How often you see your doctor?

[Wetshisbed]

Doctors rarely now but diabetic and continence nurses every 6 months.

 

[Napincolove]

Only see the doc very rarely like about every three years unless anything goes wrong, continence nurses about every two years and of course getting an appointment is difficult to impossible these day's although I am not moaning as the NHS is still free at the moment and are wonderful at helping people.

 

[NannaAnnabelle]

Honestly probably not enough. I see my primary maybe once a year, not including correspondence. I've been to my urologist a few times and I have regular phone appointments every few months with my diabetic care manager and my therapist.

I usually don't go in unless it's a big issue because everything generally gets pointed back to my diabetes anyway.

 

[BABYTIGERCUB]

I go every 3 months for Hemoglobin A1C tests for diabetes and for epidural back shots probably have to undergo spinal surgery eventually the shots are not being effective any longer.

 

[sledder23]

Probably not often enough… annually currently, but frequency will be increasing as time goes on and health conditions require more maintenance.

 

[CptKirk]

Reading these responses is DEPRESSING! I can't recall the last month I DIDN'T have a minimum of 4 appts/month and the past few months have been knocking on double digits, exceeded 2x including this month! Oh how I long for the days of only ever having to see the Dr when I was really sick! Add in 2 non-VA Dr's who I see 4x/year (each) and it gets old, fast.

I hardly ever see anyone for my U-IC issues though as after endless years without any positive changes, why bother? I have seen my Urologists a shit-ton since late '19 though, all because of a monster of a kidney stone (12.5mm) that withstood a half dozen Lithotripsies and then when they finally hit it with a laser caused a massive hematoma that shows up on every damn CT scan resulting in more appointments with Urology, as a precaution. I love that the Urologist(s) seemingly want to bang their heads off of a wall with every new reference though as they've been telling me that they've seen hematomas in/on kidneys show up for over a decade on scans & MRIs so those appointments are always over with quickly, or at least have been.

 

[durgan87]

Which doctor, Primary care, or specialists. I have a list of six doctors I see on a regular basis and a excellent Primary care doctor who manages them all, plus I am a Doctor of Nursing Practice myself, when is nothing more than a fancy term for a nurse practitioner with a doctorate degree. So can i count seeing myself as seeing a doctor? I don't know about that, cos that's just silly. I go to at least three doctors appoints a month and I see them ever three month and the urologist office every month for a catheter change as it to painful to do it myself.

 

[BABYTIGERCUB]

Probably not often enough… annually currently, but frequency will be increasing as time goes on and health conditions require more maintenance.

The epidurals are every 90 days they don't give them earlier than that primary M.D for Ha1c done every 120 days equals to about every 2 months physical therpy on the list of to does will be about 5 weeks and urologist appointments coming up in the next couple of weeks hard to get appointments earlier even on the cancelation list kind of stinks when you have to bear down with enough force to do a b.m just to Urinate and that makes my low back pain excruciating.

 

[BABYTIGERCUB]

Which doctor, Primary care, or specialists. I have a list of six doctors I see on a regular basis and a excellent Primary care doctor who manages them all, plus I am a Doctor of Nursing Practice myself, when is nothing more than a fancy term for a nurse practitioner with a doctorate degree. So can i count seeing myself as seeing a doctor? I don't know about that, cos that's just silly. I go to at least three doctors appoints a month and I see them ever three month and the urologist office every month for a catheter change as it to painful to do it myself.

That makes me nervous about self catheterization because I have shorter than average arms I use a wipe stick for personal hygiene I don't think self catheterization is going to be an option it will probably lead to infections it will probably be less risky for infection if the doctor or nurse did it I see Orthopedics urologist, Primary M.D, Rheumatology and Primary M.D.

 

[durgan87]

That makes me nervous about self catheterization because I have shorter than average arms I use a wipe stick for personal hygiene I don't think self catheterization is going to be an option it will probably lead to infections it will probably be less risky for infection if the doctor or nurse did it I see Orthopedics urologist, Primary M.D, Rheumatology and Primary M.D.

I have a supra-pubic catheter, and use a sized 16 French silicone. The bad thing about silicone catheter is they go in great, but when they come out they form a ridge when the balloon is once deflated. That catches on the stoma and if you pull on it to get it out without local anesthetic it feels like you are literally trying to tear your bladder out down to your rectum. So I go in to have it changed, plus my stoma did not heal straight so it's hard to get the catheter into it at the right angle for me. It's much easier for me to let the nurses or the PA at the urologist office change it, safer too, as I have a bleeding disorder. Once it's in it good for a month, without worry. I used to straight cath, for two years but after several infection seven in one year, , then developing a false tract, I got the supra-pubic. It's what was best for me with my MS.

 

[CrossfireHurricane]

My internist is retiring so I'll have to get a new one. He gave me a list and they must be interested with IC. It'll feel kind of weird since I've been seeing me for almost 10 years.

 

[Edgewater]

My internist is retiring so I'll have to get a new one. He gave me a list and they must be interested with IC. It'll feel kind of weird since I've been seeing me for almost 10 years.

My longtime Internist retired six years ago and I have seen three different Internists and my current one 'seems' like a keeper. It is really odd to have switched so often, but hey, that's modern medicine. Hope you select well!!

 

[Joeysms]

When I was younger I would visit my doctor at least 4 or 5 times a year. My condition has almost steady and now that I'm older I only see him twice a year. I also have a therapist and I used to see her once a month. My mom requested to see her when I was around 10. So I've seen her for over than 20 years (once per month). Since I finished college I see her quarterly (which a kind of a pain in the ass - travel for ~ 120 + miles). I consider the cause irrelevant here but I'll say the condition is still "steady." To be honest, the condition hasn't changed anything for 25 years.

How often you see your doctor? Have you ever met with a therapist? I know it's personal but I'm trying to gauge what the IC members do.

depends on the doctor i have a couple of them (general and specialist). i would think it differs for everyone based on need and insurance coverage. insurance coverage to a big one for many. in general i see my general doctor quarterly and one specialist ever six months. my urologist once a year unless there is a change that he wishes to monitor. 2023 has been a difficult health year for me a lot of doctor appointments and two hospital stays. not the norm though. my therapist i see weekly been seeing a therapist most of my adult life weekly or every two weeks. been weekly since 2009. my therapist and i have a great relationship like family and she helps keep me grounded. Psychiatrist quarterly mainly to check in med wise. it is important to stay on top of your health even when you are not experiencing any issues an annual check up and physical is a good thing. i am blessed with good health insurance.

 

[sfsjca]

I don't have a GP anymore, just my specialists that I see snnually.

 

[Rusher]

I have a family doctor I see every 2 months. Then a specialist I see every 2-3 months unless I need to see earlier.

 

[carrotsandpickles]

Every month with my pediatrician

 

[Dry247]

About 3 years ago... I thought about going but last time my doctor said if nothing is bothering me I shouldn't need to see him... but that was during covid

 

[greatlake5]

My longtime Internist retired six years ago and I have seen three different Internists and my current one 'seems' like a keeper. It is really odd to have switched so often, but hey, that's modern medicine. Hope you select well!!

My therapist told me she was going to retire during the new year. I've known her since I was a kid (over than 25+ years). I saw her at least once a week. Then twice and finally once a month. After I finished grad school I only see her every other month (distance ~125 miles). I don't think I'd be comfortable with a new one. I feel pretty good now so I think I don't need one. Still, she feels like family. My mom decided to take me to see her (having mental issues with IC). I don't think I could ever leave with some connection.

 

[BigAl2]

I see my G.P and pain management monthly.

 

[Rusher]

My therapist told me she was going to retire during the new year. I've known her since I was a kid (over than 25+ years). I saw her at least once a week. Then twice and finally once a month. After I finished grad school I only see her every other month (distance ~125 miles). I don't think I'd be comfortable with a new one. I feel pretty good now so I think I don't need one. Still, she feels like family. My mom decided to take me to see her (having mental issues with IC). I don't think I could ever leave with some connection.

Was told my therapist is also retiring. She promised to find a good replacement and female. Don’t care for male therapists but it stinks. Hang in there