me again...... lab messed up

[Jena]

warrior mom doens't even begin to describe the mood i'm in right now. They should tread lightly on friday. wow.

I just got call from difficult child's pyschdoc, rather i called him because he stinks also. difficult child's lab results from blood work are in.

Her cholesterol is very high, her tri's are ok, yet the lab never did the glucose test!! So, the kid didn't eat that morning or anything just for that test.

Spoke to nurse practioner at pyschdoc's office and she said her cholesterol's high, we have to see what glucose results are before pulling medication, but dr. will call you back.

So, i called lab 800# got now where quick. I drove down to the lab it's a matter of miles here and planted them. The woman who drew difficult child's blood was there, long story short difficult child's gotta go in tmrw. at 7:45 a.m. i told them i want the results no later than tmrw at 5p.m. i'm not going to play games with-this and due to their neglegience. can't spell lol.

So, i called the nurse @ school and said if difficult child needs break, water, whatever she is to be allowed to get it. no questions asked and to pass it on to the teacher.

i'm wondering if this medication has to be pulled before my iep on friday i'm really going to need that iep more than ever.

 

[smallworld]

Sorry for the lab mess-up.

Is the medication still Seroquel?

Before letting psychiatrist pull any medication, I'd want a qualified specialist -- probably an endocrinologist -- to evaluate difficult child's bloodwork and give an opinion about whether the numbers are truly dangerous or whether her cholesterol (and glucose if that is also high) can be managed with treatment. A psychiatrist specializes in psychiatric issues, not metabolic issues. I know it's hard, but I wouldn't do anything rash without consulting the right docs.

 

[Jena]

hi yes it's still seroquel. its apprentley the bad cholesterol. she's been drinking so much water the past several mos as well as utizling the bathroom.

she's put 25 lbs on in total. well, their putting rush on the results so hopefully i'll have them tmrw night. hoping.

id hate to drag her to another specialist at this point. yet good point and thanks for letting me know. we still have to get the ekg done as well.

just stinks. i had a feeling something was up

 

[Marguerite]

I wouldn't be too concerned about the psychiatrist (if that's the qualification) checking over the blood results. At this level, the test results are obvious enough for almost a trained monkey to analyse. If the doctor is a genuine medical doctor under all the other qualifications then he should have the medical capability to report on the results. And psychiatrists should have a basic medical degree before they specialise. A psychologist - no, not necessarily. It's a separate degree.

An endocrinologist may not be any more qualified to report on basic blood tests than a psychiatrist, if the tests are not related to hormones. The only hormone possibly in your test would be fasting insulin, and you didn't mention that one (although from what you say, I think it would be a good idea for it to have been on the request list).

If you're concerned about the possibility of diabetes (Type I or Type II) you could in the meantime get a dip stick test from the pharmacy and test her urine, preferably AFTER a big meal. Fasting test on urine is far more likely to be negative even in a diabetic. It should be negative in someone without diabetes, even after a heavy meal, because even a sugar binge should be completely mopped up by insulin release from the pancreas. Only a really major, fast sugar binge MIGHT cause a sugar spillover into the urine. From memory, afternoon/evening samples are more likely to show positive, if there is a concern. And you can't argue with a positive urine sugar test.

Still, I fully agree you need to go ahead with the BSL. Couldn't they use blood they've already taken? Or didn't they take the right kind of tube? Over here, our pathologists will keep the blood tubes on ice for a short while in case a doctor wants to ring up and order an extra couple of tests. Some tests can be done this way; some can't and require a fresh sample.

And if there is any chance that she has diabetes in the offing, then perhaps seeking a referral to an endocrinologist is a good idea. But to analyse test results - the pathologist who oversees the report for the blood tests should have the capability. He/she specialises in blood test results (and a lot of other tissue-related analysis). Also, copies of the test results should be sent to the GP. Always. All results. Because the GP should be the spider in the centre of your health care web and if they're not there, who will oversee everything and look at the big picture for you?

It's not fair to put a kid through multiple blood draws (especially fasting draws) if it can be avoided. For someone to goof up like this - absolutely not right. Poor kid. I don't blame you being angry. I'd be furious, and making THEM hold difficult child 3 down for the next test, AND explain to him why it has to be done again. He would tell them in no uncertain terms what he thought of their incompetence. I wouldn't have to say a word!

The ekg shouldn't be too unpleasant for her, unless she has sensitive skin (mother in law does - we carry a bottle of olive oil in the car for her to immediately begin wiping on the areas which had the sticky electrodes). The worst part of the ekg is having to have your chest naked for the technician to stick on the leads. If she's not yet hit the "I'm too modest and shy" stage, tell her to bring a good book to read while the test is happening.

Marg

 

[smallworld]

Marg, I didn't mean for analyzing the results. I meant for treatment. Seroquel may not need to be pulled if Jena's difficult child can get treatment. A psychiatrist can't provide that kind of treatment.

 

[Marguerite]

Ah - then yes, that certainly seems to indicate someone with a good understanding of the interaction of the body's own chemicals. Especially if there are suspicions that diabetes is an increasing risk.

if not an endocrinologist, then possibly a gastroenterologist? Mine is brilliant with areas like this, involving liver and pancreas especially.

But again - you always need the good GP masterminding it all.

Marg

 

[TerryJ2]

I don't know about needing an IEP but you need a margarita!

Good for you!

 

[Steely]

I really always lived under the assumption that lab results were always correct - until I had a difficult child. Then, I realized and learned the huge margin for error.
Crazy. So sorry.

Hugs and peace being sent your way.