Results Time

Then comes the results.. About three weeks after my BMI Assessment a sixteen page document detailing the results of all of the various tests I’d had dutifully arrived in the post.  I had felt a little anxious for what I would soon learn about the state of my health, even though I didn’t sense much was wrong, you never quite know.  Which let’s face it is really is the whole point of having this done in the first place!  As if the clever people behind this service have an idea that a certain amount of trepidation might be involved, it began with an overview page providing an at-a-glance picture of my health. Which was essentially a thumbs up. Phew!!

After that the report moves on to your ten year risk profiles.  There’s a history of coronary heart disease in my family, and this is my highest risk.  But even so it came out as low thank goodness.  The next page covered my current health, it noted my early menopause and went on to highlight the risk factors, namely of developing osteoporosis in my case and advising that a DEXA scan to check bone density might be a good idea in future.

Personal history next, my mood, anxiety, family history, medication, whether or not I smoke (I don’t!), alcohol intake (don’t drink😇), diet and allergies all coming with various suitable recommendations. Then my body measurements and fitness, blood pressure (which was a bit high), lung function and a resting ECG (all fine). 

Then on to blood test results, my cholesterol has crept up, two years ago it was excellent but this time not so good, so I definitely need to cut out the cakes, biscuits and butter etc. 

Results for the physical examinations were detailed over a full page covering eyes, ears, heart, abdomen, spine, groin, skin etc.  Pretty comprehensive!

There was a section covering ‘well woman’, and other related investigations, mostly irrelevant for me because of my hysterectomy. I did have the breast examination though which was fine and the results for my mammogram were clear too, yippee!!  That has definitely given me some peace of mind for a little while.

There is also a bit at the back explaining more about the blood tests and what they mean. I found the results very well put together and easy to understand.  The presentation helped me to digest quite a considerable amount of information relatively easily, which is exactly what you want when you’re eager to know that it’s all gonna be ok!!  Now, do I think this is all worth it? Yes I do!!  I’m now more aware of what could go wrong in the future, and therefore what I need to pay more attention to, and I’m determined to not let things slip.  My youngest daughter said to me the other day when I questioned her lifestyle choices “I’m here to live a good life not a long life”.  Oh, really!!  I replied.. “Yes!!” she said. “I’m not going to go now, but fifty is my limit.”  Oh, great.  I commented that’s only two more years for me.  Shocked!!  What she doesn’t and can’t know is that fifty comes around way too fast, one minute you’re a fighting fit twenty year old, the next it seems you’re middle-aged and needing a little bit more TLC than a bodycon dress and some Mascara might provide...