Lab frequency

[Hege]

So how often do you guys go an get your labs done?
I had a check-up with my rheumy monday last week and going back mid september. She told me to go and get my labs done at my GPs office, but not how often I should go. Called my GPs office, but couldn't get an appointment with him untill 31. aug...

[Treesie]

For the first couple years I had weekly labs (CBC, urine sample, serum creatinine), but my main Dr is a nephrologist and was closely monitoring my kidney function (which is doing pretty well these days). Now I have same tests once a month. My Dr was once described to me by an EMT who knows her as a "control freak.". True...but she's my control freak and a great Dr who treats me as a partner!

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[drz]

So how often do you guys go an get your labs done?
I had a check-up with my rheumy monday last week and going back mid september. She told me to go and get my labs done at my GPs office, but not how often I should go. Called my GPs office, but couldn't get an appointment with him untill 31. aug...

That depends upon where you are at with your treatment. At the beginning it was very frequent. Once i reached a drug induced remission it was less often. In ICU during crisis care it was daily. At the other extreme it is every month or two depending on how I feel I am doing. Any new symptoms or concerns require getting my labs ASAP since one can lose their kidney function in few days and this is a concern for me. Right now I am going every six weeks but may cut back to every other month if I remain is a stable drug induced remission. Urine dip stick tests are weekly though to monitor kidney function.

[Hege]

That depends upon where you are at with your treatment.

Was diagnosed in May. Had two infusions of RTX and three with CYC - last one was June 10th. Visit to neph july 12th and kidneys are now better - stage 2 renal failure (was stage 3). Still not sure if I'm comfortable waiting a 1,5 month until I have my blood drawn again

[Treesie]

Seem a long time to go between tests, especially considering your recent diagnosis. Glad you were able to get Rituxan

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[Hege]

Seem a long time to go between tests, especially considering your recent diagnosis.

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That's what I thought. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that I should have my labs done every other week or so for the first three months.. Gah. All this stuff, it's driving my nuts!

[drz]

That's what I thought. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that I should have my labs done every other week or so for the first three months.. Gah. All this stuff, it's driving my nuts!

Called the kidney doctor and ask when you should have labs done again to monitor your kidney function. They can then order them. i get copies of my labs and record them. Plus you can usually access them on MyChart or or some online record for the clinic.

[Jaha]

The first 2-3 yrs I had them every week, standing orders, from the Wegs specialist, done at a local lab. I know have them once a month, since being in drug induced remission and they are still ordered by the Wegs specialist, but drawn locally.

[JeanMarie]

Depends on what's going on. When I was in active treatment (ex. Rituxan) every week or 2. Now, in remission, every 2 mo.

[Debbie C]

I'm like Jaha...I have standing orders to have them done every month or as needed. But I do not have any kidney issues and have not gone through what you have. Why don't you call your dr. and explain you are not comfortable in waiting and maybe he will fax orders to a lab for you.

[Middlesista]

Initially blood drawn every 2 weeks- was able to get down to once a month and prn with any symptoms. My veins are paying the price. It is esp important to stay on top of renal function with urine tests and BUN and Creat testing. It seems that it depends on your sx, meds and medical team. Never hesitate to request lab work if you are concerned and have sx - plus with the meds we take it is vital to stay on top of things.

[rebekah]

Like others have said, if you are recently diagnosed I would get blood work weekly. Now that I have wegs under control (for the most part) I get blood work once a month. If I ever start not feeling well I contact my doctor and will get blood work earlier than scheduled to see what my numbers are. It depends on how you are feeling and where you are in the diagnosis and treatment, but with your kidney involvement (glad to hear it's improved some) I'd probably get blood work sooner than the month and a half you're currently waiting. The kidneys aren't something to mess around with... it's important to make sure blood work is done regularly to monitor your kidneys.

[drz]

Like others have said, if you are recently diagnosed I would get blood work weekly. Now that I have wegs under control (for the most part) I get blood work once a month. If I ever start not feeling well I contact my doctor and will get blood work earlier than scheduled to see what my numbers are. It depends on how you are feeling and where you are in the diagnosis and treatment, but with your kidney involvement (glad to hear it's improved some) I'd probably get blood work sooner than the month and a half you're currently waiting. The kidneys aren't something to mess around with... it's important to make sure blood work is done regularly to monitor your kidneys.

And a routine urinalysis helps monitor kidneys. Blood in urine was my first clue of Wegs.

[rebekah]

Yes! I can't believe I left that out. I also use a urine test strip once a week to stay on top of things and check my urine between my routine urinalysis done at the doctor's office. The strips are inexpensive and can be purchased at any drug store or Amazon.

[Alias]

definitely depends on the severity and particular features of your disease. (I have "non-severe" gpa, meaning no vital organ involvement. I had monthly labs for over two years. now I am down to every three months and in drug remission.) this is a question that your doctor needs to answer.