My new doctor is formidably acceptable. Likeable, too! Since 2017 offers no choice in our county other than Humana, my wife & I can see him together, as he's "on the list". Lab took the blood last Friday, today I picked up the results at his office, have appointment with him Friday. I told the receptionist I was "dying" to find out how much closer I'd inched toward death's doorstep since last checkup, 14 months ago! She laughed, saying the results were pretty good, handing me the papers. My Cholesterol went up, from 199 to 237, GGT (liver enzyme) highest ever at 157, limit is 65. Not good news, but the other two liver indicators are right in mid-range OK. I'll see what he says about that. Blood sugar 97, Hurray! It always irks my wife that my Triglycerides remain always very low, while hers are very high. I take no medication other than mild anti-hypertensive. She is on a statin and a Beta-Blocker. Overall, I am happy with it, but wish the arthritis-associated pain were less. We still walk the 3-mile Riverwalk several times a week, and in an hour! Frank
@Joe Riley Actually, I wish I were more patient, with being a patient! Lifelong aversion to needles, for one thing. It came a lifetime later, to realize that, as a small kid, when our old family doctor came to the house (my Mom didn't drive), when I was stricken with one of those childhood unknowns, he pressed his fingers into the flesh of my stomach. I though he was purposely tickling me! He sought to find a possible enlarged liver! Frank
Well, today we went to the Doctor's office. He practices out of relatively small strip mall location. Previously, only he and a receptionist were present. Today, at least 4 others were moving about, suggesting he had added hired help. His new receptionist was extremely in tune. Our weight and blood oxygen content were taken by a young woman who said very little, (his daughter, we learned later). Cutting to "the chase": he took my wife off her statin cholesterol drug, sat and listened as we asked various questions, considered deeply my many concerns, and concluded, again, that my blood work-up represented near-perfection, for my age; he wished his own was as good. He asked questions now and then, but mainly let us lead the conversation, then took it up in detail. In short, this guy is the most patient-oriented doctor I have ever had. No pretense, whatever. Frank
@Cody Fousnaugh @Shirley Martin Here is one of the revelations, for me, which he shared. My Cholesterol at 237 troubled me. He pointed out that this number is combined Cholesterol, High and Low- Density (HDL and LDL), the High being the "good stuff", higher the reading, the better. Mine is sky-high, so subtracting the "good" from the 237, leaves a very acceptable remainder for the "bad". Not to worry. Why my HDL is high, or my Triglycerides ridiculously low, he calls "genetic". Frank
Frank it looks like you might have an up to date doctor if your Cholesterol was 237 and he did not want to put you on statin and took your wife off of them that is a good sign. Most of the older trained doctor see anything over 200 and go nuts. Naturopath doctors say 220 -270 is a good range. He might be a keeper all the best.
Great news, Frank! I finally got my D level up to normal. That was the only thing off on my prior blood test. I took 2,000 IUs for a few months and that did the trick...I will continue taking the D, especially in the winter.
@Chrissy Cross I read somewhere that nearly half of American adults are Vitamin D deficient, and that taking it is tricky somehow. During routine blood testing D is not included unless specifically ordered, guess they add to the charges. My wife was deficient, back years ago, the insurance didn't want to pay for it. Mine has never been checked. D is a very important Vitamin. Frank
Yes, it's not on a routine blood test and is slightly expensive but I have paid cash for it so not crazy expensive. Now that I'm on Medicare, it was covered. Yes, D is very important and my dr said keeping on taking the amount I was.