What blood work would you recommend?

"Delenn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

x-no-archive:yes

I've finally convinced my husband to see a doctor for a wellness
check-up. He's turning 50 and hasn't been near a doctor in years. I'm
concerned about his perpetually high cholesterol and LDL and I suspect
his testosterone levels are significantly low.

He just asked me what blood tests he should ask his doctor to order
before he sees her. The doctor knows me and will order tests in advance
if I ask for them so she can gauge what's going on better when she
actually meets him in person.

What tests would you order? I figure a basic lipid panel, PSA test and
check T levels but I don't know what the best tests are for PSA and T so
I don't know how to ask for them appropriately. I've also had him on
no-flush niacin for a year now so I figure we need to check the liver,
but again I don't know the right language.

Last time he made an appointment (a year ago) she had to cancel and he
waited a year to reschedule (and it took him some years to make that
first appointment.) I really don't know how often I can get a well-man
to visit a doctor, but I'd really like to move him forward on getting
some statins into him (heart disease runs in his family and diet and
exercise have bairly touched his LDL).

The problem, if you can call it that, is that nothing is really
obviously wrong with him that you don't just say is due to aging. But
I'm worried about muscle wasting, tiredness, irritability, stuff like
that... he's kind of been acting too old-mannish sometimes and I'm not
sure why. I just can't make 50 be old... but maybe that's because *I'm*
old and I hang out with athletes for whom 50 isn't particularly old.

One more piece that might explain his tiredness: having married a trophy
wife (that's me) he ended up with a high-energy kindergartner as he's
turning 50. Also a high-needs teen-aged daughter. Not to mention a
high-needs wife. Throw into that a demanding job, a joyful active 12
year old son and a Labrador Retriever. (I suppose the bloodwork might
not contain the clues to his tiredness afterall.)

But what do you guys think: am I missing any tests I should request for
a well man? FWIW, he's of normal weight - not lean, not fat - and
exercises three or four times a week intensely in team sports and eats
the same "clean" diet that helped me lose 80 pounds, i.e., an
MFW-approved diet.

Delenn

It is hard for me to fully comprehend your husband's situation as I've
never had the fortune of having a 'trophy wife who hangs out with athletes'
(of course I've learned that your definition for some words is rather
loose)

On the subject, my local doctor does not routinely test for 'inflammation'
which is a serious condition and leads to a heart disease etc. So I would
recommend
a high sensitivity C-reactive Protein blood test. (hs-CRP)

..

"Delenn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

x-no-archive:yes

I've finally convinced my husband to see a doctor for a wellness
check-up. He's turning 50 and hasn't been near a doctor in years. I'm
concerned about his perpetually high cholesterol and LDL and I suspect
his testosterone levels are significantly low.

So you've got him on no-fluch niacin, an "MFW approved diet" and now you're
wondering what tests to order for him? Hmmm, could castration be part of the
low test levels?

"Jim Ranieri" <nah,> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Delenn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

x-no-archive:yes

I've finally convinced my husband to see a doctor for a wellness
check-up. He's turning 50 and hasn't been near a doctor in years. I'm
concerned about his perpetually high cholesterol and LDL and I suspect
his testosterone levels are significantly low.

So you've got him on no-fluch niacin, an "MFW approved diet" and now
you're
wondering what tests to order for him? Hmmm, could castration be part of
the
low test levels?

Come on Jim. Give the man the benefit of the doubt.

It is probably the estrogen pills that she mixes in with his breakfast
cereal.

x-no-archive:yes

Jim Ranieri said:

Delenn said:

I've finally convinced my husband to see a doctor for a wellness
check-up. He's turning 50 and hasn't been near a doctor in years. I'm
concerned about his perpetually high cholesterol and LDL and I suspect
his testosterone levels are significantly low.

So you've got him on no-fluch niacin, an "MFW approved diet" and now you're
wondering what tests to order for him? Hmmm, could castration be part of the
low test levels?

It's always hard to gauge someone else's marriage from a post, but the
guy is pretty autonomous. He's out for the evening tonight, he does his
own sports and pretty much runs his own life. He just married well, a
woman who pays attention to subtle signs and asks intelligent questions.

He is the one who asked me what blood tests I thought he needed before
meeting with her... because I tend to know more about the issues than he
does. He wanted to avoid going on statins a couple of years ago (I
wanted him on them long ago) and so he tried the niacin regimen - not
because I wanted him using niacin but because he preferred the natural
supplement route. Me, I wanted to stick some drugs in his veins. But I
don't always get my way.

As for the MFW approved diet, well, the entire family made some pretty
significant dietary changes three years ago. My pre-teen son no longer
has packed visceral fat. My husband lost his love handles and what
little belly he had. I've lost nearly 80 pounds. My kids are now
athletic - even the five year old can hike a couple of miles.
Meanwhile, his mother had her second heart attack and he got to thinking
maybe diet and exercise wouldn't be such a bad thing all things
considered. I don't police him, he does what he wants.

And part of what he wants is to never avail himself of the medical
profession. So he makes me his go-between. Handy for him that he has
me and I'm willing to take on the job.

Delenn

x-no-archive:yes

Quoted message said:

Delenn said:

He just asked me what blood tests he should ask his doctor to order
before he sees her.

If you have to tell a doctor what tests to order then maybe you need
to find a new doctor. A qualified doctor should be able to take a
complete history, give a physical exam and then order the appropriate
tests.

Paul

This doctor has never met him. He's been to one doctor visit in 10
years. He's not going to go to a great many more than that. I figured
it would make the conversation with the doctor more useful if we had
some recent lipid numbers and a T test since those are the things I
think are most likely to need theraputic attention... and I don't want
to bet that he'll go back anytime soon for follow-up conversations.
I've got one bit at this apple, IMO.

Something about turning his head and coughing uses up his goodwill
towards doctors for the decade.

Delenn

"Delenn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Something about turning his head and coughing uses up his goodwill
towards doctors for the decade.

Turn your head and cough isn't too bad. Now that he's 50-ish, the doctor
will likely want to get a little more intimate. You might not want to ruin
the surprise.

Delenn said:

x-no-archive:yes

Jim Ranieri said:

Delenn said:

<snip>

Me, I wanted to stick some drugs in his veins. But I

Quoted message said:

don't always get my way.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Delenn

I'm not a doctor obviously, so I could be wrong of course, but I
personally think statins are way overprescribed. If I ever get "high"
cholesterol (mine was too low if anything last time I checked, but then
again I'm kind of young), I will not take them. If I die because of
it, well I guess I was wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. But is
someone really healthier because a drug takes their cholesterol level
from 240 to 220-180 or whatever? I would say not necessarily,
especially when a lot of people's ratios don't get any better on many
of the statins, although maybe I'm wrong about some as I've heard of
some being able to increase HDL as well... but people are always saying
ratios are generally way more important to look at. Also, different
people's bodies are affected differently by their different types of
cholesterol, some of which aren't currently broken down by HDL/LDL/VLDL
categories (e.g., some might have more "fluffy" HDL than others), so
while some might have slightly high cholesterol, it doesn't affect them
negatively at all. What makes someone healthier I guess is not going
to be statin drugs, but who knows maybe I'm wrong and they keep people
from getting heart attacks and heart disease.

Quoted message said:

Delenn said:

x-no-archive:yes

Jim Ranieri said:

"Delenn" <[email hidden]> wrote:
>

<snip>

Me, I wanted to stick some drugs in his veins. But I

Quoted message said:

don't always get my way.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Delenn

I'm not a doctor obviously, so I could be wrong of course, but I
personally think statins are way overprescribed. If I ever get

"high"

Quoted message said:

cholesterol (mine was too low if anything last time I checked, but

then

Quoted message said:

again I'm kind of young), I will not take them. If I die because of
it, well I guess I was wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. But is
someone really healthier because a drug takes their cholesterol level
from 240 to 220-180 or whatever? I would say not necessarily,
especially when a lot of people's ratios don't get any better on many
of the statins, although maybe I'm wrong about some as I've heard of
some being able to increase HDL as well... but people are always

saying

Quoted message said:

ratios are generally way more important to look at. Also, different
people's bodies are affected differently by their different types of
cholesterol, some of which aren't currently broken down by

HDL/LDL/VLDL

Quoted message said:

categories (e.g., some might have more "fluffy" HDL than others), so
while some might have slightly high cholesterol, it doesn't affect

them

Quoted message said:

negatively at all. What makes someone healthier I guess is not going
to be statin drugs, but who knows maybe I'm wrong and they keep

people

Quoted message said:

from getting heart attacks and heart disease.

Also, what may be even more important than ratios or anything else, is
overall nutrition in general. If someone takes a statin, and it takes
his cholesterol from 220 to 180, but he still eats [censored] all the time
and never exercises and then someone else has a normal cholesterol of
200 but eats very well and takes very good care of himself, perhaps the
healthier person is better able to keep his cholesterol from causing a
problem. So, these people on statins may still have lower cholesterol,
but if their diets and lifestyle are still [censored], then their bodies
might not be able to handle it the way normal humans were meant to
handle it.

Delenn said:

What tests would you order? I figure a basic lipid panel, PSA test and
check T levels but I don't know what the best tests are for PSA and T so
I don't know how to ask for them appropriately. I've also had him on
no-flush niacin for a year now so I figure we need to check the liver,
but again I don't know the right language.

With respect to testosterone:

I get my blood tested every 4 months. My results come back showing
Total T, Free T and % Free T. My Prolactin is checked as well as it
is the cause of my T problem.

My doctor initially checked for Total Testosterone. When it came back
low (about 140 when the normal reference range is 300 to 1000) other
tests were run ... yada yada yada ... the only other thing out of
range was prolactin and now we keep an eye on it.

It is unlikey that your hubby has anything like I had wrong with his
hormones, and his tiredness may be solely the result of having a
trophy wife, a Lab, and especially a teenage daughter (I have several
friends whose daughters have just entered the high-needs windows of
their lives) so I wouldn't spend a whole lot of time worrying about
it. BUT ... if his testosterone comes back low, ask for a few more
tests before going for HRT.

Quoted message said:

I really don't know how often I can get a well-man
to visit a doctor, but I'd really like to move him forward on getting
some statins into him (heart disease runs in his family and diet and
exercise have bairly touched his LDL).

As Warren Zevon said to David Letterman (after finding out he had a
terminal illness):

"I might have made a tactical error not going to a physician for 20
years. It was one of those phobias that didn't pay off."

If your hubby gives you any lip about going to the doc tie him to a
chair and play Excitable Boy over and over until he gives in. (I'm not
sure Lawyers, Guns and Money has the same driving force.)

Quoted message said:

The problem, if you can call it that, is that nothing is really
obviously wrong with him that you don't just say is due to aging. But
I'm worried about muscle wasting, tiredness, irritability, stuff like
that... he's kind of been acting too old-mannish sometimes and I'm not
sure why. I just can't make 50 be old... but maybe that's because *I'm*
old and I hang out with athletes for whom 50 isn't particularly old.

I felt a lot more old-mannish when my hormones were out of whack. I
had many of the symptoms you mention above and some other things that
should probably not be printed in a family forum like MFW.

Delenn said:

x-no-archive:yes

I've finally convinced my husband to see a doctor for a wellness
check-up. He's turning 50 and hasn't been near a doctor in years. I'm
concerned about his perpetually high cholesterol and LDL and I suspect
his testosterone levels are significantly low.

Quoted message said:

Delenn

I hope that is not the MFW in you talking about his testosterone.
If the doc is worth seeing, he will order a full profile, and (you may
want to make sure that your husband is not reading this over your
shoulder) they are going to want to stick a long tube up his butt (he
just turned 50..ahh the golden time).

Dr. Dickie
Skepticult member in good standing #394-00596-438
Poking kooks with a pointy stick
====================================
"Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream"
Wallace Stevens-1923
=====================================

Dr. Dickie said:

Delenn said:

I've finally convinced my husband to see a doctor for a wellness
check-up. He's turning 50 and hasn't been near a doctor in years.

I'm

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

concerned about his perpetually high cholesterol and LDL and I

suspect

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

his testosterone levels are significantly low.

I hope that is not the MFW in you talking about his testosterone.
If the doc is worth seeing, he will order a full profile, and (you

may

Quoted message said:

want to make sure that your husband is not reading this over your
shoulder) they are going to want to stick a long tube up his butt (he
just turned 50..ahh the golden time).

SHUT UP! No, it's not!! You suck!!!

🙁

David

In article <[email hidden]>,

Delenn said:

x-no-archive:yes

I've finally convinced my husband to see a doctor for a wellness
check-up. He's turning 50 and hasn't been near a doctor in years. I'm
concerned about his perpetually high cholesterol and LDL and I suspect
his testosterone levels are significantly low.

I have an article on the topic that is a good primer on the topic, using
my own blood work. See:

http://www.brinkzone.com/itsinyourblood.html

--
Will Brink @ http://www.brinkzone.com/

In article <[email hidden]>, D. Wells

Quoted message said:

Delenn said:

What tests would you order? I figure a basic lipid panel, PSA test and
check T levels but I don't know what the best tests are for PSA and T so
I don't know how to ask for them appropriately. I've also had him on
no-flush niacin for a year now so I figure we need to check the liver,
but again I don't know the right language.

With respect to testosterone:

I get my blood tested every 4 months. My results come back showing
Total T, Free T and % Free T. My Prolactin is checked as well as it
is the cause of my T problem.

My doctor initially checked for Total Testosterone. When it came back
low (about 140 when the normal reference range is 300 to 1000) other
tests were run ... yada yada yada ... the only other thing out of
range was prolactin and now we keep an eye on it.

Treat it or just keep an eye on it?

--
Will Brink @ http://www.brinkzone.com/

Will Brink said:

In article <[email hidden]>, D. Wells

Quoted message said:

Delenn said:

What tests would you order? I figure a basic lipid panel, PSA test and
check T levels but I don't know what the best tests are for PSA and T so
I don't know how to ask for them appropriately. I've also had him on
no-flush niacin for a year now so I figure we need to check the liver,
but again I don't know the right language.

With respect to testosterone:

I get my blood tested every 4 months. My results come back showing
Total T, Free T and % Free T. My Prolactin is checked as well as it
is the cause of my T problem.

My doctor initially checked for Total Testosterone. When it came back
low (about 140 when the normal reference range is 300 to 1000) other
tests were run ... yada yada yada ... the only other thing out of
range was prolactin and now we keep an eye on it.

Treat it or just keep an eye on it?

I take 1.5 mg of Dostinex twice a week. This is a bit more than the
high-end recommended dosage, but 1 mg. at a time wasn't doing it for
me.

My meds haven't changed in 12 months, but my prolactin continues to
decrease and my T continues to increase.

Dr. Dickie said:

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 19:05:03 -0500, Delenn <[email hidden]> wrote:

e that your husband is not reading this over your

Quoted message said:

shoulder) they are going to want to stick a long tube up his butt (he
just turned 50..ahh the golden time).

Dr. Dickie
Skepticult member in good standing #394-00596-438
Poking kooks with a pointy stick
====================================
"Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream"
Wallace Stevens-1923
=====================================

Ah yes. This was featured recently on an episode of Two and a Half
Men.

A buddy of mine (in his 30's) just had a camera run in from the front
.... um, can we say 'penis' in MFW ... that is the test I'm dreading. I
can't remember what the doc was looking for; I sort of blocked the
conversation out.

(Could be the doc just had a really cool new piece of equipement he
wanted to test out.)

Usenet Posting said:

David W Cohen said:

Dr. Dickie said:

Delenn <[email hidden]> wrote:
>I've finally convinced my husband to see a doctor for a wellness
>check-up. He's turning 50 and hasn't been near a doctor in

years.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm

Quoted message said:

>concerned about his perpetually high cholesterol and LDL and I

suspect

Quoted message said:

>his testosterone levels are significantly low.

I hope that is not the MFW in you talking about his testosterone.
If the doc is worth seeing, he will order a full profile, and (you

may

Quoted message said:

want to make sure that your husband is not reading this over your
shoulder) they are going to want to stick a long tube up his butt

(he

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

just turned 50..ahh the golden time).

SHUT UP! No, it's not!! You suck!!!

🙁

There there, isn't it time for Bingo in the rec room?

It depends.

I can't find my Depends.

David

x-no-archive:yes

Quoted message said:

Will Brink wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.brinkzone.com/itsinyourblood.html

--
Will Brink @ http://www.brinkzone.com/

Aaah good, another person who won't put himself on statins, even though
I'm sure many doctors would try to get you on them. Many people with
high cholesterol but with other good markers as well (such as high HDL
like you have) are put on statins. Ugh.

What is your problem with statins? Does it go beyond superstitious
dislike of the faddish medicine of the moment? Specifically, what about
statins do you dislike? What would contra-indicate it for the treatment
of people with high LDL and high total cholesterol who have first degree
relatives with heart disease? I'm just trying to see if this is
knee-jerk contraryness or if you have some particular study or insight
into why it wouldn't be indicated.

Delenn

"Delenn" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Will Brink said:

http://www.brinkzone.com/itsinyourblood.html

Aaah good, another person who won't put himself on statins, even though
I'm sure many doctors would try to get you on them. Many people with
high cholesterol but with other good markers as well (such as high HDL
like you have) are put on statins. Ugh.

What is your problem with statins? Does it go beyond superstitious
dislike of the faddish medicine of the moment? Specifically, what about
statins do you dislike? What would contra-indicate it for the treatment
of people with high LDL and high total cholesterol who have first degree
relatives with heart disease? I'm just trying to see if this is knee-jerk
contraryness or if you have some particular study or insight into why it
wouldn't be indicated.

Statin users tend to take their lower cholesterol to an earlier grave.

Google it.

David

Delenn said:

x-no-archive:yes

Quoted message said:

Will Brink wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.brinkzone.com/itsinyourblood.html

--
Will Brink @ http://www.brinkzone.com/

Aaah good, another person who won't put himself on statins, even

though

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm sure many doctors would try to get you on them. Many people

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

high cholesterol but with other good markers as well (such as high

HDL

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

like you have) are put on statins. Ugh.

What is your problem with statins? Does it go beyond superstitious
dislike of the faddish medicine of the moment? Specifically, what

about

Quoted message said:

statins do you dislike? What would contra-indicate it for the

treatment

Quoted message said:

of people with high LDL and high total cholesterol who have first

degree

Quoted message said:

relatives with heart disease? I'm just trying to see if this is
knee-jerk contraryness or if you have some particular study or

insight

Quoted message said:

into why it wouldn't be indicated.

Delenn

Well, I'll be honest and say that yeah it is a knee-jerk reaction. So,
yeah, I could be wrong: maybe statins are great for improving your
heart health, health in general, longevity...good safety, etc. So,
yeah, I know... knee jerk reaction...doctors and pharm companies are
right and I am wrong. And I know this doesn't prove anything about
statins, but I wish more people had had knee-jerk reactions when trans
fats were put in our foods, or had more of a knee-jerk reaction to that
stupid USDA Food Pyramid that I've seen in basically all of my doctors'
offices. Certainly, whenever you see that old pyramid in a doctor's
office, you best not be asking him questions about nutrition. Of
course, I don't think I'd be asking a doctor about nutrition anyway.
But, that's a definite marker for a doctor who hasn't kept up with the
times, and I've seen them in offices when I was at the doctor last
year.

Anyway, yeah, I can't back myself up with scientific data. I am knee
jerking, oh well :P