Look at your labs carefully
 

I have osteoporosis that has become worse over the past 3 years. One problem I found was that my vitamin D, although "normal", was not "optimal" when tested a year ago. This past march I had my vitamin D tested again and it was much higher. It went from 24 to 42.

Then, I looked carefully at the labs I realized the last test that was done was the wrong test!:eek: Instead of 25hydroxy-vitamin D the lab did the l.25 dihydroxy-vitamin D.

I called my doctor and he reordered the correct test.

If you want to read more about vitamin D, it can be found in The Gluten File http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/vitamind

It is so important to get a copy of all your labs to be sure the results are optimal, the tests wanted were done AND the correct test was done. :o
Anne

Good advice
 

Hi Anne, I just relized this last year how important it is to ask for the actually test numbers, so you may look yourself, even if ya can't read them. You can always figure it out yourself. I was given my medical file of 5 yrs and looking back on the tests that were run, lots of the numbers were low normal. Of course if the lab doesn't flag it the dr just assumes its normal. I went years with low normal B12 and Iron till I finally started asking for the numbers. Get the facts in front of you, don't relie (sadly) on your dr. Patricia:)

Patricia, glad that you were able to figure out your B12 and iron.
Anne

I got my vitamin D results :D I hope this helps me build healthy bone.

! Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 43.7 ng/mL
reference range was 32.0-100.0

What amazed me is that the old reference range was 8.9-46.7ng/ml - the lab raised it.

I am almost in the optimal range according to Mercola http://www.mercola.com/2002/feb/23/v...deficiency.htm

The lab result that I am not happy about is my hsCRP - it was higher. It was 4.5 and now it is 8.5. It has been as high as 13. This is a marker for inflammation and is a risk factor for heart disease. I have already had bypass surgery. I was hoping that a GF diet would bring down the CRP :(

Anne

Hugs, Anne! I understand! Do you take fish oils? You might consider upping your dosage if you do or starting to take them if you don't. Fish oil is very good for you in many ways.

Rachel

I do take fish oil and you are right, I need to take more. I take only 1000. Anyone know anything about Krill oil vs fish oil?
Anne

This is what I take:

http://www.iherb.com/store/ProductDe...&pid=NFS-03549

I take 3 a day. I'm thinking of going up on it (though I just went up from 2 a day to 3).

Rachel

Any fish burps with that? You would not believe how many bottles of fish oil I have thrown away because they make me burp dead fish for half a day. Right now I take the Sam's brand but am open to a higher grade as long as I do not taste it later.
Anne

I have been taking this stuff for somewhere around 2 years and I can only recall *1* fish burp. I don't drink a lot of soda anymore, but even if I take one with a soda, I don't have them. (And I do know what they're like because years ago someone said to take 10 fish oil capsules a day for my IgA Nephropathy and I tried, I really did, but oh it was soooooooo gross.)

Rachel

Oh, if you do have fish oil burps with these, try Fisol which is enteric coated. But you'd have to take a lot more of them to get the same amount.

Rachel

Wonder if Sam's is as good as any other fish oil. Does the brand matter or is it hype?
Anne

I do think the brand matters--it needs to be tested for toxicity. And, depending on what you are using it for, the balance of kinds of EFAs matters, too.

I use Rx Omega on the advice of someone from the Feingold board who is very knowledgeable in supplements and their use with ADD. She says it's very important to have pharmaceutical grade fish oils. She also says it's good (not imperative, but good) to take a small dose (100 iu) of Vitamin E with it. I've heard elsewhere you should refrigerate your fish oil, so I now do that with any unopened bottles. We go through an open bottle pretty fast with C and I taking 5 a day and DH takes 2-3 a day, too.

Rachel

Look At Labs carefully
 

Hi Anne,

Marilyn here. I was just tested last month for Vit D 25 Hydroxy, and my results showed that my level was 24 (20-100)nl.
This is after being on a GF diet for just over 15 months, and taking 1200 - 1600 IU of D daily for + 12 months. In 01 last time the test was done it was 35 (eating gluten at that time). I wonder how much lower it might have been without me knowing it. It will be interesting to see what this year's Dexa results will be. Perhaps this explains why in spite of taking medication, calcium and extra D, and weight training that the bone density shows minimal improvement.

Hi Marilyn, Sorry to hear that your vitamin D level fell :( Where do you live? Is it possible to get some sun? Time needed in the sun to make adequate D is dependent upon the latititude of where you live and the color of your skin.

What does your doctor say about your vitamin D result?
Anne

Look At Labs carefully
 

Hi Anne,

I live in MI, and we get less sun than you do. I am currently taking a bio emulsion Vit D, 2000 IU per gtt. I am delighted that your Vit D level is up where it is almost normal. Sorry to hear about your hsCRP. Do you take fish oil?
Supposed to be good for inflammation according to Dr. Barry Sears. I certainly appreciate your concern in view of your past cardiac history. See his comments in answer to a question, below.

"Do I need statins?


Q. My HDL = 60, LDL = 246, TOT = 321, TGL = 75, CRP = .1, insulin = 2. My doctor wants me to take Lovastatin to reduce the LDL. Do you think this is necessary? I'm a 55-year-old male who exercises regularly and eats Zone-like meals. I do not currently take fish oil capsules.


A. Your low TG/HDL ratio indicates that most of your LDL particles are large, non- atherogenic particles. Also your CRP is very low. The primary benefit of statins is reducing CRP, which simply can't go much further down. I would suggest taking fish oil to further reduce upstream inflammation. A recent meta-analysis has shown that fish oil is equal, if not superior, to statins in reducing both all-cause and cardiac mortality. "

I am going to write to Dr. Fine and see whether he has any suggestions. The good news on latest lab work was that my albumin level is > 4, and TP is 6.9 - these are best results since 1997 so I am happy about that, and hopefully means that my GI tract is healing.

Marilyn

Marilyn, Congrats on your improved labs. :cool:

I do take Fish Oil. Recently I tried Eskimo 3 by Enzymatic Therapy and it does not leave me burping for half a day. Now I need to increase the dose. I am taking only 1gm. My heart doctor told me to take 3 gms.

DH is on Omacor which is a prescription fish oil - omega 3 acid ethyl esters - is that any different than non-prescription fish oil?

I was on statins for a short time but they caused muscle pain. My cholesterol was never very bad - he wanted me to take them for the "protective" effect. I am far from convinced that they are as good as the docs have been told by the pharmaceutical companies.

Anne

Look At Labs carefully
 

Hi Anne,

I definitely agree with your thoughts re: statins.

Re; the Fish Oils This is what I find:

Omega RX (one that I use) 1 capsule has EPA 400 mg, DHA 200 mg. per capsule or 1600 mg EPA, and 800 mg DHA per 4 capsules which works out to 2.4 grams fish oil for 4 capsules - I take 8 capsules per day. This is pharmaceutical grade fish oil, and does cost $.

Kirkland fish oil 1capsule has EPA 180 mg, DHA 120 mg.

Omacor 1 capsule contains EPA 465 mg, and DHA 375 mg, plus it also contains, Omega 3 esters, other <60 mg, Omega 6 < 80 mg, and Omega 9 & 7 <10 mg. per CEU from American Pharmacist Association.

You might want to check what you are currently taking to see what the amounts of EPA and DHA are in the capsule.

Hope this helps - when I first started taking fish oil, I just looked at the total grams, not the breakdown.

Marilyn