Blood tests

Stephanie · Post by **Stephanie** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 9:20 pm

Hello my new best friends!
I am going into my family doc next week to get off of Cymbalta to try and help this crazy D.
I want him to do some blood work too. Test my iron levels as I have been super tired lately, vitamin D levels and my IgA levels as I want to order the Enerolab tests after I am off Entocort. Are there other tests I should be asking for? I am a type 1 diabetic, CD, And CC. I have been gluten free for about 13 months.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 10:47 pm

Check Vit B levels, TSH and urine iodine test (check Thyroid levels)

good luck

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 1:08 am

Hi

B-vitamins: Homocysteine, MMA (Methylmalonic Acid) and Folate.

I don't know if they do these routinely in your country.

Lilja

Stephanie · Post by **Stephanie** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 9:19 am

Thanks! I'll add those to my list. My thyroid is checked yearly as I'm a type 1 diabetic and it's always been fine.

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 10:56 am

Make sure your thyroid screen looks at reverse T3 and iodine too. Those can be missed in the routine screens. I had mine tested this week, because I have hypo symptoms but TSH and T3 are always normal.

Stephanie · Post by **Stephanie** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:11 pm

Wow, there is so much to learn! Not only do we have to be our own advocates, but our own doctors as well!!

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:22 pm

If I could, I would add the test CRP levels, it's a marker of inflammation.

Nancy

Stephanie · Post by **Stephanie** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 4:49 pm

So I was my family doctor today. Good and bad. Good: he ordered all the blood tests to test for vitamin and mineral deficencies and also ordered all the immunoglobulin tests so that I can do,the Enerolab test.
Good: he got me a referral to an allergist to test for other allergies
Bad: when I mentioned food possiblity triggers my CC his response was; well, all your test reports from your GI doc said your colon looks great and healthy. The issue is only microscopic. So if the colitis can only be seen with a microscope and not during her procedure, most likely the colitis isn't a big problem. My guess is your D is due to being a type 1 diabetic so long. REALLY?

So I guess I do the blood work in a few weeks (once I'm off entocort for a bit) then order the Enterolab test. So much for help from my doctors. Ugh

Post by **tex** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 5:02 pm

Stephanie (quoting her doctor's comment) wrote:well, all your test reports from your GI doc said your colon looks great and healthy. The issue is only microscopic. So if the colitis can only be seen with a microscope and not during her procedure, most likely the colitis isn't a big problem. My guess is your D is due to being a type 1 diabetic so long.

Well, no point in discussing microscopic colitis with that doctor, because he obviously only knows enough about it to make him dangerous.

I hope he knows more than that about treating diabetes.

At least you got the blood tests that you wanted, so he's still helpful for you (in some ways).

Tex

darlagroat · Post by **darlagroat** » Wed Jan 28, 2015 4:33 pm

The lack of help and knowledge from GI physicians leaves one speechless....

Post by **tex** » Wed Jan 28, 2015 5:36 pm

darlagroat wrote:The lack of help and knowledge from GI physicians leaves one speechless...

An experience such as that makes one wonder why we're paying someone just to insult us and/or tick us off.

Doesn't that doctor realize that we could simply look up an old adversary and get insulted and ticked off for free?

Tex

Stephanie · Post by **Stephanie** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 9:32 am

I got the call on Friday that "your blood work is all fine, just a bit of low iron so start Palafer once daily". I asked her to mail me the lab results as I am not sure I belive it or not. I seem to always be the patient who falls through the cracks. But good news is she said my IgA is in the normal range (even after 4+ months of Entocort). So I'll be ordering my Enerolab tests in the next few weeks! Yay!

I also asked to see an allergist just to cover all my bases. It's about an 18 month wait list here, but I got a cancellation and got an appointment for April. My friend saw this allergist for her son though and said he is arrogant and hard to talk to. So I'll have to do some research before April and figure out what I want him to test me for and why! Any ideas? I don't think I have allergies, but I'd like to get my Enterolab test results back before I go too. I just want to check everything.

Even better news???? I went of Cymbalta about 3 weeks ago. Huge huge huge improvement in my D. I was actually constipated a few times. It is still nothing close to "normal" but I 100% believe Cymbalta was aggravating my issues. But holy crap, coming off Cymbalta was HORRIBLE. I'm still suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

But overall, I'm happy right now and hopeful right now for the first time in a long long while. Thank you all! .

Post by **tex** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 10:39 am

Stephanie,

Good for you. Being able to say that you were able to stop using a drug such as Cymbalta is definitely something to be proud of.

I hope that your improvement continues until you feel as good as new.

Tex

Greengoddess · Post by **Greengoddess** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 3:45 pm

Most specialists don't pay much attention to patient groups until they realise that we have information that could lead to research and funding thereof.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 1:09 am

might be handy to get a copy of your results - it is handy to check and see if you are in the lower range or upper range of the results.

Glad there is improvement!!