Forest_Hills_WLS
WEB MD
I recently had blood and urine tests done for an insurance policy and when I got the results back, even though my degree is in laboratory medical technology, I couldnt interpret the 'high' and 'low' results on two of the tests... so I got online to see what could cause these numbers to be out of bounds. My goal was to find an accurate and easy to read souce to help me read my results. As you guys know I am big on being our own medical advocates, and not having blind trust with the medical community.
I found that Web MD is an amazing resource for info on lab results... you can easily look up the name of the test... such as in my example 'Uric Acid' and read in plain language what the test is and what could cause not only a 'high' result, but the typically ignored 'low' result. I have low uric acid, which is a sign of either liver disease ( I had a very 'fatty liver' at the time of my surgery, but that condition would have cleared itself up once I dropped the Morbidly Obese nametag) or Not Enough Protein in the Diet. Normally people have HIGH uric acid, and this is indicative of too much meat in the diet.
The other out of range value was SGPT, which is now called ALT... mine was too high. When I located this test in the Web MD list, and read the page, a high value is indicative of Thyroid Disease, which at the time of the test I didnt realize was causing me difficulty. So this now makes sense... and gives me something to compare to when I get my post tyroid treatment tests done next week.
Even numbers that are within the normal limits should be looked at... my Creatine was within limits, but barely... it was right at the low limit. Normal was .6 - 2.2 and mine was .7 so a very low normal reading. When I looked this test up, a low creatine level is indicative of a diet very low in protein. This result paired with the low uric acid value, tells me that the Protein Queen isnt getting enough protein in her diet.
My point of all this, was that every one of us should put this Web MD link in our Favorite Places... so when we get our lab results back, WE are capable of looking at the numbers and seeing for ourself what is going on.
My cholesterol was 157... before my surgery it was 250!
Web MD Medical Tests
Here is the link for the 'copy and pasters' in the room.
Stay healthy... keep track of this stuff!
http://www.webmd.com/a_to_z_guide/medical_tests.htm
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I found that Web MD is an amazing resource for info on lab results... you can easily look up the name of the test... such as in my example 'Uric Acid' and read in plain language what the test is and what could cause not only a 'high' result, but the typically ignored 'low' result. I have low uric acid, which is a sign of either liver disease ( I had a very 'fatty liver' at the time of my surgery, but that condition would have cleared itself up once I dropped the Morbidly Obese nametag) or Not Enough Protein in the Diet. Normally people have HIGH uric acid, and this is indicative of too much meat in the diet.
The other out of range value was SGPT, which is now called ALT... mine was too high. When I located this test in the Web MD list, and read the page, a high value is indicative of Thyroid Disease, which at the time of the test I didnt realize was causing me difficulty. So this now makes sense... and gives me something to compare to when I get my post tyroid treatment tests done next week.
Even numbers that are within the normal limits should be looked at... my Creatine was within limits, but barely... it was right at the low limit. Normal was .6 - 2.2 and mine was .7 so a very low normal reading. When I looked this test up, a low creatine level is indicative of a diet very low in protein. This result paired with the low uric acid value, tells me that the Protein Queen isnt getting enough protein in her diet.
My point of all this, was that every one of us should put this Web MD link in our Favorite Places... so when we get our lab results back, WE are capable of looking at the numbers and seeing for ourself what is going on.
My cholesterol was 157... before my surgery it was 250!
Web MD Medical Tests
Here is the link for the 'copy and pasters' in the room.
Stay healthy... keep track of this stuff!
http://www.webmd.com/a_to_z_guide/medical_tests.htm
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debbieos
Group Leader
driddick
Group Administrator