Quality of Life in the ‘Covid-Age’
As we walk through this “Covid-age”, I see people reflecting and ruminating on what is most important to them over and over again, until the answers come with more and more distinctions.
One hormone helping us to see with clearer eyes and mind is Growth Hormone (GH).
The Quality of Life Questionnaire, is a way to look at our ‘subject’ selves, objectively, and can also be correlated with GH function and GH metabolite levels.* IGF-1 and IGF-BP3 are two GH metabolites used to correlate with Quality of Life Questionnaire. IGF-1 levels will vary throughout the day just as cortisol does and has more to do with fat and muscle mass, and feeling of well- being. IGF-BP3 is a more stable reflection of GH output from your brain having to do more with functioning of your immune system.
You completed the quality-of-life questionnaire when you became a patient at RMC. This questionnaire is also being used in research today to evaluate people’s Quality of Life during Covid. For me, it is one of the most valuable questionnaires and research tools in medicine to assess our well-being, which in turn can determine how happy or sad we feel.
I encourage you to think about and answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the statements below. A ‘ maybe’, is counted as a ‘yes’.
Quality of Life Questionnaire
| 1. I have to struggle to finish jobs |
| 2. I feel a strong need to sleep during the day |
| 3. I often feel lonely even when I am with other people |
| 4. I have to read things several times before they sink in |
| 5. It is difficult for me to make friends |
| 6. It takes a lot of effort for me to do simple tasks |
| 7. I have difficulty controlling my emotions |
| 8. I often lose track of what I want to say |
| 9. I lack confidence |
| 10. I have to push myself to do things |
| 11. I often feel very tense |
| 12. I feel as if I let people down |
| 13. I find it hard to mix with people |
| 14. I feel worn out even when I’ve not done anything |
| 15. There are times when I feel very low |
| 16. I avoid responsibility if possible |
| 17. I avoid mixing with people I don’t know well |
| 18. I feel as if I am a burden to people |
| 19. I often forget what people have said to me |
| 20. I find it difficult to plan ahead |
| 21. I am easily irritated by other people |
| 22. I often feel too tired to do the things I ought to do |
| 23. I have to force myself to do all the things that need doing |
| 24. I often have to force myself to stay awake |
| 25. My memory lets me down |
Scoring : Count the number of ‘yes’s’
6-10: Possible Mild GH deficiency
10-15: Possible Moderate GH deficiency
16-20: Possible Severe GH deficiency
21-25: Probable GH deficiency
Note the scoring above is an adaptation of a more formal scoring method used to compare this questionnaires with others
If you answered ‘ yes’ to 10 or more of the statements, please text me and set up an appointment with the front desk.
Have an awesome and quality day! Dr. D
Contact Dr. Valerie Donaldson, MD – Regenerative Medicine Center
For Details and Appointments
1-412-767-9890
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