List of Labs that should be measured?

Whatcha going to do?

You find a new use for your hair skrunchies.  Only it only works when you sleep, not in your clothes, otherwise it just look like a Tumah. 

Now belly skin, CAN be scrunchied in the day without the fear of tumor related pity looks.  :}

 This post made my day!

I'm having two-month labs done on Monday... do you know if it's better to not take your vitamins a few days ahead of time to get accurate readings or does it really matter?

Welcome to another hot topic "lets have a fight about it" subject. :}

Me - I DO stop vitamins.  Dr. A's information says stop vitamins (I stop 3 full days, so 4 days before draw).

Many folks will say "why stop? I am not going to stop taking vitamins, why would I stop taking them for the labs?"  *MY* understanding (and mine alone) is that when we stop them, it shows what is in our system,  and then we can see if we actually even NEED X supplement.  Our bodies will not have been totally depleted of the vitamins in the 3/4 days - so it shows what is in our system. 

What I feel is the BOTTOM LINE

Since there are so many schools of thought - be consistent, however you do -  whether you stop or do not stop, or stop for X days, just be consistent. 

And too, for things like the iron?  My hematologist/his nurse forgot to *tell* me to stop the iron a few days before, but since its what I have always done before draws, its what I did again. 

So, again, for me, being consistent rules the day.  *I* think it matters.  Some other folks, not so much. *shrug*

Thank you. I emailed Dr A the same time I asked you the question. My laptop died and all of my surgery paperwork stuff with it! Grrr! It makes sense to me to stop 3-4 days prior so I'll do that each time. How often did you get your labs taken? I planned on two months with my annual physical, then 6mo and a year. Then yearly if all is fine in the draws the first year. Thanks again :)

I can resend you all the info if you like, I keep it on a thumb drive.

I only got it yearly the first year, and should have gotten it earlier (trying to stay under insurance's radar) because my protein had seriously tanked by year 1 labs.  Now, I do the yearly plus every half year I go to directlabs and get my protein done.

Now I am finding out I have iron issues (well, I have known since the first lab draw after surgery when I had them pull the whole panel) but since I have more complex iron issues, I am going to a hematologist now, and he does not like folks who supplement with iron to go more than 3 months without labs to watch for iron overload.

Your plans sounds GREAT girlie!  And let me know if you want me to resend the stuff from Dr. A. I am glad to if you would like.

I am an MLT and I would be happy to tell you what tests you need and what they measure


CBC: Tests Blood level (hgb) Cell and Platelet count (WBC, RBC, PLT) If your RBC is low you could be anemic.
Comprehensive Met panel: Tests Calcium, glucose, total protein, albumin (Alb is a small protein produced in the liver & is major to protein in serum. Total protein measures albumin as well as all other proteins in serum. Both increases and decreases in these test results can be significant.) Sodium, Potassium, CO2 and Chloride (Electrolyte and acid-base imbalances can be present with a wide variety of acute and chronic illnesses. Chloride and CO2 tests are rarely ordered by themselves.) BUN and CREA (BUN and creatinine are waste products filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. Increased concentrations in the blood may indicate a temporary or chronic decrease in kidney function. When not ordered as part of the CMP, they are still usually ordered together) ALP, AST, ALT, T&D Bilirubin (ALP, ALT, and AST are enzymes found in the liver and other tissues. Bilirubin is a waste product produced by the liver as it breaks down and recycles aged red blood cells. All can be found in elevated concentrations in the blood with liver disease or dysfunction)

PT/INR: Not needed unless you take blood thinners, aka coumadin, warfin, plavix, etc.

Iron, TIBC, Ferritin, Transferrin, Folate: (to check for anemia)

Vitamin A, B1, B6: (Don't expose to light, also fast and do not take medication prior to having testing)
Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy

PTH: ( PTH levels that are too high or too low can cause problems with the kidneys and bones and cause changes in calcium and vitamin D levels.)

 thanks Cathy!

Welcome...glad I could help! =)