looking for bloodwork advice

[Trevvian]

Anonymoos,
Thanks. It was interesting though a bit over my head. I will check for anemia, but I would think my omnivorous ways would prevent that? Maybe Tec does do something funky.

I wonder if anyone gives educational grants to new MSers...I can see I'm going to need some organic chemistry, if not a medical degree, here soon.

[jimmylegs]

the learning curve is the best part of the ride

[Trevvian]

All right, I think I've successfully compiled a list of tests to ask for. This is what I've got. Am I missing anything? My doc posts all test results in my online chart, so I should be able to get a good look at them. Then I can adjust diet/supplements accordingly.

Serum testing for:
• Vitamin B12 (& other B vitamin levels)
• Vitamin D3
• Uric Acid
• Calcium
• Vitamin E
• Selenium
• Serum Magnesium
• Zinc
• Ferritin
• Copper
Thanks again for all the feedback...and, um, if you're thinking I'm an idiot for not being able to find the helpful thread in Jimmylegs' signature, I didn't see it until I logged on via computer. Evidently signatures don't show in the Android app. Who knew?

Trevvian

[jimmylegs]

looks good to me trev

just put SERUM in front of everything (good call on the magnesium). so that they don't test RBC.
and for vit d3, specify serum 25(OH)vitaminD3.

hehe not thinking you're an idiot by any means - but you did give me a chuckle there with that comment ;D lol!

[jimmylegs]

ps if you have to choose only a few of those, I would prioritize d3, zinc, magnesium, ferritin, copper and b12.
much better if you can get them all, of course

[Trevvian]

No prioritization needed. Sent the list in via electronic chart messaging & received a reply within 14 minutes.

"I have orders in for these tests as well as kidney function testing, blood sugar, thyroid testing and complete blood cell counts. You can call to schedule an appointment and a follow up appointment after 4-5 days. The results of most if not all of these tests will be available by that time."

I do love my GP. I may have to think about visiting Switzerland if she ever retires. Kidding, no crisis hotline numbers please.

I will post the results when I get them & we can see just how wacked out I am. I would love to be able to do something about this fatigue that doesn't involve amphetamines, which was what my neuro suggested after seeing me 3 times. Um, drastic much?

[jimmylegs]

hey that is awesome! yay!

amphetamines wow. let's see what the tests can tell us first

(ah haha - took me a while on the naughty Switzerland reference, lol)

[Trevvian]

Alright, the results are posted in my e-chart. Everything came back normal, but I don't know about "optimal." I tried to do a little comparison with some of jimmylegs's older posts and just totally confused myself as these aren't even units of measure I'm familiar with, so the conversions got the best of me.

Hoping those 12 vials of blood tell someone something helpful.

Here's what I've got; any input is welcome.
D3: 47 ug/L
B12: 1112 pg/mL
Uric Acid: 3.9 mg/dL
Vitamin E: 9.3 mg/L
Selenium: 152 ug/L
Magnesium: 2.1 mg/dL
Zinc: 81 ug/dL
Ferritin: 52 ng/mL
Copper: 106 ug/dL
Sodum: 141 mmol/L
Potassium: 4.0 mmol/L
Chloride: 103 mmol/L
Carbon Dioxide: 25 mmol/L
Anion Gap: 12 mmol/L
Glucose: 85 mg/dL
Urea Nitrogen: 12 mg/dL
Creatinine: .62 mg/dL
Calcium: 9.5 mg/dL

Thanks!
Trevvian

[jimmylegs]

ok for vit d3

ug/L and ng/mL are the same thing

25-Hydroxyvitamin D conversion info:
http://hijazi.us/ClinicalData.htm
ng/mL x 2.496 = nmol/L

SO 47 x 2.496 = 117 nmol/L.

great job! nice number.

[jimmylegs]

vit b12

B12: 1112 pg/mL

basically, you want to aim for 500 pg/mL. so you're fine on that score.

conversion info for anyone who wants to calculate the other way:
http://hijazi.us/ClinicalData.htm
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
pg/mL x 0.738 = pmol/L

500 x 0.738 = 369 pmol/L.
I just aim for 500 pmol/L anyway to be on the safe side.

[jimmylegs]

uric acid

Uric acid
mg/dL 59.48 µmol/L

so 3.9 x 59.48 = 232 µmol/L
(that is what you would expect for ms patient in remission. low compared to healthy controls. should be more like 290-300) (divide that by ~60 to get your target. roughly 5 mg/dL)

[jimmylegs]

Vitamin E: 9.3 mg/L

mg/L and ug/mL are the same..

sample average levels for serum alpha tocopherol in healthy subjects: (11.21 +/- 0.20 ug/mL) http://www.nature.com/ki/journal/v64/n3 ... 3975a.html

so your level looks relatively low.. (but note that level is just from one study - need to collect more healthy levels to get a better handle on a healthy target. not readily available via study abstracts. will need to dig in further at some point).

[jimmylegs]

selenium's good, magnesium get it up to 2.7 mg/dL, zinc boost it up to 120 ug/dL.

ferritin's not bad.

you never want copper levels higher than zinc. if you can keep copper steady but double the zinc you'll be in good shape!

hope all that helps

[Trevvian]

THANK YOU so much! I could not have figured that out myself. I was hoping there might be a smoking gun, but ruling things out is half the battle.

My doc is on board for me to up magnesium & zinc. Then it's off to a sleep study for me.

Thanks again for taking the time to do this.

[jimmylegs]

no probs! glad the doc is on board too