Just Jill is the creation of Jill Cohen Morris. Jill is an avid rambler and mother of two from Toronto, Canada with a remarkable zest for life and a fabulous sense of humor.
Dear Just Jill,
Full disclosure I am a relatively healthy fifty-five year old and have not been to a doctor in over 10 years!
Please no judging. I am not sure why it took me so long, perhaps anxiety or procrastination and then the pandemic hit.
I finally found a doctor and have an upcoming in-person appointment. I am ready to be proactive about my health. Aside from making the appointment, I have no idea what I should be asking/requesting.
Are there specific tests I need at my age? What about supplements? Vitamins? I have been trying my best to research and am now completely overwhelmed. There is just so much information.
Do I ask for a bone density test, colonoscopy, pap test, or mammogram? Should I get my iron levels, hormone levels, thyroid, and vitamin D checked? What am I missing?
I need advice from my Sole Sisters. What tests have you had? What vitamins and supplements should I ask about? What questions should I have ready?
What’s a gal to do?
Sincerely,
Doctorless Donna
SOLE SISTER ADVICE
- Speaking as a physician: ask yours what they’d recommend based on your age & personal/family history. Not every test needs to be done on every person. Follow up for the results which can help guide the next steps, if any are needed.
- By 55, I think you will want to have a colonoscopy(age 40 here). A mammogram by 50 is recommended, earlier if there's a family history. Assuming, the doctor is doing a full physical, especially since you have not been in a while, plus he is new to you and will want to get a baseline in everything, a pap smear will be routine, a full blood workup and of course, blood pressure, will direct the doctor where there may be issues ie. sugar levels, cholesterol, liver and kidney function etc.
Not sure what age they may do a bone density test but obviously that becomes a concern as we get older, maybe bring that up. I would say being on a multivitamin for women 50+ is always a good idea, if your blood tests come back deficient in anything then they may recommend a specific supplement, like in my case, I tend to be D deficient. Good luck. Good for you for taking steps to be proactive with your health, it's so important.
- Mammogram, PAP, and full blood tests including thyroid and iron. I would also if you are experiencing symptoms of Menopause ask for a hormone panel. However, I know in Canada it might be a fight to get all of these approved by your Doctor. Definitely the thyroid and iron along with the regulars like glucose and red and white hemo tests.
- In addition to what others have suggested, do get your MD to order a bone density test and a complete blood panel, including cholesterol, CBC, calcium etc. The relationship you have with a doctor is critical & I would have a follow-up appointment within six months unless something is of concern then it should be earlier so that you can review where you’re at that point.
- Just a reminder that some supplements can affect tests so do discuss anything you may be taking or thinking of taking with your doctor. I had bought a supplement hoping to strengthen my nails and then found out it could affect the results of my thyroid tests (which I get 3-4 times a year). It didn’t affect my thyroid - just the accuracy of the blood test.
- I think a good doctor would cover all those bases especially if someone hasn’t been to the doctor for so long. However, don’t be afraid to ask questions. When I was nearing 40, I asked my doctor if there was anything I needed to consider and what to expect in this next stage of life.
Trouble is everyone is different but he did suggest a mammogram soon and talked about menopause a little. In BC, you can book a mammogram yourself and don’t have to go through a doctor so look into options like that.
- Just go and tell them what you have told us and they will tell you what you need. They are the experts so let them direct you. I have a wonderful female doctor and she has organized a care plan which covers all of these things. I am in general good health, just have a few minor quirks, but she is on top of it all. Good luck.
- I think it depends on your general health and if you have any underlying conditions. I think as long as you go to mammogram appts, pap smear tests and bowel screenings. I take vitamin C, D and a multivitamin. I have asthma and high blood pressure so I do have to keep up my appts. I think the best thing is to speak to your doctor and have them advise on tests. All the best
- Hi, I think you need to get full blood work, ECG, and urine test. Get your pap, mammo and colonoscopy set up, be patient it could take a while to get those done depending on where you are.
As far as vitamins, talk to your GP if there are any areas of concern, I take a multivitamin for women over 50 + vitamin D, and hair and nail supplements ( my nails started splitting a few years back and it helps). But be aware there are two thoughts on any vitamins including the one that they are not necessary. These initial tests will give you a starting point with your GP, for both of you to get to know you and monitor if there are any areas of concern.
- I do all the things to stay healthy. Frequent my physician and specialists as needed. Dental too! I keep a binder with important information, allergies, test results, medications, blood type, etc. When seeing a specialist I take my binder and have all med hx at my fingertips.
Also, I recently added my medical history to my phone in Notes. When I travel I can easily share with GP. I take advantage of physio, optometrists, massage, dentists etc ..they also provide healing benefits. Yeah, I get it, test results can be scary but I’d much rather hear I’m at Stage one than Stage four.
- I feel insecure that there are questions that I should ask my doctor that I am not asking. I think in medicine, one must advocate for oneself. You hear so many stories about that, but I never know where the line is between advocating and going overboard.
Then there is the problem I have of procrastinating because I fear a bad diagnosis so much that going for the tests causes me considerable anxiety so it is an obstacle I have to overcome every year. If I get a callback for any reason, I am a mess. Happened only twice, and it is so stressful. Trying to read the facial expression of the person doing the test. I have a good GP in Florida, and I trust his guidance. I get the tests he tells me to.
Every year, I have a mammogram and a pap smear. Although the doctor says 2 years for pap smears now. I think this varies by region in terms of guidelines, and they might be different in the USA, Canada, Britain, Ireland, and so on. I have had a colonoscopy, and they say not another for 5 years. I get a full-body skin cancer check every year. I live in Florida, so skin cancer is a serious concern, no matter how careful you are. I never did this when we lived in Canada.
I get an eye exam every year. Macular Degeneration is in my family, so I am scared of this. This year, my doctor asked me to get a low-level lung CT because I used to smoke. They say every year for this. Always full blood work. This is all for me. I do wonder about bone density and heart tests. I have never discussed any hormones with my doctor, which I think is probably a mistake.
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