normal lab values

It's always a good idea to get a copy of the lab report when you have labs done. Doctors will sometimes tell you your labs are good when they really aren't, plus if you see the numbers yourself you can track trends. Like if you get your iron tested today and it's still in the normal range but it's dropped a lot since you had labs done three months ago, you'd want to start taking more iron. Docs usually don’t tell you if it's dropped, just that it's normal now.  I think they may not have time to compare current labs to prior labs.

I have a spreadsheet I use to track my results.  I’d be happy to send anyone a copy if you want.  Of course you can devise your own system, as well.  It makes it super easy to compare current labs to past labs and see right off if something is going up or down.

You can get a copy of your lab report from your doctor’s office or from the lab that does the tests.  When I get a copy from my lab (which is usually quicker than getting it from the doctor’s office, at least for me), I have to show ID to prove I’m me and I have to sign a form giving them my permission to release the records (even though they are just releasing them to me).  Legally they can charge you a small fee for making a copy for you if they want to, but neither my lab nor my doctor’s office ever do.

So look at your lab report. They are really easy to read and you don't need any special medical knowledge to read them. Your lab report will list the references ranges and on mine, if something is high or low, they have it in bold type and put a big H or L next to it so it's easy to spot.

Many people think these “reference ranges" are the “normal" or “healthy" ranges.  That’s not quite true.  They are actually just the averages of the lab results from a bunch of apparently healthy people that were tested by the lab.  So if a lot of the healthy people tested happened to have low vitamin D, then the reference range may be lower than what is actually needed for optimal health.

Which is the case with vitamin D.  With most labs, the reference ranges will be close enough to a healthy range.  With two tests, though, that is not the case.  You want to pay close attention to those two.

It will say something like 211-911 for B12 and you really want your B12 to be about 900-1000, but it's OK up to at least 2000. Below 550, people get symptoms like depression and fatigue. Below 400, people get permanent nerve damage in their hands and feet.

It will say something like 30-80 for vitamin D but you really want your D about 80-100.  Lower than that, we are at increased risk for things like osteoporosis, heart disease and some cancers.  It can safely be higher than 100.  If your D is really low, you want to pay close attention to your PTH and calcium levels.  If your D is low, you won’t absorb calcium well, no matter how much you take.  When that happens, your PTH usually goes up so you start leaching calcium from your bones to keep the calcium level in your blood good (because your heart won’t work right if the level of calcium in your blood gets too low).

Keep in mind that doctors don’t always know that the reference ranges don’t indicate the healthy ranges.  I know because someone that works for a lab explained it to me, but I think the natural thing to think when you look at the lab report is that those are the healthy ranges to be in.  Which is not always the case.

Most other things, besides B12 and D, like iron and ferritin and protein, etc, you want near the top of the normal range.

Your PTH, you'd rather have near the bottom of the normal range.  High PTH suggests you aren’t getting enough calcium and are leaching calcium out of your bones.

Calcium is better around the middle of the normal range.  If your calcium is on the high side, strange as it may seem, that’s often a sign that you need more calcium.  It can be an indication that you’re leaching calcium from your bones because you’re not absorbing enough calcium.

This is all true for all people, not just those that had RNY.

Hi, Kelly. What is PTH?

Thanks for your post -- very good info.

Hattie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parathyroid_hormone

Thanks for the link!

I've been keeping mine written in a book, but I'd love to have it on my computer, as it's a whole lot easier!

How long does it take for your b12 to go up?  At my 6 month apt my b12 was 340 (or close to that) and they said add a daily b12 on top of my monthly shot, but said I didn't need to get it rechecked.  My regular doctor said that the level was fine.  I told him it needed to be around 1000, he said no it didn't.  *eye roll*  I go Friday to get labs done again for my 12 month appointment (well, really it's my 11 month appointment, as it's Feb 13 and March 14 would be 1 year...).  

How long does it take my B12 to go up or how long does it take for yours to go up?  Because everyone seems to be a little different in terms of how well they absorb B12.  Mine seems to go up pretty quickly, like in a few months.  Yours may be different.  I actually need the shots weekly, not monthly, even though monthly is enough for most people.

It's really hard to take too much B12, though, because it's a water soluble vitamin and you should just pee out whatever your body doesn't need.  So it's not like it's going to be dangerously high after just six months of increasing the dose.  Hopefully you'll be happy with the number you get this time.