Do you get yearly physical exams?

Do you get yearly physical exams?

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Cathlete
Just curious after reading about all of our health concerns. I have never had a total body physical--just paps/breast exams. If you do get yearly physicals, how old were you when you started?
 
Yes...I started at age 30. Although I will tell you that unless you have specific issues or something in your family history that is worrying you, don't expect a lot. I pretty much have specialists to cover any 'real' specific problems, ie. I have asthma so I see a specialist for that. When I see my internist we basically talk and then she does a brief all-over exam and then she asks me if I want her to address anything special.
 
I'm 43, and aside from a dermatologist I only see my gynecologist. He checks everything though, even orders complete blood work (which I'm way past due for!). I asked him if I should see an internist for a complete physical and he responded "not unless you want to be poked and prodded and have a lot of unnecessary tests done so they can look for things that aren't wrong with you." Such a comedienne. Anyway, I am going to see an internist when I'm 45 just to have my heart checked and such. Then comes the dreaded colonoscopy at 50! I'm a nurse, BTW, so I have a pretty good idea of what may be ailing me! Knock wood! I feel pretty good now.
 
Once I turned 18 and began seeing a regular doc as opposed to a pediatrician I began getting regular physicals. My doctor encourages them and I really like and trust him so I go every year. There was a time span of about 5 years though where he was not under my insurance so I could not see him. I never got a physical during that time because I was not fond of the physician I was using at that time.

I am pretty awful about keeping up with the female doc visits though and I don't know why. They take MUCH less time then the physical with my regular doc. I really need to get my arse there...I haven't been seen my 6 week check up after my son was born!:eek:
 
I have to in order to keep medical insurance premiums low. They make us pay a higher premium if we do not get a yearly exam.
 
I didn't until I got remarried 5 years ago. DH is very diligent about getting an annual physical and has nagged me into it. I always have done the gyno every year since I turned 18. ETA since I didn't answer the whole question: I started annual physicals at age 45.

Leslie
 
Since the insurance company is paying for it, I'm gonna get it. I don't want any nasty surprises and if I should get some terrible disease, I'd rather know sooner and start fighting it NOW!!!

Clare
 
doctors where I live, in England, don't encourage or support annual physicals at all. In fact, I've never heard of anyone getting them here - even as a one time thing. Paps are done every 3 years until age 50 (at which time you get one every 5 yrs) and breast exams/mammograms are only offered every 5 yrs after the age of 50. If I want this, I guess I'll just have to try to have these exams done when I visit the US and pay out of pocket for it - but then I wouldn't know what to do if anything came back positive for something.
 
My DH just came back from a business trip to Japan and the people he met over there have a very good health care system. Every year they're required to get complete physicals and full body scans. The government pays for all of it. Of course, they're taxes are probably very high.
 
My dr is very thorough and does the full physical exam every year when I go for the "annual" thing. I generally only get labwork every other year, though, as I am relatively young and healthy.
I started the "annual" thing during my last year in college. I know that's pretty late to start (23 yrs) but I didn't start being "active" until I was 25 yrs old.
 
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