Excuse Me, My Labs Are What...?

Taking Your Health Into Your Own Hands Doesn't Mean Doing It Alone.

I recently had my routine-ish physical.

I say routine-ish because at 49, physicals seem to become a little more interesting.

There are the random twinges, aches, pains, hot flashes… and lately, I've also been feeling really, really blah.

Not depressed. I still find plenty of joy in my life.

Just… lacking the desire to start things.

A little less drive.

Less interest.

Less vigor.

Less sunshiney-ness...

Some changes to my personality that made me wonder if hormones or something else might be contributing.

So I went into my appointment with questions.

I left with more...

The appointment beginning was cordial. Friendly, even. I complimented her shoes; she told me where she bought them. You know, typical "girl talk".

But somewhere in the middle, the conversation just didn't feel like a conversation anymore.

I brought up several things I had been noticing and questions I'd been researching.

I asked about hormones.

I asked specifically whether low testosterone could potentially contribute to some of what I was experiencing.

I mentioned persistent dryness, itchy ears, an itchy scalp, and the general feeling of being… well, blah.

I asked, "Could that be due to progesterone? That's the one, right? Or is it estrogen??"

I didn't expect my provider to have an immediate answer for everything; that's just ridiculous.

I WAS expecting an answer more than: “Mhm. Is there anything else?”

FOUR TIMES!

I expected us to talk about it! To have dialogue of some sort...

Instead, I felt like I was trying to keep a conversation going that wasn't really happening.

And when I got home, I realized some of the things I had specifically asked about hadn't even been tested.

That was frustrating enough.

Then my lab results came back.

And WHOA!

Some of the numbers were elevated.

And much more than I expected, including cholesterol and A1C.

I was genuinely confused.

I'm not saying that because I think eating well and exercising means nothing unexpected can ever show up on a lab report. Bodies are complicated.

Numbers are information, not a complete picture of a person.

But I also couldn't ignore the disconnect I was seeing.

I'm the person people tend to refer to as being the health nut. "On a health kick!" is a direct quote.

I'm a personal trainer.

I strength train regularly.

I pay attention to what I eat. Protein and Fiber are in every meal, even at a restaurant!

I drink only water and black coffee.

I prefer to avoid fast food,

except the occasional Chipotle run or

obviously, a big bucket of popcorn at the theater.

All that to say, I take my health seriously.

And I'm not afraid to be strict to bring about change!

So my reaction wasn't:

“These results must be wrong.”

It was:

“Okay… help me understand this.”

But instead, what I got was a prescription sent to the pharmacy with no options.

No conversation. No suggestions.

And that's where I think health advocacy gets misunderstood.

Taking your health into your own hands does not mean you don't believe doctors,

or don't feel like there is a place for pharmacological interventions.

It doesn't mean reading a few articles online and deciding you've figured everything out.

It doesn't mean automatically rejecting medication.

Even though I do prefer to find a lifestyle intervention when possible.

And it definitely doesn't mean automatically accepting the first recommendation you're given without understanding it.

For me, it meant asking more questions.

I went home and researched.

A lot.

I looked at lifestyle and nutrition factors.

I looked at ways to support cholesterol and blood sugar through the things I can control.

I looked at other possible contributors.

I revisited exactly what I had done in the days leading up to the blood draw.

I even started looking for medical providers who specifically work with women navigating perimenopause.

And in the meantime, it helped me feel like I took some autonomy back.

I refined my nutrition even more.

I increased my fiber, adding psyllium husk, specifically.

I paid closer attention to saturated fat, which I hadn't really done before.

(This is one of those grey areas in the wellness space)

I had always just stuck to “healthy fats.”

I also became more consistent with my workouts and forced myself into some changes.

Yes. Forced.

Because even Coach Heidi doesn't want to get off the couch after dinner!

That's my relax time.

Dinner is done, the day is winding down, and I want to sit down with my current show and call it a night.

But I knew post-meal movement was something I could control, so I made myself get up.

At first, I literally did 10 squats.

That's it.

Then I started doing a few sets of squats.

Now I've worked my way up to walking in place for at least half an episode of my current hour-long show.

Is it glamorous?

Nope.

Is it something I look forward to?

Also nope.

But it is a change I CAN make. (I just made an Instagram reel about this, too.)

Let's be real, MOST times taking care of yourself isn't about finding more motivation.

Most changes are about forcing yourself to take that first tiny step until the new behavior starts to feel normal.

Not because I think I know more than a doctor.

I truly respect the education, training, and dedication that goes into becoming one!

But because there are things I can control, and I need to have that option before medication.

I'm also not pretending that a few weeks of changes will magically explain everything or transform a lab report.

That's not the point.

The point is that I'm participating in my own healthcare.

I'm asking questions.

I'm gathering information.

I'm rechecking sooner than later.

And I'm getting another professional perspective.

I've already scheduled a second opinion appointment with a different practitioner for after my next labs.

If the results are still concerning, I'm going to follow medical recommendations,

including medication if that's where the evidence and conversation lead.

But I want that decision to come from a conversation where I feel heard and

where we've actually explored the situation together.

Because I believe healthcare should be a two-way conversation!

There are absolutely times when you need to listen to your medical professional and follow their direction.

If you've broken your leg, you probably won't negotiate the need for a cast!

But when you're talking about something ongoing- your lifestyle, your nutrition, your activity, your symptoms, and potentially a lifelong medication- I believe there should be room for questions, context, discussion, and shared decision-making.

Doctors have medical training that I don't have. That's a fact.

BUT, I have lived experience in my own body that they don't have. That is also a fact.

Both matter. Both can be true at the same time!

And maybe that's the biggest thing I want to say:

You are allowed to ask questions!

You are allowed to say, “I don't understand. Can you explain that?”

You are allowed to bring up something that seems small or unrelated.

You are allowed to ask what else might be contributing.

You are allowed to seek another professional perspective.

And if something doesn't feel right, retest.

You don't have to choose between blindly trusting someone else with your health

and trying to figure everything out by yourself. There is a middle ground!

Be an active participant in your own care.

You deserve to be heard,

not just in a doctor's office, but at work, at home, at school, on the dang street,

EVERYWHERE!!!!

Taking care of yourself means knowing when to say:

“I don't know the answer yet.

But I'm going to keep asking questions until I understand what comes next.”

My next labs are coming. October 12th!

So is the next conversation. October 14th!!!

To be continued…

Take your health seriously.

Coach Heidi