Blood tests…

[Daisbuys]

Looking to do a blood test.

I’ve just started Reta and was wondering if the mot blood test would be sufficient base to look at?

The break down of what it testsis in the attached pic:

 

[latviantower]

Looking to do a blood test.

I’ve just started Reta and was wondering if the mot blood test would be sufficient base to look at?

The break down of what it testsis in the attached pic:

That’s a very good testing panel. It will give you a good baseline. Reta won’t affect many of those. The panel does include A1C, which is a long term indicator of average blood sugar, and something that Reta should bring down. But if you’re just starting, a test now gives you your starting point.

I didn’t see fasting glucose level on there. That’s pretty basic. Maybe I missed it. You will want that as well.

Mainstream medicine and compounding pharmacy teledocs want to see a minimum of the following before starting GLP’s: fasting glucose, A1C, creatinine (indicator of kidney health), AST & ALT (liver enzymes). Some also want EGFR (another kidney marker). All of these should be included with a standard complete metabolic panel (CMP).

Good luck!

 

[Grogu]

Wow! That's a laundry list of things. Hope this isn't costing you too much.

Although the list includes some components of a CMP, as noted by @latviantower , the standard panel would be good. Also, given so many test, I'm a little surprised that the list doesn't include CBC, unless I missed it. My various docs usually request CBC, not sure if that is for glp-1 use or just general overall health.

 

[Daisbuys]

Thank you both for the replies

Cost is £149 DIY at home and send the blood sample off to the lab.

 

[Radxpro43]

A1C was the go to for my insurance to get approval for zep along with a laundry list of other requirements. The rest was just a money thing in my opinion.

 

[Grogu]

Thank you both for the replies

Cost is £149 DIY at home and send the blood sample off to the lab.

I was wondering if this was an at home test. That's pretty cool that you can do this from home. I see the same types of services in the US at about the same price. Good luck.

 

[woundcarping]

I recently tried two home drawn (capillary) services and wasn't impressed with the quality of the data. Rythm and SiPhox. I thought I was going to get monthly testing and have comparable, actionable, and portable data but I was wrong. Those labs could establish a baseline relative to themselves (not other lab results) to potentially infer trends, but absolute values aren't their strength. Some tests are more valid via capillary, while some are considerably less.

I could expound some of the differences I found, but in general I won't be continuing any capillary based labs for my current needs. I'll buy labs online and go to Labcorp for "real" labs.

Caveat, I don't consider glucose monitoring to "labs," it's capillary and generally reliable. I have normal blood sugar but Reta can push glucose symptomatically low.

 

[New2ton]

I didn’t see fasting glucose level on there. That’s pretty basic. Maybe I missed it. You will want that as well.

Mainstream medicine and compounding pharmacy teledocs want to see a minimum of the following before starting GLP’s: fasting glucose, A1C, creatinine (indicator of kidney health), AST & ALT (liver enzymes). Some also want EGFR (another kidney marker). All of these should be included with a standard complete metabolic panel (CMP).

I have an annual wellness visit coming up this week with my GP and I already know she will be ordering blood work. Other than the tests that you have mentioned, any suggestions on what else I should ask her to order? She did not prescribe my GLP's, so I'm also debating whether I should tell her that I'm on tirz.

 

[MFGamesta]

I have an annual wellness visit coming up this week with my GP and I already know she will be ordering blood work. Other than the tests that you have mentioned, any suggestions on what else I should ask her to order? She did not prescribe my GLP's, so I'm also debating whether I should tell her that I'm on tirz.

I would suggest to tell your doctor evening.

 

[woundcarping]

Tell your doctor whatever you’re comfortable with being in your file with them and shared with your insurance company, assume your insurance is involved.

I believe you could self pay and not sign the disclosure waiver/expressly say to not share your records from that provider.

If I have a script for whatever, I’d ask the provider to order any labs insurance would cover associated with that script/condition, assuming that’s the route I wanted to go.

 

[latviantower]

My doctor originally recommended GLP’s but I had to run the insurance gauntlet first. My BMI was 32 but my glucose was “only” 123, two points shy of diabetic - so I was denied. I went compounding route, paying $600/month with a teledoc prescribing. Went gray after a few months. I’ve kept my PCP in the loop all the way. She’s been nothing but supportive. She even wrote down the web address for the first compounding vendor for her husband because THEIR insurance sucks, too. lol.

It’s a very personal decision on what to share. I’ve been with this doc almost 30 years and feel comfortable sharing it all. But that’s just me.

 

[New2ton]

I may go ahead and tell her since I did start out using a teledoc service for about 4 month. I may just omit the part about going grey. I don't have any real concerning health issues to speak of other than a bad back, so I don't know if she'll be supportive or not. I just feel like I shouldn't keep that from her since she's obviously going to ask me about my 40 pound weight loss since I saw her 6 months ago.

Who knows I'll probably change my mind again in 2 days. lol