My elderly aunt (86) seems to be in amazing health. She is very active and more or less well. However, she is obsessed with her health, taking all sorts of medication and checking her vital signs several times a day. She has doctor appointments with various doctors at least three to five days a week. If she has the slightest headache, pain or dizziness, she either calls me or an ambulance to take her to the emergency room at the hospital. If any doctor gives the slightest suggestion that observation might be in order, she gets signed in to the hospital.
Since July, she has run me ragged taking her to doctors and hospitals and has spent at least 45 days in the hospital or rehabilitation facility. Except for a short bout of possible pneumonia, there has never been anything wrong with her this year.
I don't know if the doctors and hospital have been exploiting her by treating her for conditions that are mostly imaginary just because she has good insurance, or if their care has been necessary.
I fear that she is simply addicted to medical care. Sooner or later, some doctor may make a mistake that will really harm her, or she may end up with one of the many super-virus conditions that abound in hospitals.
Is this situation common? Is there anything that can be done?
Since July, she has run me ragged taking her to doctors and hospitals and has spent at least 45 days in the hospital or rehabilitation facility. Except for a short bout of possible pneumonia, there has never been anything wrong with her this year.
I don't know if the doctors and hospital have been exploiting her by treating her for conditions that are mostly imaginary just because she has good insurance, or if their care has been necessary.
I fear that she is simply addicted to medical care. Sooner or later, some doctor may make a mistake that will really harm her, or she may end up with one of the many super-virus conditions that abound in hospitals.
Is this situation common? Is there anything that can be done?