I just visited my doctor for my annual physical (just being real… I haven’t been since 2011 – EEEK – so I was past due). After asking my doctor a few questions, I was actually surprised by the number of tests he was able to run, all included in my insurance!
In my daily podcast listening, I’ve come across this common theme of “knowing yourself“ and “customizing your diet and exercise to your body’s type” but I’m just not 100% clear on how to get there in any level of firm detail. In my mind i’m thinking, “okay I can order those at home kits testing hormone levels, food allergies, gut health… but that’s like at LEAST $200 a pop and as much as I love myself and my health and wellness it just doesn’t seem like a reasonable spend.” I’ve done a million elimination diets but there are so many grey areas for me (especially when it comes to digestion). So, I made an appointment with my Primary Care Physician to find out what he could run for me and I was actually shocked. While you won’t get the results of these test at your visit (it usually takes 1-2 days), there are some critical questions to ask your doc to ensure he’s checking for the right things to get you to optimal health and ensure you’re getting the most out of your visit…
I mean, you didn’t drive into down and strip down naked for this doctor FOR NOTHING after all!
I’m naturally a skeptic of the MD world because I think they’re quick to prescribe meds to treat symptoms rather than really honing in on the root cause of the issues – HUGE generalization and I’m sorry if you’re a doc, you’re probably wonderful… that’s just my experience. But, one area they really can provide value to you is through thorough blood & urine testing. I spoke to a nutritionist at the Cleveland Clinic and she recommended to me that if your PCP isn’t well versed in helping guide you to your diet & exercise goals, you should ask him/her to refer you to a nutritionist or dietitian. That visit may also be covered under your insurance depending on your carrier. You just need to ask (common theme here).
Tests Provided by my PCP
- CBC or Complete Blood Count: measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelet levels, hemoglobin and hematocrit.
- Basic Metabolic Panel: check the current status of your metabolism; including health of the kidneys, blood glucose level, and electrolyte and acid/base balance.
- C-Reactive Protein: checks for inflammation, which can indicate infection or a chronic inflammatory disease; such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, as well as risk of heart disease.
- Heptic Function Panel: liver function test
- Lipid Battery: cholesterol test
- Vitamin D 25-OH Screen for Deficiency / Toxicity: check Vitamin D levels
- TSH w/ Reflex to Free T4: Thyroid Function
- Allergy Food Panel: Test to determine if you are allergic to any of the following common food allergies: Cow’s Milk, Egg Whites, Peanuts, Soybeans, Wheat, Codfish, Sesame seeds, Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts, Hazelnuts (Filberts), Tuna, Salmon, Shrimp, Scallops.
I consulted a few of my doctor friends to help shed some light on any other testing that can be done under my insurance. I want as many as possible to get a great baseline for my level of health and where I should be investing my focus in terms of supplementation and food selection. Books like the Architype Diet & Superwoman RX insist on customizing the way we eat, workout, and supplement to where our bodies are presently (this changes all the time) and I believe in this whole heartedly, the body has different needs at different times in our life and there is no one size fits all fix for any of us. We have to evolve as our body does which is why I recommend getting an annual physical, even in your 20’s.
OK – enough about the tests, let’s get to the value add piece of this post; What are the Most Important Questions to Ask my Doctor Annually in order to get yourself to optimal health?
Click here to download my free cheat sheet to take with you to your next doctors appointment.
1. What Screening Tests Should I Do? For a full list of screening options and frequency for women, click here.
2. Are my current daily supplements / medications still serving me? Should we consider changing anything? (this includes anything you take on a regular basis; adaptogens, oils, etc)
3. What do changes in my health mean/look like? (1)
4. Does my family history bring up concerns? Should we test for these things?
5. Can you help me reach my health goals?
6. How can I learn more about my health concerns/what’s the latest news on my condition?
7. Can I Get a Copy of my Records? (In case you want to take the results and pursue more specialty doctors)
8. Come prepared! Prepare a list of questions or health concerns specific to the way that you’ve been feeling to address with your doctor. DO NOT BE SHY – ask anything.
TIP: If your appointment isn’t routine or you’re learning something for the first time, use the record app on your cell phone to record the conversation so you can refer back at a later date.
