[xeena]

Hi Guys,
I've been wondering lately about these.....
a)how often i need to go back to the hospital for a check up
b)what tests to do when i go for a check up
c)and what test i should do during the check ups
I have no accurate info on this and for a while i've only gone when i felt sick and the truth is that i dont feel sick often,that means no hospitals for very long periods of time.
pls any info will be appreciated.
thankx

[mulepower]

Go once a year to your general practicioneer and you may want to ask him how often to have a blood test and what else you need to check and how often. I have my cholesterol and blood pressure checked but i think a blood test gives the doc an idea of how well you're doing in some things you may not be aware of.
I have a urologist who i should see yearly but i haven't lately because of other medical issues. Hey,feeling fine is a great thing. Just like able bodied people,they don't go unless they're sick. Without insurance,it gets expensive anyway and your age has a lot to do with it. I'm 37,so i no longer can expect youth to take care of itself.

[xeena]

mulepower, on May 1 2007, 11:05 PM, said:

Go once a year to your general practicioneer and you may want to ask him how often to have a blood test and what else you need to check and how often. I have my cholesterol and blood pressure checked but i think a blood test gives the doc an idea of how well you're doing in some things you may not be aware of.
I have a urologist who i should see yearly but i haven't lately because of other medical issues. Hey,feeling fine is a great thing. Just like able bodied people,they don't go unless they're sick. Without insurance,it gets expensive anyway and your age has a lot to do with it. I'm 37,so i no longer can expect youth to take care of itself.

Thanks,
i'm T9 Complete and i'm 26yrs... i went every 3mnth o see my Gp for a urinalysis ,they always seemed to find a way to put me on medication ...so i figured i needed to cut down on the hospital trips ,thats why i asked.
thanks

[mulepower]

Not being on any meds or just a few is what most SCI patients should shoot for,at our level at least. At your age,there are really no health concerns and as long as you go see a doctor on occasion,like i said once a year should be appropiate and enough,imo. You're doing things right from what i see.

You know when a uti is present;with me i get chills,fever and more naseau than normal. A doctor shouldn't put you on long term meds unless its needed,not just to do it. A lot of the time,the doctor tells you something you already knew and it wasn't helpful.

I'm on a bladder spasm pill, cholesterol pill and recently a pain pill Neurontin,which has helped me deal with supposedely nerve and tissue issues,the neurologist isn't sure whats wrong so he's hoping me working out,losing weight works.

Have a great weeekend.

[Texaswheelz]

Hmm I only went to the Dr. when I had UTI's or had the flue or what not just like a AB would. Then when I hit 30 I had a blood test that showed I had high cholestrol and have been trying to get that down. I now go every 6 months for a regular check up and to have blood test done. I worry about getting diabetes also since it runs in my family(almost everyone on my dads side has it), so far so good. Other then over the counter Prilosec for heartburn i don't take any meds and hope to keep it that way. I do have constant pain, but decided long ago that I'd rather live with it then feel drugged up all the time to keep it at bay. I do have some narcs that I will take at night to sleep if it is extremely bad, but normally i try not to and only take em every few months.

[brackman22]

I see my doc every 6 months. Generaly speaking, if you cath or have a supra-pubic, you will constantly carry a very low grade uti. The docs see you have a uti and instinctively prescibe anti-biotics. Like mulepower said, you know (or will come to know) when the infection is worthy of an anti-biotic. I always have my kidney function checked too. SCI's have more problems with their kidneys than AB's.

BRETT

[axl from down under]

Xeena

Hi,

In Australia our Paraquad Organisation has excellent fact sheets via the links below

http://www.paraquad....99277603551.pdf

"Health Maintanence" outlines what to have annually etc- this is also an excellent resource to give your Doctor especially if they have limited knowledge of SCI

Spinal Cord Injury Fact Sheets
http://www.paraquad.....asp?partID=209

Handy Info ie: understanding, adjusting to SCI, bladder, skin, sexual function etc
http://www.paraquad.....asp?partID=206

hope these fact sheets help

I've been in a chair 21 years and I still use such fact sheets as resources

Cheers

Tanya