mthayer

The good news is that we ran the blood test in time and now I have a great chance to reverse some of the bad things going on in my body. Last week I was having some tingling in my hands and feet, so i set up an appointment with my chiropractor so she could work on neck since I having some pain in it. She was concerned with me being overwieght and thought that I may have an onset of diabetes, so shedrew some blood and sent it to the lab. She called me today and wanted to set up a time to go over the results. I got some infor out of her over the phone about kinda whats going on. She said that my liver was inflamed, and that I am on the path to having diabetes, heart disease, gout, a heart attack, and some other things but i forgot what they were.

I am only 29, weigh 260, 5'9" tall. Is this my wake up call? I am thinking it maybe.

CJ C

Dont hit the snooze, WAKE UP and answer the phone

hey bro/sis im in the same boat here, get my blood test twice a year (free at work) and its always been good. i used that as an excuse to eat crappy. the recent test showed my sugar to be a bit high and thyroid trending to hyperthyroid over each test. add to that Doc tossed me on a low dose of high blood pressure medicine.

all would be fine if i was 60 but i am in my early thirties and the trend line showing a pick up in decline.

Bro/sis we need to fix this now when we are young and is easier to treat without medicine. we cant wait till 40 when it will take twice the work to fix even with medicine.

i am down 10 lbs since riding and now added running and will start lifting again. i need to work on the intake of junk. wife handed me a new one and has me on a tight leash and cut out my fun food. i will still get to eat a few slices of pizza during the Bears game with only one can of coke.

we can do this, and there is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration here on this board, lets do this!!!

SeaDawg

This may be exactly what you need to hear in order to make a positive change in your life, in which case, yes, it's a wakeup call.

With that said, I personally would seek out the medical advice of a family practitioner, internist or other general practitioner (M.D. or D.O.), about my current status with regard to diabetes, heart disease, and the like, rather than relying on a chiropractor to advise me about them. The field of chiropractics focuses on manual manipulations of the muskuloskeletal system (such as spinal manipulations), and not on diagnosing and treating all that other stuff.

chefisaac

mthayer: male or female?

CraigB

Maybe? Maybe? You've got to be kidding me.

I also second the notion that you get to an MD. I like my chiropractor, but I don't know one that's qualified to even draw blood, let alone interpret blood test results.

mthayer

I am going to have the results looked over by a couple other people including a MD. The lady I go to is smarter than quite a few doctors that are around here and she actually cares about the well being of her patients. She had numerious degrees and is always taking some type of internal medicine course(s) when i talk with her. The other thing i like about her is she does not like for people to pop pills to fix things, even though she says its neccessary sometimes.

I am getting a second opinion before doing anything about this. I know and understand that none of these things are ones to be played with. My father died of what we believed to be a heart attack when he was 53, and had everything that i mentioned in the OP. I have seen how it affects people on a first hand basis. I can win this fight, but not having a supposrt system behind me I feel like I may revert back to my old dietary habits.

@chef i am a male.

DEK

Best to get this looked into. That won't hurt that's for sure. Good luck and I hope things turn out well for you.

Neil_B

Sorry, I had to read this twice to grasp it. A chiropractor, someone who specializes in 'adjusting' your bones, order a blood test and interpreted the results to you? Is she also a general practitioner? Can you get a copy of the tests and take it to someone who is qualified to interpret it?

ill.clyde

get thee to a doctor ... and get your arse on the bike

CJ C

bro i am here for ya, so are the others here.

sign up a livestrong.com and track your daily food. (dont cheat) and you will be shocked!

Neil_B

What am I, chopped liver?

BigUgly

+1 on this. Down 35 pounds this year and am in the best shape I have been in 15 years.

jethro56 

Thumbs up on your chiropractor for getting the bloodwork done. There are many ways to treat your issues. Most involve extra stress on liver function. I know when I started my doctor was watching liver function closely. I was fortunate that he was the diabetes specialist for the local hospital. You may not need specialized care but your liver problem raises major concerns.

Seattle Forrest

This is blowing my mind, too. It's like if I took my bike to a plumber, who said "yeah, that carbon stuff will asplode, so you better condemn it and ride steel."

I'd treat it as a wake up call, because the things she's urging you to do - eat better, get more exercise - are good for you no matter what, even if you're in perfect health. But I'd also take her opinion with a grain of salt the size of Texas, and go to a real doctor to see what's going on.

Pamestique 

Thankfully found early and with some lifestyle changes can be addressed. So give thanks in that. Just a word of caution... I struggle with my weight as well but have been lucky to avoid diabetes. My best friend has diabetes... it is horrible and insidious. The damage it causes is irreversible. Take this warning to heart and get healthier! Just alittle goes a long way.

mthayer

Yes she is a chiropractor, but she is finishing up her degree to where she would be the equivelent to a general practioner. Before she ever called me, she went over her findings with MDs to make sure she is not and will not give wrong or bad advice. She did give me a copy of the results of the bloodwork, explained everything on it and made a few suggestions. She said that she would encourage me to see a doctor also.

Ok for her findings

The main concern of her was my liver, and my cholestorol. While the cholestorol was barely out of the normal ranges, she said for my age they are a little too high. She said that they cholestorol may be because of my liver having to work harder and trying to detoxify whats going on in my body. Also they are concerned that i may have a lot of heavy metals (mercury and or arsonic) in my system from me being a pescotarian. I am going to get a test done for it, but i have to be off fish for a week. She has me taking vitamin D and b because my body is deficient in them. And she has me taking niacin for something and magnesium. Ive been on the magnesium for over a week now and my blood pressure had dropped 6 points on both sides. im kinda happy about that. Im going see where this takes me, if it doesnt work then I guess i will be stuck popping pills for it.

As far as my diet, she recommended strongly no more Dr. Peppers, fish for now, lighten up on the soy, more fruits and leafy greens and veggies, cut out the simple carbohydrates and no more sweets. She did kinda recommend that i start eating chicken, turkey, lean pork, and lean beef, thats going to be weird since its been 4 years with not eating it. i need to just htfu and do it and be healthier. Also i need to start doing light excercise, she does not like that i told her that i am seriously considering doing a triathlon in a month. She did not believe that i could do them and that i have already done some.

I appriciate the support and help from everyone here on the forums.

Neil_B

"Also i need to start doing light excercise, she does not like that i told her that i am seriously considering doing a triathlon in a month. She did not believe that i could do them and that i have already done some." That alone raises a red flag for me. Why did she tell you that? Frankly, she sounds like a herbalist rather than a doctor.

The niacin might be to boost your HDL count. It's commonly scripted in high doses. Did she issue a script?

mthayer

I do believe it was to boost my hdl. She carries a line of vitamins and suppliments at her place that are a pharmacy grade. She carries them because there a lack the nearest store to get them is almost an hours drive away.

Street Pedaler

I'm not going to knock your faith in your chiropractor, but go see a doctor. A bad case of Gall Bladder disease can throw your liver out of whack. I know, it happened to me. I'm also a type 2 Diabetic. With proper care and lifestyle changes, it's a controllable and, often, even reversible disease. OR... It can kill you. Go see a doctor.

goldfinch

+2 Livestrong is easy to use too.

goldfinch

What is equivalent to an MD? There isn't an equivalent. Either she is an MD or not.

I feel like she is moving outside of her expertise. I agree with Neil.

Neil_B

A lawyer friend was cross-examining a physician in a civil case and rattled the guy. The physician insisted he be addressed as "Doctor _____" My friend then asked the doctor to address him as "DR. ________" because he had a JD.

goldfinch

The last thing you want to be called is doctor when you are not an MD. I'd be afraid someone would have a heart attack and ask for my help!

CJ C

wait i saw that scene in austin powers

jethro56 

Spies Like Us did it pretty well.