Lab Info

OK, so I drive one hour down to the doctors to get my labs, and of course..... they're not all in!!!! I spoke with the nurse and she said they looked all in to her and am I SURE they drew for Vits A, D, B1, B6, and zinc..*spoken like taking to a two year old* I explained to her YES!!!! They did (13 viles of blood) draw for those, they are very important to my health to be drawn. So I'll have to go back next week for the "rest" of the labs. Here's what I got so far though: (what in () is what I was in Nov05 right before my stroke) WBC 4.0 Low (3.8) RBC 4.06 Low (4.55) Hemoglobin 11.9 Low (14) Hematocrit 33.9 Low (40) Ferritin 8 Low (26) Vit. B12 299 (700's) PreAlbumin 16.8 Low in Jan 06 (after being on TPN it was 19.1) Iron 39 Low (73) Calcium 8.9 (9.2) well, the good news is my cholesterol is 118!!!!! But that's about all the good news. What I see is that I'm in WORSE health then right before my stroke!!! I've worked soooo dang hard this year to improve and I've not done it. I'm again classified as malnutrished (prealbumin number). I'm eatting six times a day, and drinking 60 grams of protein drink per day and I'm STILL malnutrished!!! This doesn't help my depression in the least!!! I'm ready to go back to and STAY there!!!!!! MY pcp wrote right across these lab sheets "slight anemia, low ferritin, follow up w/ bariatric dr." gggggrrrrrr So, now I'm TOTALLY doctorless!! THIS SUCKS!!!! Laurie

Please, please get the other ones done. Honey, honestly, your depression could be tied to your body being "off". Are you doing B12 shots? Sublinguals? How much? How often? You MUST get that up honey. Neurological damage can happen down below 350 or so. Iron? What are you taking for iron? How much and what form? Post your results on the OSSG forums Protein or Vitamins or both. Michelle and Julia can help. We will get you through this. Wish you were here...I'd get you to my docs. Hugs, Kathy

Kathy - I'm FORCING myself to answer you here. I just want to and forget all about everything right now!!!! But I know that will only make things worse. I was doing sublinguals but obviously need to switch to shots. I've asked around and ppl say that I need to get a script for the b12 and then I can do them myself. UGH, a script could very well be impossible at this point!!!! And of course then I've got to get over my fear of needles to give myself the injections. Iron I'm on Tender Iron about 300 mg I'm going to call around to some hemotologist in my area tomorrow and see if I can get an apt. without a referal from pcp. I don't NEED a referal for insurance purposes, but a lot of specialist require one themselves... hoops to jump through. UGH I definately agree that many of my mental/emotional issues could very well be related to my deficienies!! We were driving home the other day and THREE times I asked my husband "where are we?" I couldn't find anything that was familiar... and this was the NORMAL route that we take almost daily!!! Geee wizzzzz - I'm afraid I'm going to drive somewhere and loose myself. I hope to get the rest of my labs by Tuesday - I really want to know what my b1 and b6 are as those are what "I" believe caused my stroke last year. Thanks for the well wishes!!!! I'm cling to those right now. laurie My dh is talking about looking into the Mayo clinic - but I'm not sure that I'm "that" bad off yet..... besides it's sooooo far away.

Honestly, I do not know that I think you are "bad off". I am concerned about you and I think you need some serious work on your vitamins and labs. But "bad off", no. Just need a good doctor to take it all very seriously and work with you on it. I'm sorry that yours has abandoned you. That sucks. I think seeing a hematologist would be great. Perhaps they will help with the whole smear rather than just the iron issue. And until your labs are stable... you need them drawn more than every 6 months. As for needle phobia, I was terrified when in one day I went from hearing the words "You are diabetic can you get in here NOW" to this is how you load a needle and shoot yourself. Scary as heck. Closed my eyes but I did what had to be done. Many folks on the other yahoogroups buy veterinary grade B12 or even B complex and give themselves shots. I'm NOT kidding. They buy syringes also. As for B12 now... how much is the B12 you are taking now? Now many mcg? I know for some the sublingual won't be enough but if you are taking 500 mcg... I'd go and get a bigger dose. I'm taking 2500 mcg daily and mine dropped from 1400+ to 1100 and I wanted it back up over the top so I doubled up. Oops. LOL! Haven't seen the new numbers. Hope it isn't too over the top but I just want it to stay up there. As for B1, I take 2 B100 complex a day. That got rid of the neuropathy symptoms I had earlier on. Have you read the vitamin document is posted in some of the Yahoogroups file section? Written by Julia Zubrio? It's good stuff. Take care! You know you have all of our well wishes. We'll do what we can to help you get back on track. Wi**** was more - like finding you a doc. Hugs, Kathy

I'm so sorry to hear about your continued problems, Laurie. I wish I had answers or advise, but I don't. Kathy's pretty much covered it all. You are in my prayers, however. God bless. Hugs, Tracy