Is THAT It??? I Sure Hope Not!

Just a few minutes ago, I received an email from my HMO confirming my appointment for my first real physical in years. The electronic form letter in my member inbox stated "at your physical, your health team will check your height, weight, and blood pressure, go over your medical history, s well as any medications you might be taking".

There was no mention of vision, hearing, sinus, abdominal, genital, or rectal- all the important / fun stuff. Were they just being discreet, or do they plan to omit all those steps and give me a "driveby" type of physical?

Now I'm a little worried. With all the money being deducted from my check every month for health care, I don't need or want anything half-ass. Besides- after nearly three years of no meaningful physical contact with any woman, it would be nice to be thoroughly and intimately touched by a lady again!

It sounds like a phone call to the office is in order. Just ask. If you don't like what you hear, remind them that you thought you were scheduled for a full comprehensive physical exam and there must be some kind of scheduling mistake.

Good luck.

Make sure that you insist that a genital/prostate exam is part of the exam, especially if you're over 50. Physicians---especially family practitioners---love doing just the "basics" and shoving you out the door. There's a shortage of doctors and they're all feeling the pressure of being overwhelmed. I ended up being referred to a urologist to get a proper genital/prostate exam since my family doctor didn't make it part of my annual physical because I was under 50. I wanted both after turning 40.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that, unless you specifically request an extensive exam, they'll just take your weight and height and let you go.

I inquired about that, and got another message from a different member service rep saying that this would be a "health maintenance" exam. I told them that I have't had a complete physical in over 10 years, haven't been feeling that well lately, and have a few concerns, including frequent headaches, acid reflux, fatigue, and mild testicular pain after strenuous physical activity ( all true ).

If they blow me out the door after the bare minimum, I'm gonna be REALLY pissed.

It's definitely a problem in today's medical world. That's why I'm glad I see a urologist once a year---the only thing she does is examine my genitals and rectum---kind of like a gyno for men.

It does seem like anymore unless you have a specific concern or issue, exams are pretty basic and cursory. To the original poster, if you do have testicular pain I would sincerely hope the doctor checks it out even if they weren't planning on doing a hernia or testicular examination!

The ridiculous thing is the doctor will still probably code a fairly high level of service even if they don't really check all that much.

Welcome to New England, where I had my first visit giving blood and then talking to my new p.a. About the practice. About him. We even fit some patient focused time. Wait two weeks: physical. Brought into the same room. Vitals taken. Door closed. No gown. No instructions. I waited. He checked my heart and lungs, eyes, had me lie down. All done dressed.

These situations of minimal exams sound like the result of going to a GP, instead of an internist. I've never been to a physical by an internist where I didn't have to undress and get a thorough exam. I have been to GPs when I was younger who might make me take off my shirt and drop my pants but I stayed dressed or half dressed for 99% of the exam.

These situations of minimal exams sound like the result of going to a GP, instead of an internist.

Agree. Which is why I never go to a GP or even family medicine doctor. I feel that if you're going to get a thorough exam, it will likely come from an internist.

It is no wonder that the US has so many people with medical problems when exams this brief in nature have become so common anymore in every state. No wonder medical problems go undetected so long!

Internist. I'll have to keep that in mind when I go get a physical.

I just figured out I can save a lot of money on my health cost by measuring my height, weight and temperature at home.

Agree. Which is why I never go to a GP or even family medicine doctor. I feel that if you're going to get a thorough exam, it will likely come from an internist.

Not in my experience. The internist I went to never - NEVER even had me take my shirt off.

It's not the doctor as much as the managed care insurance industry. They make the rules by controlling the purse strings.

The reality of the US 'health care' system is that it's really a disease management system. The $ is in trying to prolong disease instead of prevent it. Healthy people don't need big bucks insurance.

Having moved from NYC, where internal medicine doctors trained at NYU did have patients consistently undress to underwear and/or a gown, to New England, where internal medicine doctors are hard to find, I suspect that 1) where (how) a doctor was trained; 2) practice cost decisions (the cost of gowns, the time if patients undress, etc.); 3) the practice approach (warm, friendly, noninvasive versus we need access to bodies, not people) factor into this. I would wonder further if occupational exams remained with the patient undressing if only because the relationship differs: an employer needs proof of an employee's heath and the doctor, here, is the prover

My NYC doctor felt my legs through my jeans, listened to my chest through my shirt, asked if I wanted an STD exam and declared me healthy.

To the OP - if you really want a thorough exam go to one of those executive physical type places. They will charge you $10,000 USD - but at least you wont be worried. Rest assured that the US - we have preventive exam guidelines which will recommend age-appropriate testing . In other words you do NOT get a colo-rectal exam at age 30. Simple as that. As far as getting touched by a female, you need to arrange for a play exam, DO NOT use the ACTUAL health care system to get your kicks, and request unnecessary testing which will further drive up costs for the rest of us.

Hate to break the news to you, but GP's who do not perform prostate exams may simply be following the latest guidelines. We live in an age of evidence based medicine. Many of the standard practices of the past have been shown to have like benefit and/or to have been performed with greater frequency than necessary. If you wonder why your doctor didn't exam you testicles or doesn't do a routine annual pap, just ask them.

I was very disappointed to find that I would not receive my annual prostate exam from my pretty female doctor last year. I always secretly enjoyed it very much but new guidelines...

Well...

I do have some things to report- all good 😃 .

I spoke to an advice nurse on the phone, and due to my complaints, and after she asked me some questions, she recommended that I visit urgent care ASAP. For some time now, I've been having some urological concerns that weren't addressed during my quick visit with my GP. some of my problems included mild testicular pain, feeling of pressure, plus severe discomfort if I abstain for more than a week from any sort of sexual activity.

When going to the front desk, I discreetly commented that I'm much more comfortable with a female practitioner regarding that sort of thing (which is true ). They accomodated my request with no problem. The doctor did a testicular exam ( i grimaced in pain slightly when she checked my left ball ( it's always been rather tender ). She had me do a urine test , a blood test, and sent to me ultrasound.

I quietly mentioned to the older female desk clerk that I'm much more comfortable and less awkward with a female tech. she smiled and said that wouldn't be a problem. Tech was attractive too. 😃 Equally lucky ( or not, depending on your perspective ) was the fact that Percy Python stayed asleep, only stirring slightly during the second half of the ultrasound. The doctor's and tech's touch were nice, but I was too anxious about the possibility of a real problem to get any genuine enjoyment out of the whole thing. The doc also prescribed an antibiotic in case of a reproductive tract bacterial infection.

The ultrasound tech did find a veriocele ( varicose vein in one of my sperm cords ). The doc emailed my personal inbox on the HMO's website and verified this. She said nothing more should be done at this point, as they are normally harmless and any attempts to repair or remove could cause more problems.

All in all, it was a good day. I had a nagging intimate medical concern addressed and the prognosis was good. I also got felt up by two attractive women without enjoying myself TOO much 😃 .

In response to PeaceMale:

This isn't just about getting kicks. I have legit concerns about my health as I age ( I'm 44 ) and I am much happier and more comfortable with female practitioners. Being intimately touched by an attractive woman is merely the icing on the cake, and the extra sauce on the burrito. Anyways, the whole thing is over and done with. I can rest easy now knowing that there's nothing seriously wrong with me "down there", and I got to enjoy some female attention in the process. Win-win.

I just wanted to clear that up.

As far as play exams- I'd love to be a part of the local medfet / cosplay / CFNM / nudist singles / community, but since I have no "connections", I can't seem to get a fucking break in this town ( L.A. ) .

Doctors are just there to make money, they get you in the door then want you out asap. Its like a fast food restaurant but with a lot more $$$. More patients more money, as long as they don't see anything dire they're not going to give you a second look. I know it's really disappointing. No ever said living with a medfet was easy though.