Parrothead Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Dd went last year at age 11. It was only to get her established as a patient since we had moved (yet again) and needed to get her a primary. Dd goes to well checks every few years. Pretty much only when we move and need to establish as patients. Yesterday she had an appointment to have the warts seen about and I was twice reminded that it had been just over a year since her last well check. This morning a lady from the dr.'s office called wanting to schedule the well check. :glare: I put it off again. Dh has to have surgery soon. We will be starting school soon. Lots happening in the next few weeks. I'm thinking maybe Christmas vacation is time enough for a well check. Or next summer.;) How important are well checks for older kids? Do you take yours every year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I think I stopped around 10. The family practice we switched to (from a ped.) doesn't bring it up either. I did take my oldest this year for one, but only because she needed her Tetanus booster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 We do. But only because my kids need a physical to play sports. If they didn't, I would probably wait 18 months or two years or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAR120C Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 DS needs a camp physical every year. I'd take him anyway - not because I expect them to catch anything we'd missed or anything... but because it's a good opportunity for him to bring up anything he's concerned about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 We don't do well-checks every year, but we do schedule them occasionally. And they are now completely free, so there is no reason not to if there is something I want to talk to the doctor about. Around 6th grade there are booster shots that are needed. One dd grew 4 inches in a year and with rapid growth I wanted to make sure she didn't have any scoliosis. Our disabled dd sees several specialists yearly so I don't usually have questions for the primary care doc, but I took her in this year to discuss muscle relaxants to see if they might help with her contractures/stiffness. Our doc does a vision check--probably not as thorough as an eye doctor, but it's good to know if there are any issues that warrant an eye doctor appointment. The doctor never pressures us for well-child checks, and it's probably every 2-3 years that I take a kid in, and that's because I want them checked, not because anyone told me to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 We do physicals for sports/scouts/etc. DH and I usually have yearly physicals too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Yes, because mine have always needed physicals for Scouts, sports, and dance summer intensives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I take my kids every year. Its worth the $30 co-payment. Plus I think I am setting them up for good habits later in life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelbe5 Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 We started annual physicals for kids when we stopped vaccines. I (usually) go for a yearly check-up so I feel it is a good thing for the kids. It also helped us immensely when my dh was accused of hurting our autistic son when he was having a meltdown. We took him in to our doctor so she could look him over in the event we were contacted by DCFS. I was glad to have a good relationship with our son's doctor and she is supportive of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmamaz Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 now that I think about it, my daughter probably stopped having annuals around then - we moved and i never signed her up w a pediatrician. My teen son has a TON of issues, so i like to keep taking him in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I do because they need physicals to play sports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidbits of Learning Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Dd went last year at age 11. It was only to get her established as a patient since we had moved (yet again) and needed to get her a primary. Dd goes to well checks every few years. Pretty much only when we move and need to establish as patients. Yesterday she had an appointment to have the warts seen about and I was twice reminded that it had been just over a year since her last well check. This morning a lady from the dr.'s office called wanting to schedule the well check. :glare: I put it off again. Dh has to have surgery soon. We will be starting school soon. Lots happening in the next few weeks. I'm thinking maybe Christmas vacation is time enough for a well check. Or next summer.;) How important are well checks for older kids? Do you take yours every year? Our insurance pays for well checks 100%. It is probably the only thing they pay 100% on and you don't have to have met your deductible either for them to pay 100%. I think they are good. It helps to see potential problems. It also depends on family history. If your family has a history of thyroid issues starting in childhood, a good pediatrician can help you monitor for signs or issues. If you have a girl and your family has endometriosis tendencies, a good pediatrician can help you watch for whether or not your child may need to see a gyn early. I think it is important to watch height and weight patterns and for the pediatrician to know my children. I find well checks to be a good opportunity for the pediatrician to know my family. When we come in for sick visits, the pediatrician knows my kids and knows my typical behavior when they are well and whether I am a panicky parent or different such things. If you insurance covers well checks, then I would take advantage of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Yes. Dh and I each get annual check-ups, so I see no reason not to do the same with ds. I recently asked our doctor if he would see ds, but he doesn't take anyone under 18, so we'll stay with his pediatrician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Yes, because dc 1. need sports physicals 2. have chronic condition, that needs no treatment, but should be "checked" occassionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 We don't, but ds is healthy and doesn't do sports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyfaithe Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Yes. We do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I should add that while we don't really do well child check ups anymore, both dds see their allergy/pulmonary specialist every 3-6 months. They were both born with an airway abnormality and both have asthma, so they're seen often. We just don't make a point to go to our family doc for check ups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 We do. My girls, esp. have medical issues that require routine monitoring and a host of specialists. That said, I think that at least every other year or so would be good for many reasons. It helps keep the doctor familiar with your family. Protects you if DHS ever got involved. Routine bloodwork can show things like early signs of blood sugar issues, thyroid issues (actually quite common in teens), check for anemia, etc. They can also catch things like scoliosis and things that are easily missed in day to day life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I haven't taken my kids for well checks beyond their first year of life. They are healthy kids, with no ongoing health issues. I know them, I know when they're NOT well so that is when we go - IF I deem it necessary which is not very often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeefreak Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 We do, but we're not religious about it. I though it had only been 14 or 15 months since our last well check, but it had been 21! Then I realized, we had been to the Dr so much in the last 21 months, I lost track of time. I think the longest I would wait (if I were cognative of my decisions ;)) would be 2 years, but that's just me. I guess I should point out, we vaccinate too so if that's something you do, that's why you would want to go at least every 2 years. To make sure they're up to date. Blessings! Dorinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paceofnature Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 We did up until about two years ago. Our kids do sports, but have never been required to have physicals, and are very healthy. When we did go, the peds would always comment on how great everything looks and to keep up the good work. One thing I hate about going in is that, without fail, someone ends up with a cold/sick shortly afterwards. Gotta love the germs floating around the office. We will probably go this fall and then I will wait a couple/few years again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 No. Kids here don't really get them past being toddlers. I've never even heard of people getting them for sports as a regular thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeefreak Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 No. Kids here don't really get them past being toddlers. I've never even heard of people getting them for sports as a regular thing. In the US, most sports organizations and camps make a Dr sign off that the child is able to participate. It's to release them of any liability of pre-existing conditions. When my oldest went to camp the first time, I was REALLY annoyed because her well child appt in Sept did not satisfy the requirement for a physical for camp in May. :glare: I was going to have to pay because we're only allowed one well child visit a year. Luckly, her Dr let me drop off the ppwk and she filled it out without charging me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I've been curious about this, too. As I took my 9 year old to his physical. He doesn't need shots, his asthma is monitored by his allergist... I keptm thinking, "this kid is healthy, why are we here?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyS Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Honestly, we don't see a DR. unless someone is sick or injured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristyB in TN Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Nope. I have a $10,000 deductible. We do sports physicals and those crazy vaccine boosters at a walk in clinic where it costs $30 and we can run in and out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 We do. But only because my kids need a physical to play sports. Same here. Our insurance doesn't cover 'sports physicals' so we just do an annual in time to fill out the form so they can ski. then they're covered for the year. Otherwise, they'd probably never see a doctor :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 (edited) Yes. Edited August 4, 2012 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I do. Maybe not every 12 months, but I do take them. I have an uncommon autoimmune liver disease that was caught only because of routine labwork, and when it was caught I was one stage away from cirrhosis (oh, so that's why I feel like I was hit by a double decker semi). I don't expect the boys' pediatrician to ever find anything, but I'm trying to teach my boys good habits that they'll hopefully continue in adulthood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I take all of my children for annual well-checks, even my teen. I still go in for an annual well-check. It's free for us so we go. I like to get the sports physical form on each kid each year in case they decide to go to camp or play a sport at some point, etc. It's easier to have one on hand than to try and book one last minute, IME. I am not so good about keeping all of the baby well-checks though. We do vaccinate so I keep the appts that involve shots. The others I generally skip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 We do annual check ups each year. I even still take my special needs 20 y/o just because. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I would for physicals and so that the teen is comfortable with the provider if they have questions about health and development issues in puberty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyCrazyMama Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 No. Kids here don't really get them past being toddlers.~snip~ :iagree: We don't go regualarly after about 3 years old. My 5 yo is due for some vaccinations so I'm going to make him an appointment soon. Other than that they go when they are sick and I don't ever remember one of my youngers sick enough to need to go to a doctor. My teens have gone for illness though, persistant cough and that kind of thing.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 We do at age 12, because that's when most kids here have a tetanus (and I think one other?) booster. After that, we do when sports exams are needed, or if something else comes up. If there are a couple of non-urgent, small concerns, it's cheaper for us to have a well-child check-up to get them checked out rather than a check-up specifically to address the concern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 No. We do religious dental and eye appointments. We also go if we are sick or injured. It feels like we are pretty much always at a doctor now. With yearly well child visits we would always be at the dr. I will say we are pretty close friends with nurses and doctors, and have doctors I our extended family, so if there were problems I am fairly sure they would be noticed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 Dd went last year at age 11. It was only to get her established as a patient since we had moved (yet again) and needed to get her a primary. Dd goes to well checks every few years. Pretty much only when we move and need to establish as patients. Yesterday she had an appointment to have the warts seen about and I was twice reminded that it had been just over a year since her last well check. This morning a lady from the dr.'s office called wanting to schedule the well check. :glare: I put it off again. Dh has to have surgery soon. We will be starting school soon. Lots happening in the next few weeks. I'm thinking maybe Christmas vacation is time enough for a well check. Or next summer.;) How important are well checks for older kids? Do you take yours every year? No, I do not. Sports exams only, in summer. We only go any other time for acute reasons, which is rare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 We don't do well-checks every year, but we do schedule them occasionally. ...The doctor never pressures us for well-child checks, and it's probably every 2-3 years that I take a kid in, and that's because I want them checked, not because anyone told me to. Same here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 I do. One reason is that my son takes medication for ADHD and that needs a periodic assessment. But I probably would anyway even if we didn't have insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 I take all of my children for annual well-checks, even my teen. I still go in for an annual well-check. It's free for us so we go. I like to get the sports physical form on each kid each year in case they decide to go to camp or play a sport at some point, etc. It's easier to have one on hand than to try and book one last minute, IME. I am not so good about keeping all of the baby well-checks though. We do vaccinate so I keep the appts that involve shots. The others I generally skip. Yes. We no longer even have a copay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 Nope. I have a $10,000 deductible. We do sports physicals and those crazy vaccine boosters at a walk in clinic where it costs $30 and we can run in and out. That's just wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 I plan to. My girls have gone to all. They also go every 6 months to dentist and once yearly for eye exams. Boo-Boo has to go to the ped every 6 months anyway for asthma checks. I find that it helps their ped know them and them to know her so that when there are problems, the girls have less anxiety about it if they know who they are going to see. Boo-boo has other specialists and it is very important to her to know who is treating her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefly Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 Our insurance would cover it but no, we do not do well visits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 We do. I try for every year for each kid. I really like our family doctor. He knows us all and has known us for about 14 years. It is a good baseline for him to see the kids when they are healthy. Some years we rarely go in, and sometimes it seems like I'm there all the time. I know him and trust his judgement, and he knows me and trusts mine. The relationship took time. My insurance covers well-child visits 100%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 Had to think for a minute, our 16 year old hasn't been "well" since 2007 and we are in the dr.'s office once or twice a month plus specialists. So, I guess no, not for a routine check up, we are there so often it wouldn't even occur to me. 11 year old got a quick "missed it at a well child checkup" chickenpox vaccine before she started Lyme meds last year, so I guess she hasn't had one either in some time. In general I am not a fan but every few years or so it is good to have baseline information to better pinpoint if anything is "off" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 No. Last time I took Hobbes in, the doctor congratulated us on the length of time since he was last seen (over two years). He'll be called in for some immunisation sometime soon. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 4, 2012 Author Share Posted August 4, 2012 Thanks. I suppose I was just put off by the pushiness. I've had issues with all manner of doctor's since moving to ME. I'm finding the lot of them to be pushy and a bit aggressive. I do take her twice a year for dental cleanings and a yearly eye exam. (Dd had some kind of weird thing going on with her vision and it hadn't quite been a year between visits. I had to argue with the receptionist to get her in 6 weeks early. :glare:) Those of you who have your kids have sports physicals, would you take them if they were not in sports? Do your sports physicals require blood draws? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stayseeliz Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 I don't have one that old yet but my oldest will be 11 this coming week. We take all our kids in for well checks even though we don't do shots. I like the thought of a dr looking them over just to check and make sure everything is good. It does give us a chance to bring up anything we're concerned about and it helps establish a relationship with their pediatrician. My kids play sports too so that serves for their physical too. I think it does breed healthy habits later and it's nice to have on record in case some crazy nut job accused us of neglect etc at some point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 I should have said that I take the boys to the dentist for a check up twice a year. They also get called in for eye tests between every six months and every two years, depending on their history. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 We go every year for a sports physical - so that takes care of everything there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristyB in TN Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 That's just wrong. Yes, it is crazy. We are self employed and this is the most economical way to handle it, obviously. Otis actually okay, though. It has forced us to be acutely aware of the costs. A couple of years ago, my husband had to get a new life insurance policy due to being part of a business ownership. The bank holding the loan on the building involved requested it. He had to have a physical so I called around to get prices on physicals and had a specific list of what needed to be done. The cost varied DRAMATICALLY. We went with the less expensive one and found the most wonderful doctor in the process. She is young, originally from India and vegetarian, a marathon runner, and has a wonderful way of really communicating with us. We loved her...so of course she moved away. :glare: the experience with the prices taught us to shop around for healthcare. We have a health savings account which covers deductibles and such and helps with our tax insanity. I actually wish everyone had the incentive to be conscious of what their health care actually costs. I believe costs would go down as a result. Competition is beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.