Going to the doctor can be overwhelming or scary. And it’s easy to forget to ask questions or mention recent events that might have skewed a blood test result. I suggest that you bring a written list of questions or topics you want to cover. Here are some issues you might want to bring up with your doctor when discussing your recent lipid profile:
- Tell the doctor if you had a flu or other major or minor illness shortly before the blood test was performed. These events can dramatically alter the lipid profile, either reducing or elevating several of the lipoprotein fractions.
- If your diet was dramatically different from your typical diet in the weeks leading up to the lipid test, this is worth noting, because high alcohol or carbohydrate intake can cause a dramatic elevation in serum triglycerides.
- If you were expected to fast and didn’t, don’t be embarrassed to say so. You could end up on the wrong drug treatment if this error is not identified.
- If there is an abnormality (i.e., high cholesterol levels when there hadn’t been in the past), ask if your cholesterol will be measured again to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.
- Ask how you and your doctor will use the results to decide on a treatment plan.
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