People Have Stopped Going to the Doctor. Most Seem Just Fine.

[Ms. Toad]

34. Unfortunately, there are a lot of health conditions

that don't ostensibly impact health until they are too late to cure. That's the point of regular doctor's visits - to catch things while they can make a difference.

And - far too many doctors cause problems with the recommended treatment partly because they expect patients to be non-compliant (perhaps even with keeping regular appoints). So they over-medicate - and figure they can give you more medication to counter the damage done by the first. My doctor is currently hot on the all-diabetics-should-be-on-statins kick. I'm not personally at the risk level where it makes sense for me to take statins (even with treating diabetes as a separate risk factor, which it is). Statins although they are extremely effective at lowering the bad cholesterol, they also prevent production of lots of other things the body actually needs (which can result in side effects such as dementia, hardening of the arteries, depression, muscle loss/impairment (including to the heart muscles)). But - that needs to be monitored, since diabetes is generally considered a chronic progressive disease. I'd be just fine not seeing the doctor (in connection with diabetes) as regularly . . . until I was suddenly not fine because - absent monitoring - I shifted from not being a good candidate for statins to being one who should be on a high dose.

If I'm not seeing a doctor regularly - statins make more sense because they help head off the big dramatic risk (and they can supplement with the other things statins block productions of (like horomones, coenzyme Q10) and medicate me for depression if it results. Off statins, however, I need the regular visits to determine at what point my need for statins changes, if it does.

That said, I'm in favor of allowing telemedicine to replace many actual visits. I did two during the period of closures (One cancer check-up - post mammogram and breast exam by a different member of the team. Absolutely no reason for an in-person check up every 3 months now than I'm 4 years out from an uneventful initial treatment. One for a second degree burn with no apparent complications.) My daughter did one (flu - rule out COVID 19 prior to testing availability) and my spouse did one (discuss routine bloodwork); Even if doctors charge the same, it minimizes inconvenience for all concerned.