Results of Blood tests...

Should I explain D & PTH really quick?

D & PTH are like ends of a seesaw. After we rule out actual nodules on the PTH (which someone described above), high PTH is considered secondary hyperparathyroidism, secondary to low vit D. Nodules would be primary-PTH's are then broken.

OK, so let's go with low vit D. And usually high PTH. Bring up D, PTH goes down. Both ends are now happy,.

What do PTH do? In the very simplest terms and a medical person may say too simple, but the basics.

Calcium/d come in via food or pills. OTH distribute incoming calcium first to heart, muscle, soft tissue. Left overs go to bones, teeth, hard tissue, so to speak. As long as there is plenty coming, the PTH will remain low to mid and everybody gets a fair share.

OK, not quite enough calcium. The soft tissue wins, the bones do not get any.

WAY not enough calcium (which might mean not enough vit D to make it work) and then the PTH cannot feed the soft tissue. Uh oh. Primary mission: feed heart. Where to get more calcium?!?!?! Ahh, right over here in the bones. So, then the PTH start working OT to go get calcium from bones & teeth to complete primary mission.

PTH levels go UP, which is a hint that your bones are leaving town! When you get the calcium and D all organized, the PTH levels will come back down into normal ranges and then adequate incoming calcium would be disributed properly.

Too bad I didn't know all this i*****

I totally understand...but your  constant experience in this qualifies you as at least a specialist!  My doctor didn't even know what tests to run!  She always asks me!  (And I am totally clueless)  I knew the D was low for even being in the normal range. I already plan on keeping that supplemented regardless. I'm almost out of my TwinLab D3 + K2 1000iu dots....I already know I want to try your iron that I hear so many good things about...so....Lets just see what the other tests come back at and we'll start the order!  LOL I'll be happy to try what you suggest ...I totally trust you.  But I guess we'll have to see what the rest show...and what Doc says too.  Anita

Anita I have been dealing with blood issues since birth. In 2001 I had last blood transfusion, prior to WLS and this didn't really help my ferritin issue whatsoever. From 2001 to 2006 test after test my "stored ferritin" was 5. They kep****ching it until it was "unreadable" in 2006...finally I was given my first iron infusion and had several allergic reactions. For a yr we tried different types until we were able to do complete infusion 9 treatments over 4 weeks to bring it up. It only stayed for a year and at that time I was doing B12 injections once a week. After my last infusion (Infed) I asked the oncologist if I  could increase my B12 to twice a week as I felt exhausted and he himmed and haaed. From the research I had done I thought this was something I should try. Well I saw him on Thurs and he was delighted with all my numbers everything was in perfect order my platelets were down to normal range (have had myleoproliferative syndrome over 20 yrs). Only thing we didn't get back was my ferritin and a few other results because they send it out, I should have them on Tues but with my hemog being 13.6 for first time in my entire life he can't imagine my ferritin being lower than 130 which it was last reading in Dec. So will see.  He asked what did I do different and only thing I did was increase my D3, added that 2nd B12 injection (also take 1000mcg my mouth daily) and added Lovaza, script for Omega3 whi*****reased my omega to 4grams daily (had been on 2000 previously). I fixed my own problem after 58 yrs of specialist all over the country, He actually wrote this down and put it on his shirt pocket. That is when I knew I hit on something, I said what are you going to do with that info and he said "maybe use it"!!! Now I must tell you this...I have idopathic chronic urticaria.  Which is hives actually. I do get the flusing you mentioned. I also have hypothryroidism and I take levothroid. However the formula was changed and they added tartrazine (yellow#5) and I broke out in hives and was flushing so bad. Pharmacy denied any changes so I called manufacturer and indeed it was added. I had to change to a lesser dosage and take two since they are white with no dyes. So consider dyes in your vitamins and meds or even foods. The vits and supplements I take are pure cotain no dyes or fillers. Be careful as anemia, urticaria, hyprothroidism all go hand in hand.

I just noticed that only half my post got up here!  That is weird...Internet problems again!  errrggg!!!! I just put a red star * where it cut off! And the rest that didn't show up is after that! WOW...That is some story there...Guess what, I get hives too...and I was on hypothyroid meds...Some generic name (levo-thyroxine) or something like that. I stopped taking the meds just a year post op (3 years ago) when my T3-T4 came back normal.  I just never took meds again. I eat as many Omega-3's as I can to help. (Mainly ground flax seed...and I eat fish often) I also noticed that when I started using iodinated Sea salt rather than not...that is also when my thyroid levels came back to normal!  Iodine was what was missing in my diet since I don't use regular salt. So I got that fixed. Up until a month ago, I was not even taking iron. I only just started taking it faithfully for a month...I have no idea how low it got before last month. I do know that I felt a lot better since I added D3 +K2 dots. I only did that because last month Vitamin Shoppe had them on sale and I know I don't get enough milk or cheese...So I *bought a bottle and started taking with my calcium citrate wafers. Again...I've been taking them for a good month and my Vit D was only 25.(Low end of typical Normal reading) So I wonder how low it was last month??? I think it's so ironic (Oh my...no pun intended) how I started Vit D because they were on sale! And the same with the iodinated sea salt...I found it on sale and found the possible reason for my hypothyroidism!   I'm sorry you've had this all you entire life. I'm sure glad I haven't...but you and I are kinda in and outta the same boat, aren't we?  I hope you found your formula...I'm gonna try mine soon. I already upped the iron I have for now, to double. And the B-12 and D3 also! I'm really hoping for miracles!    Thanks for sharing your story!  I found comfort and hope in it! Anita PS...I want to  ask you about some other weird stuff that I had happen to me and see if it compares or sounds familiar to you...I've had some pretty weird stuff happen to me that specialists have NO idea why or what or how and had never seen anything like some of the crap I go through now and then. I tried to find similar cases...nothing...Not even close. I'll probably write you if you don't mind...maybe tomorrow...I'm going to try to sleep I think! LOL

Anita, I stopped the thyroid the day of surgery. All my levels showed normal but with the type of auto immune disorders (urticaria and hashimoto thyroid) I found out can not be determined soley by thryoid panels (T3-T4). It's very detailed and takes a special mind to figure this out...the hives, severe allergies, bruising, amenia, hypoglycemia, these are all things I battled before weight gain in 2001.  I thought I would not need the levothroid but I do need it. I took changed salts when I do use it and its rare. No doubt you will be getting the IV Iron Infusions with your ferritin this low. They should have set you up already. I fell like a different person since I got the Infed Infusion. Last year at this time my level was unreadable, when I finsihed my course of treatment I was at 300. Dec...I believe I was 120 so it seemed I was dropping about 20 points every three weeks. He told me if I was at 120 Tues when I get results back I will not have to see him for six months. That is the first time he has said that to me since 2001. So I am holding breath Tues I am good.  BTW I felt good most days but when I felt weak when my numbers were very bad, I had tremendous pain in my upper arms. That is my indication it has happened each time.  Back in the late 80's I was so sick and so weak I couldn't stand up.....underwent a bone marrow biopsy & aspiration at Univ of Pa  due to the platelets being so bad but all was well. Oncologis****ched my numbers until I moved to Florida then I found this oncologist I have now. Each dr is dumbfounded so I had to start piecing things together myself and  once I got my iron infusions, the hives subsided, I  keep urticaria under control with zyrtec (cetrizine is the new generic) and zantac. I added my levothroid back 1 yr ago and this may also be helping my ferritin levels...not sure. This blood stuff goes way back to my birth as I said. I was completely transfused at 5 so none of my family and me match up out of 6 siblings. I ended up with O neg blood after a dr taking out my tonsils slit my my throat and I nearly bleed to death. Hmm and I still have a piece of tonsil after all that.  Make sure you don't skimp on your vits and supplements nor your protein. These are so important. B12 manufactures more red cells. The twice a week injection I believe is what is keeping my iron up.  Keep us posted...just be happy they found it, not  every dr looks at stored ferritin.

That was weird it cut off like that...go get some sleep and email me tomorrow. If I can help I am here, that is why I posted to you today. It took forever to sort it all out.

Oh honey.. Im sorry your scared! Im sure you just need a bump to get you up and running again.  Youll be ok!   You have me to talk to this weekend.... hook up MSN and we can giggle!! Keep us updated!!!!!!!!!!!!! Warm hugs Linda

Linda Anne... I am certainly gonna get that msn up and running...Didn't forget!  Computer is whacko lately. I was trying to research anemia and I was sitting there falling asleep waiting for stuff to load! Same thing this morning. It's not my computer either! So I've been kinda frustrated with the internet!  I didn't even try yet. (I'm resting) hahaha I'm not too scared...I just don't understand it all yet, so until I do, I'm more bewildered than anything. But I am also confident that I can get this under control! I have to. :) :::Smooches::: Anita

Anita, I'm no expert on this either, I think Michelle touched on the vitamins wonderfully........your Vit D is low, get you some dry vitamin D, works with calcium in the body, although your calcium might be ok, the PTH and Vit D not good the your body isn't really absorbing the calcium right. Ok, this isn't to try to sell you anything.....but I'm going to tell you my experience.....get the Tender Iron and Dry Vit D from Michelle......they worked wonders for me......Michelle sells these on her web site.   I've heard many longer term post-ops go through what you are dealing with on B-12 too.....some folks don't tend to absorp the sublingual and need injections.......I take 2000 mg B-12 a day.......so far my B-12 has been doing well. I saw both my iron and Vitamin D go down......yea doc said it's in range but it DROPPED significantly from one test to another......nope I don't want to wait for it to totally crash......so I did my thing and added vitamins. Good luck girl, you can get it up......if doc says infusions do them, ASAP. Hugs,

My doctor's nurse called me for her this morning...So I didn't get to talk to the Doc personally, but Doc says I am certainly Blood Iron Anemic. She did forget to run a B-12 test, but from the look of my "oxygen starved and deformed cells, B-12 is causing it.  But she also thinks that I might be already regenerating my iron since I only began taking it about a month ago. So She wants to give me two months before she starts radical treatment. I am scheduled for a blood test 1 May. The only thing she is worried about is the Platelets being high and lack of oxygen in my blood. She said I "REALLY" need to take it easy and not allow myself and my blood to compete for oxygen in any way at all. I have no idea what that is all about and whether it is all the anemia or something more. I don't think she is certain yet either. But She told my husband to take me in for an emergency visit if I develop any weird symptoms. Craziness! I'm fine!   I got Michelle (Vitalady) hopefully working on an order...and in two months...I'll be jogging around the block...Okay...I'll be walking...I still don't jog very well!  And now I'm not ALLOWED to!  :::giggles::: My husband is emptying dish washer for me...(I'm gonna get to milk this)  He bought me Oprah's latest big fat book to read in bed!  LMAO!!! (He's too cute)  It'll take me a year to read that thing!  I'm going to be just fine! I know it! Hugs Anita<---not too worried