For yearly physical what tests do you guys get done?

[FREE866]

I'm 58 years old and every December I get an annual physical that includes:
prostate check
cholesterol check
triglycerides check
vitamin d, testosterone, potassium, sodium,red and white blood cell, B12etc

So here is my question. Are there any other specific tests that I should be getting done?

thank you

 

[Lawrencewendall]

I have type 2 diabetes so my insurance covers bloodwork every 6 months. Here's what they do.

 

[Dash man]

I get all the usual tests plus some additional tests from my nephrologist and my neurologist. The good people at the lab know me well.

 

[skipro33]

I'm 68, get my annual during the month of my birth, October. Blood work consists of;
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
Lipid panel, standard

Also, every 6 months, June and December, I have blood work from my oncologist consisting of;
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
A CMP refers to a broad screening tool that includes 14 tests that evaluate the functioning of a person's liver and kidneys, as well as the body's fluid balance and general metabolism. The results additionally provide a general indicator of your overall health; a CMP is often ordered in your yearly physical exam.
In a CMP, levels of liver enzymes, waste products of the kidneys (BUN and creatinine), electrolytes (calcium, sodium, potassium), and glucose, among other indicators of general body function are detected. The test results of a CMP are useful to examine for conditions, such as diabetes, liver disease, and kidney disease and also to monitor present conditions, such as hypertension.

Lactate Dehydrogenase
(LD) is an enzyme found in most organs and tissues in the body including liver, pancreas, heart, kidneys, and skeletal muscle.

CBC w/differential
A test that measures the specifics of your white blood cell count, plus all your other blood cell levels, including red blood cells and platelets. A CBC w/differential measures the number of each type of these white blood cells.

I'm a blood cancer patient, so the oncology blood work will be done for the rest of my life every 6 months. My PCP tells me she would order the CMP annually because of family medical history.

I normally would have a prostate exam, but recent PET scans and a colonoscopy permitted me to skip that this year. YEA!

During the annual, my doc also tests my blood pressure, temperature, weight, pulse and oxygen content. She checks me for wounds/damage, looking for slow healing indicative of diabetes I think. She listens to my lungs. She tests my reflexes. She also interviews me for depression and asks about any changes to my sleep, including trips to the bathroom, night sweats, etc. She asks about my normal routine, what I'm doing, etc. This is to check for any cognitive decline. For example, I'll tell her I'm working on my garden. Her questions will have me telling her about how I set up the watering, fertilizer, etc. She tells me when it's enough and that I'm not exhibiting any signs of mental impairment. She will also check me for hernias.
I think that's all.

 

[aja8888]

I'm 68, get my annual during the month of my birth, October. Blood work consists of;
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
Lipid panel, standard

Also, every 6 months, June and December, I have blood work from my oncologist consisting of;
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
A CMP refers to a broad screening tool that includes 14 tests that evaluate the functioning of a person's liver and kidneys, as well as the body's fluid balance and general metabolism. The results additionally provide a general indicator of your overall health; a CMP is often ordered in your yearly physical exam.
In a CMP, levels of liver enzymes, waste products of the kidneys (BUN and creatinine), electrolytes (calcium, sodium, potassium), and glucose, among other indicators of general body function are detected. The test results of a CMP are useful to examine for conditions, such as diabetes, liver disease, and kidney disease and also to monitor present conditions, such as hypertension.

Lactate Dehydrogenase
(LD) is an enzyme found in most organs and tissues in the body including liver, pancreas, heart, kidneys, and skeletal muscle.

CBC w/differential
A test that measures the specifics of your white blood cell count, plus all your other blood cell levels, including red blood cells and platelets. A CBC w/differential measures the number of each type of these white blood cells.

I'm a blood cancer patient, so the oncology blood work will be done for the rest of my life every 6 months. My PCP tells me she would order the CMP annually because of family medical history.

I normally would have a prostate exam, but recent PET scans and a colonoscopy permitted me to skip that this year. YEA!

During the annual, my doc also tests my blood pressure, temperature, weight, pulse and oxygen content. She checks me for wounds/damage, looking for slow healing indicative of diabetes I think. She listens to my lungs. She tests my reflexes. She also interviews me for depression and asks about any changes to my sleep, including trips to the bathroom, night sweats, etc. She asks about my normal routine, what I'm doing, etc. This is to check for any cognitive decline. For example, I'll tell her I'm working on my garden. Her questions will have me telling her about how I set up the watering, fertilizer, etc. She tells me when it's enough and that I'm not exhibiting any signs of mental impairment. She will also check me for hernias.
I think that's all.

At 81, I get about the same thing, plus the interview, but no cancer here so some of those tests are not done for me. But all the basics are, and I get a PSA, even though he doc says it's not necessary since my PSA has averaged less than 1.0 forever.

 

[Ronstar]

At 69, I get the Medicare Wellness check. blood pressure, weight, pulse, etc, along with CBC Hemogram, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Lipid Panel, PSA (no digital prostate exam since turning 69), Cognitive test.

 

[FREE866]

Thanks guys....yeah , looking at my previous results I also get the CMP, Lipid panel, PSA, etc

 

[OldShooter]

My PCP orders whatever he wants to check. I do not try to be my own doctor.

 

[kite_rider]

I'm slightly younger. I get the same tests but I've noticed a difference over the past few years.. On the prostrate test they seem to just look at the PSA from my bloodwork rather than do the finger up the rear end thing that was never fun in the past.

My cholesterol was 'borderline' so one of my better Primary Care docs recommended some sort of full chest imaging thing that accurately measures the plaque buildup in your arteries. He said the test is usually very expensive, but was available for $100 (not covered by insurance) due to a study they were doing to correlate cholesterol and plaque build up in the arteries. As a bonus, he said if I had a tumor or any other abnormality in my chest cavity it would get flagged. That test turned out to be great for me, I was told I have zero plaque buildup and could ignore the cholesterol indicator. So I continue to eat pretty much whatever I want . Anyway, you might want to see if this type of test is available at a reasonable price..

 

[RetMD21]

My PCP orders whatever he wants to check. I do not try to be my own doctor.

There can be specific reasons for getting some of these tests but most of them are of little value outside those situations. Getting tests makes some people feel better. Presumably your doctor gets tests you need and skips the rest

 

[martyp]

Here in Thailand the private hospitals offer annual checkup plans. My hospital offers the menu in the photo. The Prestige Plan for men is 19,900 baht ($572). You can add additional tests for additional costs which are very inexpensive compared to anything in US healthcare. The process takes about 4 hours and I have always gotten same day or next day appointments.

 

[MC Rider]

On the prostrate test they seem to just look at the PSA from my bloodwork rather than do the finger up the rear end thing that was never fun in the past.

This was more than awkward when I had a male doctor. Now I have a female doctor, so I'm glad they just look st blood work now.

 

[1242Vintage]

In addition to all the normal blood tests and (cholesterol, liver function, A1C, prostate, etc) this time doc sent me to get an ultrasound of arteries.

Have a family history of heart disease so good for doc to check things out. Results were normal.

My Blood Pressure and Heart Rate spikes the moment I set foot in the exam room so I usually take my BP and HR every morning for a week or two before the appointment and share the data with my doctor.

 

[Teacher Terry]

There can be specific reasons for getting some of these tests but most of them are of little value outside those situations. Getting tests makes some people feel better. Presumably your doctor gets tests you need and skips the rest

I used to ask for yearly blood tests and my doctor ordered them. I haven’t asked in 2 years and she hasn’t ordered anything. I’m guessing from your reply they have limited value.

 

[Mark1]

In addition to all the normal blood tests and (cholesterol, liver function, A1C, prostate, etc) this time doc sent me to get an ultrasound of arteries.

Being a former smoker in my teens, my PCP ordered an AAA Ultrasound this year at my annual physical. I'm only 62 years old (not 65+), but it's a once and done test, so I was fine doing it a little early.

 

[jollystomper]

In additional to all the usual blood test mentioned, I get an echocardiogram and EKG, ever since having surgery to address my enlarged heart 20 years ago.

 

[DayDreaming]

64 years old - height, weight, blood pressure, standard blood work including PSA. No digital prostate exam, doc just asks if I have to get up to pee a lot at night, I don't, and that seems good enough for the doctor.

 

[MarieIG]

I haven't been to the PCP in about two years but have an appointment in December. He typically runs the usual CBC panel, but may not need to do so this year as it was run by the oncologist, along with some cancer markers. The cardiologist ran a basic lipid panel. I noticed my white blood cell count was low, but nobody seemed to be concerned about that.

 

[OldShooter]

There can be specific reasons for getting some of these tests but most of them are of little value outside those situations. Getting tests makes some people feel better. Presumably your doctor gets tests you need and skips the rest

Yes. I'm kind of cheating though as we are in a small concierge practice that's embedded in a large health care organization The result is that the docs (2 or 3) are hand-picked from a much larger pool of internist staff. So ... better technical quality IMO. Then, all appointments are booked for an hour, so there is very little that goes unexamined or un-discussed. DW and my trust level in this group is very high as a result and we don't feel we need to second-guess anyone ref tests.

 

[bmcgonig]

There can be specific reasons for getting some of these tests but most of them are of little value outside those situations. Getting tests makes some people feel better. Presumably your doctor gets tests you need and skips the rest

It’s very nebulous as to what tests are “necessary”

I’ve never had a doctor test my vitamins like B12 or vitamin D or anything like that. Even homocysteine never gets tested. And of course, some doctors would consider those necessary tests and some wouldn’t It all depends on your doctor. Those three I had tested myself and all three were out of range.

For example if you had a doctor like Peter Attia? He thinks ApoB is necessary. Few others would. Some doctors don’t think a PSA test is a good idea. Some do.

 

[Unpaintedhuffhines]

This was more than awkward when I had a male doctor. Now I have a female doctor, so I'm glad they just look st blood work now.

From age 40 to 60, I had a male doctor. Dr. Jellyfingers would come out and do the digital exam, which I assumed was just part of the drill for men over 40. He retired and they auto-assigned a new doctor for me - a very young female doctor. I was prepared for the awkwardness of the digital exam with her, but she only did bloodwork, listened to my chest, and asked me some questions. Not really complaining, but I don't feel like the checkups are as thorough (but I'm not about to ask for the Special Exam...).

 

[braumeister]

I was prepared for the awkwardness of the digital exam

Being an old computer hand, I have always been amused at the nomenclature. The "digital exam" is just about the most analog thing I can imagine.

 

[Ronstar]

My doc said "you're now at the age where the digital exam is optional, but I recommend getting one if you have family history of prostate cancer, symptoms, or if you just want one". Who would want one?

 

[REWahoo]

This was more than awkward when I had a male doctor. Now I have a female doctor, so I'm glad they just look st blood work now.

Yes, same here. My male doc would invariably ask if I wanted him to use two fingers so he could give me a second opinion.

 

[braumeister]

Yes, same here. My male doc would invariably ask if I wanted him to use two fingers so he could give me a second opinion.

Mine always said the only thing to worry about would be if I felt two hands on my shoulders.