Poll About Labs

So we all know I think getting labs done regularly is very important and that I think it is important that we get a copy of our lab report so we can see all the numbers for ourselves instead of just relying on doctors to tell us if they are OK.  I just wanted to do a little survey and see how people are dealing with their labs.

How often do you get labs done (after you are one year out; if you’re not a year out yet, how often will you get them done after you reach the one year mark)?  Every six months?  Once a year?  Something else?  

Do you request specific labs or do you just ask your doctor to order your labs and get whichever ones he or she chooses to order?

Do you know what labs your doctor is ordering, and why?

Do you get a copy of your lab report?

Do you have a hard time getting your doctor to order the labs you want?  Or have a hard time getting a copy of your lab report from your doctor?

Anything else you wanna say about getting your labs done?

Thanks!

And here are my answers.

How often do you get labs done (after you are one year out; if you’re not a year out yet, how often will you get them done after you reach the one year mark)?  Every six months?  Once a year?  Something else?  

I do them every six months.  If something is really low and I’m concerned about it, I might get that particular thing checked again in three months.  My surgeon recommends just doing them once a year but I don’t feel comfortable with that.  I have seen big changes in my numbers in just six months so I think a year would be too long to not know what was happening in my body.

Do you request specific labs or do you just ask your doctor to order your labs and get whichever ones he or she chooses to order?

I request specific labs.  My PCP orders them for me and I take a list to her when I ask her to order them.  Last time I went to hand her the list and she said she didn’t need it, she had the list saved in her computer from the last time she ordered them for me.  She said she has started using that list with her other RNY patients, which I think is cool.

Do you know what labs your doctor is ordering, and why?

Yes, I know what she orders and why those tests are needed.

Do you get a copy of your lab report?

Always.

Do you have a hard time getting your doctor to order the labs you want?  Or have a hard time getting a copy of your lab report from your doctor?

I have no trouble getting her to order them.  I just tell her what I would like ordered.   Sometimes it’s hard to get a copy of the lab report from her office, not because they don’t want to give it to me but because they are not always very organized.  It’s just a hassle.  I usually have my labs drawn at the hospital and then get a copy from the medical records department there, which is much easier and saves me time.

Anything else you wanna say about getting your labs done?

I use a spreadsheet to track my labs, which makes it really easy to see at a glance if something has increased or decreased since last time I had them drawn.  If anybody wants a copy, PM me with your email address and I’ll send you one.  Or you can make your own, of course.  Doesn’t need to be anything fancy (mine’s not fancy).  It just really helps to track them that way.

How often do you get labs done (after you are one year out; if you’re not a year out yet, how often will you get them done after you reach the one year mark)? Every six months? Once a year? Something else?
My surgeon believes once a year is fine so I have to pu**** to get it every 6 months. I'm almost 2 years out and will only have had my labs done 3 times. Will now go to my own Dr and will push for every 6 months.
  Do you request specific labs or do you just ask your doctor to order your labs and get whichever ones he or she chooses to order?

Again my surgeon doesn't do all the labs and I cannot convince him otherwise. This is another reason why I will be getting my labs done else where.

  Do you know what labs your doctor is ordering, and why? Don't really know much about them except I know I'm not getting enough of them done
. Do you get a copy of your lab report?
yes

  Do you have a hard time getting your doctor to order the labs you want? Or have a hard time getting a copy of your lab report from your doctor? He doesn't have a problem giving me a copy of the labs but he doesn't know what to order. He also doesn't know what vitamins I should be taking and how much. He is not up to date on these. Love the guy and is a great surgeon but not up to date on WLS . He is a general surgeon. I picked him because he has done a few surgeries on me before and he knows my history and medical problems. I trust him.

Julie

 

How often do you get labs done (after you are one year out; if you’re not a year out yet, how often will you get them done after you reach the one year mark)? Every six months? Once a year? Something else? 

  Coming up on a year.  I was thinking yearly, but 6 months sounds fine if insurance will cover them.
  Do you request specific labs or do you just ask your doctor to order your labs and get whichever ones he or she chooses to order?

I've been getting the labs they order which is pretty extensive.  But I think you get one they haven't ordered yet.  The PTH?  THP?  TPH  Or something like that.  Can't remember it.  I last read something about it before my surgery.  I seem to recall someone (maybe Pam) talking about its' importance.
  Do you know what labs your doctor is ordering, and why?

I have done my homework and understand the labs I currently have ordered and why.  But am unclear about the one I mentioned or attempted to mention above.
  Do you get a copy of your lab report?

Yes I get a copy with no problems.  I've been filing them and comparing, but I can see how the spreadsheet would be useful as time goes by.


  Do you have a hard time getting your doctor to order the labs you want? Or have a hard time getting a copy of your lab report from your doctor?

No problem
  Anything else you wanna say about getting your labs done?

I would like to know what kind of things would make your labs change if you're taking your supplements regularly.

You're thinking of PTH, which is parathyroid hormone.  It's important because it tells us about our calcium absorption.  

See, when they test the calcium level in your blood, that doesn't really tell you too much.  Your calcium level will almost always be in the normal range.  If the calcium level in your blood gets too low, your heart doesn't beat right.  So if you're not absorbing enough calcium, your parathyroid gland makes more PTH, which leaches calcium out of your bones to keep the amount in your blood good.

So if you get your PTH checked and it is on the high side, that tells you that you are probably leaching calcium out of your bones.

How often do you get labs done (after you are one year out; if you’re not a year out yet, how often will you get them done after you reach the one year mark)?  Every six months?  Once a year?  Something else?   Every six months.

Do you request specific labs or do you just ask your doctor to order your labs and get whichever ones he or she chooses to order?  I have a list that I give my PCP (list I got here on OH).

Do you know what labs your doctor is ordering, and why? Yes, because I give her the list.

Do you get a copy of your lab report?  Yes, and I do a side-by-side comparison of my labs each time.

Do you have a hard time getting your doctor to order the labs you want?  Or have a hard time getting a copy of your lab report from your doctor?  No problem.

Edited to add:  I've been getting Venofer iron IV infusions weekly for low ferritin, so my ferritin has been getting checked monthly, along with monthly checks of Vit D and B12 due to those levels being a bit low.  Taking Vit D3 50,000 units daily and getting B12 shots and taking B12 sublingual.

 

Can you share your list of labs you gave your PCP?  

This is the list I use:

CMP
Lipid Profile
CBC with differential
B12
Bili-direct
Ferritin

Iron/TIBC

PTH
Magnesium
Folate
Thiamine (B1)

B6

Vitamin E

Vitamin K
Uric Acid
Vitamin A

Vitamin D (25 hydroxy)

Zinc
Phosphorus
Copper

Selenium

Prealbumin

 

Thanks for the list of labs, I am going to be having surgery soon and then we are moving across the country in January.  I will not have access to my surgeon and his office after that and have to find a new doc for the followup care. 

How often do you get labs done (after you are one year out; if you’re not a year out yet, how often will you get them done after you reach the one year mark)?  Every six months?  Once a year?  Something else?  
Im at 16 months post op and got them every 6 months.  Due to my bulimia I still go though every 3 months to see my surgeon

Do you request specific labs or do you just ask your doctor to order your labs and get whichever ones he or she chooses to order?
My surgeon orders them

Do you know what labs your doctor is ordering, and why?
Have no idea... thats why I read your posts to be COMPLETELY honest
 

Do you get a copy of your lab report?
i JUST started getting a copy (posting shortly) coincidence that you posted this as the fax was in my chair this morning LOL

Do you have a hard time getting your doctor to order the labs you want?  Or have a hard time getting a copy of your lab report from your doctor?
I dont request specific labs so not really