Good Morning. Support Group Tonight

Tonight our baby NUT is going to teach us how to read our labs. I really do like her so NUT is used as an endearment not an insult in this case.  I hope she can share what she knows and learn from us as well.
There are things on our lab scripts that I don't think she is all that familiar with. Osteocalcin for example--it's a measure of bone health but can also indicate if we're taking enough vitamin K2. If you look at your calcium, vitamin D3, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and osteocalcin you can get a pretty good idea what your bones are doing but you need all these labs not just calcium. Calcium may read well within range but your body could still be taking it from your bones to feed your soft organs. Your calcium should come in around 9.2, PTH in the mid 20's or low 30's (lower is better) and D3 above 70. (American measures and ranges)
Osteocalcin should be within range and on the low end (lower is better). The odd thing is, to bring your calcium and PTH down you may need to increase your calcium and D3. To bring your osteocalcin within range on the low end, you may need to increase your vitamin K2 along with all the above.
What have you learned about reading your labs since WLS? Please share.

--gina
 

I had a tub of the calcium lozenges and for the life of me - can't find them.  I know I've seen them since moving here and its kinda hard to lose something that big.  So - I need to order calcium and proferrin.  Getting low.  Been doing good taking my iron.  Thanks for reminding me!

Not sure about tonight again.  I need to go to fredericksburg and pick up my motorcycle and drop the other one off.  I originally planned on doing it tomorrow night but the weather has changed to rain tomorrow and this afternoon is supposed to be nicer.  I avoid riding in the rain if at all possible.

Going on vacation next week - I need this SO bad!  Been a rough start to the new job.  I'm about ready to pack it up and move back north....

 J, 
I am so impressed by people who ride.  2 summers ago I got my license and bought a little Rebel 250.  I took the safety course, practiced my turns at the school parking lot and drove around my neighborhood for 50 miles.  Then I went onto the four lane by my house.  A huge dump truck came by me and scared the bejesus out of me.  I went home, parked the bike and sold it a few months later.  My husband loves to ride.  He was so disappointed.  I only rode b**ch once, but I was so much heavier than my husband he said he was uncomfortable with handling the bike.  Now I weigh less than him, so I am going to try again.  What kind of bike do you have?

I hate to admit it but what I have learned is to bring the labs here.  I love your knowledge and seems like all that just makes no sense to me. 

Another beautiful but warm day here.  Final preps in getting ready to leave Thurs for the show.  Driving Chili and doing paperwork.

Gina
I agree with Price.  You've taught me the most about  labs.

Morning Gina,
I learned how to key mine into a spread sheet and show it to you-LOL!!! 

I guess I surprise myself sometimes when talking with someone and they say something about labs and I just blurt out a fact that I have picked up.  Like talking to my DD yesterday, she is having some stomach issues and he was doing blood work - I asked if he was checking for H Pylori(?) she said yes  and how did I know about that??  Well from here and going through pre-op blood work.  I got to tell her what it was and how they treat it.  I think we pick up more than we realize.

Normal range is not always good for us.  Our B12 is usally way over the limit and that is ok.  I like to keep mine up high - I feel much better.

Have fun at your support group tonight.

Linda

Just getting started, I get my first set of labs next Wednesday,so I need you ladies to teach me ALL of your wisdom.  Where is the spreadsheet?
Mandy

 I have also learned that labs that are at the low end of normal aren't good enough anymore.  I had some labs drawn a month ago and while everything is "normal" I looked and noticed a slight downward trend in calcium and iron.  So I upped those supplements.  I was happy to see that my D3 is 73 and I haven't taken supplements.  My surgeon was really happy with that.  My B12 was high before surgery and has remained so. I was especially happy about that because my dad has Pernicious Anemia and it does have a hereditary component.  My PCP said anytime I wanted to switch from sublingual to shots she was ok with it.  There is some conflicting published data regarding which is better.  When my level came back she just laughed and said, "keep up the good work, you know what you are doing.  Tell me what you need."

P.S.   A quick word of caution about D3.  There is a study written by Jared Bunch, MD that suggests people with Vitamin D levels over 100 are at risk for Atrial Fibrillation.  I actually read that on an old post here on OH. Funny thing is, I work with Dr. Bunch.  I scan tons of his A-fib patients. The next time I see him I will get the scoop on that study.  So be careful with your vitamin D levels.  A-fib is a pain in the a$$ to deal with.  

I hadn't heard that one. There are tons of studies and articles talking about being up and over 100. They started coming out in 2007 or so. Keep us posted on that one.

--g