Consulting physician???

Options
danicaone_101
danicaone_101 Posts: 40 Member
in Getting Started
Hello beautiful people,

I hope everyone is having a great week. just curious, how many of you guys consulted your primary physician before joining this wonderful journey to a healthier life? And if so, did you guys get various tests done, such as blood work? In addition, did you guys consult other health professionals for further advice about your health, such as a nutritionist?

Ever since I was diagnosed with having costochondritis, I decided to get blood work done. I am waiting for my results and I am STRESSING OUT about it. I am very worried about my cholesterol and A1C levels. Sad to say but I am a huge worry wart (and my doctor knows that I am one) and I know that once I enter my doctor's office, my heart will start to race and my blood pressure will be high.

Any support and reply will be much appreciated! :smile: :smile:
«1

Replies

  • Shropshire1959
    Shropshire1959 Posts: 982 Member
    Options
    Mr Dr is overweight and smokes - no way I'm going there for advice :-p .. there's a reason why they are in General Practice [/generalisation]

    P.S why are you stressing out about your results? Were you stressed about your bloods BEFORE you had them taken? .. because they were the same then :-p The only difference is that you will soon know what shape your bloods are .. I would think that would be LESS stressful.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Options
    I don't think it's common to seek medical attention if the problem is just overweight. That's sort of what we have MFP and the like for.
  • FitnessInstructorKhalil
    FitnessInstructorKhalil Posts: 43 Member
    Options
    If you're just overweight then exercising and good nutrition will only improve all those things that you go to the doctor to ask.
  • MammaMouse
    MammaMouse Posts: 52
    Options
    I had a quick discussion with my neuro ophthalmologist, only because I have a condition that causes headaches very easily with movements such as working out. Otherwise though, I don't think most people talk to their doctors before deciding to lose weight.
  • LianaG1115
    LianaG1115 Posts: 453 Member
    Options
    Nope, they're all money hungry and referral happy people!!

    I spent my money on a trainer and asked him what to eat! FYI shop around for trainers if you go that route, make sure they have experience and knowledge not just some training institute certificate.
  • tryett
    tryett Posts: 530 Member
    Options
    I did but it was mainly because I wanted her to sign a medical necessity form so that I could run the expense for a weight loss program/dietician and gym membership through my healthcare spending account ( pre-tax, since I had money in there). She did run tests but I already knew I was prediabetic.
  • hnathansen
    hnathansen Posts: 2
    Options
    Well, I had some issues of my own that I was experiencing and I went to my doctor to talk to her about them. She strongly thought I had a Thyroid disease so she ran tests on me and checked everything with my blood work. I explained to her how I wanted to start eating healthier and exercising so she's the one who told me about MFP. While we waited for my results to come back for two weeks, I kept track of everything I ate and the exercise that I've done (no I didn't lie) and I ended up gaining 3 pounds in 2 weeks. The MFP showed that I burned more calories than I consumed nearly everyday. She asked me if I wanted to try a weight loss prescription to help kick start the weight loss, so now this is the first day I added that to my ritual. Let's see how this goes... If I wasn't experiencing some other issues to begin with I wouldn't of consulted a doctor about becoming healthier and losing weight.
  • MysteriousMerlin
    MysteriousMerlin Posts: 2,270 Member
    Options
    I see my endocrinologist every 3 months, bloodwork every 3 months, and have a cholesterol check once a year. I currently don't have a regular physician as she moved to Texas recently :sad:
  • tracydr
    tracydr Posts: 528 Member
    Options
    Nope, they're all money hungry and referral happy people!!

    I spent my money on a trainer and asked him what to eat! FYI shop around for trainers if you go that route, make sure they have experience and knowledge not just some training institute certificate.
    Most doctors nowadays work for a company. They make salary or hourly. Very few are getting the money for insurance, that goes to the company. As for referrals, it's called malpractice. Failure to refer to a specialist and misdiagnosing or mistreating a disease outside your area of expertise is a huge cause for malpractice and board sanctions.
    Not sure how you think a doctor referring to another specialist is being money hungry. Kickbacks would be highly illegal.
    Family Practice and Internal Medicine doctors are not General Practioners. The day of general Practioners is gone. Very few still left in practice.
    FP and IM requires a specialized residency and further board exams, CME and board recertification exams on a regular basis. None of which was required by general Practioners. General Practice doctors still did 3 board exams and an internship, after at least 12 years of college.
    Yeah, it's a big,money making scandal!
    Granted, orthopedic surgeons and cardiac surgeons are making a lot of money but not your Primary Care provider.
    The money hungry one is the trainer for gyms like 24 Hour Fitness. They often have little academic training and work on sales commission.
  • ladyargentum
    ladyargentum Posts: 82 Member
    Options
    Not initially as I am otherwise healthy (other than being overweight). However about 6wks in I did see my doc for other reasons and had blood tests done for possible PCOS. So I did discuss with doc then what I was doing etc.

    If you have any medical things which could effect you then see your doc. For most ppl changing to a healthier lifestyle probably won't need a doc visit at the start.
  • lee112780
    lee112780 Posts: 419 Member
    Options
    I have costocondritis too...just have to be careful doing any chest workouts. It never hurts to see a Dr. Mine told me I had a thyrois disease. Chill out with the anxiety...thats not helping costo. Trust me, I have been through it. Add me if you want ; )
  • joansjourney
    joansjourney Posts: 110
    Options
    I did but it was mainly because I wanted her to sign a medical necessity form so that I could run the expense for a weight loss program/dietician and gym membership through my healthcare spending account ( pre-tax, since I had money in there). She did run tests but I already knew I was prediabetic.

    ^^^This!

    I take full benefit of my FSA, but I also see a psychologist because I do have a food addiction and also a dietician to help with my food choices. I run all of this through my insurance and excess through my FSA.
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    Options
    my doctor is clueless and simply wants to put me on medication. she referred me to a dietician who gave me lots of incorrect info. my last doctor is heavy, stressed and wanted me on pills, but that's all the advice i received, even when i asked.

    i find it was more useful to do lots of reading from reliable sources (that means double and triple check anything you get off forums or sources that aren't like mayo clinic or the nutrition almanac, and even check them with other sources. learn what makes your body tick, how much is too much exercise, etc. i figured diet and exercise out myself, and it's working well.
  • wonderwoman234
    wonderwoman234 Posts: 551 Member
    Options
    I am betting that as you lose weight, eat better, and get more exercise, you will start to feel much better. Those are things you can actually control that contribute to good health! :)
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Options
    I had no choice. A doctor visit and the lab work that was done is what finally kicked me in the head and got me started (after 4 days in the hospital with severe anemia). I also had to go back to get a health release form signed so I could start taking water aerobics classes at a local fitness center.

    Regarding your labs, they are what they are and getting results, whether good or bad will give you a starting point so you can see how you have improved.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,831 Member
    Options
    My physician keeps me hostage to once-every-three-month check ups before I can get my prescriptions if I'm at my top weight but when my numbers go down because I'm eating better and exercising, he'll extend it to 4 months. When I get down a goodly amount, I'm going to campaign for even longer scrips.

    I suppose whether to check with your physician depends on things like age, medical conditions, etc. Rule number 1 is don't do anything stupid. I remember a colleague about 30 years ago who was a chubby pot smoker. He suddenly decided he should clean up his act and started doing long distance running without working up to it. He was in his late 20s and was dead in a week. So, don't do anything stupid.

    I have found that physicians really don't have time (or sometimes the knowledge) to give the best diet advice so learn what is best for you, by yourself or from a qualified professional. If you want to start some self education, a good place to look is Harvard University School of Public Health's "Nutritionsource" http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/
  • scubasuenc
    scubasuenc Posts: 626 Member
    Options
    My doctor actually recommended MFP to me. She has used it to lose weight and suggested that it would be a great tool for me. She is one of my MFP friends and can see my progress.

    It was after my annual physical and the accompanying blood work that I started this journey. I am a Type 2 diabetic so we repeated key blood work every 3 months.
  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    Options
    If you're just overweight then exercising and good nutrition will only improve all those things that you go to the doctor to ask.

    It's still a good idea to chat to your Doctor about it. Bloodwork is a good idea especially if you haven't been eating the healthiest diet. You feel dramatically better if you can correct (through diet or supplementation) any defficiencies. If you're cutting calories then you can be at risk for vitimin defficiencies. Doesn't hurt to check whether your hormones are okay as well so that you know what you're up against before you start

    They might also be able to help you out with anthing that could be a barrier to starting an exercise routine
  • ashleymmannisto
    ashleymmannisto Posts: 62 Member
    Options
    I talked to mine. I just told her my plan, found out she also uses MFP, and she had blood work taken just to make sure I wasn't fighting against a thyroid and such. All my levels were perfect! And she referred me to a dietitian. :) Although, a month later, Still no appointment. :/
  • caveninit
    caveninit Posts: 153 Member
    Options
    Hello beautiful people,

    I hope everyone is having a great week. just curious, how many of you guys consulted your primary physician before joining this wonderful journey to a healthier life? And if so, did you guys get various tests done, such as blood work? In addition, did you guys consult other health professionals for further advice about your health, such as a nutritionist?

    Ever since I was diagnosed with having costochondritis, I decided to get blood work done. I am waiting for my results and I am STRESSING OUT about it. I am very worried about my cholesterol and A1C levels. Sad to say but I am a huge worry wart (and my doctor knows that I am one) and I know that once I enter my doctor's office, my heart will start to race and my blood pressure will be high.

    Any support and reply will be much appreciated! :smile: :smile:

    You're like me..I get very high anxiety at the doctors office and my blood pressure soars! Not a good feeling at all. Try to stay calm...stressing wont change anything. If your cholesterol and/or A1C is high, as mine was, diet can really help with that. Since losing weight my blood pressure came way down...I am going for repeat bloodwork to see if it helped my A1C...I think it did as I feel a million times better than I have in years. Hope all is well with you.

Categories