Appointments on my mind
Each year I walk on this side of the planet I realize how precious life is and how often I have taken my health for granted.
I get those reminders each time I see a doctor or specialist. Much like my farmer friends who find September and October as a busy times in the field I find it busy times in my field of work. On a personal front, I find that it begins a stretch of annual eye, physical and dental checks. I always keep my fingers nervously crossed that any surprise followups with specialists will be kept to minimum.
I sure miss the days when mom took care of all those appointments and it was all like clockwork. She made sure we did all the followups, took preventive vaccines, had our tetanus shots and provided all the TLC associated with keeping me healthy during my younger years.
Today that all falls on me alone and I’m not as good as my mom but I am learning. For many years I’d skip the eye doctor, medical doctor and dentist because I enjoyed those many early years of good health. Of course, taking that stretch for granted has meant a few “uh-ohs” and hiccups a long the way for maintaining reasonably good health.
Today, my doctors are firm but fair as I answer questions about family history. If one was fortunate enough to stay in the same town he grew up in it is much easier to glean family history. In my case I have moved, my parents have moved and my siblings have moved and that leads to disruptions in the health chain.
Questions on the top of my head in those early years were quickly answered. Today, it gets more fuzzy with more research needed. Mom continues to keep our records of the early years, which is helpful.
Once you move a few times it changes how things are done. The doctors I see today are interested in developing their own timelines with each patient, which leads to more testing. I do understand although it is far different from when I was kid under mom’s wrap.
In the expansive High Plains, rural residents drive many miles to get primary care. I am more fortunate in that I live in a city in which most of my services will be met with a friendly smile and I’m not treated as a number.
Health care in rural areas is not something to take lightly—even if I once did.
