Sort of OT - update on 'wonky blood pressure'

Well, I had my appointment yesterday. Primary isn't happy with lack of lab test from my surgeons office. My iron, saturation % and ferratin levels arent even NEAR being in range but not low enough for infusions.  They've NEVER tested my calcium..b12 etc. I was SO angry to find this out, luckily though my primary care was even angrier. He asked me to sit tight for a sec, I heard him ask his nurse to get my surgeons office on the phone and then heard him lose his temper. ^_^ I LOVE my primary for that!!  

Anywhoo, he asked me about my blood pressure dropping and he concluded that the length of time it takes me to recover from the orthostatic hypotension episodes along with the SUPER high pulse (anywhere from 150 to 200 at times ) then dropping back down in the 60's ...I get to wear a halter monitor for a few days as soon as they get the pre auth. from insurance.  He strongly suspects arryhthmia and doesn't want to take any chances considering my dad's history with heart problems. *Dad's heart wasn't tested until 8 years ago in his 50's and he ended up with emergency  triple bypass* ...so he's not messing around here.  He's also asked me to try taking my iron on an empty pouch for about a week..maybe some hot tea to coat but thats it.  He's doing some research and about 8 different blood panels to see what we need to do with prescriptions.  I'm VERY thankful for a primary doc that cares and doesn't see me as just another bill he sends out!

Good luck to you and hope you figure out what's going on ...

..... but what I really want to say is "THAT DOC IS A KEEPER!" 

Glad you've got such a good PCP!  Your surgeon never checked your calcium?  That's part of the CMP, which is a very standard blood test.  If he never checked that, then your protein level has never been tested either.  Eek.

Do you need a list of labs to give your PCP to be checked?

It's really important for us to know what our doctors are ordering and make sure we ask for additional labs if needed.  It's also important for us to get a copy of our lab reports so we can make sure everything is where it ought to be.

Thanks Kelly, my pcp already has that on the list. He's giving me copies of EVERYTHING and even gave me a folder! Even though they sent the request to my lab electronically, he gave me a copy of it lol.  He ordered Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, CBC with differential, TSH (3rd Generation), B12 and Folate, Ferritin, Iron and IBC w/o reflex, Iron total and Methylmalonic Acid Serum.  8 different panels...he also has an authorization going through for the heart monitor. Scares the crap out of me that I'm only 29 and because doc's haven't done tests like they were supposed to I could be developing problems that are VERY serious. If it's due to protein dificiency.. I'm going after that dumb PA for never having checked it.. regardless, besides my weight and comorbids..I've never had anything like this happen and when you can FEEL heart problems going on it sucks and is scary =(

"My iron, saturation % and ferritin levels aren't even NEAR being in range but not low enough for infusions. "

I am not sure what you mean. My ferritin level was at 9.5 (close to 10 for over 1 year) and my iron saturation was 15%... My doc sent me to hematologist and he ordered iron infusions. 

How low do you need to be to qualify for iron infusions? 

BTW: for low blood pressure - I make sure I do try and add salt to my food.    With small portions, with protein shakes, and other foods low in salt - not getting enough salts may contribute to low BP.  When I do not get enough salt (use high quality salt with minerals) I can feel my BP dropping. 

It's just because of my insurance, eventhough my levels are lower than yours were, they go by hemoglobin and hematocrit..which are "normal"

My iron is 32 my transferrin saturation is 8%....yes...8.
Ferritin is 4..RDW shows as 16.2 which indicates a b12 problem yet they dont tell me to up my b12....

Sorry to hear that.  I had mine low for over a year - 1.5 years.  And I took so much iron... but that did not help.  So finally I got the infusions. 
As for B12 my MCV was always high (even before RNY ) and most likely I always had problem storing B12. Post op ... I was taking large dosage B12, but that did not do me good. My levels stayed close to 500...
I started doing injections - once a month. Then I realized that my energy would not last.. so I started doing that once every 2 weeks... but every time I get the shot (myself) I got burst of energy only to last maybe a week?  After doing research - I found out  that some people can't store it... and they may need more often ... I now give myself one shot (1000ml) per week.
My doc wanted me to stop... until he saw my results... with weekly B12... my B12 level , a week after the shot was only 800... He agreed with me that I may need once a week shot. I can feel a difference if i do not get the shot...

Since you suspect that B12 may be low - it is up to you to increase ... it is your health after all...

As for iron: my other blood numbers were OK except the RBC - it is low... But hemoglobin and hematocrit were all good...  

Good luck.

 do you know what 1000ml of b12 is equal to in mcg? I take 2500 mcg daily in an under the tongue pill.  I notice if I do not take it almost every day my feet start to burn and get numb. 

It is 1000 mcg.  But it is injection... so it goes directly into the body.
Theoretically - I should be OK on one a month. But fo rme - once a week does good job.  It just work differently that way.

I used to take 5000 mcg per day... subligually and still my levels were low. 

Erm lol..do you mean 1ml?? 1000ml is one liter O_o that would be one BIG needle! I take 1ml a week and that takes 2 insulin syringes (1ml is 100 units). I'm confused on how you could get 1000ml