Comments on: 30 Days to a Better Man Day 19: Schedule a Physical Exam

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:54:19 +0000

LNMD, Obviously I don’t know you personally, but from your post it sounds like you’re only looking at the whole probe thing from your point of view. That would be fine if you were probing your own butt and were the only person in the room, but if I’m paying the tab (or my insurance is) I expect respect from doctors.
I have had an annual physical for decades, and quarterly lipid tests. I’ve had the dreaded rectal exam every year for 16 years. The last time it was done by a PA who was so rough that he actually tore something. I’m due for my physical in another month or two, and I will refuse the probe this time. Sorry – done with that for a while. With all due respect for your profession, and with humor intended (not being mean) – shove it up YOUR a**!

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:45:08 +0000

An interesting article & study against the use of general medical check-ups:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/making-a-case-for-the-medical-check-up/

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 19:09:39 +0000

Maybe physicals are effective because they help you overcome self-esteem issues, or maybe even make some healthy choices so that you look better naked. I floss religiously for the week before I visit the dentist. . .

I think of my health as prerequisite to all of my other interests because how am I going to help my family/cmomunity/career, travel, learn, etc if I’m dead, sick, depressed, or tired?

By: LNMD

LNMD — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:40:31 +0000

I have been a family physician for 17 years. I am so surprised at the last two comments from John and Dan. For doctors, we see naked bodies every day of our lives, and it is our job to find medical problems by examining your body. There is just no way around it. What if that prostate exam would have revealed an enlarged prostate, or worse, a mass? Doctors are not into humiliating you, we just have to examine areas which YOU find humiliating! I am so tired of hearing about “it’s all about the money” Iwish I had the time to explain insurance to everyone, but read your insurance book, you can figure out the cost yourself!! You chose that insurance!

By: John

John — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:50:07 +0000

I’m with Dan. Never will I let a doctor do that to me. I have to visit the doctor once a year to get my meds refilled. Every time I call, they want to give me a physical. I always just ask for an office visit, but when I get there its in the books as a physical. I think its all about the money, because a physical is over twice the cost of a office visit.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:47:42 +0000

Sorry, I’m not going in for a physical again if I have to get undressed and have someone mess with my privates or try to do a rectal exam. I’ve been there and done that and at 47 years old I’ve just gotten to a point where I’m not at all comfortable getting undressed like that. If they can listen to my heart and lungs through my shirt and tell me what’s wrong with me if I tell them my symptoms I’m OK with that. I had a prostate infection recently and the doc was able to diagnose and treat me successfully without doing a rectal exam at all (I refused).
I did consent to my first physical in I don’t know how many years last year but when they told me it was “head to toe” I said “well we are skipping the parts from the shoulders to the knees”.

I’m sorry, I’m just not willing to subject myself to the kind of humiliation that the kind of exam you described.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:31:03 +0000

to Kirk – try finding a doctor that takes nothing but walk-in business. In my area we have at least a dozen clinics that do not take insurance but will give a basic physical exam for about $35.00 excluding any blood tests. They only take immediate payment so their cost is relatively low because they do not have to file any insurance papers.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:15:40 +0000

If you’re not comfortable with the thought of your Doc putting is finger in your bum, then have a PSA exam. It’s a simple blood test, and odds are if you’re there for a physical they are going to draw blood to check cholesterol and such.

By: Kirk

Kirk — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:46:03 +0000

You note that more the half the men in this country haven’t been to the doctor in a year. There is one major reason why this is true. A lot of men, my self included, don’t have health insurance. Believe me this article is preaching to the choir. My father is nurse and has always touted the benefits of regular checkups. But without someone picking up part of the tab there is no way my $9/hr job can cover a regular physical exam.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:42:40 +0000

Curious where the interval info came from. My doctor and health insurance generally recommend no less than bi-annual in your 20′s, if not annually. Reasoning simply being better to catch things early. Physicals are also not very invasive and when done often enough are pretty quick.