glo81
06-02-2005, 10:47 PM
Hi, I am new to the board. Last year I was warned about my cholestoral being a little high it was 207. This year after my bloodwork came in I got a call that my cholestoral wasn't good and that I need to make an appointment to discuss this. My doctor would not give me any info. over the phone. I was just diagnosed with hypothyroid about a month ago and made the appointment for the same time as my thyroid chect the beginning of July. She said that was fine. I'm kind of worried. What could be so bad about my cholestoral that she wouldn't tell me over the phone? Maybe it's not that bad if I could come in a month from now. I'm getting ready to go away for 2 weeks and I know I'll be thinking about this. Would anyone know what a doctor would want to discuss with a patient that they can't tell them over the phone about their cholestoral? I asked if this was to put me on medication and she just said you have to come in so we can discuss this? What's gone on? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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JJ
06-02-2005, 11:02 PM
glo...Don't let this ruin your vacation. I'm certainly sure if it was THAT bad the dr. would have had U go in. Maybe she just wishes to discuss what your alternatives are to reduce your numbers, as many have done it with diet and exercise.
Can't even see your dr. getting excited about 207??? Do U have any other risk factors like diabetes, heart problems or family history of problems? Drs. don't like to discuss cholesterol over the phone usually, as they either want to put U on a cholesterol diet or possibly discuss meds.
Are U on meds for your Thyroid, as a low functioning Thyroid will cause your cholesterol to be higher. Mine is a bit low, but not bad enough to be on meds., and the dr. explained it will cause me to have higher numbers. Just take it one step at a time, as it doesn't sound like any emergency.
Enjoy your vacation and deal with this when U get back..... :wave:
Can't even see your dr. getting excited about 207??? Do U have any other risk factors like diabetes, heart problems or family history of problems? Drs. don't like to discuss cholesterol over the phone usually, as they either want to put U on a cholesterol diet or possibly discuss meds.
Are U on meds for your Thyroid, as a low functioning Thyroid will cause your cholesterol to be higher. Mine is a bit low, but not bad enough to be on meds., and the dr. explained it will cause me to have higher numbers. Just take it one step at a time, as it doesn't sound like any emergency.
Enjoy your vacation and deal with this when U get back..... :wave:
ARIZONA73
06-02-2005, 11:43 PM
glo81,
At the very least, your doctor should have spelled out the rest of your numbers, such as LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. So what if your total cholesterol is 207? Mine has been over 200 for the past 20 years, and I'm perfectly fine. In fact, I've never felt better. Just don't panic and jump to any hasty conclusions. When you find out what the rest of those numbers are, please post them.
At the very least, your doctor should have spelled out the rest of your numbers, such as LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. So what if your total cholesterol is 207? Mine has been over 200 for the past 20 years, and I'm perfectly fine. In fact, I've never felt better. Just don't panic and jump to any hasty conclusions. When you find out what the rest of those numbers are, please post them.
glo81
06-03-2005, 07:24 AM
Sorry if I wasn't clear about this but my cholestoral was 207 the last time. The doctor wouldn't give me numbers this time. As for the thyroid I wasn't on meds when I had my blood tested. They found my thyroid was hypo and put me on synthoid after all the bloodwork was done.
Lenin
06-03-2005, 10:00 AM
glo,
Doctor just wants to be able to bill for ANOTHER appointment. Don't let it worry you ONE BIT!
Doctor just wants to be able to bill for ANOTHER appointment. Don't let it worry you ONE BIT!
JJ
06-03-2005, 03:52 PM
Hmmm, that is strange your dr. wouldn't give U the numbers. Like Lenin said, could be she is looking for some extra $$$ for another appt. I really wouldn't worry about it, as I said, if it was too bad she would have had U go in before you leave for a couple of weeks. Enjoy, and relax... :wave:
Wintergarden
06-03-2005, 04:39 PM
Maybe your doctor has some kind of policy of never giving results over the phone, in which case, you wouldn't necessarily infer anything especially alarming about it, but in any event, I hate it when they do this! It's so inconsiderate to the patient. It's like, here, let me give you something to worry about for awhile...I could give you all the facts and stop your imagination from running wild, but I won't. I'll just tell you that it's bad and let you sit on that scrap of vague information for a month. grrrrrrr
If it were me, I think I'd pop into the office and ask to see my chart. (doesn't a patient have a right to do that?) I just called my Drs. office yesterday to ask for my exact cholesterol numbers, and they game them to me over the phone. I would think in person, it would be harder to put you off. In your shoes, I'd even tell them I'm heading out for vacation and just didn't want to have to wonder about it all the while I'm trying to relax and unwind, but that may not be the way you'd like to handle it. In any event, I'm sorry your doctor has treated you this way.
What do you want to bet it's only a little bit worse?
If it were me, I think I'd pop into the office and ask to see my chart. (doesn't a patient have a right to do that?) I just called my Drs. office yesterday to ask for my exact cholesterol numbers, and they game them to me over the phone. I would think in person, it would be harder to put you off. In your shoes, I'd even tell them I'm heading out for vacation and just didn't want to have to wonder about it all the while I'm trying to relax and unwind, but that may not be the way you'd like to handle it. In any event, I'm sorry your doctor has treated you this way.
What do you want to bet it's only a little bit worse?
gardeninggal
06-03-2005, 04:57 PM
Glo81, I also wish you had answers so you can go and enjoy your vacation but it is not too late for you to call back and ask for the test results. Here at my clinic they mail out the test results but still want you to come into the clinic, but I think it is the $$$. It may also be that your doctor wants to give you the statin pitch, they can be very intimidating and with many people what the doctor says must be obeyed but unless you have some other health problems a slightly raised cholesterol is not reason enough to go on a statin drug. You have a computer so you can be well informed when you go . :wave:
Sonflower1116
06-03-2005, 05:15 PM
I schedule my blood work to be done 2-3 days before my Dr.s appointment, then when I go in, she has the results in front of her. I always request a copy of the complete report before I leave. After all, I'm paying for everything.
You need to have the doctor phone the lab ahead of time to give them orders on what tests your doctor will want done on you. my doctor has never hesitated to do this. And, this way, if there is anything that needs to be discussed, they can do it right then and not have to reschedule another costly appointment.
I like to have a copy of the complete blood test/results as I can then look at what areas I need to improve on before my next checkup. I've found a lot of info in the internet about wbc, triglycerides, cholesterol, etc., to guide me to make necessary changes in my diet/lifestyle.
BTW, I WISH my cholesterol was down to 207, that's not high. Lately they've changed the numbers to lower numbers, but I believe that's just to help them put everyone on more prescription drugs.
You need to have the doctor phone the lab ahead of time to give them orders on what tests your doctor will want done on you. my doctor has never hesitated to do this. And, this way, if there is anything that needs to be discussed, they can do it right then and not have to reschedule another costly appointment.
I like to have a copy of the complete blood test/results as I can then look at what areas I need to improve on before my next checkup. I've found a lot of info in the internet about wbc, triglycerides, cholesterol, etc., to guide me to make necessary changes in my diet/lifestyle.
BTW, I WISH my cholesterol was down to 207, that's not high. Lately they've changed the numbers to lower numbers, but I believe that's just to help them put everyone on more prescription drugs.
glo81
06-03-2005, 06:01 PM
First I'd like to thank everyone for the quick responses. I don't think that my doctor is gonna make any money on the appointment because I scheduled the appointment the same time as the appointment to get my thyroid levels checked. So I was already coming in anyway. Also what is statin pitch and statin drug?
JJ
06-03-2005, 07:29 PM
Statins are drugs for cholesterol like Lipitor, Zocor, Vytorin etc. etc. Many drs. like to put their patients on them for high cholesterol, some even before they give diet and exercise a chance. Do a web search for statins and U can read all the pro's and con's for yourself. Some folks take them with no problems, but many have lousy side effects, so if your dr. wants to shove U on them, ask about a diet and exercise program first. U can read some of the posts here and see what some folks have done to lower their numbers without statins.
They keep lowering the guidelines for cholesterol, and in many folks opinion, it is only to get more people to be on these drugs. Unless U have really high cholesterol and other risk factors like heart disease, diabetes, family history of early heart disease, try to avoid the drugs, as they are for life! Seeing your cholesterol was only 207, I truly doubt your numbers rose high enough for drug treatment.
Glad your visit will not be an extra cost for you. I also try to schedule my visits after a blood test so I can discuss things with the dr. Last time I had the blood tests after, so she sent me a letter with the results.
Take care, and best of luck..... :wave:
They keep lowering the guidelines for cholesterol, and in many folks opinion, it is only to get more people to be on these drugs. Unless U have really high cholesterol and other risk factors like heart disease, diabetes, family history of early heart disease, try to avoid the drugs, as they are for life! Seeing your cholesterol was only 207, I truly doubt your numbers rose high enough for drug treatment.
Glad your visit will not be an extra cost for you. I also try to schedule my visits after a blood test so I can discuss things with the dr. Last time I had the blood tests after, so she sent me a letter with the results.
Take care, and best of luck..... :wave: