experiences of medical screening

jrar

Want to give myself a long overdue NCT - I exercise a fair bit (running, long-distance cycling) so it's really more about getting an overall thorough check-up, bloods etc.

Not looking for recommendations - just some feedback on where people have gone and how they found it / plus costs.

I know about the usual ones like the Mater private, Beacon Clinic but frankly I don't have €500+ to spend on this - might stretch to €300 tops if the place in question seemed to fit my needs.

Any feedback ??

jrar

Anyone ??

Oryx

Sports surgery clinic in Santry? No idea if they do screening, but they were recommended to me as understanding athletes medical needs.

ford2600

"This constant haranguing about health has had an impact. It was first noticed by a US doctor called Clifton Meador."

"‘Nothing has changed so much in the health-care system over the past twenty-five years as the public’s perception of its own health. The change amounts to a loss of confidence in the human form. The general belief these days seems to be that the body is fundamentally flawed, subject to disintegration at any moment, always on the verge of mortal disease, always in need of continual monitoring and support by health-care professionals. This is a new phenomenon in our society.’"

You could get bloods done in your gp really. They check a lot of things and it's not half the cost.

irisheddie85

Your local gp.

Unless you have symptoms of an illness delving too deep into every blood level is unnecessary. Go to your local gp and get the basics like blood pressure cholesterol and vitamin levels checked. If anything is out of whack diet will probably fix it.

The more important part is to develop a relationship with your gp so they know your baseline and if you ever start to feel unwell the doctor can see the change from your normal levels.

Stone Deaf 4evr

+1 on the local gp,

its important to be honest about your family medical history too, if you have a particular worry, jsut make it known to the doctor.

Alf Veedersane

Did an Executive Medical in D2 Medical a few years back - I was asked to - Was about 180 or so at the time.

Subsequently I've realised that most of the important stuff (from memory) could have been done through a GP, though I did get an ECG as well.

ford2600

My last employer paid for a medical in a private facility in Cork, circa €500 from memory.

Good points
* ecg and exercise ecg on threadmill reviewed by Cardiologist
* Pretty thorough examination of skin(with a magnifying glass)

Rest was pretty routine that a good GP should be doing i.e. thorough bloods, lifestyle questions etc.

However my abiding memory is doing exercise ecg, wearing just runners and shorts- chest had multiple ecg pods attached. Two technicians were doing test when doctor came in having done my BMI and concluded that I needed to lose 7lb to get under 25 or whatever. This was in spite of a detailed questionnaire which detailed over 20 years of continuous training and a good diet and someone on a treadmill with 12-14% bodyfat. With my heart rate up at circa 160 or so I asked her where on my body I should lose the fat, asking her to point it out; I was pretty blunt.

A week later report came in door with page 1 detailing my need to lose weight and a copy of food pyramid...

Page 2 dealt with my dangerous 5.6 cholesterol while at the same time noting my slight below optimum vitamin b12; with the advice to eat less red meat. Jesus wept

Never got to page 3

Save your money, get a good GP, preferably one who hasn't WRULD from writing prescriptions. Ask him to do ecg, he's trained to do it.

In the meantime take control of what you can that is known to effect your health and well being, eat well, rest well, reduce stress, have some fun, have a good social network etc etc

jrar

Appreciate the responses

My reason for doing a screening of some sort was because I don't really have a GP and I rarely have need to go to one, plus it's about 10 years since I had a medical check of any kind and I'm now the far side of 50 so conscious that other risks are possible.

I'm not unduly worried about my health, I'm still active, run 8-9K twice a week and cycle 100K most Sundays, but I do feel that I need blood pressure, full bloods, PSA test, liver function all checked out fully.

Maybe a full screening is excessive but I suppose my thinking was that if the price wasn't exorbitant (and my health insurance allows me €100 claim), then it would be good to get it all done with ECG, treadmill, V02 etc., and get a full report

Inspector Coptoor

Go to a GP.
€55 or so for routine check up
ECG should be another €10-15.
Ask can you you have your bloods taken as a day patient at a hospital - it's free and they will post the results onto the GP and yourself.
The GP can then ring you and go through the results

Simplest and most cost effective way to do it