For yearly physical what tests do you guys get done?

[simple girl]

On the A1C which I've never been tested for but asked about since everyone else has . . . doctor said they don't normally order it unless there is a reason (bad fasting glucose, patient overweight, etc). IDK. My glucose was 75 so IDC really. Diabetes does not run in the family either.

My fasting glucose was 80. I'm not overweight, but I would prefer to be 3-4# lighter.

Contrary to popular belief, even fit people can develop diabetes. It depends on where you carry the weight - abdominal fat is riskier.

Type 2 diabetes does run in my family, so there's a strike against me there. Genetics, ugh!

My doctor didn't initially screen for a1C, but once I got into my mid 50's he started screening it. I'm really glad he did because I have no other warning signs.

 

[bmcgonig]

That makes sense. You are going beyond the typical so the usual insurance paradigm won't apply. IDK what people are doing with this information. Peter Attia uses Crestor to drive LDL cholesterol to extremely low levels. IDK if that's a good idea. In another thread people with concerning levels are arguing against following their cardiologists recommendations for LDL treatment.

Apparently he had a positive CAC score when he was in his 30s. Also his family has a history of heart issues. So he works hard to get it as low as possible. Cant get ASCVD if not enough APoB particles to cause it is his reasoning.

 

[timbervest]

70 yo. Annual physical.

• Glucose/A1C
• TSH
• CBC w/Differential
• Lipid Panel
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
• Testosterone
• Iron/Magnesium/Vitamin D/Vitamin B12/Folate
• PSA
• Fecal Occult
• Urinalysis
• ECG

 

[RetMD21]

Apparently he had a positive CAC score when he was in his 30s. Also his family has a history of heart issues. So he works hard to get it as low as possible. Cant get ASCVD if not enough APoB particles to cause it is his reasoning.

There's reasoning but no evidence. If people want to do "more" I'm fine with that but I don't know that insurance or Medicare should pay.

A1C isn't generally a screening test so it may not get paid if the physician submits codes honestly.

 

[rodi]

I messaged my doctor on this but I got a test result note that says "low iron no anemia". . . anyone know? I know it isn't colon related since I just had a colonoscopy due to family history.

It was the first time they've ever checked my ferritin so I have no idea if it changed or has always been low. I don't eat meat so it could be diet I guess?

My guess is staff will intercept the note so doctor will not see and tell me to make another appointment . . . which will take 2 months to get in. My doctor seems pretty good but is very popular and hard to schedule. Portal communication is frustrating. My guess is doctor is not concerned or they would have said to follow up but . . . I don't understand.

I'm not sure your gender... I'm female and was told that low iron and low vit D are common post menopause. I took supplements and my levels were fine after that.

 

[Koolau]

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..

A few years ago that test was offered at a local clinic for $49. It is a mini-CT scan of the heart. The test results have a lot of caveats and my Cardiologist didn't pay much attention to it as nothing else in my routine testing said I had any CA issues - until I had chest pains, angioplasty and stents a couple of years after a high calcium score by the $49 test.

Dozens of tests per year for routine plus CAD and cancer follow-up. Can't even count them without entering the portal which I'm too lazy to do tonight. I'm getting more than my share from MC and supplement.

 

[brett]

Bottom line for me is that my physician orders the tests. I do not pay much attention to them unless she points out an anomoly or something that needs to be addressed. I do not try to second guess her or google to determine their applicability.

We do not pay for the tests so I pay little attention to the list...only to the results as she interprets them.

 

[aja8888]

My Doc just borders the "usual" blood tests and a PSA test (has always been below 1.0).

She said no A1C as my fasting glucose has always been in the 90's or below. This is done through the Annual Medicare Wellness Exam. Generally, no serious issues have historically shown up, but every year is chance for a surprise.

 

[brett]

Our son called us today. He lives in a different city. He said he had a terrible nightmare. We are both in our early 70's.

In his nightmare it was 20 years from now. He saw us both slowly walking in a shopping center, white hair and yellow teeth. He apparently could not get back to sleep.

I told him it was all good. We already have white hair and yellowish teeth. I will be thrilled if we are still alive in our early 90's, with our own teeth, and able to walk though a shopping center on our own!

The only nightmarish part of the dream IMHO was that we were in a shopping center. Ugh! It would have been better if we had at least been on a beach in Thailand or Mexico!