What to measure at general annual physical?
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What to measure at general annual physical?
Wednesday I go in for an overdue annual physical, and I'm wondering if there are any particular blood (or other) tests I should ask for. My health insurance has such a high deductible I basically pay out of pocket, so I generally don't ask for anything "extra" beyond whatever's in the usual blood panel (which details of course I cannot recall). But given the fact I'd like to get the most helpful info I can as I strive towards healing, what would be useful to check? Vit D level? Other stuff?
Hi,
IMO, the most important tests are the vitamin D and magnesium tests. But be sure to ask your doctor to order the RBC (red blood cell) magnesium test, because many doctors still order the serum magnesium test. The serum magnesium test is useful in the Emergency Room, but it's worthless for checking magnesium reserves, because the serum magnesium level is automatically maintained in the "normal" range by the body.
Others may have different opinions about other tests that they feel should be ordered, but IMO these two are the most important for most of us.
Tex
IMO, the most important tests are the vitamin D and magnesium tests. But be sure to ask your doctor to order the RBC (red blood cell) magnesium test, because many doctors still order the serum magnesium test. The serum magnesium test is useful in the Emergency Room, but it's worthless for checking magnesium reserves, because the serum magnesium level is automatically maintained in the "normal" range by the body.
Others may have different opinions about other tests that they feel should be ordered, but IMO these two are the most important for most of us.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
At today's physical, the phlebotomist wasn't familiar with the protocol for getting a sample for RBC magnesium, and it's a good thing she looked it up. Apparently, the computer info said one should not have had supplements (with magnesium) for 8 days prior to the test. Because I have been putting about a tsp of Mo Maggies lotion on each day, it would not have been a useful measure had I taken the blood sample today. Thought I'd share that in case it helps someone else.
My followup question, which I should have asked earlier: what do I "do" with the future results of a magnesium and Vit. D measurement in blood? I suppose it might be useful to know "Here's where I was 2.5 months into my efforts to heal" and compare it to a year from now. But is there any result that would change what I am doing/taking right now? (1 tsp Mo Maggies lotion, Dr. Mercola Vit D oral spray). Basically, I realized I could not clearly answer for myself "What will I do with this test information?" This is especially key as I essentially pay out of pocket due to our really high deductible insurance plan.
Thanks in advance for any insights.
My followup question, which I should have asked earlier: what do I "do" with the future results of a magnesium and Vit. D measurement in blood? I suppose it might be useful to know "Here's where I was 2.5 months into my efforts to heal" and compare it to a year from now. But is there any result that would change what I am doing/taking right now? (1 tsp Mo Maggies lotion, Dr. Mercola Vit D oral spray). Basically, I realized I could not clearly answer for myself "What will I do with this test information?" This is especially key as I essentially pay out of pocket due to our really high deductible insurance plan.
Thanks in advance for any insights.
Whether or not you should change your treatment, would depend on the test results. Otherwise, why do any tests if you're not open to making any adjustments in your treatment program?
I don't believe that it takes eight days to reach a state of homeostasis with magnesium. By the end of eight days (without magnesium), your cellular magnesium level will have become somewhat depleted. If I skip (or increase) a magnesium dose, I can tell the difference in one day. Why wait for seven more days and allow your reserve cellular level to continue to decline. Whenever I get a magnesium test, I skip a magnesium supplement the morning of the blood draw, but not the day before, and certainly not eight days before.
Let me clarify that position: If I wanted to see what my cellular magnesium level would be without any magnesium supplementation, then yes, I would wait at least eight days after stopping the magnesium. But if I wanted to see what my magnesium level is with my current supplementation program, then I would only skip the magnesium the day of the blood draw. See the difference?
Tex
I don't believe that it takes eight days to reach a state of homeostasis with magnesium. By the end of eight days (without magnesium), your cellular magnesium level will have become somewhat depleted. If I skip (or increase) a magnesium dose, I can tell the difference in one day. Why wait for seven more days and allow your reserve cellular level to continue to decline. Whenever I get a magnesium test, I skip a magnesium supplement the morning of the blood draw, but not the day before, and certainly not eight days before.
Let me clarify that position: If I wanted to see what my cellular magnesium level would be without any magnesium supplementation, then yes, I would wait at least eight days after stopping the magnesium. But if I wanted to see what my magnesium level is with my current supplementation program, then I would only skip the magnesium the day of the blood draw. See the difference?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
