Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Yes, I would get a 2nd opinion as to why they want blood test every 2-3 months.. My parents are i their 80-90 and they don't get tested every several months...Blua Birdo <bluabirdo@...> wrote: Hello,I have a concern and perhaps some of you can provide some light in this issue.My mother is very active, healthy, vegetarian and doesn't take any drug. If she needs something she takes herbs. However, she visits a doctor and have blood tests too often in my opinion. As she has medical insurance, the doctor asks her to return for blood tests each 2 or 3 months.Besides the waste of time, I'm concerned that to drop blood so often can be detrimental for her health.Do you think that my concern is valid?Thanks for any response,Rena __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 The reason is simple: the insurance pays for that and my mother is too naive to believe that the doctor does it because he cares so much. My question is: Can this be harmful to her in any way? Does anyone know? Thanks, Rena Re: blood test frequency Yes, I would get a 2nd opinion as to why they want blood test every 2-3 months.. My parents are i their 80-90 and they don't get tested every several months...Blua Birdo <bluabirdohotmail> wrote: Hello,I have a concern and perhaps some of you can provide some light in this issue.My mother is very active, healthy, vegetarian and doesn't take any drug. If she needs something she takes herbs. However, she visits a doctor and have blood tests too often in my opinion. As she has medical insurance, the doctor asks her to return for blood tests each 2 or 3 months.Besides the waste of time, I'm concerned that to drop blood so often can be detrimental for her health.Do you think that my concern is valid?Thanks for any response,Rena __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Rena they only draw a small amount - 3 to 5 cc or so. That's a teaspoon. Gayla Always Enough Ranch Acampo, California http://bouncinghoofs.com/alwaysenough.html aeranch@... blood test frequency > Hello, > > I have a concern and perhaps some of you can provide some light in this > issue. > My mother is very active, healthy, vegetarian and doesn't take any drug. > If > she needs something she takes herbs. However, she visits a doctor and have > blood tests too often in my opinion. As she has medical insurance, the > doctor asks her to return for blood tests each 2 or 3 months. > Besides the waste of time, I'm concerned that to drop blood so often can > be > detrimental for her health. > Do you think that my concern is valid? > Thanks for any response, > Rena > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Rena, rest easy about your mom. The amount of blood being drawn will not harm her in any way. My guess is he is just fulfilling the insurance policy’s preventive health care plan, and because she is so obviously healthy it makes excellent data for the benefits of a vegetarian diet. Believe it or not, many allopaths vegetarians and know the benefits to such a diet for some people. The blood draws are not a waste because they provide this valuable data. Janet From: health [mailto:health ] On Behalf Of Blua Birdo Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 10:44 AM health Subject: Re: blood test frequency The reason is simple: the insurance pays for that and my mother is too naive to believe that the doctor does it because he cares so much. My question is: Can this be harmful to her in any way? Does anyone know? Thanks, Rena Re: blood test frequency Yes, I would get a 2nd opinion as to why they want blood test every 2-3 months.. My parents are i their 80-90 and they don't get tested every several months... Blua Birdo <bluabirdohotmail> wrote: Hello, I have a concern and perhaps some of you can provide some light in this issue. My mother is very active, healthy, vegetarian and doesn't take any drug. If she needs something she takes herbs. However, she visits a doctor and have blood tests too often in my opinion. As she has medical insurance, the doctor asks her to return for blood tests each 2 or 3 months. Besides the waste of time, I'm concerned that to drop blood so often can be detrimental for her health. Do you think that my concern is valid? Thanks for any response, Rena __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Blood test frequency depends on several things; there's no single right answer. If you're liver numbers have become stable, you'll be tested less often. If they're changing, you'll need more frequent tests. Each time you change dosages, you'll need a blood test beforehand. When I was diagnosed with AIH nine years ago, I had blood tests three times a week. At one time, I was down to testing at two-month intervals. Now I have a " small " test every month and a larger set of tests every three months. Each time I foresee a dosage change, a blood test is done. Harper In a message dated 6/1/09 11:43:10 AM, meg.d.wright@... writes: > > > > I am on azathioprine, (which is a similar-type drug) for my AIH and I get > blood count every 6 months. I have been on it for several years now. > Hope that is helpful > dx 2001 > > On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 8:00 AM, mislyn2u <mislyn2u@...> wrote: > > > > > > > If you have AI Liver disease and are on Mercaptopurine, how often should > > you have your blood tested for white count levels? I would like to know > the > > frequency people in this group are experiencing, not what is > recommended. > > Thanks Lynn > > > ************** An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222377040x1201454360/aol?redir=http://\ www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072 & amp;hmpgID=62 & amp; bcd=JuneExcfooterNO62) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 My experience has been much different from Harper's. 4 years after my AIH dx and on prednisone only, I had a second biopsy which revealed that I also had PBC. Before that, I'd " given up " , not quitting but not going to work, lying in bed 24/7. After the additional dx I was weaned off pred and put on Imuran. I have now been taking it for 10 years, along with ursodiol, of course, which has been adjusted to overmedication, as I weigh 110 and charts say I should be taking 750mg. I'm on 1200 mg of urso now and 75mg of Imuran. I have never had blood work more frequently that once a month, and for a long time now, no more often than twice a year. The main thing that is different from Harper's experience, tho', is she indicates she has bloodwork before a med change. I have it after a med change, not before. Apparently my doctors know or have thought they knew enough about me and all that's going on with me to know when to suggest changes or increases. From a perspective of almost 20 years with AI liver disease, I think they are all right, and both a " before " and an " after " is advisable. Never thought I would get to a point in my life where I had bigger fish to fry or cared about anything more than my AI liver diseases, but I'm there now. It never hurts to err on the side of caution, listen to your body, ask for what you think you need. For most long-term patients, every six months is the norm.I think!!! Just my experience..... Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Thanks to all of u who replied about the blood tests. I was dx about 8 months ago and everything has been going ok for awhile on the mercaptopurine but just recently I began to feel really awful and it was just before a regular checkup with my gastro. I had my blood drawn a week before the appt., and she called and told me to stop taking it completely because it had lowered my blood count and platelets. So then I had to take a blood test for an enzyme to see if I can't take the Mercap. In the meantime I developed an infection and am now on antibiotics and have to get a blood test next week also( white count again). I really don't mind the blood tests, in fact I wish they would have been more frequent so they would have known earlier about the problem.( Blood tests were at 3 month intervals) Well I am new to all of this and I am just trying to understand this crazy disease and cope like all of you. It is wonderful to have people who know what is going on because most people do not even understand anything about this condition. You tell co-workers what is wrong and they think you are either contagious or an alcoholic. Sorry for the long message. Thankyou LYNN > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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