Why all the pain and side effects for the sake of health?

And I’m talkin’ totally a-symptomatic here!

Several years ago, due to a mis-read echo-cardiogram, I ended up in the care of a cardiologist. Even though the threat proved bogus, I was thereafter locked into quarterly appointments (with specialist co-pays!) that involved all sorts of tests, x-rays, radioactive injections, scans and readings “just to be sure.” Can’t be too careful, after all. Balderdash.

AND anyone in a cardiologist’s care must swallow 4 (count ‘em) 4 antibiotic pills one hour before a dental appointment. For most of us, only one produces rather miserable side effects. Imagine the all-day ickyness following four.

And how many of you have endured a colonoscopy? Just the two-day prep is pure hell. Then there’s the recovery from the anesthesia. Granted, colon probs are rampant in the population. But if it’s not in your genes, and you have zero symptoms, WTF? Once was enough for me, thank you.

Don’t even get me started on mammograms. It’s been proven by now they cause more potential harm than benefit (surprise, surprise) but it’ll be another generation before the insurance companies accept that.

For a lot of us, flu shots can bring on low-grade fevers, but this is one thing (except in a few catastrophic cases) that the preventive benefits for a whole year far outweighs momentary discomfort. I never miss one.

But in the main, it occurs to me that we spend a heck of a lot of time being sick in the name of being well.