If you’ve read our book, you know that we strongly believe in the maintenance of good health and the prevention of disease by regular screening exams. Of course, maintaining good health also depends on being aware of our bodies, noticing new symptoms, and seeking help for them. But, many people have no trouble doing the latter, but just can’t make themselves do the regular screening.

I never really understood that attitude until this past year.  In 2010, I managed to get every one of the recommended screening tests done.  How do I feel about having done that? Proud of myself, sure, but more than that – utterly exhausted. From my routine mammogram and physician-performed breast exam to my annual pelvic exam to my yearly full eye exam to my twice yearly dental cleanings and exams to a colonoscopy to my regular labwork to my first ever full skin exam. All throughout 2010, it felt like I was always either making a medical appointment or going to one.

Add to those, several acute problems – all orthopedic that necessitated not only several doctor visits but also 8 weeks of twice weekly physical therapy – and I had little to no time for anything else besides work, eating and sleeping! I can certainly see why some people would be reluctant to buy into the whole health maintenance idea from a time standpoint, if for no other reason. No wonder some of my patients’ eyes glaze over when I start talking about the yearly screening schedule.

The truth is though, that, in spite of my compaining, my strongest feeling about my health maintenance schedule in 2010, coming in far ahead of the fatigue, is appreciation. I’m very grateful and glad that 1) I have such easy access to all of these tests; 2) most are covered by my insurance; and 3) they all had good results. There are many people, here and in other countries, who cannot say even one of those things.