Frequently Asked Questions About Wellness Visits
1. How is a Wellness Provider Different than my normal doctor?
Our Wellness Provider will take the necessary time to obtain a complete history and physical exam. Many topics are discussed, most importantly how you feel – physically and mentally. Your diet, lifestyle, energy level and sense of well-being are an essential part of the conversation. Our Wellness Provider will work with you to prioritize a plan of care to address your specific concerns. Together you will work to discover the root cause of your issues – giving you control over your health. This enables you to treat the root cause of your imbalances rather than just the symptoms.
2. My Doctor states that Decreased Energy and Weight Gain are A Normal Part of Aging – Is this True?
As we age, our bodies produce different levels of hormones – the chemical messengers that regulate many of our body processes. Research demonstrates that as hormone levels change with age, our bodies stop functioning as designed. There are many hormones which are responsible for regulating our bodily function on the cellular level including: insulin, melatonin, estrogen, testosterone, pregnenolone, DHEA, cortisol, thyroid hormones. It is possible to test hormone levels and help the body get back to a natural state – thereby maintaining energy levels and managing weight naturally at any age.
3. I heard that hormone replacement is dangerous – Is this true?
Conventional healthcare providers cite studies which demonstrate that hormone replacement is dangerous – and our Well- ness Provider agrees – when the replacement is accomplished with oral synthetic hormones. However, there is a wealth of research that spans over three decades which demonstrates that Bioidentical Hormone Therapy not only is safe but in fact greatly decreases the risk of muscle wasting, cardiovascular disease, cancers, dementia and improves quality of life. It is essential that appropriate testing is completed to know whether hormones are necessary. Once this is determined, bioidentical hormones are compounded at a dose that is specific to each individual.
4. My doctor says my thyroid is fine, but I feel like something is not right. Is there more testing that can be done?
Most doctors test Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Free T4 (FT4) and look at normal lab ranges to interpret the results. Un- derstanding thyroid function is much more complicated. A per- son’s symptoms, lifestyle and stress levels are essential to evaluate thyroid function. Next, a full thyroid panel including an appropri- ate test of the active thyroid hormones is necessary – TSH and FT4 – are inactive hormones. Low thyroid function – or subclinical hypothyroidism – is very common and generally not diagnosed through conventional testing.
5. What Kind of Testing is done and Does Insurance Pay?
Testing can include blood tests or saliva tests – sometimes both. Saliva testing is not covered by insurance, but you can use a Flex Spending account to purchase the kits. Blood tests may be cov ered by insurance, but this is not guaranteed. The lab will submit claims to your insurance company on your behalf. You will be informed up front what the cash pay price is for all testing.