Labs

I'll be talking with the dr on Friday, but have some questions you might be able to help with.  :)

 

1.  How often do you have your labs done after the first 6 months?

2.   What is BUN/CREATININE RATIO?  Mine is high.  What can I do to bring it down to normal?

3.  Parathyroid hormone is high.  Any experience with that?

4.  My total iron is great, but my iron binding capacity is low.  Thoughts?

5.  HDL is low.  I work out a lot.  Any other things I can do to raise it? :)

 

Thanks!

 

Labs are a snapshot in time.  Sometimes something is critical, sometimes you can be tested again in a few weeks/days and be fine. I tried to see if you were pre/post-op and couldn't get to your profile so it's hard to be specific.

1.  Usually docs recommendations.  I wouldn't go crazy over labs, once at 6 months is probably good.  I know some people are crazy for labs more often but your body has stores of a lot of what we test for and you won't start to see any real deficiencies(that you didn't have before) for a while.  PLUS immediately after a surgery as traumatic as the DS it's not likely you will get a clear picture.

2. It's an indication of possible kidney problems.  First the easy question.  Do you drink enough?  Have any history of problems? You didn't mention protein in your urine(good thing).  So I would probably test again.

3. You are D deficient.  Just like a whole lot of other folks who did or didn't have the DS.  No big surprise especially since it's the middle of Winter and I assume you live in NY.  So you aren't getting much sun.  And that's the way we are supposed to make our D, moderate sun exposure.  Anyway, pre or post-op, you need to get your D up.  More calcium too.

4. This is common too.  More red meat and more foods high in iron.  Plus most likely a pill.  Take a multi every day if you aren't already(multiple doses if you are post).

5. This can be hereditary and if you are already working out, it may be low forever.  If you haven't had surgery yet, your cholesterol numbers will change a lot post-op.  Drastically.  Because your absorption of fat goes way down.  I believe there are some statins that claim to help raise HDL but I wouldn't be too hot to do anything till you see what happens postop.

 

1. My docs schedule is labs every 3 months the first year and every year after that if your labs are great at 1 year. If you start trending down the first year he will test every 6 weeks as you tweak vitamins to correct. My labs bounce around a bit and I'm in there every 6 months and tweak to adjust vitamins with the dietitian. 

2. BUN/CREATININ ration probably indicates you're not getting enough fluids.

3. PTH high is calcium and vitamin D issues.  Increase calcium citrate and vitamin D3.

4. Total iron should be between 80 and 100 (goal), ferritin around 200 (goal). 

5. I think working out is about all you can do to increase your HDL.

--gina
 

I'm adding one after all these years. You ready to rebuild it?

Ceruloplasm #326

Ask him how he feels about that.

months for life. my hema was not interested in any copper labs until I insisted. now he runs them on all of us, and he explained what ceruloplasm was. I can promise he had NO idea when I first asked in 2008. LOL

Backward HDL/LDL, you already taking Coromega?

OK, once we leave the nutritional part of iron, I'm only pondering. Low UIBC tells you how much iron your body wants. Low means it's not asking for any more than you have.

Similarly, low uric acid is similar.

And then it becomes medical, which is not what i do

Hi Michelle,

It's so good to see you posting.  

I will ask about it ASAP. Ceruloplasm #326-got it.  

Also, I don't see UIBC on my labs. Is it a special request to the run-of-the-mill hematology labs?  I'm wondering because my ferritin is running a little over 300 now and my iron serum is trending slightly down to where I was pre-op...moved from 100 to 80 to 60 in the last year on 180mg carbonyl daily and 1 Proferrin 3 times a week. My hematocrit and hemoglobin are over the top a it too. My RD wanted to see if I could maintain on less carbonyl and heme iron. We're experimenting but will do whatever you say.

Thanks,

--gina

 

Edit:  I can't get to the research papers and Ceruloplasm #326 and it isn't listed on labtestonline.org.  :(