Hernia check as Senior

Hey,

There was another discussion question in reference to how many times we coughed. That started me thinking, that I haven't had a hernia check in quite a few years.

Has anyone else noticed that as they get older, (I'm 70), that this part of the exam isn't done any longer?

I'm 69, dealt with my same primary for more than 20 years, never checked for a hernia once in all that time. It seems that most physicians no longer actually touch their patients if they can avoid it.

My female PCP says hernia exams are only performed if there is reason to believe a hernia is present

My female PCP says hernia exams are only performed if there is reason to believe a hernia is present

The last hernia checks I had were over twenty yeas ago. I agree, unless there’s a symptom or concern there probably isn’t a need for one. Supposedly the risk of developing an inquinal hernia increases with age, but they usually produce a symptom and are noticeable.

It has been a number of years (at least 5) since I have had a hernia check, (I'm 64) however, I may need one soon because I'm starting to have symptoms. I'll mention it to my PCC when I next see her, unless they get worse sooner.

I have not had a hernia check in years! Even with new doc's, I still strip to my underwear and I get a DRE every so often, but he has not seen my genitalia ever and I have been going to him for 9 years.

The last time I had a hernia check was decades ago. I wasn’t even a senior then.

A few years ago, in my mid to late 40's, I went to a concierge doctor. He was a great doctor and gave very thorough and extensive exams, including hernia and prostate exams, at every annual physical. I only left him due to a change of insurance when my wife retired. He is the only PCP who has given me a hernia exam. The only other ones I've had were for school sports physicals, or pre-employment physicals when I was 20 years younger.

He was the one to discover I already had a hernia on both sides when I went to him. I had symptoms for years, but they weren't terrible and I just dismissed them as something else. A couple of years after seeing this doctor, I finally had surgery to repair them. Sometimes you can have problems and not really realize it's a problem because it sneaks up on you or you don't really think about it much. Medfet aside, I firmly believe this exam should be done more often. Most guys are used to, or at least familiar with this exam, and it only takes 30 seconds.