Medical lab work: Yay and boo

[thistlechaser]

After getting gastric bypass surgery, you need labwork on your blood done on a regular basis. I got my first set done today.

The good news: My A1Cs (the test for diabetes) came back normal. Normal range is 4.8-5.6, and mine was 5.2, so I believe that means my diabetes is gone. I'm still taking one medicine for it (once a day, down from twice -- stopped using two others I was on when I left the hospital). I only have a few test strips left, but I'm going to see if maybe I should stop taking that last one, too. I'm not really comfortable making the decision myself, but that's what the surgeon said to do. Why not just stop taking it now, if my A1C numbers are good? The medicine could be helping keep them good, I think. /not a doctor

The bad/annoying news: The urine test is a 24 hour collection. Not only will that be a pain and gross, but I have to keep it in my personal refrigerator during that 24 hours! With my food! EW EW EW EW. I think I'm going to wrap the container in a few dozen plastic bags...

Men have such an easier time with urine collection. This is one of the very few times I have penis envy.

Edit: More results coming in. CBC normal. Iron, magnesium, and glucose low. B12 high (wouldn't that be a good thing?).

Correction: Iron saturation is low, plain "iron" is normal -- no idea what the difference means or if it's important.

Comments

[ashmedai.livejournal.com]

Hey, that is good news! :)

LOL don't fret too much about the urine. Urine is an almost sterile liquid, I wouldn't think twice about keeping it in the fridge for that test. There's nothing "ew" about it at all.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

It's sterile when it's inside you, but on its way out it picks up on all sorts of stuff (I'd think for women more than men?). I'd rather have it no where near my food. :P

And thanks! It is good news. :)

[gonzostar.livejournal.com]

I'm also /not a doctor, but I AM a dieititan with a bunch of diabetes training. So I'll add on to what you said here.

First off, getting your A1c in a normal range is AWESOME! AMAZING! Definitely one of the main reasons you had this surgery.

Secondly, even if your blood sugars are now in range all the time, your diabetes will never be "gone"... think of it as "in remission". Basically, you HAD Type 2 diabetes and that means you have insulin resistance, and it can definitely occur again. Dropping the weight is a HUGE factor, but it can possibly come back even without gaining the weight back because it is a progessive disease. HOPEFULLY, it's gone for good and won't plague you again, but it's just something to keep in mind. (I was just talking to my dad yesterday actually and he's been off diabetes meds for a few years and was at an A1c around 6 forever and then last week just tested 10.3 :( :( )

Thirdly, YES, I would stop the oral medication. It's helping your blood sugar get to where it is now, which is not LOW... yet. Overmedicating diabetes can be very bad. Lows are dangerous. It's very possible that without the med, your A1c will go up to about 6.0, but that's great without meds.

SO here's what I would do. The meds stay in your system about 48 hours, so if you only have a few test strips, plan it like this:

Don't take the medication the next few days. If you already took it today, then stop tomorrow, and take your morning blood sugar Friday, Saturday, Sunday OR Saturday, Sunday, Monday. If it's 120 or below each of those mornings, you're good to go. (Feel free to email me what those three readings were if you're not sure and I can give you advice).

So, so happy for you!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

First off, thanks for all the great information!

your diabetes will never be "gone"... think of it as "in remission".

Oh drat, that's too bad to hear!

I hope your dad is able to get it under control again quickly. :(

I'm going to try your plan! I usually take it in the evening, so today can be my first day without it. Exciting! :)

[resonant.livejournal.com]

Hooray!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yes, yay!

I hope you're doing well? No life posts from you lately!

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

That's great news, congratulations! I hope you've noticed a real change by now and are feeling better overall. Good luck with figuring out your diabetes meds - gonzostar's advice sounds really sensible.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :) And yes, her advice sounds great, I'm in the middle of trying it now.

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

I am absolutely fascinated by the 24-hour pee test. Do you have to like, drink a certain amount of water? Do you have to not drink anything strong like coffee? HOW IS THIS A THING.

I am so glad to hear about the diabetes being gone! That shit is weak, it runs on both sides of my family and is the reason I do all this shit I do; I'm trying to ward off the onset of type 2 as well (my dad currently has signs of it rollin' in on him).

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

There were surprisingly few instructions. I got a single sheet of paper, and three-quarters of it was crossed out as not applying to me. The only thing that did apply to me was explaining how long 24 hours was (*cough* seriously, it said something like 'If you start at 8 AM, end at 8 AM the next day) and a couple lines to note your start and end time.

For some tests, you couldn't eat a whole list of food (banana and avocado are the two that stick out in my memory), but that didn't apply to me. No minimum you have to drink, though I could too easily see me drinking less because this is going to be a PAIN IN THE ASS.

Good luck! Keep on running, YOU IRON WOMAN YOU. You rock my socks on a regular basis!

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

Yay! It sounds like you are getting healthier overall.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yep! And good to see you again. :)