

And then there was the time the path lab didn’t do the potassium level when that was the main reason I was having the blood test. And I had to point out the omission to the GP and then have another blood test which involved the cost of taxis to and from the surgery.