I want a medical overhaul

aliasojo

I'm getting to 'that' stage where I'm becoming more and more aware of my age.

My family gene stock isn't good, one side have all died from strokes, the other from cancer so my chances of reaching a ripe old age and slipping away peacefully in my sleep are not great I would have thought.

I've got a few niggly things that taken individually don't amount to much but could possibly add up to something more when viewed together. So I think it might be an idea to get a proper full medical complete with whatever tests and scans are relevent.

Our Doc is pretty dismissive and has already missed several pointers that could have made an earlier diagnosis of something in my son, so I have no faith in seeing him.

So, where do I go? I'm assuming because this is a choice rather than a need, then I'd have to go private? The only private peeps I'm aware of that do a human mot are Bupa and even then I'd need to travel 200 miles to one of their centres. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Bronnie

Can't advise on health checks, but long term, would definitely be looking into changing to a different GP if I were you!

lessonlearned

My GP surgery offers free health checks to anyone between the ages of 40 to 70, male and female. Many surgeries offer well woman clinics too.
My surgery also offers regular cervical smears and recommends it's female patients to have regular mamograms to screen for breast cancer. These are done at the hospital.

Agree with Bronnie here - change your GP if you are not happy. Yes BUPA offer health screening, last time I looked about £500 to £600 including female stuff (no mamagram). A good GP practice should do it all for free.

Definitely worth doing to nip any problems in the bud.

Arthurian

Perhaps if you are particularly worried about certain types of illness, you might google for a home testing kit, so you are armed with information before you go to the doctor's. There's a bowel cancer home testing kit for £14.99, a home cholesterol test for £9.99, diabetes test kit for £6.99, blood pressure monitors on sale in many outlets for £15 - £60.

What I'd like is to see a full CT scan of my body, as seen so frequently and so hassle-free on "House". Would be fascinating. In real life, doctors seem to think they are not so worthwhile.

EssexHebridean

No offence, but PLEASE don't go down the "DIY diagnosis" kit route. Better by far to sort out the issue with your GP and find yourself a surgery where they are happily to take a more pro-active approach to your concerns. I would suggest that, having changed GP's, you also write to the practise manager at your current surgery explaining your reasons for moving on.

lessonlearned

There is a company that offers MRI scans for I believe round about the £200 mark. They have several centres dotted round the country. Sorry can't remember their name but am sure you could google them up.

My friend's husband had one because the NHS waiting list was so long, only had a few days to wait by going privately. I would certainly pay for one if I felt I needed it and the NHS were dragging their heels.

Next time I see my friend I'll try and remember to get the name of the company.

Agree with Essex - don't pay for all those self diagnosing kits - the NHS offer the same tests for free, and you get the medical expertise to interpret the results properly. If you did find something as a result of self-testing your GP would only insist it was all done again anyway.

brook2jack

There is a massive "sell" going on to Market medical tests to the worried well. Doctors , on the whole , hate these home tests and scans, in general they either bring up lots of "false positives" making people worried when they shouldn't , or they expose people to unnecessary risks.

If you have genuine health concerns then your gp should investigate those, if they don't change gps.

Many investigations such as mammograms, MRI scans etc do have possible risks to your health. The descision to do them should be done on a risk benefit analysis , not on whether you can stump up £500.

There is also very little point in having a full ct scan without the benefit of a highly experienced radiologist examining each part who specialises in disorders of those parts.

aliasojo

I wouldn't be going down the home testing route (but thank you, I appreciate the suggestion nonetheless ) simply because I personally don't feel confident of the accuracy of the results.

I do have genuine concerns but I am 100% sure (especially given this economic climate) no NHS Doctor would rush to order a barrage of tests simply because of my concerns and even if they agreed, waiting lists in our area are ridiculously long and given that my concerns would most definitely be listed as non urgent, then I expect I'd still be waiting this time next year.

I'm afraid it's been many years since I believed a Doctor solely had my best interests at heart. These days they need to balance patient care with time efficiency and funding.