Going for a Physical in a week have some questions

Hello all,

I am 34 healthy male and have not been to the doctor for some time. I need to get my meds refilled and have decided that I will be seeing a internal medicine doctor next week. I have to have a physical so I wanted to know what to expect as I have not had one in over 5 years.

Hello all,

I am 34 healthy male and have not been to the doctor for some time. I need to get my meds refilled and have decided that I will be seeing a internal medicine doctor next week. I have to have a physical so I wanted to know what to expect as I have not had one in over 5 years.

You need to get your meds refilled yet you say you have not seen a doctor in over 5 years? So a doctor has just been refilling your meds for this duration without an office visit? Odd.

Ditto for what turkent said. . . .

Another thing, how can you be a healthy 34 year old male if you have been on meds for over five years?

A "healthy" 75 year old may be on a couple of meds. A healthy 29 year old (when you started taking your meds 5 years ago) takes NOTHING.

I read what @trueboy25 wrote as saying he's not had a physical in 5 years. That doesn't mean he's not been to the doc for a visit.

To a layman, 'healthy' means not sickly. If the OP has, say, high blood pressure but is an active individual who works out regularly, he would consider himself healthy. He'd still need his pills.

Ok let me explain. I have been just using clinics to get my meds. I just take sleeping medication, However I am starting Paramedic school and need to have a physical for school. Also just thought that finding a doctor that I can go back to instead using clinic's would be smarter at this point in my life. I just want to know what to expect.

Anyway moving forward from that point...Since it has been over 5 years since your last physical the doctor should be thorough. Bare in my mind every doctor has a different method of conducting a physical exam. As I have learned from several posts "One size does not fit all". There are exceptions to every rule. I am sharing my personal experience.

Shortly after arrival I am ushered into an exam room by a med tech or nurse. I am then instructed by this person to undress to my underwear. I am weighed and sometimes my height is recorded. The attending person takes my blood pressure, pulse, temperature and respiration. The attending person advises me my doctor should arrive shortly and then exits.

The doctor arrives asks a few questions about how I am feeling, any changes in life or health concerns I may have. She then looks at my file on her tablet to review my lab tests I have about a week before the appointment. The tests include blood work and a urinalysis.

Then the exam itself. Head to toe. Head, eyes, ears, nose and throat. She feels the glands in my neck and thyroid with a stethoscope. She then listens to my chest and heart with the stethoscope. Then she listens for breathing through my back. She has me breathe in and breathe out several times while she moves the stethoscope to my kidney region. She then percusses my back.

I am then instructed to lie on my back on the table. She listens to my heart and chest again in the supine position. Then she listens to my abdominal region after being instructed to place my hands behind my head. She then checks my underarms and proceeds with a breast exam ( guys get breast cancer too ). She then percusses my entire torso, then feels all four quadrants of my abdomen and lifts the waistband of my underwear to listen and palpate my femoral pulses. She checks my knees and shins in both legs, lifting each leg and bending each knee. Then my feet and ankles are checked. Due to a running injury and subsequent surgeries my left ankle gets a little more of a detailed inspection.

She then asks me to sit back up. I have my range of motion in my shoulders, arms and legs checked. My doctor is aware that my career can put stress on my body so ( In My Opinion ) this check of my musculoskeletal strength and range of motion tests are important. She then checks my reflexes in my arms, knees and ankles.

I am then asked to stand up and step to the center of the room. She asks my to raise my arms to shoulder length then feels my shoulder muscles again as well as both my hands and fingers. I am then instructed to raise my arms above my head then to bend over and touch my toes. My spine and lower back are checked for discomfort etc.

I am instructed to return to the standing position and remove my boxer briefs, place my hands behind my head with my legs slightly apart. Then comes that moment of truth that most guys don't really like. She then examines my penis, shaft, scrotum and checks me for testicular cancer as well as a hernia check ( " Turn your head and cough" x2 ). Then I am instructed to turn around and lean over the exam table for a prostate exam. A lubricated gloved finger is inserted into my rectum and twisted around a little. A little uncomfortable but prostate cancer is worse.

I then slip my underwear back on. My doctor briefly discusses any findings ( I am healthy and fit. No surprises yet ). My doctor leaves but I stay for an EGG. The test results of the ECG are then reviewed by the doctor. That's it. Another year done.

Ok let me explain. I have been just using clinics to get my meds. I just take sleeping medication, However I am starting Paramedic school and need to have a physical for school. Also just thought that finding a doctor that I can go back to instead using clinic's would be smarter at this point in my life. I just want to know what to expect.

So just to be clear...You have been getting prescription sleep aids from a clinic for five years without seeing the doctor. Or is it you just have not had a physical in over 5 years.

I am going to guess he doesn't have a regular doctor that he sees every time he goes in. The urgent care facilities/clinics we have around here have rotating doctors so you may not see the same doctor twice. You just get the next doctor available when your turn comes.

At 34 don't be worried. You might not even have blood drawn. For most people under 40 they won't look at your prostate (they only look at mine because I already have BPH problems). Blood pressure, height, weight, health history, quick once over, out is most likely. They may look more at certain things if you meet risk categories (such as STI screen, cholesterol, yadda yadda).

If you really want to make it easy go in looking a little nervous and they'll probably cut out all the optional stuff. I've even managed to get through a urologist appointment without taking my pants off with that route. Of course I left with the problem untreated, but I kept my pants on.

Ditto for what turkent said. . . .

Another thing, how can you be a healthy 34 year old male if you have been on meds for over five years?

A "healthy" 75 year old may be on a couple of meds. A healthy 29 year old (when you started taking your meds 5 years ago) takes NOTHING.

Way to pop my delusions, Suzie. I always predicated my claims to "good to excellent health" on the fact that I would be unlikely to die even if I stopped my meds, and though I'm a bit over 29 I am within 10 years, and not anywhere near 75. That and I'm only in mild/moderate pain/discomfort most of the time.

Thank you for the post so far. I have not had a physical in 5 years. While I am not looking forward to what might happen I do want a through exam so I can rest at ease. I don't just want a one over but I just don't know what to expect thats all. I was hoping that someone in my age range who has had one done recently could shed some light on it thats all.

It will probably be pretty much like what you had 5 years ago. As I heard from the docs it gets a bit more involved at 35, 40 and 50, or if medical history/family history warrants, but in 20s and early 30s it will be less than what you got as an adolescent.

Probably height/weight/blood pressure, listen to lungs and such, look over your body for any visible issues, a bit of poking and prodding on the abdomen, check for hernia, possibly check for testicular cancer, and a blood check if you want to be thorough. It will be unlikely that you'll get a DRE, unless you have family history or see symptoms (such as reduced urine flow rate), so don't worry about that (it would be more likely to result in unnecessary tests than find something). Even if you do get one it isn't nearly as bad as your imagination makes it out to be.

Just remember that in my experience doctors seem to avoid things that patients don't like whenever possible.

Is there anyone my age that has gone through this

I'm going to ask the obvious.

Why don't you ask the students already at the school?

I have had one at 35 and it was not that long ago. As I said it won't be a big deal, but blood work may be involved, but if you're going to be a paramedic hopefully you don't have unresolvable blood issues. Any more detailed checks or tests will need to be discussed with the doctor anyway, and it's likely they won't push you because you're young and they aren't likely to find anything unless you're having problems.

Call the office if you want - tell them it's been a while and you're a bit anxious. Let them know you want it to be thorough but you'd feel better knowing what will happen ahead of time.

Is there anyone my age that has gone through this

I'm not quite your age, but check my blog post for a rundown of my physical exam last month.

It would also help to know the aspect you're most worried about. Are you worried about needles and pain, the doctor discovering an illness, nudity and intimate exams, or something else?

I am nervous but excited to see what will happen. I am hopping for a though exam but you never know. anyone else get like this before you go. The build up is so exciting. 5

I have some medical anxiety from things that happened in the past, and I think finding out information is a great first step. I went in for my last big thing having read and watched both patient-focused materials and videos as well as ones targeted at doctors (I didn't understand everything, but I understood enough). When I went in they commented about my being much less physically worked up (BP, pulse rate, etc.) than most people - a big change from my late adolescence when I would be worked up similar to someone in a combat zone for medical stuff. What I forgot to focus on was the anesthesia - I pointed out that I had not had the best experiences last time and was brushed off by the anesthesiologist with a "we really know what we're doing" (but not enough to listen to the patient, evidently). Then a feeling of "uh-oh" and a few days of living nightmare - BUT THIS WILL NOT BE AN ISSUE FOR A PHYSICAL, just said to emphasize that knowledge is power and make sure you get enough knowledge.

Second big recommendation - find a doctor you can trust and stick with them. It helps.

I'm 36, and just had a physical exam last week. My normal doctor was out on leave; I saw another doctor at the same clinic. In contrast to the example of a very thorough exam below, my exam was the opposite: very quick, and I was never asked to remove any of my clothing. After checking in, the nurse took my weight, temperature (oral), and blood pressure. After she left, the doctor entered the room and we chatted about a couple minor issues I have, and that was basically it. When the doctor was in the room, I spent the entire "exam" seated on the table. I was never asked to remove any clothes or put on the gown. While I have certainly had hernia checks in the past, it was not included in this exam, for whatever reason. I even brought up the fact that I normally ask my doctor for a quick skin check, since I've had a couple moles removed in the past, but this doctor only saw the skin that was not covered by my t-shirt and jeans. I guess there were no indications in my history that necessitated a more in-depth exam? I only bring this up as an example of how physical exams for relatively healthy men under 40 seem to vary quite a bit. More details: it has been 2 years since my last physical exam, and I am fit and healthy.

If you are 34 and haven't had a physical exam in five years, then you should get a thorough exam but that will depend on the type of doctor that you see and your insurance plan. If you go to an internal medicine doctor, then you should receive a thorough exam. If you go to a family medicine or general medical doctor, then no way to know if the exam will be thorough or not. You will know a lot if you are told to plan for an hour or if your appointment is scheduled at a quarter hour, which will mean that you will have a 15 minute appointment.

Solid point re: appointment start time, whether something :15 or :20. There's the question, as well, of notes, updates. If this is a new doctor in an existing practice, a totally new practice, if notes from a previously seen doctor have been transferred over, a percentage of the appointment might be paperwork/online, rather than an actual hands on physical. I sense that insurance companies are no longer paying for a meet and greet, which crunches time allotted.

I have usually been stripped to my undershorts before the exam begins.Commonly the physical starts with me sitting on the side of the examination table. Most of my exams have started with the eyes, ears, throat. Then the neck and axillary areas are palpated for lymph nodes and thyroid abnormalities. Then comes auscultation of the heart and lungs.The neurological exam and reflexes are usually the next part. Then I am usually instructed to lie flat on my back on the table and have palpation and auscultation of the abdomen and checking of pulses in the legs and feet.I have almost always had the abdominal exam and pulses done immediately prior to the embarrassing parts of the exam. From the supine positioning for the abdominal exam, I am usually told to stand and face the doctor who sits on a chair or stool. He gloves up and then give me the command to expose my genitals. He says something nerdy like "ok, let's slip your shorts down." I find it a little more humiliating to just have my shorts pushed down below my scrotum rather than to the knees, ankles, or all the way off. If they are down below the scrotum, I think it focuses more attention on the genitals as the area of interest. Once the genitals are exposed, some doctors check the meatus. I have never had a doctor palpate the shaft of my penis, but I understand some do this. Next,he feels my testes thoroughly, one at a time. Then does the hernia exams. He pushes his index finger into the inguinal canal through his upper scrotum right next to the base of the penis.He says "turn your head and cough." Some doctors have repeated that command two or three times on each side. Very humbling in my opinion. Then it's time for the prostate exam. He tells me he is going to examine my rectum and prostate. He has me turn and bend over the table. The doctor lubricates his index finger and slides it in. I prefer it if he pushes aggressively on the prostate to create discomfort. If he pushes hard enough some seminal fluid will flow. Then he gives me a tissue and tells me to wipe off and pull up my shorts. If done right, the will give me a memorable and humbling experience.

As I have said before I have worked in a drs office's for years as a medical assistant. So I was the one calling your name and saying "I see you are here for your yearly physical". Most of the drs. I worked with wanted to have 2 "yearly physicals" per day on their schedule and that was stricktly for financial reasons. They billed more to the insurance company. If they did not, have 2 physicals, they would go as far as having the front desk staff call anyone in the schedule for the next week and ask if they can come in that day. Trust me doctor's keep a close eye on the schedule, what patients are coming in for and daily, weekly and monthly income numbers.

And remember they may go so far as knowing what insurance companies pay for what. One time a patient came in and said he was having hearing problems. Well the Dr. knew his insurance company did not pay for ear lavage, taking 15 minutes and flushing the built up was out of his ears, so he sent him to the pharmacy and told him to buy some ear drops.

Also remember if you have specific health issues, heart, lung, diabetes or high blood pressure, you will most likely get more time.

And if you are having a problem make sure you say something when you make your appointment. And if you are healthy be happy you only see Dr for 15 minutes.

REMEMBER IF SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT SPEAK UP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also remember if you have specific health issues, heart, lung, diabetes or high blood pressure, you will most likely get more time.

REMEMBER IF SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT SPEAK UP!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is great advice. I hate the doctor and have ignored symptoms that were life threatening and came back to really bite me in the ass so I concur 100%.Talk to your doctor

I consider myself healthy - even though my doctor put me on low level BP and cholesterol management back in my 40's. My BP was marginally high, and my lipid panel was outstanding (total cholesterol < 160 and tri-glycerides have been in the 40-50's forever). Due to a family history of heart disease my previous and current doctors have all agreed on preventive maintenance. If I see my BP rising, I start working out more and reassess diet. Never had a real problem with it.