Personally? I have been avoiding traditional medical attention since the s c a m d e m i c, except last April when I tripped and broke my big toe. Even then, I waited 3 weeks before deciding it wasn't just a sprain and figured it was time for an x-ray. It actually went quite well as far as the physicians and x-ray technicians, etc., not complaining or yelling at me for not wearing a mask.
Meanwhile, I am currently on no prescription medications. Ran out of my BP meds several months ago and have been taking some natural remedies - which aren't working so well. Current affairs probably contribute to my hypertension, and finally brought out my BP contraption, and my BP is pretty consistently a bit dangerously high -- well, I suppose if one wants to live forever. That said, I'm not fond of the possibility of having a stroke, and those meds have kept my BP inside a normal range for actually a couple of decades. I don't think every medical breakthrough and tested pharmaceutical result has been bad.
My supplemental provider is Kaiser. So, I called a couple of days ago, explained my situation, asked for a 30-day prescription (that day, my head ached, I felt dizzy and my BP was quite high), and said I would get the necessary blood work done soon. Of course, I needed to be assigned a primary care physician (my prior one retired), and would need a full physical exam, etc., because none of this "mandatory annual health care regime" had been fulfilled for a couple of years.
So, I have always argued with my care providers about my "high cholesterol". No, I don't want to take statins. Have you had your flu shot this year? No, I don't want a flu shot.
Have you quit smoking yet? No, but I enjoy it, only smoke occasionally outside.
Do you drink alcohol? Yes, I really like my wine in the evenings. How much do you drink? Depends what evening it is. Do you think you might want to cut down? I do sometimes and sometimes I don't.
You are overdue for another colonoscopy? Who says?
And so it has always gone. I am really dreading this appointment with a stranger, a new physician who is bound to put me through all of these questions again, along with the biggest, bestest, most overwhelming question of all these days, your chart shows that you have not yet been "vaccinated for the BIG RONA?! OMG
My guess is as good as anyone's at this point as to where this discussion will go. Me, I don't want it. Why? Well, I got lots of answers for that depending on how much time you got, eh?
Not looking forward to it, but then again, should be interesting. If it comes to the point that medical institutions stop treating the un v a x x ed, well, I'll drop my coverage, stop paying them, and let the chips fall where they may.
OTOH, I am hoping it will result in a positive experience? One never knows. Still, I fucking hate going to the doctor!! It's kinda like being subpoenaed to a deposition when the only crime you have committed is having a mind of your own. I am old enough to remember a very different time, you know, before medical tyranny became the "new normal".