vites & labs

Since you guys are all talking about this, I thought I'd post the list we are using currently. The codes with the tests are SOME diagnostic codes some labs use. For example, in some labs, B12 is one code, folate is another. This code is B12 & folate, just together, under one code.

The codes below are the "reason" for testing used for your insurance to want to pay. We can reasonably use hypovitaminosis or D deficiency, or anemia, unspecified. Only need 2-3, without mentioning malabsorption. I didn't used to test so many, but as I read labs from everywhere, I see deficiencies in areas I only suspected but could not "prove". So, we tested our own selves this last batch (17 vials) and, if you can believe it, we were deficient in K and copper, EVEN THOUGH we had started taking low doses this year. !

There's some kinda insult to US being low in anything! How DARE our blood not follow instructions!

Here's the list, but if you want a clean word.doc, email me privately (not PM). [email protected]

LABS



Not to be construed as medical advice, this list includes labs we have had performed as gastric bypass patients. The first group, every 3 to 6 months for life, as we are able. The second group, annually, as long as the results were comfortably within normal limits for more than 2 years in a row.



1st Group



*80053 Comprehensive Metabolic profile: (sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose,BUN, creatinine, calcium, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase) (10231)

* 84134 Pre-albumin:

* 7600 Lipid profile: (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, chol/HDL ratio)

* 10256 Hep panel: includes ALT (SPGT) & GGT)

* 84100 Phosphorous - Inorganic: (718)

* 83735 Magnesium:

* 84550 Uric Acid: (905)

* 7444 Thyroid panel: (T3U, T4, FTI, TSH) (84437; 84443; 84479; 84480)

* 85025 Hemogram with platelets: (1759)

* 7573 Iron: TIBC, % sat

* 83550 Ferritin: (457)

* 84630 Zinc: (945)

* 84446 Vitamin A: (921)

* 82306 Vitamin D: (25-hydroxy) (680)

* 84052 Vitamin B-1: (Thiamin) (4052)

* 84207 Vitamin B-6: (Pyridoxine)

* 7065 Vitamin B-12 & Folate: (82607; 82746)

* 83970 Serum intact: PTH

* 83937 Osteocalcin:

* 84597 Vitamin K:

* 85610 PT:

* 85730 PTT:

* 86141 C Reactive Protein





2ND GROUP



* 593 LDH:

* 31789 Homocysteine, Cardio:

* 83921 MMA:

* 367 Cortisol:

* 84255 Selenium:

* 84590 Vitamin E:

* 82525 Copper:





For diabetics: *496 - HEMOGLOBIN A1C













POSSIBLE DIAGNOSIS CODES





269.2 Hypovitaminosis



269.8 Vitamin D deficiency



275.40 Calcium deficiency



266.2 Cyanocobalamin deficiency (B12)



281.1 other B12 deficiency anemia



281.0 Pernicious anemia



280.9 Iron-deficiency anemia



281.2 Folate deficiency anemia



285.9 Anemia, unspecified



269.3 Zinc deficiency



244.9 Hypothryoidism



250.0 Diabetes



401.9 Hypertension



276.9 Electrolyte and fluid disorders



272.0 Hypercholesterolemia

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



*579.3 Surgical malabsorption*



*579.8 Intestinal malabsorption *





* Bands or sleeves should not use these codes as they are not accurate.



*Some insurance companies will not pay for any procedure that uses these codes.



*******

LAB TARGETS





This is NOT medical advice, just my own targets for the main blood levels I watch.



Protein: 7's

Albumin: 4's

Pre-Albumin: 20-30's



Iron: 80-100

Ferritin: 200-300

HGB: 12+

HCT: 36+



Vit A: 60- 80

Vit D: 80-120



Calcium: 9.0-9.4

PTH: 20-40



Vit B1: Mid to top of range

Vit B6: Mid to top of range

Magnesium: Mid range (but also go by if we have leg/foot cramping)

Zinc: Mid range



Vit B12: 1000 +

Folate: Top of range



AST (sgot): Below 40

ALT (sgpt): Below 40



We usually want to "meet or beat" pre-op levels. In some cases, higher is better, and in other cases (Cholesterol, PTH for example), lower is better.



The only things *I* don't mind being on the high end of out of range are Ferritin and B12. But that applies to ME.



My doctors don't show interest in any of these until I am out of range. *I* am interested when I begin heading that direction.

What a GREAT post !!!!!
I no longer have insurance and after 3 years  of no labs (i am 5 r out of bypass) I can see major hair loss and am just about to bite the bullet to pay for my own labs/ also means having to pay for my own Dr. appt/follow up ( thats ok I dont need to pay rent or day care this month- they will understand...NOT - lol)
But at least if I have to pay, I can get the right labs done. Thanks for a great starting point!! Kris
 

You're so welcome.

I'm glad I wandered over here.  I especially like the goal ranges included.  You should post this on more forums.  I'm bookmarking this.  Thanks!

Mind you, I change this stuff all the time. Any time I get new info, something changes.

I didn't do this surgery (twice) to be more ill than I was pre-op. For the first time in our lives, we get to have some control over our health, and I'm grabbing it!

Before, everything from ingrown toenails to the cold going around town was because I was "fat" (hate that word, so no tests were run, because it was obvious I was afflicted with terminal stupidity. Too stupid to follow directions anyway, so why waste the money?

Bitter? MOI?