A brilliant trick for staying up-to-date with routine exams and screenings.
Save time and generate peace of mind.
Every January I usually take 30 minutes to sit down and make all my routine wellness appointments.
This long standing tradition is brilliant in its simplicity: instead of having to remember individual appointments all throughout the year, I only have to sit down ONCE, make a list of what appointments I need, and then schedule the appointments in one fell swoop.
This year, however, I’ve found myself wondering when my annual appointments are scheduled without making the connection that I never actually made them.
(Note to self: don’t reply on your perimenopausal brain to remember these types of things anymore!)
Clearly it’s time to input this annual tradition as a recurring event on my calendar so I don’t have to worry about forgetting again. And I’ve carved out some time early next week to get those routine appointments on the calendar.
So why am I telling you all of this?
To remind you to get those appointments made for yourself.
Future you will be SO GRATEFUL when you already have an established relationship with a care provider so you can get in quickly to talk about any menopause-related issues or get a referral to a specialist.
Also, it’s important to keep up with routine blood work during the menopause transition. Low energy could be a symptom of menopause, or you could have anemia, vitamin deficiency or thyroid disease. And it’s common for cholesterol levels to rise during perimenopause (yep, it’s a symptom), so if your cholesterol is already on the higher end you’ll want to keep a close eye on those numbers.
Here are some possible appointments to consider making:
Annual routine physical with fasting blood work
Annual screening mammogram (starting at age 40)
Screening colonoscopy or cologuard test (starting at age 45, repeat every ten years if screening looks good)
Skin check (especially if you’ve had a lot of sun exposure or a family history of skin cancer)
Pap smear/HPV test (every 3-5 years depending on which testing you have done)
Alright, go forth and make some appointments! You are absolutely worth the time, effort, and energy involved.
I believe in you!
xo, Rebecca