A client's report from his experience at Prescan

The report of a 45year old client who experienced a medical check-up involving a Total Body Scan, laboratory testing (stool, urine, blood) and a thorough heart examination (Cardiogram Plus). He gave up smoking 2 years ago and has a family history of cardiovascular disease as well as cancer.



‘’A medical check-up, involving the latest methods which the common health insurance service does not cover was my most important criteria. In my family, we do not have more diseases (my grandfather died of cancer and my mother of a heart attack) than in those of my friend’s families but every time I had a stitch in my side or an unaccountable ache, the thought crossed my mind that this could be a warning. I had made the decision for a comprehensive examination for quite some time but due to time pressure and the involvement of running from one physician to the other, deterred me. When I heard of Prescan I felt it worth a try. And so one rainy morning I decided to take the plunge and see what happened."



A Week prior to the appointment : I receive stool test kit (very simple to undertake) in the mail. In addition a form covering my medical history is to be answered and I am reminded to bring along all possibly relevant medical reports.



8:00 Uhr I am welcomed by Mrs Jaiczay who takes care of my coat and gym bag and gives me a glass of water I have to fast for the blood testing. All forms are quickly checked that nothing is forgotten, and I hand over the stool test kit. Dr. Wegmann is expecting me and he submits me to an intensive bout of questioning, something I have not experienced before. He wants to know about my last hospitalization, my normal eating habits, whether and what sport I do, if stair ascending caused problems etc, etc, So much that I cannot remember everything.



8:30 Uhr Mrs Jaiczay accompanies me to the laboratory to have blood taken. This is not my scene but what must be, must be and I am encouraged by the promise of a breakfast afterwards. We then go to the next department where an ultrasound of my brain supplying arteries, thyroid gland and gall bladder are made. The examining doctor is pleased with the results. Needless to say, so am I.



9:30 Uhr  After I receive my promised breakfast, I pass a urine specimen for testing and the show goes on. Again I am accompanied by Mrs Jaiczay, even though I am sure I would have found my way, but she assures me ‘It’s part of our service and our pleasure to look after you during your stay with us’ She explains what will come next (MRT has a loud knocking noise and I should lie very quietly without moving, if possible). Shortly after, I was in the MRT device, (somewhat narrow and containing, perhaps I should have opted for the open device) and after 45 minutes of breathing instructions the investigation is over. Then on to CT for my lung and heart scan. This is quieter and lastes only 15 min. Then I quickly dress and we are off to the next stop.



10:40 Uhr Cardiogram Plus starts with an ECG. Dressed in my gym clothes; I swing onto the bike to show my skills. Oh well this was not my best day! Then on to an ultrasound scan of my heart. Fascinating to see my throbbing heart.

11:20 Uhr Mrs Jaiczay is waiting to show me the shower. After my shower I am treated to lunch and leave the clinic shortly after 12:00, happily relieved to have accomplished my health check and eagerly awaiting the results.



Two days later My anxious feeling reverted to one of curiosity when Dr. Wegmann showed me the images of my body interior on the computer screen. He immediately assured me that all was in order and so I could relax as we went through the various organs. We started at the head and looked at my brain image, layer by layer. Dr. Wegmann looked pleased “Everything is as it should be” Then on to the important arteries supplying the brain with oxygen. Here I thankfully acknowledged that there was no change especially no constriction. Next we looked at the heart where all blood vessels were clear with only a minimum of calcium deposit. This was most important to me as my mom suffered a heart attack and I feared I might have inherited the risk. I decided right there that in future I would undergo heart screening more frequently. The lungs were next and here I feared that my previous smoking history would be reflected. However Dr. Wegmann reckoned that it could be much worse and underlined my effort to continue not smoking. Next stop on my tour was the pelvic area. The liver and pancreas were ok, and there was also no sign of gall-bladder or kidney stones. Then we descended into a deeper layer where Dr. Wegmann indicated the presence of white spots on the screen. He interpreted this as an irregular change in the spinal column and indicated that I would probably soon suffer a slipped disc problem. He urgently advised me to consult an orthopaedic surgeon or chiropractor and to start a training program to build up my back muscles. He claimed that this was the most common result of the Total Body scan – the pre-warning of a slipped disc. “It is not surprising considering the increased sitting activity our modern society experience.” He was satisfied with the rest of the pelvic cavity and sent me off with a few important nutritional tips. I was relieved that the fears of my heart condition were groundless, as well as the anxiety that cancer may be present unfounded. On the way to my car I thought: what a good idea to know exactly what my health situation was and dialled the number of a chiropractor.