Twenty-one months ago, I had an annual physical. My blood test had some abnormal numbers. Not horrible, but not right. My doctor passed me on to a haematologist.
It took six months to get a definitive diagnosis, but treatment for the wrong blood numbers started much sooner. Eventually, I was diagnosed with polycythemia vera, (PV) a marrow disorder (or cancer, depending on who you talk to) that causes my body to make too many red and white blood cells and too many platelets. When it’s found early, PV can be managed. It imposes no lifestyle restrictions and you likely die with it, not of it.
However, PV does not usually show symptoms until it’s done damage to the body. This damage can’t be reversed and, even with treatment, both life expectancy and life quality are reduced.
So my physical saved me a great deal of trouble and gave me a better and longer life outlook.
I bring this up to try to get you to go see a doctor yearly. Things that can kill you can usually be treated and resolved fairly easily if they are found early. Symptoms often mean you’re looking at a long, difficult, and costly treatment, temporary or permanent limitations, and possibly death.
The other thing about regular visits is they give the doctor a baseline. This makes it easier to see problems because they can show up as a slight change from normal that might not trigger concern without a baseline.
And yes, if you are 45 or better (or younger with a family history) this includes a butt cam (colonoscopy). When they do this, they remove any polyps they find; polyps that would become cancer down the road. Colon cancer kills and surviving it is no fun either!
If you won’t do this for yourself, please do it for your wife. Not dying from something an annual physical could have stopped is a great way to show your love!
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Dr. Corey Carlisle | Living for others ◄ Living for anyone other than God will end badly.
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Butt cam. My laugh for the morning.
While discussing that particular part of geography, please stress to readers to get a prostate check too–especially for our black brothers and those with a family history.
Blessings on your work.
@Nick – Fortunately a PSA test is becoming more common than a gloved finger. And it’s a place where a baseline is important.
My insurance gives us a break on the price if we do a certain number of preventative steps, and an annual exam is one. He does the prostate check every year (but not this year, and he also didn’t shine the light up my nose and in my ears. COVID concerns maybe?) and recommends a colonoscopy only once every 5-10 years if the first one is good. But my bad cholesterol is going up to fast, so we’ve made some diet changes that my wife has been pushing for anyway.
@Middle Man – Even without insurance a checkup is the best money you will spend!
A Covid vaccine is also a great preventative measure……just sayin.
@Jeremy Tabor – Well thanks for that political grenade! (And I do agree.)
I haven’t had the Jab and I will not. It’s my choice. I don’t understand the rush to get that experimental juice injected.
It doesn’t keep you from getting the disease. It doesn’t keep you from infecting others. I hear that the vast majority of hospital Covid cases are in people who have been “fully vaccinated” whatever that means, allowing for the fact that to remain “fully vaccinated”, most people will be getting “boosters” for the rest of their lives…And there is no telling what medical horror is going to befall you if you take the Jab.
This whole thing would have been over in a month or two, had the early treatment protocols not been criminalized.
You are probably going to delete this. While I agree you have the right to do that, it will make me very sad if it happens.
God bless,
Bill
@Ol’ Will – This got caught by the spam system. If it was a one-off I’d have left it as spam. Because you post useful things I let it through.
I won’t argue with you, but I know the science well and I strongly disagree with you.
Do you agree with the content of the post?
I got caught up in the vaccine thing and forgot to dsay something nie about your post.
I’m thinking about sending a link to me 41-yr old son who lives alone, has never been married and, as far as I know, has never been to the doctor – certainly not for a checkup.
As a matter of fact, I’m going to do it right now.
Thanks for your post.
Bill
“…forgot to say something nice…”
Duh! I need and editor. :-)