“Is it okay to go back to the doctor for an in person visit?” I asked myself.
I’ve had my Paraguard IUD for over 10 years now, and it's time for it to come out.
But is that an essential visit? Do I need to worry about COVID-19? These are all the things I was wondering about. I’ve done tele-health, but this was … obviously something that needed to be done in person.
I reached out to The Christ Hospital and asked. Turns out, it’s totally fine to return to my doctor’s office!
Here’s what the process looked like for me:
I set up an appointment with
Kimberly Russell, MD, from The Christ Hospital Physicians - Obstetrics & Gynecology, to meet at her Mt. Auburn office. When I arrived, I was greeted by several people asking about my health, if I had any contact with someone with COVID-19 symptoms, a quick forehead swipe temperature check, and I was on my way back to the exam room!
Everyone I saw had masks on. Everyone was being very polite and keeping their distance. When I saw Dr. Russell, everything was completely the same as every other annual appointment I’ve ever had - just with masks.
I asked Dr. Russell about how things were from her perspective, and what she said mirrored my experience. It’s safe to see your doctor. And I encourage you to watch the video to hear more of Dr. Russell’s advice!
During my appointment Dr. Russell ordered some bloodwork for me, so I headed downstairs to the lab. There was a line, but again, everyone was very polite, keeping their distance, and wearing masks. I was in and out of the lab in 10 minutes, and headed home!
I’ll be honest with you. if it’s not an emergency, I’m really good at putting doctor’s appointments off. I could have used COVID-19 as an excuse to delay this conversation and procedure. But I’m really glad I didn’t. It’s one less thing to stress out about in these stressful times.
Instead of putting it off, or waiting for “the right moment,” I hope you take my advice. Make an appointment. The moment is now to make our health a priority, and The Christ Hospital Health Network is here to help.
Did you know you can schedule your appointment online? It's true! Video visits are also availabe for those who prefer to stay home and receive care.