My friend said something that really struck me. She said she thinks that many women will end up dying from preventable diseases/illnesses due to not going to preventative health care appointments during Covid because we are just stretched in so many ways that these are things we are taking off our plate.
Have you been neglecting yourself? I see what she means.
My husband is essential and I’ve juggled all kinds of KID appointments like 4-5 orthopedics, 3 well visits, a couple of sick visits, therapy appointments, several kid dentists appointments....but the problem has been I’ve had to find childcare bc the other kids can’t attend. My anxiety meds check was supposed to be in person Bc they told me they weren’t doing virtual anymore for this kind of appt and I ended up calling back and saying No. No there is no reason we can’t do virtual, I don’t have childcare and I will skip the appointment if not.
It’s been hard enough getting my husband to take off work to stay with the kids so that I can go into work. Once they go hybrid I will have a sitter two days a week.
Yes I missed my own dentist appt and didn’t bother rescheduling. I have another one coming up in a few months now.
When my friend said this, all I could think about was my disaster appointment at the Gyn the other day. Delayed 6 months.
It took work but I managed scheduling my routine appointment at the same time as getting my Mirena taken out and replaced-all at the same appt. Just even to get to that point though, took 5 different coordination phone calls and asked them to have a consent form ready for me so I could leave my kids in the car and run in and run back out, bc the Mirena had to be pre ordered.
Then, I had to reschedule it bc in all reality I was doing the appointment during a work from home day (because that’s when I have daycare for the youngest) and a meeting popped up. So plan B, had to make sure it was a day that I had daycare, on a day the dr could see me and during an open spot of my work day, but I left my two kids at home alone Together.
My kids called me WHILE I was having my actual IUD inserted (very painful) Bc they were fighting and wanted me to somehow intervene.
Yes. I do believe women will die because they will skip mammograms, gyn, annual physicals etc.
I’ve had it on my list for months to schedule my dermatologist appt that’s overdue. I’ve had almost-cancerous stuff removed in the past.
It’s not that I’m afraid of medical stuff because of covid - it’s that I’m trying to do my job with less school/childcare than usual, like most people.
I didn’t want to go into doctor offices and dentists but we are doing them.
I do have childcare and DH works from home. We are paying a lot of money for childcare and instead of fixing my cracked sink (new sink and new counters), I think I’m going to ask DH to put that bonus money in a childcare fund. For hybrid the kids basically would only go 2 times a week so what am I supposed to do the other 3 days. While hybrid might make daycare cheaper it doesn’t solve the childcare issue.
I’ve done my med check appointment and chiro. The kids did the dentist, got a cavity filled and flu shots.
Post by twinmomma on Sept 26, 2020 11:18:14 GMT -5
I feel like I've done a ton MORE medical stuff for myself during this mess. I had my annual physical and that spiraled into a ton of follow ups until we figured out my thyroid problems. Now I'll be doing more maintenance visits than normal to regulate my meds.
I put off my own medical care for a long time after the girls were born and ended up having two hernia surgeries as a result. Now I really try to stay on top of anything that seems off.
Post by mommyatty on Sept 26, 2020 11:47:53 GMT -5
I had a weird blood pressure spike so I saw my reg doctor. I also did comprehensive blood work. So I’m probably ahead of where I normally am.
None of us are going to the dentist unless there’s an emergency. I’ve read that is among the very highest risk things you can do because everyone’s spit hangs in the air for hours. Plus my dentist is a Trump supporter so I don’t trust he’s taking this seriously. If I have a dental emergency I will find a new dentist.
Post by mrsGreeko on Sept 26, 2020 12:17:51 GMT -5
My entire family has had many many more medical appointments in the past 7 months than usual. I’ve seen the derm, the dentist, and will go to the eye doc next week. All on time, none delayed. My DH had surgery the week that everything shut down so he’s had a ton of appointments for that and some other things. The kids have all been to their dentist and doctors appointments on time. Basically covid hasn’t affected us in terms of seeking medical care at all. Also, none of us are high risk and we don’t live in a super high hit area so catching it at the doctors office or dentist office or whatever wasn’t as big a concern as it might have been had we lived elsewhere.
But, I have children old enough to be left alone, a super flexible job, a DH who is supportive and also has had a super flexible job the past 7 months (wasn’t always the case, but we are in a weird in between time for him at the moment as he’s retiring from the military early next year so his job is weird at the moment). If I had to find childcare, things might be different.
Oh yeah we’ve also done the eye doctors. We just had a lot of stuff adding up since the shut down. DS also has his audiology appointment.
I think when the strict lockdown opened up, I prioritized medical stuff and seeing my mom. For dentist we couldn’t avoid because DD had tooth pain.
We slowly added in neighbor friends and now soccer, but I figured medical stuff was a priority. For example no birth control equals oops babies which is a bigger problem.
campermom- I know all the factors that are holding you back. I get it, and I’ve been there. But don’t put yourself on the back burner.
Post by sandandsea on Sept 27, 2020 10:01:14 GMT -5
We have kept up with doctor and dentist appointments but from a day to day routine I’ve been slacking. I’m not nearly as active as before and I’m stress eating. I never ran or worked out really before but it’s the little daily things like I used to walk a block in my office to go to the bathroom and now it’s 10ft away. I used to walk from the parking garage to my office or out to lunch. I just can’t find the motivation and time to do more now. We will go on walks around the neighborhood but now it’s getting dark earlier. We are eating at home more which has to be healthier for us. Work has been at 50+ mandatory hours a week since March and I’m tired, but getting more sleep than before since I’m not commuting. With distance learning, feeling like the kids aren’t getting enough, schools never reopening and all the stress that brings I think it’s safe to say I’m not taking care of myself. But I am surviving and persevering and trying to be zen about it all and let things go. So while I may not be thriving, I am finding ways to stay sane and enjoy this different time.
I scheduled my gyn appointment but only because they called me. I would have forgotten about it otherwise. I need to get to the dentist and the dermatologist but that has fallen to the wayside.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
I need to go to the dentist. We’ve had to reschedule the kids appointments, and they’ve been scheduling super far in advance - we scheduled in July for October.
DD has her regular MRI the week we started shelter in place. They said waiting was a bigger risk.
Post by mommyatty on Sept 27, 2020 18:50:11 GMT -5
So strangely, the one doctor we really wanted to see was the ophthalmologist for both kids. DS got in after a cancellation, a reschedule, and another cancellation because the dr’s husband was exposed. I think he went in July. DD was supposed to go 2 weeks ago and we got a text that they weren’t open at all in September. So sometime between July and September, that office completely shut down. DD needs a stronger glasses prescription. We can already tell.
Yes. I have had a chronic medical issue that began in late January. It's nothing serious (well, we know that now bc I've had every test known to man). My mom died at 57 and I try to keep on top of any medical issues because nothing scares me more than dying young and leaving my three girls behind. I was 27 when my mom died which I think is just too young. Trying to do better for my girls.
Yes. I have had a chronic medical issue that began in late January. It's nothing serious (well, we know that now bc I've had every test known to man). My mom died at 57 and I try to keep on top of any medical issues because nothing scares me more than dying young and leaving my three girls behind. I was 27 when my mom died which I think is just too young. Trying to do better for my girls.
Omg, yes. My dad died of a massive stroke when he was 47 and I was 19. I turn 47 in December. So when I had the blood pressure spike this year, and they sent me to the ER for fear I was going to have a stroke, it was definitely a wake up call for me to start exercising and get on BP meds. Leaving my kids motherless is a huge fear of mine.
I feel like I’m never good about this. I’m overdue for a pap and I’ve had bad results in the past. After ignoring it for years, I have realized that I am in pain all the time. Literally all the time. It doesn’t prevent me from doing a lot, rarely affects my sleep (my brain ruins that) but I’m literally in pain every day. I’ve kind of chalked it up to being 45 and slightly overweight (still in good BMI range but too much weight for my frame for sure). But I was in pain when I was 20lbs lighter and at the gym every day.
I’m active - I walk at least 3 miles daily at 14-15 minute mile pace, and walk at least 12k steps 5 days a week. I try to eat well. I gained weight when my stress went through the roof with the school things last year. I gained a couple more during COVID (literally less than 5 of my extra 15 is COVID-related). But everything hurts all the time. Joints, muscles, back, neck, legs, arms. I raised it with my dr in my past physical and he said, “Eh. Maybe you have fibromyalgia. 🤷♀️“ It makes me not want to pursue anything.
mae0111- get a new doctor. Doctors who don’t take me seriously are infuriating to me. I don’t complain much about health stuff, so when I say something is wrong, something is really, really wrong.
General pain like that can also be the result of depression. It’s a common symptom, which was news to me. No matter what the cause is, nobody should always be in pain. You have the right to a medical partner who will help you get to the bottom of it.
mae0111, Definitely get a new doctor. I mentioned my joint pain almost in passing to my PCP at my physical and it set off a string of tests and follow ups because there was no reason I should be having the pain I am. She wouldn't quit until we had an answer. It seems that it's likely caused by my thyroid numbers not being under control.
Yes and no. I have my annual scheduled early November only a couple months late. I've seen the dentist in June and have my next visit scheduled for December. I'm also seeing my chiropractor on a regular basis. My mental well being is in the toilet. I get very little down time or alone time and I don't see this changing anytime soon.
I'm in pain all the time too. It's been like this since college. I finally found a doctor that recommended physical therapy and chiropractor, both helped a lot. But unfortunately the chiro is a forever thing now because my neck just locks up.
waverly, I agree. I see my chiro every 2 weeks and could easily see him weekly. I feel pretty good for about 5 days and then the aches and pains start coming back. My chiro is a big fan of natural path care and I've started adding the vitamins and stuff he has recommended and it helps a little.
Vitamin D helped a lot for me since I am always deficient every winter. I think I am fine now, but I should probably start hardcore hitting the vitamin D since it is fall now.