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paul’s journal

Don't cough

· · 🌡️ 67°F

I just got another physical where I didn't remove any clothing. The doctor was having some sort of emergency with his wife, and his kids were there.

By looking at me, he was able to determine that I was healthy. I am so over this primary care doctor bullshit.
49 words

💬 5 comments

  1. janelle ·

    Ha! I had the opposite problem. Too much attention. I went in for a Hepatitis A shot and the doctor tried to give me like 5 fricking other vaccinations. I managed to get out of there with only agreeing to one additional vaccination. *roll eyes*

  2. paul ·

    This one didn't even bother weighing me or getting my height.

  3. jenks ·

    haha, that's my kind of physical!
    The only benefit to taking off your shirt is that he can see moles and stuff- and if you're worried about that, you go to a dermatologist. As far as turn your heard and cough- if you have a hernia and it doesn't bother you, who cares- it doesn't need to be fixed! If it bugs you, you'll get it checked out, and he'll look.
    You can tell you're not obese just by looking at you, so weight doesn't really matter. Height doesn't matter. What else is there to do? Check the pulses in your feet? I'm sure they're fine. And now that you've watched James' video, you can do your testicular exam yourself!

    Basically, 30 year olds who feel fine, are healthy. And medicine has gotten to the point that the physical exam doesn't tell us much- on an asymptomatic person, at least. If you have a cough, or your stomach hurts, it's a different story, and we'll zoom in that. But if you come in for a routine checkup, and you don't have any complaints- they will say 'healthy 30 yo man. No complaints. Blood pressure within normal limits. No heart murmur. Lungs clear. Abdomen soft.' Maybe they'll draw some blood, maybe not.

    The sad thing is- I'm kind of serious. (which is why I'm not in primary care- ha!)

    I know what you're saying though... it feels like a rip-off. You want to feel like your doctor actually did something. Actually MADE SURE there's no weird freaky disease there. It's not very reassuring.

    I felt so badly for my patients yesterday... as usual we were totally backed up... people were waiting hours to see us- just to be told 'yup, your CT scan was fine. Come back next year". They were like 'I waited 3 hours for THAT? Couldn't you tell me that over the phone?"

    sorry. i'm rambling.

    But if it's any reassurance, I'm sure you're fine. (And I can tell that without even seeing you in person! ;) )

  4. jenks ·

    I forgot to say- the HISTORY is more important than the physical (most of the time), so I hope he at least talked to you. I find that's what makes me like a doc or not. Even if they don't lay hands on me, if they listen and are nice and I feel like they understand, then I trust them.
    But if he barely speaks english and acts like he's way too busy to be bothered... then he sucks.

  5. mike ·

    that is the kind of physical I like. Like what is the point of getting height and weight after you are no longer a kid. You can get the gist by looking at a person. I never really saw the need for all th etheatrics of a physical. If you generally feel healthy then you prolly are or wahtever is secretly ailing you prolly won't show up> More the blood tests and stuff that are important I would say.

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