A CBC is just a complete blood count--they enumerate the number of red/white blood cells, get hemoglobin levels, etc. This test, and a chemistry panel, are the most common blood tests ordered. I can't imagine Alan hasn't had one recently--probably more than one.

Does Dr. Fred, or Dr. Goldfarb (more likely the former) have a recent one on file?

Hospital may want to their own anyway--they're funny that way; think that their testing is more accurate than something that comes through a doc's office or outside lab center.

Yeah, I think it's silly too, and I faxed them the ones that Dr. Goldfarb has on file and it was to late to get to Dr. Fred's office so what the heck, Alan is going for pre-testing on Monday.

Glen, I also asked you (on another thread),(Alan is going for his usual routine blood tests at Dr. Fred's on Feb 21. I want to send him a fax with all the numbers I got with Alan's homemade Glucose tolerance test (so he can see the difference from the 38). and I want to request that he order an insulin level thing.

What's a good way to phrase this in a fax?

Can I just say:

Hi Dr. Fred:

I gave Alan a homemade Glucose 3 hour tolerance test using 50 grams of glucose and checked his sugar every half hour, here are the numbers, blah blah blah.
Oh, by the way, when he next comes in for his routine blood work on the 21, can you please order an insulin level test. (or whatever it's called), I'm not sure.

Is this okay?
thanks,
Melody

--that should be fine; after all, he's used to discussing ALan's conditions with you anyway.

You could mention that the 38 reading at three hours from his lab glucose tolerance test concerned you, and you wondered if it could have been a mistake, given the other, more consistent readings, so you wanted to see if you could reproduce such a "dip" at home, and did not.

I'd word the fax like this:

Dear Dr ****,

We are concerned that Alan's Glucose Tolerance Test showed a reading
of 38. We tried to reproduce that at home with a fast/50 grams of glucose
from diabetic glucose tablets, and finger stick readings every 1/2 hr. Since
finger sticks are not as accurate as the lab test we'd feel better if this
test could be redone for a 5 hr with 1/2 hr increments, and also a fasting
insulin at the start. Could you consider ordering these tests for us?
Our attempt to show the 38 did not work at home. And we worry that an
unexpected dip may occur when he is exercising or doing other activities.
Thank you ...blah blah..etc.

If you throw in the concept that Alan my be "injured" if a dip occurs like in the
above, you will push the "liability" buttons, and the doctor will most likely
order the tests!

I printed out what your said and I'll add my own little twist.

Since Alan sees Dr. Fred at the gym, he doesn't like to "go at him with medical stuff". Dr. Fred needs his "alone time", like every working person, right?

Only when Dr. Fred brings up Alan's stuff, do they talk about it. So I think faxing Dr. Fred will be a good way to request the insulin test.

I'm waiting till we get the spinal tap results. Then I'll send the fax to Dr. Fred.
Alan's folder at the doctor is 3 inches thick. This guy has had more poking and prodding than anyone. And they never find anything (until recently when they found some markers for SOMETHING.

But don't we all have MARKERS for something????

Oh, I have a good question. My cousin and his wife have a daughter with Joubert Syndrome. His first wife and he had a son that was fine.

But he married the second wife and at age 40, she had NIchole who had no brain stem and they called it Joubert Syndrome.

When they asked the doctor 'WHY', they were told "you and your wife both carry the recessive gene for Joubert. That's why Joe and his first wife had TJ who is perfectly fine, but when Joe and you had NIchole, because you both carried the recessive genes, she was born with Joubert syndrome.

My question? Just because my cousin has the recessive gene, (we are first cousins), does this mean that all of us first cousins have this gene. My mother's mom had 10 children, 5 boys and 5 girls. Did Joe's mom,(my mother's sister who is still alive and kicking and goes dancing at age 83), did she give the gene to her son who passed it on to his daughter Nichole?

I understand that both parents have to have a recessive gene in order for an offspring to have a birth defect.

I often think about genes when I think of my son who was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. Alan has some aspie traits but he's nothing like my son.

I guess I'm still trying to find answers in that department too.

thanks,
Melody

Mel,
Ya gotta write a book.
No kidding.
Ya just gotta !!

I swear to you. I will write a book, the day that Alan comes home from yoga class, drags me over to our wall and says "Melody, you gotta see what I learned from my yoga instructor today" IF ALAN STANDS ON HIS HEAD, then I'll write a book!!

I'll even give you a sneak peek!!!!!

mel