Diane (Idaho) Re: Labs

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane, You definitely need to have the those lab tests repeated

and check with your physician. Just to make sure they didn't mix up

your specimen with someone else. I had that happen in California.

Another Shirley with same last name had lab tests and some how they

entered her results under my medical number at the clinic. Don't

ask me how they did that!! As Med Tech and familiar with all the

regulations, etc. we have to comply with, I wrote the administrator

regarding about the danger of this mistake. I could have been given

insulin for a 500 glucose and would probably have died as my glucose

was normal!

I've had vision problems since chemo in 1991 and my doctor came in

and said I think we know what the problem is - you're diabetic. I

said NO, I know I'm not diabetic as I check my labs periodically at

work. Plus the lab tests were done when I was in Quebec. Of course

my doctor had to repeat all tests to protect himself.

Also, if the specimen was not drawn properly it can affect some of

the lab results. I once had a test to see what my nerves & muscles

were doing (where neurologist sticks needle in muscle) and without

thinking went and got lab tests done afterwards. Mistake - enzymes

were elevated. A number of things can cause elevations.

Make sure your fasting properly, water is ok. If they're still

elevated, then you need to find out why. Just to give you a little

information - diabetics (out of control) will have high cholesterol

and triglycerides. The liver is where these are produced, so an

inflammation of the liver (as well as pancreatitis) can cause

elevated results. The other thing that can throw out the

cholesterol and trigs is hypothyroidism. When my TSH (thyroid

stimulating hormone) gets too high (means I not getting enough

Synthroid), my cholesterol and trigs go up. Also various meds can

cause elevations in liver enzymes. My physician monitored my liver

enzymes for a while after being put on the Zocor.

I never had any problems with cholesterol until chemo put me into

menopause at 47. Then suddenly up went my cholesterol. When it

finally hit 275, and diet didn't control it I was put on mild statin

(take half normal dose). Last cholesterol (before surgery-it's

probably blown now as I've been eating eggs until today when I went

back to eggbeaters) was 154. There is plenty of heart disease in

the family (mostly Dad's side) that I try to heed the warnings and

keep all under control.

If you have any more questions you can e-mail me.

Hope this helps a little.

Shirley