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I am going to get my blood tested on Thursday could someone tell me all the different test I should have done or where I could go to get this information? Also, is there any other test I should request?
Thanks for your help,
Marie
my post may help , 'advice needed as visiting new consultant' as I was asking a similar question.
osteomarie,
That should not be a question you should have to ask. Your Endo or specialist is the one who should be doing that. You are not a doctor and may not even be aware of what kind of testing is available. All your blood work should include calcium, vit D, PTH and lots of other things such as certain diseases that would show up in the blood work if the Dr requests that test.
He (the Dr) should know what test should be done. I am so tired of us paying all these doctors all this money and then we need to take the responsibility to tell them. Geez sorry to go on and on about this but this hits a sore spot when I read posters that have to tell their high paid doctors what to test them for. Good luck.
Well, cm, facts are facts. Some doctors won't test at all unless you tell them precisely what you want to know. Repeat after me: Full blood panel testing all endocrine functions including PTH, Vitamin D, and Calcium levels. 24 hour urine calcium test. (That one is a real joy! Don't do it during the holidays.)
Marie, I bumped up the Clinician discussion post for the Home page. I've posted some of the information that I learned at the NOF clinician meeting; including tests. Please check the post. Hope it will help. Thanks. Sandi
Osteomarie,
I just recently found a great doctor to work with, but over the last 8 years my other doctors have been CLUELESS as to osteo or testing for underlying osteo probs. I've had to do my own research. these are the tests I have asked for specific to bone health:
Serum tests: (blood)
VITAMIN D !!!!
PTH
PTH with calcium ratio
Thyroid
Celiac disease panel
NTx (important--tells how much bone you are resorbing)
Bone Specific Alkaline Phospate (BSAP tells how much new bone you are making)
24Hour Urine tests (can all be done at same time):
Calcium
Magnesium
Free cortisol (better than serum, but not as accurate as saliva test, especially if you've been under chronic stress)
Creatinine
Sodium
Hope I didn't forget any----and hope you have good insurance for labs! If so, go for it---the info is invaluable.
Santa Fe
Thank you to everyone who responded I am a firm believer in being my own patient advocate and need to know as much as I can to do the best for my body. I will take these lists to my Doctor and see what happens.
Marie
About the doctors knowing about which tests to take for osteo....yes, they should know but my annual blood panel at my conventional doctor only includes the regular stuff. No Vit. D, no Celiac, etc. I have to ask for special tests and, then, I have to ask what the scores were. I usually get 'everything is in the normal range.' What range???? What is on the high range and what is on the low range? Finally, my doctor sents me an e-mail with the results. No explanation, mind you, but the numbers. At least I can look them up, time consuming but revealing.
As for my DEXA tests, it took me three years to get the doctor to write a prescription for a DEXA of my left forearm and wrist. I knew, although my spine, hip and femur were diagnosed as osteopenia, something more was going on in my armts. Finally, I arrived at the nuclear medicine department only to find that the techie didn't want to take my left arm because I am left handed. Too left handed. Overuse can cause osteo, too, you know. She didn't know. After a lively chat, I pulled out my cell phone to call my doctor's office that was in the same complex and she ran out to consult the nuclear medicine doctor who was on the floor. A very smart African man who said:'Why don't you take a DEXA of both arms?' Duh!
It turned out that I have a -3.1 in my left forearm and wrists and a -2.7 in my right arm. Chilling news. There it was. Really, really annoyed that it took three years to get this diagnosis since I was worried about my arms. They just didn't feel the way they used to when I was healthy.
A note about tests and doctors and your wallet: I now also work with an Alternate MD who does more tests: the heavy metals, tests for inflamation, Vit. D, etc. Some of those tests are covered by Medicare but some aren't. You pay. I look at it as a swell tax deduction every year. My alternate doctor has added immeasurably to my quality of life and my conventional doctor keeps track of the alternative treatment with great interest.
Don't mind spending on my own health. Who really needs Prada, anyway?
juliemarie
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