# Your SO has a routine Dr. appt. Do you go with him/her? Vice versa? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-so-has-a-routine-dr-appt-do-you-go-with-him-her-vice-versa/555413 "2010-09-29T00:23:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kjbrasda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/74df32/32.png) [@kjbrasda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjbrasda)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-so-has-a-routine-dr-appt-do-you-go-with-him-her-vice-versa/555413/61 "2010-09-30T01:47:46Z")
Normally I’d agree with most people here, anything not debilitating or affecting the ability to drive can be done alone, but my husband takes after his dad. My father in law is notorious for not telling the doctor everything, not following instructions, and trying to self regulate medications, so my mother in law usually accompanies him to most appointments to get the story straight. My husband doesn’t even go to the doctor unless he thinks he’s dying, and then he only follows after care as long as he’s hurting. After his knee surgery (replaced ACL, repaired both meniscus) I went with to most of his appointments and physical therapy until he was ok’ed to return to work because I knew he would blow off much of his after care and home exercises unless I made him do it, and I couldn’t do that unless I knew what it was. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-so-has-a-routine-dr-appt-do-you-go-with-him-her-vice-versa/555413/62 "2010-09-30T02:12:49Z")
Routine stuff? Well, it frankly hasn’t come up (he hates doctors), but I guess it’d depend. We only have 1 car and he doesn’t have a license anyway, so going to separate places takes planning. If I didn’t have to be at work, I’d go with him just for that reason. The only time I have taken him to a doctor was around 4AM and he needed to go NOW. ETA: The only time I’ve asked him to come with me was when he had a permit to drive and I was concerned about side effects from a shot I needed. They occasionally hit me hard enough to make driving scary. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-so-has-a-routine-dr-appt-do-you-go-with-him-her-vice-versa/555413/63 "2010-09-30T15:21:43Z")
We go to the same clinic for prescription renewal on a 6 month intervals. But if one needs emergency treatment or something involving heavy drugs ,the other will tag along. In America doctors appointments require a lot of time. So ,you have to blow a big chunk of your day . Sometimes you drop the other off and come back when they call. ---
**Author:** ![Waxwinged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Waxwinged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waxwinged)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-so-has-a-routine-dr-appt-do-you-go-with-him-her-vice-versa/555413/64 "2010-09-30T16:09:58Z")
Our checkups tend to be at the same time/with the same doctor, so hubby and I end up going together. Otherwise- no, unless the person getting work done on them is going to be incapacitated afterward. Staying home with a sick SO? Also no, unless it’s something really serious. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-so-has-a-routine-dr-appt-do-you-go-with-him-her-vice-versa/555413/65 "2010-09-30T16:16:55Z")
In general we don’t go to each other’s appointments. However, there are exceptions: 1. Of course, if the patient can’t drive before or after. 2. For the very first visit to a particular doctor, so that everything that is supposed to be told to the doctor is remembered. 3. When my wife was pregnant I went with her to many of her OB/GYN appointments. I also wanted to hear the baby’s heartbeat. I definitely went to all the ultrasounds. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-so-has-a-routine-dr-appt-do-you-go-with-him-her-vice-versa/555413/66 "2010-09-30T20:21:35Z")
Heck no. I have to save all my ‘well time’ to stay home with my kids when they get sick. There is no time left for my husband! (or me) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-so-has-a-routine-dr-appt-do-you-go-with-him-her-vice-versa/555413/67 "2010-09-30T22:04:24Z")
Oh sure. He likes to hang out in the room while my gynecologist is checking things out, hover nearby, ask lots of questions. I’m not pregnant or anything, he’s just insane. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-so-has-a-routine-dr-appt-do-you-go-with-him-her-vice-versa/555413/68 "2010-09-30T23:07:41Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > I’d go for routine visits if my SO wanted the company and I had the free time, but I wouldn’t expect to go, and wouldn’t change my schedule or call in to work for it. > > If my SO was home sick with something mild-to-moderate, I wouldn’t call in, but I do think I would alter my schedule in other ways; coming home for lunch, dropping in between school and work instead of going straight there, maybe postponing minor chores/activities like getting a hair cut. It’s fun to pamper a sick SO, and earns you some brownie points for the next time I’m sick and crabby and really wish someone would bring me ginger ale. Sums up how I’d handle it exactly, under the usual circumstanances. My fiance’s blind, however, so I have to take him to any and all appointments, haircuts to major surgery. That’s an unusual situation outside what the OP’s expecting, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-so-has-a-routine-dr-appt-do-you-go-with-him-her-vice-versa/555413/69 "2010-09-30T23:09:47Z")
Hell no, either way. Unusual stuff, yes. ---
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-so-has-a-routine-dr-appt-do-you-go-with-him-her-vice-versa/555413/70 "2010-10-01T01:14:08Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > @ OP - does this employee expect to use her own “sick days/time” to go with her husband to the doctor? If not, and she’s using vacation time, then she can do whatever she wants. She uses leave time, and you’re right, she can do whatever she wants. I’m not saying it’s not OK, I just think it’s…odd. Or as was suggested upthread, she’s very creative in coming up with reasons not to come to work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-so-has-a-routine-dr-appt-do-you-go-with-him-her-vice-versa/555413.md?page=3)