Gorging on cheese

[nancy324]

I ate oatmeal and about 4 ozs. of cheddar cheese this morning so I can fast and make it through until my annual physical exam at 4 pm. I don't usually eat cheese. Do you think the cheese will help? Will it affect my cholesterol tests?

 

[Afreet]

Hi Nancy;

I have to have a fasting blood test every three months and even though it's just a quick little procedure, it always screws up my day. I'm usually up at 4, walk or run the dogs for 30-45 minutes, after which I am STARVING, so I eat breakfast, have caffeine, and am on my way to work by 5:30. The blood testing place doesn't even OPEN until 8am, at which point I've been up, starving, for four hours! I HATE blood test day!

So, I bring breakfast with me (eggs in a wrap, smoothie, whatever) and the instant that band-aid is on my arm, I'm out the door eating something.

I could never make it through the day without eating, I have to go as soon as they open!

And now, to answer your question, the cheese shouldn't affect your test. But if your test comes back abnormal, you might have to try it again without cheese!

 

[Afreet]

Oops!

Nancy - - you changed the topic on me! Sorry!

 

[nancy324]

Sorry about that Afreet. I'll change it back. I appreciate your comments. Every 3 months? That sounds awful! I'll have lots of bars in my purse to scarf down as soon as the blood tests are over.

 

[kathryn]

Blood platelet thickening shows up after a high-fat meal, but I'm not sure how much 4 oz. of cheese will effect things, especially when it's several hours away from the test. I would tell the doctor or phlebotomists about it. It may affect some tests, but not all.

 

[nancy324]

I'm sure you're right, Kathryn. I doubt it will affect my blood sugar level or my thyroid level. If it affects my cholesterol readings, so what. Maybe my doc will say "very good" instead of "excellent".