Ken Gargett Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 my doctor retired last week. great shame as he is fabulous. brilliant doc and a real old school gent. i was referred to him a long while back (i have a number of doctors in the family and they simply described him as the doctor the doctors go to) as i had clots from flying. once he got that sorted, i go in for a thorough check up about every 6-10 months. all the usuals and other stuff. the first time we sat down, he asked all sorts of questions, including what i took - as in vitamins and pills etc. it was not much - vitamen B and occasionally C and some milk thistle and i can't recall what else, if anything. he told me to dump the lot and spend the money on a better class of red. he asked about the trips to cuba and the cigars. told him all. he looked at me and asked if i enjoyed it - told him yes. he told me to make certain i never stopped. one of the things he has always done is check my feet quite closely (no, he does not watch the vids). i never knew why (and never asked - who wants to know). anyway, he told me last visit. giving the feet a thorough check to make certain the pulse to the feet is good - which it is. apparently that could be a side effect of cigars (i guess smoking in general but i have never had a cigarette in my life) and it is wise to have it checked. wondering if anyone else's doc checks their feet? 1
ayepatz Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 Been going to the same doc for about 15 years now. She's great. First appointment, she asked me how many units a week I drink, on average. I admitted that it was well above the recommended limit. She scoffed and said that most doctors did the same. "When you look at nasty feet and piles all day long, you deserve it." No joke. Top lady.
LGC Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 Feet are taken for granted until you start having nerve, muscle, or tendon issues. Having constant pain, or not being able to walk easily, really affects your life in all aspects.
Ribeye Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 Everyone should have their feet and legs checked regularly. The cutaneous (skin) manifestations of disease often show up years before anywhere else in the body. As a physician, it always surprised me that more men and women don't think twice about their extremities until it's too late. The women regularly punish their feet by placing them into pointed shoes far too narrow to be comfortable. I always tell them sanity before vanity! Men lose the greatest proportion of hair growth (99.9% without having shaved their legs) and will think it's normal aging. It's directly related to blood flow and the nourishment it provides. I'll get off my soapbox now.
irratebass Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 my doctor retired last week. great shame as he is fabulous. brilliant doc and a real old school gent. i was referred to him a long while back (i have a number of doctors in the family and they simply described him as the doctor the doctors go to) as i had clots from flying. once he got that sorted, i go in for a thorough check up about every 6-10 months. all the usuals and other stuff. the first time we sat down, he asked all sorts of questions, including what i took - as in vitamins and pills etc. it was not much - vitamen B and occasionally C and some milk thistle and i can't recall what else, if anything. he told me to dump the lot and spend the money on a better class of red. he asked about the trips to cuba and the cigars. told him all. he looked at me and asked if i enjoyed it - told him yes. he told me to make certain i never stopped. one of the things he has always done is check my feet quite closely (no, he does not watch the vids). i never knew why (and never asked - who wants to know). anyway, he told me last visit. giving the feet a thorough check to make certain the pulse to the feet is good - which it is. apparently that could be a side effect of cigars (i guess smoking in general but i have never had a cigarette in my life) and it is wise to have it checked. wondering if anyone else's doc checks their feet? Do we have the same Doc? Mine retired last week too!!! Don't recall him really checking out my feet though....he would examine my legs....shame he retired.
wabashcr Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 Decreased circulation to the feet is one of the earlier and more common symptoms of diabetes. Smoking and drinking both increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, so it's important to keep an eye on that if you're at an increased risk. Diabetics can develop foot ulcers and all sorts of other foot maladies, which often lead to amputation.
joeypots Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 I'm very fair skinned and my Dr as part of the skin examination looks over my feet and between my toes to make sure I don't have any new growths. A nurse once told me that melanoma can start between the toes. I never put sun screen on my feet as a kid and I was out side and barefoot just about all summer for years. 1
PigFish Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 My doctor skipped his tee time once to meet me. He saved my life that day, as I was having a heart attack and not the recurring stomach malady that I thought it was. I almost did not call him knowing that he plays golf on a certain day and time. Apparently, if I took the nap I was going to take, instead of making the call, it would have likely been a permanent nap!!! What makes him special to me, is that he is a normal guy who knows medicine. An appointment is like chatting with a buddy, a buddy who will fix the problem not just guess about it. I never would have called him if I did not feel that way about him. That is the whole point... You have to be able to be comfortable with your doctor or you will never get the best of care from him (or her). He usually grabs my hands at an appointment but he does not fool with my feet. -Piggy
PapaDisco Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 Sounds like a great doc! I suppose the check of the extremities is related to nicotine's role as a vasoconstrictor?
mash Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 Smoking is a major risk factor for peripheral vascular disease, which can be picked up by checking for pulses in your feet. Diabetes is also an independent risk factor for PVD. Smoking doesn't increase the risk of type II diabetes.
MrGTO Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 I'm very fair skinned and my Dr as part of the skin examination looks over my feet and between my toes to make sure I don't have any new growths. A nurse once told me that melanoma can start between the toes. I never put sun screen on my feet as a kid and I was out side and barefoot just about all summer for years. Had a friends wife die from melanoma on her foot. She was in her early 30s.... 1
canadianbeaver Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 I thought this thread said, "Does your DOG check your feet?" Hi Ken.
wabashcr Posted December 11, 2015 Posted December 11, 2015 Smoking doesn't increase the risk of type II diabetes. A quick google search returns countless results, including several clinical studies that suggest otherwise.
mash Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 A quick google search returns countless results, including several clinical studies that suggest otherwise. There are studies but the weight of evidence isn't there for this to becoming accepted yet. At this stage it's an association not causation.
mash Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 A Google search won't tell you what the quality /strength of those studies is. You can find studies that will tell you anything on the Internet.
Warren Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 No, for me it seems to be the hands that get the most attention. Unfortunately I have found that fingers are not like roses. They do not improve with pruning.
Duxnutz Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 My Doc I do my flying Medicals with does the feet check and also is a big advocate of everything in moderation. Loves talking cigars too. Great guy who actually listens to you when you talk, unlike the young Drs at the bulk billing places (in my experience).
anacostiakat Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 Ken, you know what they say? If your feet smell and your nose runs, you better check yourself! 1
Randolph Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 I had an interesting visit to the GP this morning. I'm currently hobbling around with a dose of gout. Once known as the disease of the kings For those who have never had gout all I can tell you is that it's intensely painful! I'm recently on the statins after having a long issue with very high cholesterol. I've changed diet, reduced alcohol consumption and red meats and have dropped 10 kilos over the course of the year. The diet has also helped reduce my blood pressure from the red lights flashing level to a consistent green. Today the new Dr asked me if I smoke. I was quite surprised by his response. I smoke probably about 3 to 5 a week and two a day when on holiday. Dr told me one a day really wasn't an issue as if it's something I enjoy and get relaxation from then there were far worse things I could be doing and the relaxation was probably a good thing. Does anyone else get this kind of feedback from the quack?
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