Monday, March 1, 2010

What's Up Doc?

I have already been to see my doctor today and it was a fabulous visit! I haven’t been to the office in more than a year and, although I have been going to the same place for well over a decade, neither of the receptionists actually recognized me at first because of my significant weight loss. Then when my doctor saw me she immediately exclaimed, “Look at you, Skinny Minnie!” and proceeded to tell me that I am looking great.

Once I was in the appointment room she asked me a whole series of questions about how I have been doing it and what the process has been like. She told me that she wanted to know because she has other patients who could benefit from my experience. When the other staff actually realized who I was, they were also very forthcoming with their compliments and congratulations. It was incredible to have such a positive, interested, and thoroughly excited reaction from people I haven’t seen since weighing close to my heaviest. It reminds me of exactly how far I have come!

After my examination my doctor and I chatted some more and she ordered a series of tests to make sure that my numbers are normal. It turns out that checking my cholesterol levels (which I specifically inquired about) is not covered for people my age by health care, but she didn’t think that I have any reason to need those particular tests anyhow. I trust her opinion, so I was fine with that. She did send me for blood work to look at my thyroid, glucose levels, and one or two other things that I can’t seem to recall at the moment. I have another appointment scheduled for next week to review the results.

She was confident that everything would come back fine as she could tell that my body is in a state of health that it has never known before. She commented on how I must be happier and have a lot more energy and I confirmed that those elements, and so many more, have improved for me since beginning to take the weight off. She seemed genuinely thrilled for me.

I did get to ask her about my blood pressure, which has been a slight worry for me since I gave blood several months ago, and she looked back in my chart and reassured me that I have always had lower numbers and that it is best for someone my age. I asked her about the norm being 120/80 and she said that by today’s standards that is actually considered a bit high for someone in their thirties and that my current reading of 105/70 was a much better figure to be seeing. I was really happy to finally be able to put that concern to rest.

One of the best parts about the visit was actually when I got to hop up on the scale. I’m not sure how many women would be happy to encourage the person recording their weight to move the first peg from the 100 to the 150 spot, but I sure was! I told the receptionist that I am around the 160 mark and so she shuffled the markers to where they needed to go and – I am very thrilled to report – it was only two pounds above what I weighed this morning!

I have heard over and over that the medical scales generally reflect up to a ten pound increase from what the home versions display, so I was really happy to see that the numbers were so close. Plus, there is the consideration that I was wearing clothes at the doctor’s office which I certainly don’t do when I am weighing in at home! Of course, when I confirmed that I was allowed to take off my shoes when the receptionist was taking me to be weighed, she did tell me that I could remove whatever I wanted. She’s lucky I knew she was offering tongue in cheek because if I had thought she was serious she may have called the police when I started disrobing to encourage that last one or two pound difference to show up for their records!

14 comments:

  1. Awesome job! I always take it off when I'm weighing because those are "official" weigh ins. Those are the numbers that the doc sees and so I am not bashful. Nurse never cares where I go so I don't. GOod post and Awesome job.

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  2. Very cool. I long for the day when I wow my doctors.

    Cheers,
    Missa
    LosingEthel

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  3. What a great experience for you! I'm jealous you're so young not to have cholesterol tests covered!?!

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  4. Hi,

    I am trying to keep this weight loss interesting and fun for everyone and have set up a 10 pound weight loss challenge. There are some great prizes. See my blog for more info.

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  5. Awesome! What a great thing to actually want to get on the scale at the doctor's office!

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  6. Hubby and I both have had our chlosterol teseted many times in our 30's and it was covered by insurance. We have a standard HMO. I really think it would be covered and honestly I would push to get it tested. Chlosterol and triglycerides are huge markers of internal health. Call your insurance, usually if a Dr. want a test, they will do. Just my 2 cents. Congrats on a huge milestone.

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  7. I've had my cholesterol tested. Do you live in Canada? I live in Alberta. It didn't cost me anything.

    I'm jealous of your...blood pressure numbers! LOL

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  8. It would have been me in my socks and little else...just sayin'

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  9. What a great visit and a great result:o)
    It's a wonderful feeling when you know you are healthier than you have been in a long time isn't it?

    You truly are an inspiration!!

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  10. Thanks everyone! Yeah, I am in Canada so I don't think certain tests are covered the same as they might be in the States. I will ask again when I see her next week though just to be sure that it isn't necessary. Honestly, she has been my doctor for a long, long time and really does know me very well, so I am happy to default to her professional opinion on something like that. If she hadn't wanted to order anything at all I would have found that odd and not been okay with it, but she was the one who suggested ordering most of the tests I am having done.

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  11. I think you have inspired me to get all my blood-work done.
    Must be! Thanks!

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  12. What a great doctor's visit!
    You and your family are in my thoughts today - hope all goes well with your dad-in-law.

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  13. Way to go! That is great to have all of the confirmation you need about your health :-) You are doing amazing things! Keep it up!

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