Blood test follow up

[Bluey-1]

Thank you all for your help. Results of discussion with doc -

Parathyroid hormone: 10.93 (range 1.5-7.2), higher than range but lower than a year ago apparently (14+). This was a few months before my GCA diagnosis.

Still waiting on results for B12, iron, folate.

A year ago vit D levels and calcium were good, calcium ok now. Plan to retest for Vit D, date booked 21/4, as a bonus will get CRP/ESR done at the same time.

Only symptoms are extreme fatigue. When I told her I walked half an hour daily but can only sustain six consecutive days at most before severe fatigue sets in, she told me to take things easy. Mmmm, reminded me of recent PMRpro advice to someone to include rest days. I know my Duracell bunny days are over but I hadn’t thought I’ve been doing too much.

Once all data is in and reviewed she said she’d write to endocrinology for further advice if needed. Felt like a team approach and she said, ‘we like patients like you’. I turned up with my queries and she went through the results she had on her screen. A bit of a faff with the different blood tests for different things but feel we’re all ‘on it’ now. Thank you all.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

She sounds a keeper! We patients like doctors like her!!!! Tell her from me

[Nextoneplease]

What an excellent and genuine consultation 👍 Thanks for the feedback xx

[SheffieldJane]

It is good to hear about a “ proper” consultation. Well done on your part!

[Bluey-1 in reply to SheffieldJane]

…and thanks to all here who hold our hands metaphorically so we go armed with the info needed!

[Sophiestree]

Are you having a scan for the parathyroid?They sent me for two, 2ndc was a nuclear one, did to blood results. But my calcium was also high at 3.2

Showed a (benign) tumour on one of the glands.

[Bluey-1 in reply to Sophiestree]

We’re waiting for all bloods to be returned before next steps. What is a nuclear scan? Sounds ominous!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bluey-1]

Just a scan that uses a marker which in this case has a small amount of a radioactive substance added and the scanner picks up where it is. This description relates to their use for cancer but that isn't the only thing they are used for and they are used to show how an organ is functioning.

cancer.org/treatment/unders....

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

The tracer is out of your system very quickly and isn't dangerous. The PET-CT scan we talk about on here is one and uses labelled glucose.