What to ask the doctor

funjen1972

I have an appointment with my doctor on Friday. My objective is to get a health baseline and see if he thinks I can cut further without negative health issues. I will ask for referals for:

General labs
Thyroid panel (history of issues)
Mammogram
Dexa scan (not sure if he will sign off)

What am I missing?

kshama2001

How about you articulate your argument for getting a DEXA scan here and we can help you refine it?

AnnPT77

If the lab you go to has a web site, take a look at it and see if they list their specific available test panels. Knowing *exactly* what you want could be helpful (vs. "general labs", whatever you'd include in that). If you live in the North, see if they'll test vitamin D, and depending on how you eat some other nutritional tests might be nice to have.

Have you had any suitable gynecological tests lately, depending on your age & status? Old enough to qualify for bone density screening? Up to date on stuff like tetanus, age-suitable vaccines, etc.?

deannalfisher

Be specific about labs - ask for CBC and CMP

Thyroid panel - most docs will only order TSH and T4 - so you need to be specific (T3, RT4, RT3 Free T4 are the other ones off top of my head)

My doc does an EKG annually as part of my physical

pinggolfer96

What’s the point of a dexa scan....??? Even those aren’t accurate

amusedmonkey

pinggolfer96 wrote: »

What’s the point of a dexa scan....??? Even those aren’t accurate

Usually used for bone density, which is a concern for some women.

happytree923

What is the benefit of asking for specific tests, rather than giving your personal/family history and explaining what you are trying to do and letting the doctor decide what tests to order? More testing 'just in case' is not beneficial. I would understand this if you were having specific problems but it sounds like you feel healthy.

Kdp2015

I’d be very interested in dexa as my mum has osteoporosis and tells me it hereditary

funjen1972

Kdp2015 wrote: »

I’d be very interested in dexa as my mum has osteoporosis and tells me it hereditary

Exactly this. My mother has had bone density issues for decades, which started about my age (I'm 46). Knowledge is power - I'd like to know if there is an issue so I can take positive steps to mitigate a problem.

funjen1972

deannalfisher wrote: »

Be specific about labs - ask for CBC and CMP

Thyroid panel - most docs will only order TSH and T4 - so you need to be specific (T3, RT4, RT3 Free T4 are the other ones off top of my head)

My doc does an EKG annually as part of my physical

Thanks, we always do a full panel, not just tsh, since I have history. I had a thyroidectomy 25 years ago. I do a full panel every 2 years or so, sooner if I'm symptomatic.

funjen1972

AnnPT77 wrote: »

If the lab you go to has a web site, take a look at it and see if they list their specific available test panels. Knowing *exactly* what you want could be helpful (vs. "general labs", whatever you'd include in that). If you live in the North, see if they'll test vitamin D, and depending on how you eat some other nutritional tests might be nice to have.

Have you had any suitable gynecological tests lately, depending on your age & status? Old enough to qualify for bone density screening? Up to date on stuff like tetanus, age-suitable vaccines, etc.?

Good advice on the labs, thanks.

Gyno is taken care of. I had a hysterectomy less than a year ago. I focused on that issue instead of general health for the past few years.

I hadn't thought about vaccines. Hmmmm