This is kind of long-winded - sorry!! But, I'm not here with an 'OMG something weird is happening, what should I do?' post. Its really very general. Ever since I went vegan I've been able to recognize exactly what causes the illnesses I seem to catch, whether its stress, lack of sleep, etc. I went through the flu season more easily than before I went vegan - almost TOO easily. Finally caught the bug when I spent a few nights cramming for exams, got stressed out, didn't get enough sleep, didn't have time to cook good food. After a few nights of decent sleep and something more nourishing than instant oatmeal & ramen, I was feeling much better. (as compared to taking like 3 weeks to get over the sniffles before being vegan..) However I've had really bad headaches ever since I was a kid. My mom used to have to write me notes to the phys. ed instructor to let me sit out if I pitched a fit about not feeling good, after a few times I was denied because they thought I was "faking."

A few times a month I still get these headaches and general nausea - nothing as bad as a migraine (had a couple of those and they hit you like a train wreck - no mistaking them  :-\) and my boyfriend has been pestering me to go in for a general check-up because he's seen how the headaches really knock me off my feet for a day. I think I'm just a big wimp. If more than one thing hurts at a time (see: tummyache AND headache, no matter how mild), I have to throw in the towel and stay in bed with a book. I'm a bad person, I know.

About doctor visits though, I've been kind of wary. How do I go about that? Esp with doctors being so vegan-unfriendly. What do I even ask for when I make the appt? A check-up? I dont want to shell out money (no insurance) to have a doc listen to my heart and take my blood pressure. That doesnt tell me much - can't I even get that done in one of those chairs at a pharmacy? Do regular check ups involve blood tests? Is it an arm and a leg to get checked up for general health? It would be nice to have a doctor validate my vegan diet by saying "Hmm, looks like you're getting all your vitamins" but I'm honestly kind of terrified of hearing "you're deficient in this, this, and this" and not be able to ask "what should I eat then?" because I'm confident they'll throw supplements at me, or worse, insist I eat meat/dairy/eggs etc.

:P Any suggestions? Doctors visits are such a pain.. Sorry for rambling! This could've been much more direct.. OH well *clicks "Post"*