Yearly check up/ physical for you

[SnuggleBuggles]

Where do you go? Just your Gyn? Just your family Dr.? Both? Alternate years? What does everyone else do?

I went to my midwives for my annual exam and they noticed my thyroid might be enlarged and sent me for bloodwork. I'm thinking of going to my family Dr. to have the bloodwork done and check everything else while they're at it. It seems to make more sense to just go to one provider for all this care...but I like my midwives and think they provide outstanding care for what is in their scope of expertise.

Just curious.

Beth

[aks226]

When we weren't TTC my family doc did everything, but once we started trying, I started seeing the gyn for the girlie stuff and the family doc for the bloodwork stuff.

[niccig]

Family Doc for everything now. If I was pregnant/post-partum or had something else, I would go to gyno. But I don't need to now and my gyno has a very long wait time.

[MontrealMum]

I go to my family doctor. But I'm in a different system :) Unless it's a preexisting "condition" or issue and you already have a specialist (rash=derm, pregnancy=OB) you go to your family doc here; they then give you the referral to a specialist if necessary. All files are supposed to be sent back to her, including from the clinic (run by my family doc's practice) where I go when it's an emergency and can't get in right away, and my main files are also available to the clinic docs.

ETA: I actually see my familly doc twice a year as she's monitoring my thyroid. Normally, you'd see them once, unless a specific issue came up. DH also goes to the same practice, and DS goes to my same doc! MIL and FIL also go to the same practice. Sensing a pattern here...

[kijip]

J and I both see the same family doctor. We take our kids to a Pediatrician, so kinda defeats the purpose of "family" but we like her and never had much luck with GP/Internal Medicine places. If we did not have a to-die-for Pediatrician, we would take the boys to see her too.

I do not have an OB/Gyn. My last pelvic exam was done postpartum by my midwife (who is an ARNP in private practice without an MD). I had her do it just so I would not need one for a bit. I actually usually go to Planned Parenthood for PAP smears etc when I am not pregnant and seeing an OB or midwife because that was what I was used to and because I can usually get an appointment with a laid back ARNP who provides care similar to that of my midwife. I am pretty picky about pelvic exams due to my history. Make that really picky and I have been more than willing to halt the exam and leave if I was at all uncomfortable.

[mytwosons]

I loved my midwife, so I see her for those check ups. No problems ever, so I think I'm supposed to get a pelvic every three years.

I just switched to a new dr for everything else and had what I thought was a long overdue check up. But, she said because I'm so healthy (yay!) I really only need to come in every 4-5 years. But, since I'll be over 40 at that point, I think I'll go back when that bday hits and then maybe every 2-3 yrs after??? I guess it will depend if I ever get sick and need to see her for a prescription. I just feel like I'm not playing it safe if I don't see a doctor at least once every 2-3 years.

[thomma]

I go to our family doctor (well, same as kijip as in dh and I go to same doc but kids go to a ped...who we really like for them) who has been my doctor for more than 20 years. He's a great doctor for many, many reasons...mostly he listens and stays on top of things. I go once a year but I'm old. :)

Kim
ds&dd -6!

[Snow mom]

So do people get their PAPs at a family doctor? My OB uses the term "annual" exam but I haven't made an appointment yet, partially because I'm so busy right now but also because I thought you could space PAPs further apart if not on BC and if you'd had a series of normal exams. I don't actually have a general doctor here. Reading this thread reminds me I should get one...

[BabyMine]

My PCP does PAPs but I choose to go to my OB/GYN. I go to my PCP for everythigng else and so does DH. I choose my PAP at the OB/GYN becasue I love my doc.

[JBaxter]

I see my gyn yearly. General doc every 2yrs ish. I dont have any big health issues so far so that works for me. My insurance < think all of maryland> allows me to see a gyn for my girly parts without it being termed a specialist and they cover physicals 100%

[egoldber]

I am embarrassed to say that I have not had a routine exam in almost 5 years and my last Pap was when I was pregnant with Amy. Part of it is the doctor I liked in my (2 doctor) OB/Gyn practice left and I have not felt the urgency to find another yet.

But I was inspired by this to call and make an appointment. :)

[DebbieJ]

I go to an internist/adult medicine. She does paps adn everything else.

Most gyns around here are also OBs, which makes scheduling a nightmare.

[sste]

I do a yearly pap and gyn exam.

I also go to a dermatologist every year for a skin cancer screening. My DH has told me this is one of the "biggest bangs for the buck" in terms of saving lives.