Thursday Morning Mumbling

Hi again!


Vitamin B12                                1379
This number is perfect.  Whatever you did to get it to this level, keep doing it. 


Calcium, serum                        11.2
PTH, Intact                                   58
We want our PTH levels to be at the low end of the range -- in the 20's or low 30's.  Before anything else, get your parathyroid tested.  Typically when we see high PTH, it's combined with low Vitamin D.  But your D isn't low.  So that makes me believe something is wrong with your parathyroid.   

Do you have lab tests on PTH from the last time it was tested - or access to the doctor who ran those tests?  Might be worth digging through your medical chart to see what it was a couple years ago for comparison.  

Just so you understand what's going on - here's a quick lesson on how PTH controls things.  PTH is the traffic cop when it comes to calcium.  PTH monitor's the body's blood calcium levels.  Serum calcium keeps our heart beating and our nervous system working - so the body does everything in its power to keep blood calcium levels within perfect range. PTH is the cop in charge of making sure serum calcium remains perfect.  If Vit D is low that inhibits the body's ability to absorb calcium, so PTH signals to get more calcium from bone to keep blood levels good. But when Vit D isn't low and the PTH is signaling for more calcium, you're going to see that there's too much calcium in the blood because the body is pulling from bone without actually needing that extra calcium... and blood calcium is high in lab tests.  So your parathyroid is in need of "paid administrative leave" until he can get his signals straight. Therefore -- request the tests right away. 



Vitamin D                                     43
This is better than most people, but still needs to be higher. Did you have labs run before surgery to know what your last D results were?  Or was this the first time it's been tested? Just wondering if it's coming up or going down compared to previous tests. 

Double check your lab report to make sure that the test was called:  25-hydroxyvitamin D or 0,-25-hydroxyD.  That's the test we want and show's the body's level of Vitamin D that's available for use.  If it has a 1 before the 25 (1,25-hydroxyD) then that's the test for the "active form of D" - which simply means it's showing what was happening in the instance the blood was drawn.  If your 1,25-hydroxyD was tested and is high, then the doc might have a point saying that the active D was pushing calcium out of the body without being used (which is what a high calcium level means).  But if he's looking at the normal D test (0,25 or 25) then there's no way he can claim you've got too much D. 

1,25-hydroxyD is like your closet full of your entire wardrobe. 
25-hydroxyD is like what color shirt you're wearing today.

HTH
Pam

Good morning!

Just here drinking my fake latte - it's almost gone and I'm already wishing I had another.  I stupidly stayed up too late last night because I wanted to catch up on the DVR'd American Idol from Tuesday.  Didn't make it to Wednesday's episode. For those who watch -- OMG! The bag piper was amazing!  Lee was never one of my favorites, but after that performance, he's heading to the top of my list (under Crystal, of course). 

QOTD -- The "shoulds".  I've actually worked on this specifically.  Or I rather, I've been working on it for 2+ years and I'm still working on it.  The "should have's" deal with regrets and obligations. 

Long ago I made a commitment to myself to have no regrets in my life.  To do that I had to change my way of thinking about events or decisions I've made.  Instead of thinking that there were things I "should have" done differently, I think of every step, every decision, every move I've made to be one tiny movement along my path of life and if I'd changed any one thing I would not be where I am today.  Every step so far has lead me to this place in my life and right now, in this place, I'm happy. 

As for obligations.  This is the harder one for me.  I'm trying to change my thinking and my actions so that I'm not doing anything out of obligation, guilt or preceived duty.  Instead I want to see things as a conscious decision that I'm making - for my health, for my happiness and for the people in my life that I love.  So instead of saying "I should have had more water today" - it needs to be "Tomorrow I want to drink more water."  Or instead of thinking that sitting with my grandmother while my parents are out of town is an obligation, I think of it as a chance to spend precious time with an important person in my life that I love dearly (even if it changes my plans for the weekend and I'd rather be doing something else). 

So, in my long-winded way of answering.  No, it doesn't ever end or go away on it's own.  It needs to be a conscious decision and it'll take a lot of work to turn your attitude around and think differently.

Pam

Good Morning Sandi and everyone-
Oh my...so much to respond to today!
First-Pam T.-I love you.  You are so smart and giving and cool.
Second- oh crap, I'm not going to number all of my points.  Anyway, I hope you get your answers and things work out for you, Sandi.  Don't put too much stock in education for your son.  By that, I mean look at what a degree will cost and how much that would boost his earning potential in the future, especially with his age.  It might make more financial sense for him to go to a vocational school that doesn't cost as much and has him getting a job and certificate sooner.  Also, check into No Worker Left Behind, etc. to see if he qualifies for anything.  I know I got a Pell Grant for some of my college education.  You don't have to pay that back and it's based on your income. 

QOTD-My whole life is a big "What the hell was I thinking??"  I am fortunate enough to have learned from my mistakes and move forward.  I think everything happens for a reason, and my screw-ups are just more material for me to use as a parent to make sure my boys don't do the same thing.  As far as it ending?  I don't think so.  We're human, and if you don't learn from your mistakes, you are doomed to failure.  So the fact that you are questioning yourself is good (in a way) and it's kind of quality control for your life.

Alright, I'm done.  Hope you all have a great day!

"QOTD-My whole life is a big "What the hell was I thinking??" 

Cracking me up Brenda!,  but oh how right your are.

Edie

No Worker Left behind is out of money!

Good morning!  Just finished my protein coffee.  My son texted me and wants ME to take him out for lunch - I thought when the guy asked, he pays?  LOL.. I should know better by now...

QOTD:  Yes, woulda, coulda, shouldas have peppered my life, but we learn from life experiences.  Yes, I shoulda saved more money, shouldn't have married my first ex (but the kids are great from it), etc.  But its all hindsight... we learn and move on.  I don't let it disrupt my life or dwell on them.  Nothing I can do to change it at this point.

 

Sandi,

I hope between Pam and your Dr's you get this figured out!

Q:  I think coulda and shoulda's are learning opportunities.  Life is just about moving forward, doing the best you can.  Some day's you score a touchdown and other days you don't even get to the field :).

Have a great day,

Edie

Mornin Ya'll,  Oh Edie, I agree with you , some days I am stuck on a brokken down bus...forget making it to the field...but, on the days when I score a touchdown....man it is a celebration. As for my mistakes, I try to tell my daughter, she is 27, if you learn from my mistakes, I will consider them a learning tool for you...she tells me, mom, I will make my own and we can both learn...i agree... Some days I wonder how I got such a smart daughter.....,

Good luck Sunshine with your numbers...it takes a while sometimes for things to balance out and then something comes in to change them again...its a forever learning curve....

Just saw this on Jani's FB page.
Janice Messner Hilewsky Right now it looks like at least another 10 days for Josh in the Hospital. He's at a great hospital, Sparrow in Lansing, for children. He's in the best place he can be right now. Today he was doing a lot of talking and smiling, in spite of the spinal tap and other prodding. He's just such a good baby. I trust God ...will pull him through this with flying colors.

Mary, do you know what is wrong with him?