Good Morning. Do you know where your last labs are?

Have you built and started tracking your labs on a spreadsheet? If you need a template I can send you one, just send me a PM with your email addy and I'll send one back to you.

Is your doc's office ordering all the labs you need to track? Do you know they don't know much about labs or nutrition? We are cutting edge on this stuff so start tracking and start teaching them.

Do you know there's a few great web sites to help you learn about your labs?  lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins.html 
labtestsonline.org/
questdiagnostics.com/testcenter/TestCenterHome.action

Vitalady Plans and Info:
www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/VitaladysPre-op_ideas_11-2009.doc http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/VitaLadysLabsandTargets_11-2009.doc http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramPRNY2-2010.pdf http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramDRNY_ERNY_BPDDS3-2010.pdf http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramChewable2-2010.pdf http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramAGB&VSG2-2010.pdf

I did start the spreadsheet when I got my labs pre-op and have maintained it through my last set of labs.  I think it was you that told me we need to watch for trends in our labs not just what they are doing this set of labs.  It is interesting to watch the numbers, but I have tried and tried to understand them, but for some reason I have a mental block so I just post them for y'all to help me out!!

I have made several changes over the last 3 years due to the trends that would not have been noticed had it not been for the spreadsheet.

Thanks for all your help on this Gina!!

Linda

Gina, you are my lab guru!  I have my labs on a google spreadsheet.  It is really important, IMO, to have all the labs drawn preop and start supplementing then.  Then you have something to compare it to post op.

Many of my labs from the last 10 years are online.  There are some from a couple of different doctors that I have seen over the years that aren't but for the most part I have access to them.  They can also be viewed on a chart or table to compare them over the years.  I am getting ready to see my surgeon for my 2 year post op.  My 2 years was last month but because I have had surgeries and other visits my 2 year visit winds up in Sept.  I am going to send them a list of labs I would like run and be prepared for a fight.  I ask for all of Vitalady's recommended labs and then I wind up negotiating for as many as possible and send the rest to my PCP and fight with her.  Always fun.  I really wish I didn't have to go through this but they just don't seem to think they are necessary since my revision was to reduce my malabsorption they just don't believe I have any need for many of the tests.  And the fact that all my labs have been good just adds to their belief that my malabsorption isn't an issue, despite the fact that I am supplementing up my butt to keep them that way.

I keep a spreadsheet and it blows my Nut away that I bring it to show her the trends instead of just looking at my current labs. 

 Yes I do!  They are on a spreadsheet (hard and soft copy), thanks to your good advice!

Yup - I have my handy dandy spreadsheet that I take to my PCP (he's more willing to order some things than my surgeon's office is) so that he can see the trends and why I worry about some things.

If my spread sheet ever gets lost, however, I'm fortunate that my health care company has it all online so I can track back for (currently) 12 years, and they're entering previous data as well so that eventually I should be able to go back over 20 years.

I still have my pre-op binder that the surgeon's office gave me, containing all my test results, authorizations, tips, and you name it for everything related to this journey. It started out in a 1/2 inch binder, and has graduated to a 2 inch binder.

Mine are online and there is a built-in charting/graphing feature. I just love technology!