what are you doing right now?

[minnesotapaintlady]

My kid ran into my mom at O'hare airport this morning.  I'll bet that was a shock for both of them as neither one knew the other was in Chicago.  He's flying back to Minneapolis and she's headed to Honolulu.

[TheOtherMe]

Dec 4, 2023 8:29:49 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I pay $20 a year to have UPS bring me those packages that would otherwise be delivered in the end by USPS. It's worth it to me to avoid that hand off and waiting longer to get the package.

Sometimes one of our nephews stays at our house when we leave. I would never leave dirty dishes for him.

How do I pay this $20 to have UPS bring me packages rather than USPS?

[wvugurl26]

Dec 4, 2023 11:32:49 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Dec 4, 2023 8:29:49 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I pay $20 a year to have UPS bring me those packages that would otherwise be delivered in the end by USPS. It's worth it to me to avoid that hand off and waiting longer to get the package.

Sometimes one of our nephews stays at our house when we leave. I would never leave dirty dishes for him.

How do I pay this $20 to have UPS bring me packages rather than USPS?

It's a UPS My Choice membership. Once you enroll, you can elect to have all incoming packages to you upgraded. It also applies to my DH's packages. I also get tracking and delivery updates.

I don't know why but Ulta has been putting signature requirements on some packages lately and not even high value ones. I am able to signature release it and don't have to wait to catch the driver.

[soupandstew]

I an certainly not a Social Security expert, but I think one of the few times when continued employment can raise one's SS benefit is if the more recent years have significantly higher earnings than earlier years, so that the ten-highest-years base is changed enough to warrant continued pain and suffering.

[andi9899]

Dec 3, 2023 23:58:03 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I spent way too much money this weekend, but got most of the Christmas shopping for the kids done, got my windshield fixed on my car (free, but also had them put on new blades), spent a couple hundred at Sam's Club...part of which was splurging on some big Christmas lights for the walkway in front of the house, and did my annual $500 in Target gift cards at 15% off...which will go towards remaining gifts.  Kids stockings, two nephews, one niece, and alcohol for all the siblings and parents left.

I also replaced the oil pressure sensor on my van this weekend and am going to cross my fingers and drive it tomorrow. It hasn't been more than a mile or two from the house since it's cardiac event.  If it doesn't give me any problems I'm going to cancel it's Tuesday appointment, if it does...well...it was just $20 for the sensor.

Thia is me. I went to pay bills after all the Black Friday shopping and trip to Texas. 🤐 Needless to say that I'll be reigning it in significantly for the rest of the year.

I feel like if Black Friday is the only time I go overboard and I behave myself for the rest of the year, I'm doing pretty ok.

[andi9899]

Dec 4, 2023 9:55:25 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

fan-fucking-tastic. the dirt road immediately behind the house across the street is completely full of trucks and heavy machinery for excavation and paving. obviously it's worse for K b/c it's literally *right there* but I don't have the bandwidth to be shooing LD to shush while I'm on calls today. it's going to be a very long day, it has been already. 

Macy will never STFU and I keep music on to drown out some of the noise. When I'm on a call, I lower it a little and mute myself unless I'm actively talking. Dogs do throw a wrench in WFH sometimes.

[countrygirl2]

You are correct you can draw SS and work, but if you do the amount doesn't grow larger each year till you draw it.
It is a huge difference, I like a fool took mine at 62 when I did not have to because I wanted some of my own money. Whatever you do, at the age you can get medicare sign up for Medicare A, it costs nothing. As long as you can show proof of continuous, credible insurance at time of retirement you won't pay a surcharge. I think that law is still in force.

You will find that the cost of living is really going up. Our rentals helped a lot and we are seeing a difference already.

We both are very concerned about moving to a higher cost of living area with less income. We are still thinking about what we need to do. Of course its up to each of you, but you can never have to much money as working class people in retirement. 

We hope to do whatever we are going to do this year, we need to do it before we are not able.

I also read as long as you have 10 years of work history there is no charge for it.

It makes a huge difference if you have a pension along with SS also. That will help our son as he will have one. And his wife can draw off his earnings too.

Just look at the various scenarios is all I can suggest and if you are paying for a supplement remember it will go up each and every year. Drug, B, and the supplement, all of them.

I hope Biden's drug idea continues, it will only if he gets another term.

[countrygirl2]

They no longer look at your 10 highest earnings years for SS like they used to. 



How your Social Security benefit is calculated can seem mysterious. However, it's important to know a few essential facts to aid your claiming strategy. You can use the tools on SSA.govOpens in a new window to do the calculations.

Your benefit is calculated based on your highest 35 years of earnings; they don't have to be consecutive years or before age 65.
If you work past age 65, those earning years will be included, so long as they are high enough to be part of your highest 35 years.
Even working part-time after turning 65 may be part of your highest 35 years of earnings.
To be eligible for Social Security, you must have a minimum of 10 years of covered employment (that is, employment periods during which Social Security contributions were made), which equates to 40 credits in the Social Security system.
If you don't have 35 years with earnings, zeros will be included in the calculation.
Read Viewpoints on Fidelity.com: Social Security tips for working retirees

I realize Fidelity is trying to sell something but also some good info here.


www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/retirement/social-security-myths

[andi9899]

Dec 4, 2023 11:38:07 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

Dec 4, 2023 11:32:49 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

How do I pay this $20 to have UPS bring me packages rather than USPS?

It's a UPS My Choice membership. Once you enroll, you can elect to have all incoming packages to you upgraded. It also applies to my DH's packages. I also get tracking and delivery updates.

I don't know why but Ulta has been putting signature requirements on some packages lately and not even high value ones. I am able to signature release it and don't have to wait to catch the driver.

Ooh! I didn’t know this was a thing. I'm going to look into this.

[Pink Cashmere]

Dec 4, 2023 1:52:37 GMT -5 CCL said:

Dec 4, 2023 1:26:33 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Which is another thing I need to sit down and figure out. One of my retirement benefits is that if I retire once I meet the minimum requirements in my late 50’s, I can receive a supplement equivalent to or close to SS, until age 62, when I am actually eligible for SS. Idk if that taking the supplement means I have to take SS at age 62 though. I want to say it doesn’t, but I’m not sure. 

I am pretty sure I could delay taking SS if I were still with Mister, and I could’ve possibly delayed it with my original plan. I don’t see me being able to wait if I have to scrap all my plans and figure out something else. 

Countrygirl, I have to find some sort of balance and middle ground. I am not willing to keep working into my 60’s if I can retire sooner rather than later, and be able to provide for my needs and at least some of my wants. A modest lifestyle is okay with me, if that means I don’t have to work anymore. 

I’d rather live a modest lifestyle and be healthy and mobile enough to enjoy as many years being retired as I can, than work until my health and body is such a mess that my quality of life sucks so much that I can’t even enjoy being retired.

In 5 years, I will have worked full time, for 30 years at the same job, and been a productive citizen, I feel like it shouldn’t be so complicated for me to be able to finally sit my ass down somewhere and be free from having to go to a job every freaking day, , if that’s what I want to do. I feel like I will have given enough to be able to do that without worrying about having to eat cat food, or whether I can afford medical care when I need it. 

I know and understand that nobody forced me to work the kind of job I have, but there is also the fact that if people like me didn’t/don’t work the kind of job I have, our society would be a mess. People like me work odd schedules that affect our time with our families, which is a price we pay, and when it’s a physically demanding job, like mine is, we pay even more with the toll on our bodies. Again, I understand that nobody forces us to work those kinds of jobs, but if you think about, if all of us worker bees that work those kinds of jobs, just disappeared, the world as you know it, would LITERALLY change for the worst.

It was us worker bees that have the jobs that people look down on, that held things together and made shit happen during the pandemic to enable other people to stay home and/or otherwise protect themselves from the virus we were regularly exposing ourselves to because our jobs required us to be physically present to keep things running in our country, to try to provide for and protect people so they could be safe…. people that don’t even respect us because we don’t have lofty careers. And many of them still stupid enough that a damn pandemic didn’t open their eyes to the fact that even worker bees have value and are a necessary part of our society.

That has added to my desire to just get out of the game. My employer has made it clear in a local level, for decades, that I’m just a body, and easily replaced. I get looked down in society, because I’m a blue collar worker. So I just want to bide my time until I can stop working. I will always do my job for as long as I am employed, because my personal ethics say that I give a fair day of work for a fair day of pay. But that’s all I have, nothing more, and nothing less….. when I use to give more. Now, I am giving the same energy I receive. 

And more than ever, I just want to be done with it asap! The working world period.

And I feel like I have to add that my desire to be done has nothing to do with Mister, or me wanting or trying to lean on him. It makes me mad that I even have to clarify that these days, because ain’t nobody (not me!) trying to depend on no man, to be okay.

That turned into a rant that I didn’t intend, but I meant everything I said, so I won’t edit it. And the rant was not at all directed at you MPL, even though I quoted you. 

Pink if your supplement works like my brother's, at age 62 it stops. He didn't have to start drawing SS, but his pension was reduced by the supplement amount, so without signing up for SS he had a lot less money every month.

Yes, it does stop at age 62. I’ve never heard or read that taking the supplement reduces our pension amount. I will look into that, to be sure. Thank you for sharing how your brother’s works.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Dec 4, 2023 12:01:08 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Dec 3, 2023 23:58:03 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I spent way too much money this weekend, but got most of the Christmas shopping for the kids done, got my windshield fixed on my car (free, but also had them put on new blades), spent a couple hundred at Sam's Club...part of which was splurging on some big Christmas lights for the walkway in front of the house, and did my annual $500 in Target gift cards at 15% off...which will go towards remaining gifts.  Kids stockings, two nephews, one niece, and alcohol for all the siblings and parents left.

I also replaced the oil pressure sensor on my van this weekend and am going to cross my fingers and drive it tomorrow. It hasn't been more than a mile or two from the house since it's cardiac event.  If it doesn't give me any problems I'm going to cancel it's Tuesday appointment, if it does...well...it was just $20 for the sensor.

Thia is me. I went to pay bills after all the Black Friday shopping and trip to Texas. 🤐 Needless to say that I'll be reigning it in significantly for the rest of the year.

I feel like if Black Friday is the only time I go overboard and I behave myself for the rest of the year, I'm doing pretty ok.

I'm horrible this time of the year, and this year I didn't have the money set aside like I normally do because the trip ate it all up.  Oh well. 

[soupandstew]

Another part of the SS equation is how much of it is taxable in retirement, either by the Feds or the state.  

I quit working full-time at 54 to retire with my DH.  I worked part-time off and on through 2010, and took my SS at age 62.  We basically invested it in the market and earned a substantially greater return than we would have experienced by leaving it until my FRA.  

[giramomma]

Dec 4, 2023 1:26:33 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

In 5 years, I will have worked full time, for 30 years at the same job, and been a productive citizen, I feel like it shouldn’t be so complicated for me to be able to finally sit my ass down somewhere and be free from having to go to a job every freaking day, , if that’s what I want to do. I feel like I will have given enough to be able to do that without worrying about having to eat cat food, or whether I can afford medical care when I need it. 


That has added to my desire to just get out of the game. My employer has made it clear in a local level, for decades, that I’m just a body, and easily replaced. I get looked down in society, because I’m a blue collar worker. So I just want to bide my time until I can stop working. I will always do my job for as long as I am employed, because my personal ethics say that I give a fair day of work for a fair day of pay. But that’s all I have, nothing more, and nothing less….. when I use to give more. Now, I am giving the same energy I receive. 

And more than ever, I just want to be done with it asap! The working world period.

I feel this so much. Except I'm 6.5 years out, and the best I can hope for is slowing down. I can't fully retire at 55 with senior in HS and a kid in middle school. Well, I could because it would be advantageous for income purposes. We don't have enough to live off of for 30-40 years if we want to stay well enough above the poverty line.

[soupandstew]

Going to Target is almost as bad as going to Costco.  We had a list of about 6 things and came out with a cart full.  I had sticker shock at DH Gillette cartridges - $30 for 10.  I'm thankful they do last well so that will take us well into next year.  

[minnesotapaintlady]

Cancelled my appointment for the van tomorrow.  It's running really well and even the plain ole' check engine light shut off when I headed to Autozone over lunch (the Defcon 5 light as I like to call it...it was at Defcon 1 last week).  They read my codes and gave me a print out and it came up about exactly as I thought it would so I'm just going to wait and see.  I also noticed a headlight was burned out this morning and hemmed and hawed over replacing both with high quality ones.  I decided replacing just the burnt out one with a cheapy would probably be the best move at this point.

[countrygirl2]

We cancelled the Dish account, found we do fine with Roku so saved $40 something a month. I just review our Sirius accounts, the Buick had some off the promotion and was $48 alone. They have a new plan that doesn't have to be renewed all the time so saved about $40 per month, we have 3 cars and a portable on it. So from $88 to $35 a month, so I did good. I review these annually and save on them.

Now we just have internet in Wa for $50 a month and $148 here for landline and internet, would love to cut the phone but can't. So saved $90 to $100 a month. That does not include our cells, we are going on a different plan for hubs, may add a second line on mine for his, it works better. Mine is $39 a month and his $29 but his service is very bad or non existent.

Next will be review our insurance on vehicles and house. 

Ok, have to go to town to update exemptions on property taxes.

[countrygirl2]

Yes our SS benefits are 85% taxable because of other income, even with no rentals it won't drop, even with just SS income only will still be the same, sigh.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Dec 4, 2023 10:04:08 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

IDK if I am happy or sad about the bears.  Probably both.

That being said despite it being the size of Abby I figured out how to keep it in bed with me pretty much all night.  For the first time in days I actually slept.  That is a good thing. 

However DH said bringing an emotional support teddy to work probably wouldn't fly so the bear hanging out in the bedroom.

Can you leave it in your car for a quick visit?

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I got a call from GenVisa this morning, the company that is procuring our visas for Cambodia and Vietnam.  Things have gotten much more complicated.

The good news was that the package got mailed out at 3 pm Friday, this morning they were working on it AND they read my note.  Only problem is that the cannot procure our Cambodia visas this far in advance.  They can do Vietnam’s though.  So what we have to do is when we get back from London, we have to FedEx the passports back to get the Cambodia visas in the less than a month (of the year’s shortest month)  before we leave again and get the passports back to us.  

I told TD that this is causing entirely too much heartburn!  

[snapdragon]

I have built a metal cabinet for the bathroom overage stuff. I will admit I miss my old bathroom storage system. But I will manage, and things will be fine once I re-arrange the bedroom.

Off to build/put together the media cabinet that I have been saying I was going to do last week. I need caffeine and lunch beforehand though.

Waiting for return calls on a few things so need to have the phone close at hand.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Dec 4, 2023 13:29:06 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Dec 4, 2023 10:04:08 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

IDK if I am happy or sad about the bears.  Probably both.

That being said despite it being the size of Abby I figured out how to keep it in bed with me pretty much all night.  For the first time in days I actually slept.  That is a good thing. 

However DH said bringing an emotional support teddy to work probably wouldn't fly so the bear hanging out in the bedroom.

Can you leave it in your car for a quick visit?

I thought about it but it's large enough that I don't want someone thinking it's a kid and breaking my window.  

I had that fear with Abby's Mickey and Minnie she used to carry around all the time.  I had them sitting in the boosters and realized they were big enough to be mistaken for children and was worried someone would smash my windows and think later. At the very least I'd give some poor bystander a heart attack.

So my bright idea was I would put them in the trunk.  After I got done I realized that I was likely on camera shoving two toddler sized beings into my trunk and walking away.

[Pink Cashmere]

Last week, 2 guys at my job were talking, J is a 100% disabled veteran and he loves to brag about it, I guess it makes him feel rich or something, The other guy told him he has him beat, he’s also a 100% disabled veteran, he gets another check because he’s retired military, he gets a paycheck from working, and a check for something else I don’t remember. I got distracted from the conversation because I started wondering if he has all of that income, why he’s allowed things to get to the point that he’s missing so many teeth. I know we have decent dental benefits. Man use some of that income and fix your mouth!

I try not to judge people, but I feel like dental stuff is a necessity, and I wondered why someone with access to decent, affordable, dental insurance and all the income he was bragging about, wouldn’t take care of their teeth.

Just a random something that popped into my head while I was reading the retirement stuff here.

[chiver78]

it's a good thing my phone is on mute b/c the dogs have been barking all day. I definitely just had no filter in speaking out loud something I've been thinking - "Would you let the woman speak?!"  this pushy woman on my side of the call happens to be the one that wouldn't hesitate to throw me under the bus when I was having issues with account access on one of our Quality Systems a couple years back. we're on a production call with one of my sites, and her pattern has been to ask a question, let the site contact start answering, and then speak OVER HER to argue with her about the answer she hasn't listened to, but knows she doesn't like. FFS...let the woman answer your question before you start to shit on the answer. 

[lurkyloo]

Feeling like everything I say is wrong today and therefore trying not to send any emails I don’t absolutely have to 

ETA depression can be a side effect of the new migraine preventive (which is clearly not preventing migraines based on yesterday   ). I wonder if that ties in to this feeling that I’m doing everything wrong?  I don’t feel sad exactly but I am second guessing myself and wincing like anybody’s business 

[giramomma]

Dec 4, 2023 14:20:08 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Last week, 2 guys at my job were talking, J is a 100% disabled veteran and he loves to brag about it, I guess it makes him feel rich or something, The other guy told him he has him beat, he’s also a 100% disabled veteran, he gets another check because he’s retired military, he gets a paycheck from working, and a check for something else I don’t remember. I got distracted from the conversation because I started wondering if he has all of that income, why he’s allowed things to get to the point that he’s missing so many teeth. I know we have decent dental benefits. Man use some of that income and fix your mouth!

I try not to judge people, but I feel like dental stuff is a necessity, and I wondered why someone with access to decent, affordable, dental insurance and all the income he was bragging about, wouldn’t take care of their teeth.

Just a random something that popped into my head while I was reading the retirement stuff here.

Not everyone views medical care as a need.

My dad grew up on a farm. You didn't get medical care, unless you were dying. Which is how he ended up with stage iv cancer. With regular check ups, he could have had more of an outcome like CGs husband.

My mom doesn't go see medical types as a way to marytr herself.

I almost didn't go to see the dr to get my lump checked out. I am grateful that I did decide to go.

I do go see my oncologist and surgeon. I haven't been to a regular doctor in a really long time. Probably at least 15 years. Drs are for sick people, and I am not sick.

It's a hard thing to get over.

[lurkyloo]

Dec 4, 2023 14:36:36 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Dec 4, 2023 14:20:08 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Last week, 2 guys at my job were talking, J is a 100% disabled veteran and he loves to brag about it, I guess it makes him feel rich or something, The other guy told him he has him beat, he’s also a 100% disabled veteran, he gets another check because he’s retired military, he gets a paycheck from working, and a check for something else I don’t remember. I got distracted from the conversation because I started wondering if he has all of that income, why he’s allowed things to get to the point that he’s missing so many teeth. I know we have decent dental benefits. Man use some of that income and fix your mouth!

I try not to judge people, but I feel like dental stuff is a necessity, and I wondered why someone with access to decent, affordable, dental insurance and all the income he was bragging about, wouldn’t take care of their teeth.

Just a random something that popped into my head while I was reading the retirement stuff here.

Not everyone views medical care as a need.

My dad grew up on a farm. You didn't get medical care, unless you were dying. Which is how he ended up with stage iv cancer. With regular check ups, he could have had more of an outcome like CGs husband.

My mom doesn't go see medical types as a way to marytr herself.

I almost didn't go to see the dr to get my lump checked out. I am grateful that I did decide to go.

I do go see my oncologist and surgeon. I haven't been to a regular doctor in a really long time. Probably at least 15 years. Drs are for sick people, and I am not sick.

It's a hard thing to get over.

I don’t have a GP.  At this point I’m embarrassed to make an appointment bc I don’t even know where to start collecting medical records.  Default attitude is I’m fine, even as functioning normally seems like it gets progressively harder.

I do have a neurologist, dermatologist, psychiatrist and dentist, at least?  Baby steps.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Dec 4, 2023 14:36:36 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Dec 4, 2023 14:20:08 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Last week, 2 guys at my job were talking, J is a 100% disabled veteran and he loves to brag about it, I guess it makes him feel rich or something, The other guy told him he has him beat, he’s also a 100% disabled veteran, he gets another check because he’s retired military, he gets a paycheck from working, and a check for something else I don’t remember. I got distracted from the conversation because I started wondering if he has all of that income, why he’s allowed things to get to the point that he’s missing so many teeth. I know we have decent dental benefits. Man use some of that income and fix your mouth!

I try not to judge people, but I feel like dental stuff is a necessity, and I wondered why someone with access to decent, affordable, dental insurance and all the income he was bragging about, wouldn’t take care of their teeth.

Just a random something that popped into my head while I was reading the retirement stuff here.

Not everyone views medical care as a need.

My dad grew up on a farm. You didn't get medical care, unless you were dying. Which is how he ended up with stage iv cancer. With regular check ups, he could have had more of an outcome like CGs husband.

My mom doesn't go see medical types as a way to marytr herself.

I almost didn't go to see the dr to get my lump checked out. I am grateful that I did decide to go.

I do go see my oncologist and surgeon. I haven't been to a regular doctor in a really long time. Probably at least 15 years. Drs are for sick people, and I am not sick.

It's a hard thing to get over.

Right?  I wish my mom had gone to the doctor when she started to first experience shortness of breath.  That happened months before the heart attack as far as I can tell from conversations with dad.  He was about ready to force her in himself.

But she didn't.  She had a massive fear of doctors and didn't trust them.  Maybe if she had gone when she first started experiencing it they would have caught the blockages and been able to treat them before the resulting heart attack.

I cannot say I blame her because I have the same phobia x20 now but I am forcing myself to go the opposite route.  I go in to the doctor whether I want to or not.  I just inform them of my phobia and advise they might want to take my BP after the appointment is over if they want an accurate reading.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Dec 4, 2023 14:41:58 GMT -5 lurkyloo said:

Dec 4, 2023 14:36:36 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Not everyone views medical care as a need.

My dad grew up on a farm. You didn't get medical care, unless you were dying. Which is how he ended up with stage iv cancer. With regular check ups, he could have had more of an outcome like CGs husband.

My mom doesn't go see medical types as a way to marytr herself.

I almost didn't go to see the dr to get my lump checked out. I am grateful that I did decide to go.

I do go see my oncologist and surgeon. I haven't been to a regular doctor in a really long time. Probably at least 15 years. Drs are for sick people, and I am not sick.

It's a hard thing to get over.

I don’t have a GP.  At this point I’m embarrassed to make an appointment bc I don’t even know where to start collecting medical records.  Default attitude is I’m fine, even as functioning normally seems like it gets progressively harder.

I do have a neurologist, dermatologist, psychiatrist and dentist, at least?  Baby steps.

With it all electronic now you shouldn't have to collect it.  They have it all at their fingertips.  If they don't it's a hell of a lot easier to collect than it used to be.   You just sign a form and it unlocks whatever cloud like ability they have and they can see your records.

[azucena]

Dec 4, 2023 14:41:58 GMT -5 lurkyloo said:

Dec 4, 2023 14:36:36 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Not everyone views medical care as a need.

My dad grew up on a farm. You didn't get medical care, unless you were dying. Which is how he ended up with stage iv cancer. With regular check ups, he could have had more of an outcome like CGs husband.

My mom doesn't go see medical types as a way to marytr herself.

I almost didn't go to see the dr to get my lump checked out. I am grateful that I did decide to go.

I do go see my oncologist and surgeon. I haven't been to a regular doctor in a really long time. Probably at least 15 years. Drs are for sick people, and I am not sick.

It's a hard thing to get over.

I don’t have a GP.  At this point I’m embarrassed to make an appointment bc I don’t even know where to start collecting medical records.  Default attitude is I’m fine, even as functioning normally seems like it gets progressively harder.

I do have a neurologist, dermatologist, psychiatrist and dentist, at least?  Baby steps.

Don't let past medical records stop you. Just answer their current intake questionnaire and get a physical to establish a baseline. They'll guide you on necessary tests and screenings based on your answers and your age.

[wvugurl26]

Also depending on how long it's been since you have seen the doctor, they may have destroyed the records. When the tmj drove me to find a new oral surgeon, they wanted my prior records. I figured out who it was and when from my receipts/EOBs. Called only to find out that my records were destroyed since I was last there in 2016.

Definitely agree with azucena especially since in my experience the prior records may not even exist anymore.