Re: An MOT at Doc's

Health MOTs are not for me. I get all in a state if I think they will find something wrong and then my BP goes up. Over the years I have had occasional blood tests mostly for my thyroid, but they put in a few extra bits and pieces. The doctors know how I feel about this sort of thing and don't push too much for me to have tests for this and that.
Incidentally I would never say to somebody not to have a health MOT, it is entirely up to each person to decide what they want to do or not do. I do believe doctors do get extra payments for MOTs after people reach a certain age. I also never have flu jabs - far too likely to make me ill, in my opinion.

Re: An MOT at Doc's

May, I get the feeling that the NHS in Scotland is very keen on a 'scattergun' approach to medicine. Treat everybody because some of them might benefit. I think my GP has given up on me, and the practice nurse is starting to become a lot more easy going about tests and medication.

In my business travels, I 've talked to a few doctors, and over a couple of drinks, you often get a far different opinion to the one you'd get in the surgery. As one doctor put it, "if you drink less than your GP, you don't have a problem.

Re: An MOT at Doc's

That's very reassuring Grumblewagon :~)

Boots on hindsight maybe I should have refused it...too late now,lol.

Re: An MOT at Doc's

May although I am on Statins I have started taking Benecol once a day then hopefully will be able to come off of the Atorvastatin.
Benecol isn't cheap but if it lowers Cholesterol then it's cheap enough for me.

Re: An MOT at Doc's

I say get to the Doc's and have an MOT done whenever you can. I haven't had one but would like to know more? can you book yourself in on these MOT's ? I was told i had high Cholesterol a few years back but they never get back to you to make a repeat visit to see if anything has changed?
I know i have one or two concerns with Tinnitus and another problem i have that i don't know if it is an illness or not? Maybe i should go and book myself in?

Re: An MOT at Doc's

Thanks Maursey,I've had a look at both benecol and actimel drinks,but they seem to have lots of sugar in them? and sugar's My enemy as it sets off a craving for more :~(...I do take plain low fat yoghurt every day which has pro-biotics,but sometimes wonder is all of this stuff just one big con to make the manufacturers richer !!

Re: An MOT at Doc's

Think you may have to reach a certain age before they contact you but I could be wrong.. I'm sure you could ask at your surgery for a cholesterol check, after all they seem to be pretty keen on lowering it if at all possible. In league with the drugs companies? Maybe..

Re: An MOT at Doc's

Maursey, I've found the cholesterol lowering drinks are quite effective, especially in combination with a diet, a 10% + reduction is achievable.
Benecol drinks are expensive, but Tesco sells a very tasty cheaper one and Aldi sells a very nice one at around half the Benecol price. (all with2 gms. plant sterols). But, they do contain calories!!

I asked a locum GP about Atorvastatin and he said that at 5.8 my cholesterol wasn't actually that high and he wouldn't bother. A few years ago, unless it was around 8, nobody would have worried. I smell a conspiracy.

Re: An MOT at Doc's

Yes i think i will

Re: An MOT at Doc's

Although your overall cholesterol reading was rather high it's not whole picture May.
Cholesterol is made up of three main components:
HDL:- this is the good stuff and you need a reading of over 1.0 mmol/I [millimols per litre of blood] the higher the better.
LDL:- this is the bad stuff and you need a level under 2.0 mmol/I. this is the stuff that adheres to artery walls and can cause atherosclerosis or Heart Disease.
Triglycerides:- also bad stuff and your readings should not exceed 1.7 mmol/I.
High readings of HDL is good because it surrounds the bad stuff and stops it sticking to artery walls. If you take the total cholesterol reading and divide it by the HDL reading you will get the ratio between good and bad cholesterol and a reading of below 4 would be a preferred reading. So in theory, a high overall cholesterol reading could still be good if it's made up of mainly HDL. Alternatively, a low overall reading could be bad if it's made up of mainly LDL.
Diet has very little effect on raising the levels of cholesterol in the blood, but good results have been found by using plant sterols to reduce levels.
Statins will reduce all cholesterol, both good and bad.
I hope this is of help May, at least you'll have something to discus with your doctor.
'Fore warned is for armed'