Michael

The following are the minimum blood tests they run every time I visit the VA and they give me a copy plus the my medical history and lab results are also online. My maid's doctor won't give her a copy of her lab results as if he is god and only he can understand and interpret the results. The HBA1C test is performed because my glucose levels are a little high but all the others have been done annually since I first used the VA.

Pulaski

Milk is not "gross". ..... That said, I am probably drinking your share and then some.

Hotscot

I drink milk with every meal. It's my go to...

Pulaski

Mine too. With breakfast, lunch when I'm at home, and then usually 2-4 12oz glasses before bed. We average about 4-5 gallons a week.

scrubbedexpat091

Certain tests have protocol that needs to be met before the government will provide payment for it, Vit. D testing is one so unless the need for the test fits within the protocol medical services won't cover it. You can still get it, you just have to cover the cost yourself.

I have access to my lab results online, so the doctor can't withhold them from me, which he doesn't anyhow, he will print results of anything you ask from your medical record, he has no issue with patients having copies, but lab results are available online directly to the patient, although some can be tricky to understand if not medically trained to interpret them.

I've been tested for the following in the last year:

Urine Chem

Hematology profile:

RBC
WBC
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
MCV
RDW
Platelet Count
MPV

Neutrophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Eosinophils
Basophils

Sodium
Potassium
Creatinine

Total Bilirubin

Alkaline Phosphatase

Gamma GT

ALT

Amylase

Serum Proteins:

C Reative Protein

Immunology:

Tissue Transglutaminase antibody IgA

Nuclear Ab

Rheumatoid Factor

Vit B12

Ferratin

Glucose Fasting

LDL Cholesterol

HDL Cholesterol

Triglycerides

TSH



I have no idea what most of it is, but the doctor hasn't seen anything concerning except with Liver enzymes being off, but the usual suspects have been ruled out, and the liver shows no physical signs of damage and appears normal from the ultra sound, so not sure at this point why my liver enzymes are always off.

The human body can be tricky that is for sure, and sometimes seems to have identifiable cause at times why something is happening, and stumps doctors.

I am getting a liver biopsy sometime in the next 6 months, but the doctor doesn't think anything will come back, doing it as a precaution.

scrubbedexpat091

My GF likes milk, she drinks about 1 gallon a week. I use a tiny amount on cereal, but I don't drink the left over, I dump it down the sink.

I just don't like the taste, never have even as a kid, my mom had a hell of a time getting me to drink it. I usually wouldn't and gave it to the dog.

Pulaski

My FIL does that. He takes barely enough milk to get the cereal wet, and throws any at the bottom of the bowl away.
One of the biggest problems with seven year old little Miss P's eating habits is that she fills up on milk before she has eaten the meal she has been given. We try to ration her milk during the early part of the meal, but if we blink she will swill down 4-6oz from the 12oz glass we give her. She usually has a 6-12oz second glass anyway towards the end of her meal.

Jerseygirl

I think it depends on the doctor as to what blood tests are run. My doctor was old school...he tested for almost everything...for years my annual blood test has run into 3 pages. My cholesterol is excellent...good chol. extremely high...bad chol. extremely low. Everything else is good...apart from the Rheumatoid Factor which is high...around 200. I have had tests for RA which have shown I am not predisposed to RA. A year ago tests on my liver where high...but I had diverticulitis resulting in colon resection surgery. Blood tests 6 months later were back to normal.

Michael

You can google them all to see what they are testing for. My printout gives the low-high normal range and the results of the test with a "L" or "H" next to the results if out of range. As long as the result is in range, I'm not concerned.

scrubbedexpat091

For the most part yes, but certain tests here anyhow have certain protocol that must be met for MSP (medical services) to cover the cost. Most tests are completely covered no issue, but the more expensive one's the doctor has to justify a medical need for it to have it covered.

Luckily there are only a small amount of tests that have the protocols in place so they don't come up very often.

scrubbedexpat091

My results have the L and H as well and normal range. Everything is good mostly, cholesterol is a tad high, but I have adjusted my diet, and it wasn't so high to be a concern, just a note to change diet a bit, eat less fast food.

And the liver being a bit high, but no clue why yet, doctor was hoping the ultrasound would provide an answer but everything looked normal, so next step is a biopsy last I knew.

I get more blood work done next week, so maybe the liver is normal by now, been 3 months since last check.

Michael

I assume it is the ALT test that is abnormal since I didn't notice any other liver tests taken in your list.

dunroving

Has your doctor suggested Low-T (testosterone) as a possible cause?

I had never heard of this until my friend in the US mentioned it recently. She and I now discuss health a lot as we are both approaching (or in, depending on your definition) middle age. She is late 40's, I am mid-50's.

She also brought vitamin D deficiency to my attention, and I plan to ask my doctor here to order a set of blood tests including vitamin D levels, as we have almost NO exposure to sunlight here in Scotland! She got hers tested after feeling very fatigued, muscle aches, etc., and it turned out she was D-deficient. So, even in sunny Georgia, you can be D-deficient!

SultanOfSwing

I'm the same as you. I take milk with cereal (though I usually will finish what's in the bowl) and I take a little in tea but I just don't like to drink it straight.

Mix in some strawberry or chocolate flavour and I'm all over it though

My daughter will put away milk like it's going out of fashion, too. The only problem with that is when she asks for a glass near to bedtime, but then she falls asleep not touching it. I hate throwing away full glasses of milk in the morning but by that time it's gone all minging.

lizzyq

We now get raw milk from the local farmers' market - excellent stuff.