Feel Good Friday - How do you prepare for a doctors visit?

Photo Credit:  Queensland Health

The alarm sounds, eyes shut tight, I feel for the location of the sound and hit snooze, one, two, more times. I sit up erect on the edge of the bed still refusing to let go of a peaceful slumber. Time to prepare for the day.

Are you doing things that are in the best interest of your health? Are you prepared for your next doctor's visit? Quite often there are things we "meant" to do before the next doctor's visit. I "meant" to lose a couple of pounds. Since that didn't happen for me, I prepared for my visit very creatively.

As I searched through my closet for something to wear, I tossed jeans aside for stretch pants. No heave sweater for me, I grabbed a short-sleeve breathable shirt. My goal was to dress in lightweight clothing that wouldn't add weight to the scale at the doctor's office. Mission accomplished.

Along this journey called healthy living, I have learned to take deliberate steps toward being aware of what is going on with my body. You know, your doctor will ask, "When did you first notice 'X' happening? How long have you been experiencing 'Y'?"

Here are a few suggested ways to prepare for a doctor's visit:

1.  If you are having health concerns track them in a notebook - Perhaps you've experienced frequent headaches. Make note of when they occur - is it after eating certain foods? Do they occur at a particular time of day? etc.

2.  Create a game plan - if your doctor has recommended changes to your health, create a plan for how you will begin that process. Take baby steps, change one thing at a time.

3. Eat healthy and exercise - whatever this means to you...do it. Start somewhere.

What would you had to ways to prepare for a doctor's visit? You do not have to select the thinnest wardrobe like I did. Nor do you have to stand in a yoga pose on the doctor's scale with one foot on and the other leg extended outward.

Schedule regular doctor's visits and make your health a priority.

Fun Friday– A doctor’s visit gone wild

photo credit

It was a routine visit to the doctor’s office for my mom. She was to have her weight checked, cholesterol screened and blood pressure checked. For my mom, this was a big deal, the goal was to have her weight down and blood pressure numbers at a good range.

Mom goes to the gym consistently, sometimes she socializes a great deal while there, but she shows up. She is not afraid to poke fun at herself. On the morning of her doctor’s visit, she weighed herself while at the gym and found her weight to be a little higher than she wanted.

After the gym, she skipped her routine breakfast stop at her favorite Coney Island and returned home to take a nap. Before leaving for the doctor’s office, she shed her heavy jogging jacket and tossed the gym shoes aside for flip flops.

Once at her appointment mom texted me and said, “I arrived here at the office two pounds lighter than at the gym.” According to her account, mom burned a few calories while she slept (wishful thinking).

Before settling into the rest of her visit, mom stopped by the restroom. As she prepared to use the restroom she saw something tiny crawling on the floor. She, “summoned” for help, evacuated the restroom and was directed to another restroom…relief.

Back in the examination room, the nurse placed the cuff on moms arm and checked her blood pressure. “Your blood pressure is rather high,” the nurse said.

Mom did not say anything, but her eyes shot daggers as she thought-small wonder, that darn bug freaked me out and now I have a headache. Her doctor’s visit was far from being routine.

My mother vowed to use the bathroom at home before her next doctor’s appointment…or have an escape plan if she encountered another bug.

Have you ever had a crazy experience during a doctor’s office visit?

Muffins with Mom –A child’s visit to the doctor

 

As I sat with my teen son at an appointment, we reminisced about a doctor’s visit he had at ten years old. Here’s the story…

My son recently had his annual physical. I had forgotten about the questions the doctor asks or I would have prepared my son and myself. But what ten year old can’t speak for himself? The doctor asked, “How many times a day do you brush your teeth?” I looked away because I knew the answer and it wasn’t good. There was a pregnant pause as my son stared at the doctor with a smirk on his face.

I finally blurted out, “One time a day.” The ugly truth was out, I didn’t follow through to make sure my son brushed as he should. Although I tell him repeatedly to brush, I don’t stand over him to be sure it is done (clearly this is what he needs).

The doctor tried her hand at reasoning with my son. She said, “You have to brush on a regular basis. What if you go to school and someone says you have stinky breath?” My son softly replied, “It doesn’t matter what other people think of me.”  I silently thought to myself, you’re on your own doc.”

I’m glad my son has a positive self-image, but sometimes I wish he would learn when to use it. The volley of questions and answers continued. “Do you eat fruits and vegetables?” the doctor asked.

“Yes, when my mom gives them to me.”

Oh, sure the ball was back in my court now. Of course I provide fruits and vegetables. My son even knows the number of servings he should have each day.

“Do you drink milk?” She continued.

“Only when I eat cereal.”

The doctor looked at me and suggested giving the kids a multivitamin daily. “Chewable vitamins are sufficient and they taste pretty good too,” she said looking at my son.

“Can I get the gummie ones?” my son said with a wide grin.

I’m sure the doctor wasn’t sad to see us leave. She had experienced my daily challenge first hand. My kids understand what it means to be healthy. The challenge is getting them to practice healthy living (eating balanced meals, brushing teeth regularly, etc.).

A fun website for teaching kids about health and nutrition is Nourish Interactive The site has interactive games that teach kids about the food pyramid. It also tells them how to balance eating and activity. There are individual sections for kids, parents and educators.

If you have a picky eater, Help Guide lists tips for introducing new foods to your child. The list included: present only one new food at a time, serve new foods with favorite foods to increase acceptance, make it fun: cut the food into unusual shapes. Be patient. Studies show that, “it takes the average child 8-10 presentations of a new food before he or she willingly accepts it.”

Whether its a well-child visit to the doctor or trying to get your child to eat veggies, teaching kids to practice good health can be a challenge. Tips from the experts and a little patience seem to be the ingredients to meet the challenge head on.