Abnormal Bloodwork??

carrie cormac <[email hidden]> quoth:

Quoted message said:

I really like my doctor - I've been going to her for 8 years and would like
to stay with her. I don't want to go against doctor's orders, but I feel
like it wasn't fair to give me a "pop" blood test when I'm sick and then
turn around and condemn the diet, which feels healthier to me. Honestly, I
thought I would get a "That's wonderful!" from her. The woman in her
office did ask me how much weight I lost and when I told her 8 pounds I
swear I heard a faint "tsk." Some people won't accept it no matter what.

I suspect she doesn't know anything factual about Atkins or low-carbing
and is following what she's heard from the (ill-informed) mass media.
To not take into account the fact that you were SICK (duh!) is ridiculous.

Is there any way you can educate her? In the interim, I'd ignore the
advice she gives you as uninformed opinion.

Oh, and get that lab work done again when you're not sick!

Priscilla

FOB <[email hidden]> quoth:

Quoted message said:

My doctor is skeptical, too, about low carb, she is big on fruit. However,
when I first started going to her several years ago I made it clear that I
didn't much like doctors and while I was willing to listen to her advice I
was not going to "follow orders" but would make my own decisions. I have
declined to have a lot of tests she has recommended and may ultimately die
sooner because of it, but it's my choice and I am willing to accept those
consequences. One reason I chose a woman doctor was because I find them
generally a little less dictatorial than men. This may be changing with the
younger generation, my experience with male doctors was a number of years
ago.

I'm not finding that gender is where the dividing line is between doctors
I can work with and those I can't. I need a doctor to recognize that my
health is a project, and I am the project leader. I bring in consultants,
and have some pretty much permanently on the team, but it's my project.
I'm having to fire my (female) PCP and go to another one (male) who, I am
told, will respect my position. My male endocrinologist told me that his
wife, an internist, was NOT the doctor for me precisely because she is too
directive for me.

Priscilla

carrie cormac <[email hidden]> quoth:

Quoted message said:

Pen, thanks so much for the reply. I've been forgetting the multi-vitamin
some days. I'll check the potassium levels and make sure it's high enough.

Salt substitute can be good for that, too.

Quoted message said:

I don't feel like I have low blood sugar, although I did feel like ass that
day. I think I'm going to ask for another test in a couple of weeks. Take
my vitamins, add some more carbs and try again.

Excellent plan, IMO.

Priscilla

Priscilla H Ballou <[email hidden]> quoth:

Quoted message said:

carrie cormac <[email hidden]> quoth:

Quoted message said:

I don't feel like I have low blood sugar, although I did feel like ass that
day. I think I'm going to ask for another test in a couple of weeks. Take
my vitamins, add some more carbs and try again.

Quoted message said:

Excellent plan, IMO.

Sorry, I missed the "add some more carbs." Why would you do that?

Priscilla

carrie cormac said:

I have been doing Atkins for five weeks

The 2002 book says to test before starting and to test next after 3
months. This is a mistake in the new edition. All previous editions
specified 6 months for the second test. Tests earlier than 6 months
often have increased numbers and that's to be expected.

Quoted message said:

I mentioned to my doctor in my appointment last week that I was
doing Atkins and she gave me a worried look, and wanted to do
blood work.

Translation - Your doctor hasn't read the book and is not current
in the field. Your choice - begin a program of eduction or try a
replacement physician who stays current and who reads the book.

Quoted message said:

the doc says I should quit Atkins immediately.

Whatever. Maybe she can't read as opposed to won't read? An
outside observer can't tell can't from won't. Nah, no way she
could have gotten licensed being illiterate. Must be won't
read.

Quoted message said:

Needless to say I sat there freaking out

Yup. The realization that, [censored], you have more clue than your
doctor. It's an unsettling experience.

Quoted message said:

Sodium: 134 mEg/L (Normal is 136-145 mEg/L)

So? You haven't been avoiding salt, right? Salt avoidance
does not cause illness but it also isn't part of Atkins.

Quoted message said:

CO2: 19 mEg/L (Normal is 22-31 mEg/L)

So your lungs are working better than the average person.
Did they attempt to explain to you what the problem with
superior lung function was?

Quoted message said:

Glucose: 53 mg/dL (Normal is 64-110 mg/dL)

Should not be that low. Week 5. This week's carb quota
is: 20, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40. There it is 40. You should
be at 40. Have you moved on to OWL on schedule to follow
the core Atkins 4-phase process? Do so now.

Quoted message said:

Blood Urea Nitrogen: 6 mg/dL (Normal is 7-18 mg/dL)

So your kidneys are working better than the average person.
Did they attempt to explain to you what the problem with
superior kidney function was?

Quoted message said:

Should I be worried

Only about your doctor not keeping current.

Quoted message said:

and has anyone else been told their blood is out of whack?

Various ways, sure. It's why so many editions of the book
specified a 6 month wait for it all to settle down.

Interesting that you didn't get a panicked call about
cholesterol. That's the usual one. These ones where *way*
more fun to discuss!

Quoted message said:

had not had much of an appetite

That's the low blood sugar.

Quoted message said:

Should I demand a retest?

No, you sohuld point out that the book specifies month 6 and
ask why this mistake was made. As in does it show a pattern
of not keeping up in other parts of the medical field.

Quoted message said:

I don't think I can convince her of the benefits of low carb

Probably not if she called about such ridiculous stuff.
Superior lung and kidney function and it's a problem? Sure
thing doc.

Quoted message said:

I feel great on it

check. That says a lot more than some idiot on the phone
telling you that superior lung and kidney function is bad, right?

Priscilla H Ballou said:

Is there any way you can educate her? In the interim, I'd ignore the
advice she gives you as uninformed opinion.

My doctor has expressed an interest in the Bernstein plan. I'm going to
give her my extra copy of the older book (thank you, Priscilla), so she can
get a better idea of what it's all about. I'll also let her know that
there is a revised version which is more up-to-date.

Carol
--
227/211/150 (Thursdays)
Fasting BG: 136 (not really fasting - up all night munching Tums)
Bernstein Diabetes Solution 5/25/2004
Diabetes Dx 5/15/2001
http://photos.yahoo.com/carol_arie

the real question is what else besides having you "quit" LC
is your doctor doing to track down the possible reasons for
your strange Bloodwork? - blindly stating the LC thing
is killing your kidneys without any follow up is a red flag
about your doctor - not that he/she said to stop the diet -

Sodium: 134 mEg/L (Normal is 136-145 mEg/L)
CO2: 19 mEg/L (Normal is 22-31 mEg/L)
Glucose: 53 mg/dL (Normal is 64-110 mg/dL)
Blood Urea Nitrogen: 6 mg/dL (Normal is 7-18 mg/dL)

Here is my evaluation. I am not a doctor but a floor nurse on a medical
surgical unit.
I assume since you have started this diet you have increased your water
intake and ketosis making you urinate frequently.
This is the reason your sodium is slightly low. What we do in the hospital
is put people on a fluid restriction and it usually comes right up BUT you
are on a low carb diet so don't stop drinking water just increase you sodium
intake a little bit.
Usually Co2 which is carbon dioxide shows lung function, Low is better than
high anyways.

Glucose is low but if you are not symptomatic ie:dizzy diapheretic (sweaty
clammy) you are probably fine. Remember this a low carb diet not no carb
diet. I don't see as if this has much to do with kidney function.
Blood nitrogen urea- I have copied something from another page for you. Low
BUN does not say you kidneys are shutting down.
..An assessment of the BUN is used as a gross index of glomerular function.
Because the BUN is affected by the patient's hydration status, it is a less
sensitive indicator of declining renal function than a creatinine clearance
test. A BUN of over 100 mg/dl is a panic value.
So low is much better than High BUN.
As a fellow dieter I would say find a new doctor!
Jennifer S.
206/165/135

TasTyMorsL said:

the real question is what else besides having you "quit" LC
is your doctor doing to track down the possible reasons for
your strange Bloodwork?

Right. What's the plan? None? Uh, okay, next doc.

Quoted message said:

blindly stating the LC thing is killing your kidneys

Is one of the single easiest ways to qualify a doctor as
completely unqualified on the entire topic. The AMA tried
that trick on Dr Atkins decades ago. His answer was simple:
Show him one case of someone with no prior kidney damage,
who followed the directions of his process, who acquired
kidney damage as a result of following those directions.
Three decades later he slipped on the ice and died from a
broken skull, *still* waiting for the AMA to name even ONE
name.

Mention of kidneys in response to Atkins is as easier an
incompetence detector as not being able to tell dietary
ketosis from ketoacidosis. One mention of kidneys when
hearing the word Atkins, and you can be certain that doctor
is utterly clueless about all topics nutritional.

Quoted message said:

without any follow up is a red flag about your doctor

And the red flag is blinking and beeping and shouting
Danger Will Robinson. Dr Smith from Lost in Space knows
more nutrition.

Quoted message said:

not that he/she said to stop the diet -

Funny thing that!

Ignoramus7404 said:

In article said:

Ignoramus7404 said:

In article <[email hidden]>, jbuch wrote:

>I suggest another doctor.
>
>I would also suggest that you file a report with your local agency that
>governs the medical license of your doctor.
>
>The treatment you were given is quite unprofessional.

What makes you think so?

i

Why should your question be considered useful?

Well, I am interested to know why the treatment should be considered
unprofessional. I see abnormal blood tests, and, not knowing enough,
do not know whether these tests warrant an alarm by the doctor.

You say that treatment was unprofessional, therefore, I assume, you
know why the doctor should not be alarmed.

To ASSUME is to make an ASS out of U and ME.......

Jim

I want you to share why, in

Quoted message said:

your opinion, the abnormal blood tests are of no concern or why they
do not warrant the doctor to make the advice that he made.

I have no special knowledge about these tests and want to learn
something new.

i

--
................................

Keepsake gift for young girls.
Unique and personal one-of-a-kind.
Builds strong minds 12 ways.
Guaranteed satisfaction
- courteous money back
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http://www.alicebook.com

Now you start the nasty name calling. [unprofessional behavior]

Iggy said:

So, you do not know why the doctor should not be alarmed, in other
words, you know nothing and are just blowing air.

And clever editing of text reply..... see below.

Shame on you.

Hope that you learn the difference between unprofessional behavior and
incomepetent knowledge.

You are trying to convert the term "Unprofessional behavior" into a
knowledge thing.

Ignoramus11472 said:

In article said:

Ignoramus7404 said:

In article <[email hidden]>, jbuch wrote:

>Ignoramus7404 wrote:
>
>
>
>>In article <[email hidden]>, jbuch wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>I suggest another doctor.
>>>
>>>I would also suggest that you file a report with your local agency that
>>>governs the medical license of your doctor.
>>>
>>>The treatment you were given is quite unprofessional.
>>
>>
>>What makes you think so?
>>
>>i
>
>Why should your question be considered useful?

Well, I am interested to know why the treatment should be considered
unprofessional. I see abnormal blood tests, and, not knowing enough,
do not know whether these tests warrant an alarm by the doctor.

You say that treatment was unprofessional, therefore, I assume, you
know why the doctor should not be alarmed.

Undo the Unprofessional Snip

To ASSUME is to make an ASS out of U andME.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So, you do not know why the doctor should not be alarmed, in other
words, you know nothing and are just blowing air.

i

Quoted message said:

Jim

I want you to share why, in

Quoted message said:

your opinion, the abnormal blood tests are of no concern or why they
do not warrant the doctor to make the advice that he made.

I have no special knowledge about these tests and want to learn
something new.

i

--
................................

Keepsake gift for young girls.
Unique and personal one-of-a-kind.
Builds strong minds 12 ways.
Guaranteed satisfaction
- courteous money back
- keep bonus gifts

http://www.alicebook.com

For all they or you know, your readings before starting Atkins were worse
and are getting better. I would give it a month and then retest. Maybe the
results will be better? I am not an expert on bloodwork but I have read
numerous times that after low carbing, people have experienced better
results in their bloodwork. Like you said, you are not going to die in a
month from staying on Atkins, so why not try and prove their negativity
wrong? I would be willing to bet that it will only get better.
Good luck and hugs,

Tonya
www.lowcarbcrew.com

"carrie cormac" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi folks,

This is my first post, but I've been lurking for several weeks. I've read
discussions about blood sugar, etc., and I am hoping someone has some
advice. I have been doing Atkins for five weeks, and have lost 8 pounds.

I

Quoted message said:

feel great, love the diet, yada yada yada. I'm 34, female, 5'5, and have
gone from 164 to 156 pounds. I exercise and am in great health otherwise
(so I thought).

I mentioned to my doctor in my appointment last week that I was doing

Atkins

Quoted message said:

and she gave me a worried look, and wanted to do blood work. This morning

I

Quoted message said:

got a frantic call from a woman in the doctor's office telling me that my
blood results were "very abnormal" and the doc says I should quit Atkins
immediately. She said I have low sodium, low CO2, low glucose, and low
blood urea nitrogen, although she couldn't tell me what the implications
were. She said the doctor says to quit Atkins now because I am damaging

my

Quoted message said:

kidneys.

Needless to say I sat there freaking out, so I called back and got the
actual lab results faxed to me. They are not *that* low - but 4 of the 9
things tested for are below the normal range.

Sodium: 134 mEg/L (Normal is 136-145 mEg/L)
CO2: 19 mEg/L (Normal is 22-31 mEg/L)
Glucose: 53 mg/dL (Normal is 64-110 mg/dL)
Blood Urea Nitrogen: 6 mg/dL (Normal is 7-18 mg/dL)

Are these normal drops for someone doing the Atkins diet - IOW, is this

just

Quoted message said:

from being in a state of ketosis? Should I be worried, and has anyone

else

Quoted message said:

been told their blood is out of whack? The day I took the test (at 5:00

pm)

Quoted message said:

I had been sick for a few days (hence the doctor's visit), had not had

much

Quoted message said:

of an appetite, and taking allergy medicine. Should I demand a retest?

I

Quoted message said:

don't think I can convince her of the benefits of low carb, but maybe I

can

Quoted message said:

convince her I won't keel over dead tomorrow from it, which is the
implication her assistant left me with.

I have gotten a lot from just reading this forum, just hoping someone who
knows a little bit about blood work can give me some advice or even a "me
too." I really don't want to quit the diet because I love it, I feel

great

Quoted message said:

on it, and I'm willing to modify if I need to. Thanks in advance.

miss carrie

"Doug Freyburger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

TasTyMorsL said:

the real question is what else besides having you "quit" LC
is your doctor doing to track down the possible reasons for
your strange Bloodwork?

Right. What's the plan? None? Uh, okay, next doc.

Quoted message said:

blindly stating the LC thing is killing your kidneys

Is one of the single easiest ways to qualify a doctor as
completely unqualified on the entire topic. The AMA tried
that trick on Dr Atkins decades ago. His answer was simple:
Show him one case of someone with no prior kidney damage,
who followed the directions of his process, who acquired
kidney damage as a result of following those directions.
Three decades later he slipped on the ice and died from a
broken skull, *still* waiting for the AMA to name even ONE
name.

Mention of kidneys in response to Atkins is as easier an
incompetence detector as not being able to tell dietary
ketosis from ketoacidosis. One mention of kidneys when
hearing the word Atkins, and you can be certain that doctor
is utterly clueless about all topics nutritional.

Quoted message said:

without any follow up is a red flag about your doctor

And the red flag is blinking and beeping and shouting
Danger Will Robinson. Dr Smith from Lost in Space knows
more nutrition.

Quoted message said:

not that he/she said to stop the diet -

Funny thing that!

You guys are all so right. I doubt if she would have tested my blood had I
told her I lived on junk food. It really speaks to the misgivings about
Atkins / LC. I used to think it was a stupid thing to do too - that people
doing LC were killing themselves and all going to die of heart attacks. And
nobody could have convinced me otherwise until I read the book and tried it
myself. So I'm not going to waste my breath trying to convince anyone else.

I am still feeling great, and the responses I've gotten from the group have
really calmed my nerves on these blood test results. I appreciate the
feedback more than you can know!

carrie