I Had My Wellness Visit Today
@BelleStarr (61102)
United States
August 17, 2018 5:24pm CST
I have to say, even though most of the questions are not appropriate for someone of my age and health, it is nice to know that someone is looking out for me. The Annual Wellness Visit provided by Medicare is quite comprehensive. My visit lasted an hour and 20 minutes.
I had to fill out a two-sided form with lots of questions about how well I was able to care for myself, could I cook food, Toilet myself, what was my diet like? I made my doctor laugh when she read my answer about my diet, I wrote "I eat things that I like" , I am not really meat and potatoes, vegetarian, Mediterranean or diabetic, so I gave an honest answer.
Am I depressed? Who has time? Am I forgetful? What? Hubs chimed in that I lose my phone every few minutes. Do I have a directive so people know what to do if I am incapacitated? I told them my son is a nurse and he will know what is best for me.
The doctor scheduled me for a mammogram, a hep C blood test and told me to get the new shingles vaccine at a pharmacy when I have a chance. It is not covered if administered by a doctor but it is at the pharmacy? Go figure!!
My blood pressure is fine, my cholesterol is fine and my blood sugar is 101 which sent me to the ledge. The doctor laughed and told me to not worry, it could be the pasta I ate or the cake. That is not a worrisome number evidently.
I am pretty much doing all the right things by exercising and being socially engaged. We went over all my recent tests and the next time I need them done. Three more years on the colonoscopy, no more pap smears, my tetanus shot was done in 2013 so good through 2023 and I have had the two pneumonia shots. I am good to go!!
If you are a senior on Medicare I hope you are taking advantage of this free exam, there is not even a deductible. It is well worth it.
20 people like this
20 responses
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
18 Aug 18
No one is usually good but the new one is so much better that they are recommending that everyone get it, they are doing away with the previous one.
3 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Aug 18
The one I got is good for life also. Maybe she hasn't gotten one yet?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340278)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 18
@MarshaMusselman We've both had shingles shots but thought they were for life. Maybe I'll ask my doctor next time I go.
4 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
17 Aug 18
Thanks yes that is what I mean. Hopefully I won't need to get another one, I try to avoid rusty nails whenever possible lol
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (119652)
• United States
17 Aug 18
@BelleStarr I cut my thumb last month on a soup can. Had to get a tetanus shot for that as I was overdue. My thumb is still healing! (probably should have had stitches)
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
18 Aug 18
@NJChicaa That does sound painful, I hope it gets better soon. If my memory serves me right, the tetanus shop is one that makes your arm hurt for a while, not my fav!!
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
19 Aug 18
i do. i don't know how thorough they really are but my insurance sends out a doctor for what they call a house call for that the past 4 years. plus I get 15 bucks Walmart gift card just for letting them do it all. it's a win ,win if you ask me
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
21 Aug 18
@BelleStarr i don't have to do anything. the insurance just sends the doctor out once a year and a couple weeks after the check up, they send the card in the mail for 15 bucks. i even forgot about that this year till the gift card just showed up
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
20 Aug 18
Yes I think I can submit something to my insurance company so that I can get the Walmart card but I have never done it.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
20 Aug 18
Thanks yes it does feel good to know that everything I am doing has had such a positive affect.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Aug 18
It looks like I will be waiting until I retire for full medicare benefited. I found out that if I switch over my husband loses his medical since he's covered under my plan.
What do you mean the years for colonoscopy? Surely you don't need one every year? I had my first one a year or so ago and won't needed another for ten years. I'm done with peppers but a few years behind on mamos.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
20 Aug 18
No I need one every 5 years since they found precancerous polyps last time. My husband at one point needed them every 3 years but 10 is normal if nothing is found.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
21 Aug 18
@MarshaMusselman In three more years I get a colonoscopy and if they find nothing I go back to every 10 years.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
20 Aug 18
@BelleStarr so three more years... do you mean every five years but three more times before you get to revert to the every ten year check?
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67083)
• United States
19 Aug 18
that is strange that the pharmacy is covered but not getting it at the doctors.. hm
that would be my answer too, lol.
glad you're well.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
22 Aug 18
Thank you, yes I am quite well and yes, I never understand how medicare decides things.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
20 Aug 18
Our insurance thru my husbands insurance provides this as well. For many reasons though I have never gone and done all the things you were mentioning. But it is good that these are offered.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
20 Aug 18
I figured I might as well do what they wanted me to do.
@LadyDuck (471490)
• Switzerland
18 Aug 18
I know that my blood pressure is fine because I check it time by time. I am not overweight, I am not diabetic and I do not need medications or pills or other things. I do not go every year for a checkup, I am too much a bit like my mom about doctors, the least you go, the longer you live.
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
18 Aug 18
I am happy all is well with you, Iz, and they give such a thorough check up @BelleStarr , health is so very important.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
22 Aug 18
It is and though a doctor visit is no guarantee I do feel better about the upcoming year.
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
26 Aug 18
@BelleStarr it is just that bit of reassurance that everything has been checked and okayed. 
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
18 Aug 18
Thanks for the heads up. I have my questionnaire sitting on my desk. My appointment is the 29th. I hope I can make my doctor laugh.
Good to know all your numbers are good. If I don't need to endure another colonoscopy, I'll be very happy. I heard the shingles shot was only covered at the pharmacy. It makes no sense, but why argue.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
22 Aug 18
I know crazy right, then it won't even show up on your record at the doctor's office. My last shot was done at the doctors.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
27 Aug 18
@BelleStarr Did you do it there so it would be on your record?
@cintol (11261)
• United States
18 Aug 18
Well thats a lot done for that exam especially for free. Sounds like you are pretty healthy so thats always a good thing. I like your answer on what do you eat, I told my daughter yesterday that no matter what I do I can't lose weight so I might as well eat what I want!!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
22 Aug 18
The only way I lose weight these days is when I do exercise 3-4 days a week. But life is too short to deny yourself the things you like, its all about portion control.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
23 Aug 18
@BelleStarr I have had trouble losing weight for years, I don't eat that much during the day but my hormones have been out of whack for so long that I think that is affecting my weight. I have been in menopause for 15 yrs now so I think its hopeless for me now
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
18 Aug 18
Sounds good and you are doing very well but I think I may have failed a few tests-lol! Glad you are still so healthy! Btw have you heard about the demise of the Harlow-McGaw Sites. They just closed them out last week. Knew that was coming. haha!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
22 Aug 18
They are still up til the end of the month. I have removed almost everything I have 35 more articles to take down from Writedge. I knew it was coming, they abandoned the site 2 years ago. But they really made me mad earlier this year when they stopped allowing us to delete our articles. I had been slowly removing them before that, at my peak I had 800 articles on there I think. I had great hopes for them in the beginning but oh well another one bites the dust. I am putting most articles up on my blogs.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
22 Aug 18
@BelleStarr I have started trying to remove them now- although I have most articles anyway in a Pages File. I'll se how far I get. Oh yes- they didn't write any articles themselves also which I found strange. Too bad though- there are really very few content sites still functional at this point.
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
22 Aug 18
Yes I am just waiting to hear from the lab about my mammogram.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
23 Aug 18
@BelleStarr Hope you get a good report. It's time for my mammogram. In fact I should have had it a couple of months ago but I've put it off.
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
22 Aug 18
Oh they will, it doesn't matter whether you choose traditional Medicare or an advantage program the wellness visit is included.
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
18 Aug 18
Thanks not bad for a 68-year-old but she is very impressed by my 103-year-old mother.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
17 Aug 18
Thank you, yes I have a clean bill of health so hopefully, I am good for another year.
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
22 Aug 18
Yes but we are old so they think we might not be eating right lol Obviously it doesn't apply to me!!
