Full medical examination/check-up - any recommendations?
Discussion
Hi all,
I've just turned 50 and would like a comprehensive check up of health and fitness levels.
In the old days I'd be able to get this via my GP but I suspect I will need to go privately.
I had one of these via BUPA a few years ago, but although I have currently have family BUPA cover I'm not a fan (too many cover exceptions) and suspect I might get better value taking my money elsewhere
Any recommendations/suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
I've just turned 50 and would like a comprehensive check up of health and fitness levels.
In the old days I'd be able to get this via my GP but I suspect I will need to go privately.
I had one of these via BUPA a few years ago, but although I have currently have family BUPA cover I'm not a fan (too many cover exceptions) and suspect I might get better value taking my money elsewhere
Any recommendations/suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Edited by maturin23 on Tuesday 2nd May 14:24
Paid for one via AXA healthcare, think it was £400ish for a "360+" review. Spent a few hours in a Nuffield gym being seen by a doctor and a physio. Had sent a stool sample in beforehand, was offered the option of bypassing the cough test and the prostate check.
Didn't find out anything I didn't already know. Most interesting thing was the results from a USB ear clamp stress-detecting thingy; mindfulness breathing exercises do actually appear to be a useful thing.
Didn't find out anything I didn't already know. Most interesting thing was the results from a USB ear clamp stress-detecting thingy; mindfulness breathing exercises do actually appear to be a useful thing.
I'm also interested in this. Turning 50 next year (as is my wife) and really cannot remember the last time either of us visited the doctor. But we would like to pay for a full proper MOT. Have googled and looked at a few options, but a personal recommendation would be great. I mean a full MOT, like my powerfully built director friends seem to get through work.
Any recommendations?
Any recommendations?
QuartzDad said:
Paid for one via AXA healthcare, think it was £400ish for a "360+" review. Spent a few hours in a Nuffield gym being seen by a doctor and a physio. Had sent a stool sample in beforehand, was offered the option of bypassing the cough test and the prostate check.
Didn't find out anything I didn't already know. Most interesting thing was the results from a USB ear clamp stress-detecting thingy; mindfulness breathing exercises do actually appear to be a useful thing.
That amount seems about right. Didn't find out anything I didn't already know. Most interesting thing was the results from a USB ear clamp stress-detecting thingy; mindfulness breathing exercises do actually appear to be a useful thing.
I had to consult an adrenal specialist as a result of a health emergency but I was told that the bloods and other checks I had done were the standard ‘mot’ stuff and that lot was billed at £475.00. However that was the private hospital in St John’s Wood, so likely to be dearer than most of the UK.
EDIT
BUPA by the way.
psi310398 said:
QuartzDad said:
Paid for one via AXA healthcare, think it was £400ish for a "360+" review. Spent a few hours in a Nuffield gym being seen by a doctor and a physio. Had sent a stool sample in beforehand, was offered the option of bypassing the cough test and the prostate check.
Didn't find out anything I didn't already know. Most interesting thing was the results from a USB ear clamp stress-detecting thingy; mindfulness breathing exercises do actually appear to be a useful thing.
That amount seems about right. Didn't find out anything I didn't already know. Most interesting thing was the results from a USB ear clamp stress-detecting thingy; mindfulness breathing exercises do actually appear to be a useful thing.
I had to consult an adrenal specialist as a result of a health emergency but I was told that the bloods and other checks I had done were the standard ‘mot’ stuff and that lot was billed at £475.00. However that was the private hospital in St John’s Wood, so likely to be dearer than most of the UK.
EDIT
BUPA by the way.
I'm curious because I've always relied on the NHS for health care; what does a private checkup cover that isn't listed here?
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/wha...
Now that I'm in my 70s I have regular NHS blood tests, the latest were at the end of April and the results are now on-line for me to see.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/wha...
Now that I'm in my 70s I have regular NHS blood tests, the latest were at the end of April and the results are now on-line for me to see.
Wife does this for BUPA. Its good value, you get an hour with a nurse & another hour with a Doctor. Its showed up some interesting things with me. They also do referral letters for follow on investigation.
A lot of people are using it to see a GP as they are finding it impossible to get to see their own GP.
A lot of people are using it to see a GP as they are finding it impossible to get to see their own GP.
It might be worth checking with your GP, a couple of years ago when I ticked over 50 I got called in.
I got the impression it was standard practice for them (not a regular probably only been to see them once or twice for something minor in the previous 25 years).
Don’t think they could have been more thorough. Thought there might be something wrong with my kidneys, sent me for all sorts of tests, up shot, yes slightly dodgy kidney but probably always been like that.
I got the impression it was standard practice for them (not a regular probably only been to see them once or twice for something minor in the previous 25 years).
Don’t think they could have been more thorough. Thought there might be something wrong with my kidneys, sent me for all sorts of tests, up shot, yes slightly dodgy kidney but probably always been like that.
Tymb said:
It might be worth checking with your GP, a couple of years ago when I ticked over 50 I got called in.
I got the impression it was standard practice for them (not a regular probably only been to see them once or twice for something minor in the previous 25 years).
Don’t think they could have been more thorough. Thought there might be something wrong with my kidneys, sent me for all sorts of tests, up shot, yes slightly dodgy kidney but probably always been like that.
I got the same call and was very impressed as my experience of the NHS has been first rate. We chatted about statins (initiated by me as my results didn't point to them) and my GP was upfront about it being a personal choice balancing the benefits v side effects. Contrary to my pal who insisted to be put on them as he sees them as prevention, reducing risks of stroke etc. as advancement in medical science against the backdrop of his/our age demographic where we were told tablets were a bad thing. Done to death in another thread so I won't labour it.I got the impression it was standard practice for them (not a regular probably only been to see them once or twice for something minor in the previous 25 years).
Don’t think they could have been more thorough. Thought there might be something wrong with my kidneys, sent me for all sorts of tests, up shot, yes slightly dodgy kidney but probably always been like that.
Recently I've been investigated for Raynauds (cold hands/feet) and sent to a consultant. Now in the various health check ups I've had I thought I'd had all the blood tests, but believe me a 'full blood count' involves tests I'd never heard of. As part of this check up I ended up with a chest X-Ray, urine test, full blood run ranging from HIV (it was negative), all strains of hepatitis to ESR (measures the rate how long it takes red blood cells to fall to the bottom of a test tube) and various others to rule out any underlying causes. I was getting overloaded with emails informing me my results had been published in the MyChart App for me to read along with the consultant's letter. That App is a winner although I don't think all NHS Trusts have adopted it yet?
Riley Blue said:
I'm curious because I've always relied on the NHS for health care; what does a private checkup cover that isn't listed here?
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/wha...
Now that I'm in my 70s I have regular NHS blood tests, the latest were at the end of April and the results are now on-line for me to see.
The NHS test you link to is quite wide ranging, the bloods I have taken are pretty specific. The test covers haematology, biochemistry, endocrinology, free testosterone, liver function and special pathology (which as far as I can tell means lipid profile).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/wha...
Now that I'm in my 70s I have regular NHS blood tests, the latest were at the end of April and the results are now on-line for me to see.
I received my results today, two days after my bloods were taken. The Dr rang me then emailed them. Happily everything checks out.. slightly high cholesterol, and slightly low blood sugar. Dr suspected borderline diabetes until I explained the sports I do everyday and my hatred of carbs.
I did a Randox “Wellman” test in Sept 2022 (age 49 dude, relatively healthy with a weakness for chocolate and cake).
They took blood amd urime samples along with a Tanita weight/ body analyser. Results were comprehensive and flagged up H-pylori, high PSA, high cholesterol and metabolic syndrome.
H-pylori got sorted with antibiotics from my GP (he insisted on a retest via NHS for H-pylori and PSA). The waitlist for NHS urologist was months so I went private out of my own pocket.
After DRE, flow tests, input-output urine log and finally MRI, I was diagnosed with BPH. I didn’t fancy taking my chances with finasteride so went for Rezum procedure (also self-paying)
Randox follow up check completed in April 2023 (included in price) with repeat of same tests. I shed 5kg and 2% bodyfat through gym, cardio and most importantly cutting back on chocolate and cake (sniff) over past 6 months, so red flag areas down to amber or green. To me this was VFM. I’ll do the same tests in 2024.
I’m literally back home today after procedure this morning. I’m feeling fine, no pain. Just have to move around with a catheter for a few days.
Was it VFM? Maybe.
It will take 8-12 weeks to see the improvement.
However a full boob job in the same private hospital is cheaper!!!
For the gents, if you’re having any sign of issues with your waterworks, get yourself checked and don’t hang about getting treatment!
They took blood amd urime samples along with a Tanita weight/ body analyser. Results were comprehensive and flagged up H-pylori, high PSA, high cholesterol and metabolic syndrome.
H-pylori got sorted with antibiotics from my GP (he insisted on a retest via NHS for H-pylori and PSA). The waitlist for NHS urologist was months so I went private out of my own pocket.
After DRE, flow tests, input-output urine log and finally MRI, I was diagnosed with BPH. I didn’t fancy taking my chances with finasteride so went for Rezum procedure (also self-paying)
Randox follow up check completed in April 2023 (included in price) with repeat of same tests. I shed 5kg and 2% bodyfat through gym, cardio and most importantly cutting back on chocolate and cake (sniff) over past 6 months, so red flag areas down to amber or green. To me this was VFM. I’ll do the same tests in 2024.
I’m literally back home today after procedure this morning. I’m feeling fine, no pain. Just have to move around with a catheter for a few days.
Was it VFM? Maybe.
It will take 8-12 weeks to see the improvement.
However a full boob job in the same private hospital is cheaper!!!
For the gents, if you’re having any sign of issues with your waterworks, get yourself checked and don’t hang about getting treatment!
Good on you to be thinking of this now whilst you have hopefully many years left to make lifestyle changes if beneficial beyond what you already do.Worth bearing in mind that unless you have an existing medical history of cardiovascular disease/diabetes etc most people aged 40-74 will get offered an NHS Health Check about every five years which picks up the basics and focuses on finding things you can do to improve your overall cardiovascular fitness. Add to that taking up screening tests when offered (aneurysm, breast/bowel/cervical as applicable) and most of the commonest and most easily preventable conditions will be covered.
Going beyond that, a private test will possibly add to that a load of extra blood tests, urine tests, maybe scans and X-rays etc. That might sound good value until you price it compared with what the NHS checks offer at key times, along with an understanding that a "normal" result is essentially going to be somewhere between a range of those values most commonly found in "normal" healthy people but that still means many people will, at least from time to time, quite normally and safely have one or more common test values lying outside the "normal" range. Which then leads to either ignoring it as a spurious result (in which case why do the test) or potentially doing lots of additional investigations (which put you to lots of hassle, potentially a lot of additional expense but is unlikely to catch anything that's seriously awry). Probably happens more in the private sector with there being a vested interest in accepting diminishing returns for chasing things that might bring in extra revenue. Classic example I can recall was a friend (in another country where he had to pay for all medical investigations) who in his twenties had a slightly raised liver enzyme, resulting in him paying a load more for ongoing monitoring and even a liver ultrasound scan. Turned out later he rarely drank but had gone on a bender the night before the initial test so the slightly raised liver test should hardly have been a surprise.
I know someone else who has their liver enzymes monitored regularly, almost always plum normal but for one time when they did their back in, and took the maximum paracetamol dose for a few days, after which the regular test was due. Surprise surprise liver enzymes were slightly higher than the "normal" range - but we don't generally do blood tests on people after a week of paracetamol so would never have known were it not for the routine testing of this chap. An elderly friend of mine recently asked for, and found a slightly raised PSA compared to his previous PSA - though still within the "normal" range. This was investigated by scans and biopsy and very low grade cancer was found. Advice was that it was an incidental finding that would almost certainly be more trouble to chop out than to leave, so after all that they decided not to do anything further.
Absolutely no harm in looking for ways to improve physical and mental health and fitness through diet, exercise, not smoking, limiting booze etc. No harm in checking cholesterol and blood pressure periodically, add in prediabetic screening if you have the risk factors. And some insurance policies will require medical checkups. But realistically the more detailed the examination and the greater the number of tests offered beyond the basics, the greater the chance something will turn up that demands further investigating, and most often isn't something that ultimately needs worrying about. We medics (speaking as one myself) tend not to go for these sorts of screenings for that very reason. Not saying don't, but just ask yourself what you'd do if something did warrant further follow up, and bear in mind the sorts of things likely to get further investigated are generally unlikely to be serious and needing to be caught early through such screening.
Going beyond that, a private test will possibly add to that a load of extra blood tests, urine tests, maybe scans and X-rays etc. That might sound good value until you price it compared with what the NHS checks offer at key times, along with an understanding that a "normal" result is essentially going to be somewhere between a range of those values most commonly found in "normal" healthy people but that still means many people will, at least from time to time, quite normally and safely have one or more common test values lying outside the "normal" range. Which then leads to either ignoring it as a spurious result (in which case why do the test) or potentially doing lots of additional investigations (which put you to lots of hassle, potentially a lot of additional expense but is unlikely to catch anything that's seriously awry). Probably happens more in the private sector with there being a vested interest in accepting diminishing returns for chasing things that might bring in extra revenue. Classic example I can recall was a friend (in another country where he had to pay for all medical investigations) who in his twenties had a slightly raised liver enzyme, resulting in him paying a load more for ongoing monitoring and even a liver ultrasound scan. Turned out later he rarely drank but had gone on a bender the night before the initial test so the slightly raised liver test should hardly have been a surprise.
I know someone else who has their liver enzymes monitored regularly, almost always plum normal but for one time when they did their back in, and took the maximum paracetamol dose for a few days, after which the regular test was due. Surprise surprise liver enzymes were slightly higher than the "normal" range - but we don't generally do blood tests on people after a week of paracetamol so would never have known were it not for the routine testing of this chap. An elderly friend of mine recently asked for, and found a slightly raised PSA compared to his previous PSA - though still within the "normal" range. This was investigated by scans and biopsy and very low grade cancer was found. Advice was that it was an incidental finding that would almost certainly be more trouble to chop out than to leave, so after all that they decided not to do anything further.
Absolutely no harm in looking for ways to improve physical and mental health and fitness through diet, exercise, not smoking, limiting booze etc. No harm in checking cholesterol and blood pressure periodically, add in prediabetic screening if you have the risk factors. And some insurance policies will require medical checkups. But realistically the more detailed the examination and the greater the number of tests offered beyond the basics, the greater the chance something will turn up that demands further investigating, and most often isn't something that ultimately needs worrying about. We medics (speaking as one myself) tend not to go for these sorts of screenings for that very reason. Not saying don't, but just ask yourself what you'd do if something did warrant further follow up, and bear in mind the sorts of things likely to get further investigated are generally unlikely to be serious and needing to be caught early through such screening.
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