A date with an executive… check-up, that is!
Fifty-four. That’s how old my colon and throat are. And until now, neither has ever been properly checked out by a doctor. Not because I was particularly brave or had some secret formula for good health, but simply because I never felt the need to.
However, everyone around my age seems to have made it their personal mission to remind me that I should be having my executive check-up every year, now that I am officially semi-old.
So, by the time you read this, I would have gone through my tests at St. Luke’s BGC.
Bit of a coward
My dearest doctor friend, Dr. Gwyneth Velez, who has absolutely nothing to do with the particular medical procedures I am undergoing, is always the one holding my sweaty hands and keeping me company as I make my way through each test.
Yes, I am a bit of a coward when it comes to needles. In fact, I have had more than my fair share of mishaps involving nurses and interns attempting to insert one into my hand. They somehow always manage to miss the vein, leaving my hand swollen to the size of a blimp.
On one occasion, I even scolded the nurse, insisting that she had done something wrong. She, however, confidently defended herself, explaining that since the IV was dripping properly, she had done her job. True enough, the drip was working, but my hand looked like the fattest sausage in the world. I cried like a baby and immediately complained to my doctor.
The nurse eventually apologized while I was in recovery, half-asleep and barely conscious. I suspect she deliberately chose that particular moment because she knew I wouldn’t have the energy to get mad at her. I suppose that was also her way of making peace with a patient whose trauma she had just added to.
A small price to pay
Anyway, back to my executive check-up. Everyone I have spoken to who has undergone a colonoscopy and endoscopy tells me that the actual procedure is the easiest part. Apparently, the sleep is wonderful. You simply close your eyes and wake up feeling as though you’ve had the best nap of your life.
The real challenge, however, comes before all that: drinking that awful preparation medicine that sends you running to the bathroom for hours on end. Apparently, you need to clear out the entire neighborhood before the doctors can have a proper look.
(I suppose all this discomfort is a small price to pay for catching potential health problems early, when they are still manageable and treatable.)
But I am scared, I won’t lie. I wish I could bring my dog, Milo, along to calm my nerves. But unfortunately, hospitals here don’t allow pets inside. I do wonder how American hospitals manage to accommodate pets in certain facilities.
Anyway, I digress. Perhaps talking about Milo is just another way of distracting myself from what awaited me at the hospital.
Health is wealth
My last semi-executive check-up was about six years ago, when my friend Kat Holigores and I flew to Singapore specifically to have it done. It took us about three and a half hours to complete most of the tests I needed, and we got the results the very next day. I did, however, miss out on the treadmill stress test because the doctor detected a heart murmur.
I would like to think it was the result of all the heartbreak I had accumulated from my former boyfriends. At least that makes for a more interesting explanation than an actual medical one.
The reason I am sharing all this is that I hope to convince you, if you haven’t already, to schedule your own health check-up. It doesn’t necessarily have to be done here in the Philippines. I’ve heard wonderful things about the medical tourism packages in Bangkok.
Singapore, of course, goes without saying. There are plenty of options, and the important thing is to find a reputable medical facility and actually get it done.
I admit that I have postponed mine for far too many years. I could blame it on work, traveling, endless commitments, and the usual excuses we give ourselves when something isn’t particularly high on our priority list. But now, before the year ends, I find myself wanting to know exactly where I stand, health-wise.
Knowing what’s happening in my body is just as important
At 54, I have come to realize that feeling perfectly fine doesn’t necessarily mean everything is fine. There could be underlying issues that we know nothing about, and sometimes, the only way to find out is to have ourselves checked.
Of course, I know I need to exercise more, eat better, and generally take better care of myself. But knowing what is happening inside my body is just as important. Information is power, after all. And early detection can make all the difference.
So, here’s my little reminder to everyone in my age group: Stop putting it off. Make that appointment, have those tests done, and face whatever needs facing. You may have to drink something absolutely revolting, endure a few needles, and surrender a couple of hours of your life to medical professionals. You might even need a friend to hold your sweaty hands.
But think of it this way: We’ve spent decades taking care of everyone and everything around us. Perhaps it’s time we gave our own bodies the same attention.
And if all goes well, I shall emerge from St. Luke’s with a clean bill of health, a renewed appreciation for my digestive system and, hopefully, both hands intact.
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