Keep putting off doctor appointments
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Anonymous
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As a busy mom of 3 who has been having a lot of life upheaval I find it exhausting trying to keep up with all the required doctors appointments.
I end up getting everything done for my kids (dentist, eye, annual appointments, flu shots, orthodontist, etc) but I run out of time to get mine done. I work full time and do all of the kids appointments. Plus we are doing major housework that requires me to be accessible/at home most days to answer questions. So far I have put off my mammogram (am 42) and I probably need to go to the dermatologist to get a weird spot looked at. I have gone to the dentist but haven’t had a physical in probably 10 years (if you don’t count the obgyn to have babies). How do you fit everything in without constantly taking time off of work? |
Anonymous
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I have a flexible job so it’s not a big deal for me to step out for an appointment and make up the hours later but I also accrue a ton of leave so sometimes I just take the PTO.
Not sure where you are, but Fairfax Radiology does Saturday appointments. |
Anonymous
I take time off work. Something has to give. My doctors usually have 8-4 hours. My work (a school) is 7-3. My only real option is to take leave. I don’t recommend putting off those appointments! If there is something serious, better to catch it early. |
Anonymous
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Op - I find it so hard because I end up taking kids to approximately 10-15 appointments a year (minimum) even when they are healthy and aren’t super sick.
Then add in years when someone breaks something or needs surgery. Then we are upward of 20+ appointments a year. I can’t continue to take even more time off from work for appointment and every day school is out of session. |
Anonymous
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Do you have health anxiety? I ask because it seems like you are avoiding drs at this point.
Do you work from home? It sounds like yes from your post and if so you can be accessible for contractors during drs appt except for the 20 minutes dr visit. Most of the time is spent getting there and in the waiting room. Mammograms are recommended starting at 40 -- how long has your Reno been going on? I am bringing up anxiety/avoidance just as something to consider. If I am wrong, then look into lunchtime appts, Sats for mammogram (Washington Radiology has these as well), or doing some of your kids appts on the weekends (at least the shots). Also get drs close to office or home to minimize the travel time and get you there and back within the hour. |
Anonymous
| Dad can handle some of these kids appointments and/or contractor meetings, right? Why are you handling all of them especially if you work full time? |
Anonymous
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Make time for your appointments. Taking care of yourself to help ensure that you can be there for your kids is as important as taking care of them.
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Anonymous
| Are you single, OP? |
Anonymous
Some urgent care clinics also have primary care. When my children were younger, I had the same issue as you and ended up going to Patient First for a physical, blood work and a Pap smear. Not ideal but better than nothing. |
Anonymous
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Where is Dad in all of this???
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Anonymous
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Are you single? Your kids don’t have a second parent? Do you have any relatives in the area? Can you try to schedule one appointment for yourself and one appointment for your kids close together so that’s just one morning or afternoon of missed work?
Make sure you’re tripling up on the kids appointments whenever possible (they all see the dentist or the eye doctor or have their well checks at the same time). Double up even when you can’t triple up. Their well checks don’t have to happen around their birthdays. Check with your insurance company; some only cover one well check every 12 months, but I found out mine doesn’t have any restrictions. My kids can have more than one well check per year, so they’re easy to sync up. |
Anonymous
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OP, two options. When I was in a similar position, I started with a physical. It was helpful to me to start there because the doctor and I talked about recommended screenings and next steps and they made referrals for mammogram and derm - which means all I needed to do was answer the phone and schedule the appointment.
A different approach would be to schedule all three of the appointments you've been putting off (GP, mammogram, physical) on the same day and take it as a sick day for yourself. Sometimes I find that easier than trying to work around all the other scheduling stuff. |
Anonymous
Where’s the kids’ father? |
Anonymous
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Girl you and me both.
I did the mammogram (very late). I'll tackle the next thing which is a hair appointment (important, right?!) and things like dental cleanings are pretty automated. But the things I dread/push back on... they'll get done ... eventually. |
Anonymous
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OP, I feel ya. It's really hard to find time for it all. There are a lot more required screenings than there were for our parents when they were at our stage of life. And I feel like it used to be that the pediatrician handled just about everything for kids, but now they are off to all kinds of specialists too.
I have one teen with an injury that has needed so many appointments and is having surgery soon (then follow ups, PT, etc.). And the other tween is in therapy and has braces which means tons of orthodontist appointments. I hate them missing school and both parents work full time out of the house. I think you just have to spend a lot of your vacation days on appointments. We are lucky that we have a lot of days of leave. It's exhausting to make it all work and I've definitely been guilty of delaying appointments myself. |