I admit ever since getting diagnosed I have been VERY sensitive to my health. To find out that one part of my body failed.... it makes me worried about the rest of it. But also, I have long felt that at the age of 50 to 60, almost everyone I know had one major health crisis. This is the age for that... so I feel I have to be guarded. It truly seems like if you make it past 60 you will be relatively ok.
In the last year, not even because I wanted to, I ended up having:
- Several X-rays
- A Coronary Calcium Scan.
- An abdominal CT
- A Pelvic Ultrasound.
- A colonoscopy
- A Dexa Bone Scan.
All normal, yes! But I think now my poor irradiated body needs a rest. The good news is that I have discovered that I can purchase my own blood tests. I purchase them from "Ulta Labs" -- and they are honestly, cheaper than going through my doctor. But I have been very happy to be able to get feedback on my body that my doctor refuses to do. I am also lucky that my Flexible Spending Account pays for these blood tests. I highly recommend that you do at least ONE round of tests on your own.
In the last year I had:
- Fibrinogen- tests your blood clotting.
- Regular (not highly sensitive) C-Reactive Protein: Marker for Inflammation.
- Homocysteine : Marker for Inflammation.
- TSH - I was going to get the full thyroid panel but my result was very good.
- C-Peptide: marker of insulin resistance.
- Fasting Insulin: Marker of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
- IgF-1: A marker of cancer and growth.
- GGT: Gamma-glutamyl transferase - a marker of liver health and overall health.
- Iron Panel: Transferrin, Saturation %.
- ESR: Sedimentation rate. A marker of inflammation.
- At least 3 CBCs: Complete Blood Counts.
- Blood Type: It is O Positive.
- Folate, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, RBC Magnesium: measures Magnesium in your cells.
- ANA screen: this was negative so it seems likely I don't have auto immune.
- IGM: This is a cheap test and I do it just to monitor my antibodies... in between doctors tests.
I am going on Monday for another round... some of the tests will be redos just to see how fasting has effected them (and I need to get blood for the "Impact" study) but I am getting:
- C-Reactive Protein (regular)
- Highly Sensitive C-reactive Protein (argued to be a better test for inflammation)
- Ferritin: hear this is a biomarker of health
- Fasting Insulin, A1c.
- IGM
- ESR Sedimentation rate.
- Prothrombin Time (PT): a measure of clotting.
The location for my blood draw is about 5 minutes from my house... so it could NOT be easier. You go to the lab, check in, your order is already in their system. They draw your blood and usually within a day I have 50% of my results. In fact last year before my colonoscopy I ordered a CBC and electrolytes... and then a week after my colonoscopy I did another CBC so get a sense if I was bleeding internally or anything.... what a weight off my shoulders to be able to compare and contrast on my own. What a great tool to know if I was fully stocked on electrolytes before I had to take the prep which, of course, cleans you out. And the cost for these tests was minimal... only $30 for both tests.
A very nice part of these tests as well is they don't go on your medical record. Now it is possible that if you had an insurance company demand that you provide all blood tests, you might have to turn them over... but if they don't ask, don't tell.
