How Is Your Mood? - Page 7

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@proudlyfromNJ wrote:
No one in the government ever contacted me to visit with my doctor.

No one in the government is going to contact you. Instead, your doctor if you go to one is waiting to sneak up on you with paperwork.

When you sign in, you get a clipboard with the usual questions...name, DOB, have you ever had any of these medical problems or diseases....check here.

Then the questions get weird...asking you Do you feel safe in your own home? Have you fallen in the last six months? Are you having financial difficulty? Then on the last page is a large circle.

You are asked to draw a clock with a certain time..

For all of this Medicare pays the doctor over $200, plus for an office visit you scheduled for something else.

My doctor has me sign in own my computer and the questions are all on there. I m just asked to draw the clock in the office.

Here are a few of the pages you fill out. It starts out normally, then the questions get geared towards being old and helpless. These are just a small sample.

Some people are not even aware they are getting a wellness exam. This is not a physical or follow up to a medical problem...though the doctor can charge for the wellness and a compressive office visit on the same day.

NYCLatinaMe · ‎01-14-2017

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
@Tinkrbl44 I only go because I'm coerced into it. No BP med refill if I'm not seen in person once a year.

I( get to see him next week to fill out a form for my cataract surgery, I have to be cleared for a 10 minute light twilight sleep. It's CYA.

@CrazyKittyLvr2 A person that takes medication on a regular basis needs to see the doctor on a regular basis so that the doctor can see what effect the medicine is having, and whether it is interacting with anything else. medications can have serious impacts on the liver or kidneys or other organs, particularly when one smokes or drinks. The doctor needs to know what is going on if he is going to prescribe the medication.

If you are asked about your mood and it bothers you, it may be good for you to be honest and say so. Perhaps there is a resaon why that bothers you that may have an impact on your medical care. Medications have impacts on mood.

Yes, there are people who skip their regular check-ups and they suddenly become serioulsy ill from uncontrolled hypertension, blood sugar, or cancer. They lose organs or limbs. I have heard of many people who have passed suddenly because they did not have regular check-ups and did not realize they were sick.

Having regular check-ups is a blessing that improves the quality of our life, and thankfully, they don't cost anything to those with medical insurance.

And I don't like to go to the doctor either, but I know I need to.

NYCLatinaMe · ‎01-14-2017

@walkingal wrote:
@febe1 wrote:
@Winkk wrote:
@febe1 wrote:
@CelticCrafter wrote:
To me it sounds like those intrusive questions they ask during that annual waste of time Medicare Wellness visit.
I agree. I've been asked all kind of "instrusive" questions at the unnecessary "wellness" visit. I can't believe some of the questions asked.

@febe1 .. I don't think these "unnecessary wellness" visits are mandatory. Just don't go. I skip years.
I'm on Medicare and my physician said I "had" to do an annual Wellness. I thought I should be able to make that decision.
@febe1 Agree. You don't have to do anything. Including answering ridiculous questions, especially if they make you uncomfortable.

@walkingal That they make you uncomfortable may have medical significance. Good health helps improve the quality of our lives.

NYCLatinaMe · ‎01-14-2017

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
@bikerbabe No, nothing is bothering me. I have no use for Drs, don't like going. I realize they have to CYA and make you go in to be seen. I don't like being forced to do something I don't want to. do. However, to get my meds I have to submit to the BS.

@CrazyKittyLvr2 You state you need to take prescription medication. To get prescription medication, you need to be seen by a doctor. I know you understand that. If that bothers you, you should tell the doctor. Maybe a change in medication is warranted,

NYCLatinaMe · ‎01-14-2017

@Northray I believe the reason we have more older people with dementia is because people live longer lives. Therefore, they develop more ailments as they age.

Life expectancy grew from 66.5 years for men and 71.8 years for women in 1950 to 79.3 years for men and 83.8 years for women in 2007.

That is the most recent data that I found that was equivalent. I am sure life expectancy is higher now.

NYCLatinaMe · ‎01-14-2017

@Carmie wrote:
@CelticCrafter wrote:
@Carmie wrote:
@febe1 wrote:
@Winkk wrote:
@febe1 wrote:
@CelticCrafter wrote:
To me it sounds like those intrusive questions they ask during that annual waste of time Medicare Wellness visit.
I agree. I've been asked all kind of "instrusive" questions at the unnecessary "wellness" visit. I can't believe some of the questions asked.

@febe1 .. I don't think these "unnecessary wellness" visits are mandatory. Just don't go. I skip years.
I'm on Medicare and my physician said I "had" to do an annual Wellness. I thought I should be able to make that decision.
You do not have to get a wellness Medicare exam. Very often doctors will do one while you are there for something else, like a 6 month visit.

My doctor just send me the questions in line to answer and then I am asked to draw a clock in the office.

For this,the doctor gets paid over $200. That's why they want you to get the exam. It's a money maker.

I often wonder what they do if you answer questions stating you are having financial difficulties, are afraid to live alone, have rugs you can trip over and not have enough food.

Are they going to help you? I doubt it.
@Carmie but it will become a permanent part of your file.
True. And, if you are found dead because you starved to death, it will be noted that you had food insecurity.

What good will that do?

What I find troubling is that at age 65 you are treated like an old struggling person yet doctors, surgeons, attorneys, college professors and politicians are still actually working and some are way above 65 years of age.

@Carmie What is troubling about older people holding jobs?

NYCLatinaMe · ‎01-14-2017

@Jk9 wrote:
I just went to the ER with a deep glass cut to my finger abd was asked about my mood, if I have happiness in my life and if I feel safe in my home. Seriously??? Enough is enough I feel my privacy is violated at some point. I held my tongue since is know the practioner is mandated to ask these questions, but some days I lose it and tell them I've had enough of this being "whole" and the "wholeness of the person" and prefer they focus on providing the clinical services I came in for.

@Jk9 The person was probably making sure that you hadn't been hurt intentionally, whethet by yourself, or at someone else's hands. I imagine it was frustrating when you just wanted medical care.

NYCLatinaMe · ‎01-14-2017

@Citrine1 wrote:
@redbird wrote:
I am 74 years old and the new young nurse asked me if I was on birth control at my last visit!
Well, don't leave us hanging! What was your response?! haha

@Citrine1 @redbird

Some post menopausal women take hormones.

on the bay · ‎03-09-2010

There is a big difference in filling out yes or no or multiple choice questions and having honest and free talks with a trusted, caring dr.

Some people with chronic conditions go to their doctor a lot, specialists too.

So a wellness visit or even yearly physical will not tell anymore than all those doctors already know and are following closely.

I wouldn't assume that those who don't go to these annual things are not actively taking care of their health.

Those who need onging rx's do often need to go even if only once a year. And maybe that is helpful for those who rarely ever go.

Some don't take any medications but still have ongoing health problems, so also have enough dr visits.

Everyone can only decide how and when they need to go. It doesn't mean someone doesn't care about their health if they don't go to a wellness visit.

Maybe they have already been diagnosed with a lot of their health problems and there is constant following of those. And any others along the way will also be found. That is what a good dr addresses every time!

As for those mental health and daily living questions, we can all decide whether to answer them or not or better yet, have a doctor you trust enough to be able to tell them anything.

In a much too round about way that is what I've been trying to express.. It is the format of how such individual and important topics are handled. It is a very impersonal way to address important things about someone's life. We just can only decide ourselves about how to handle all these medical decisions.

I often wonder if the answers on these forms are actually looked at or just skimmed over as quickly as it took to check them off, and then filed away.

This seems to be the new way to deal with all this-forms. All the wonderful doctors I've had, my mother too and my children, they get to know you very well. Not through forms and yes and no answers.

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@NYCLatinaMe There is absolutely nothing troubling about older people holding jobs. The majority of older people are fully functioning and reliable with great decision making skills.

What is troubling is that our government's Medicare coverage treats people starting at age 65 like we are falling apart physically and mentally.

I find it upsetting. Some of my doctor's are my age and they are still practicing. I wonder if they are asked to take this wellness test.