Blood Test Failure

[mommysboy]

I went to the doctors for a long overdue routine check up and described all the minor and not so minor symptoms I have at times, these variously include severe sinus pain at times, stomach upsets more than usual, stomach cramps after extreme exercise, heat exhaustion after exercise, and general IBS symptoms, and what I feel is an alcohol intolerance, and general inflammation. The worst symptoms I have can be extreme vomiting after drinking too much for instance, to the point where I may be sick frequently and end up dry heaving or bringing up bile.

Despite all this believe it or not I honestly feel really healthy and my running at 50 is really pleasing, I even did 5 shuttle sprints after my jog. Honestly, not in denial , this is quite puzzling for me. I am 6' and 74kilos and obviously fit, and often feel great.

My blood pressure checked out fine. But because of the symptoms my doctor wanted a full blood check, an MOT has he called it and mentioned a diabetes check in particular.

As well as the booze I can drink up to 15-20 cups of tea a day and the doctor has told me to cut down adding that this is the cause of some of my problems , or is a strong contributor.

The nurse phoned me today (just 24 hours after test) and has asked me to return for another test to rule out diabetes and I have to fast for 16 hours before.

I guess then that I have failed some initial broad indicator test and that in some way I have raised blood sugar levels.

Can anyone shed light from what I have written. Would having consumed a largish amount of alcohol the night before the test have any effect on the first test.?

[FBN]

Difficult to say without knowing which specific test they are referring to..Large amount of alcohol prior to a panel of tests may affect several..It would have a direct effect on the blood glucose level (low) but that depends on time lapse between last drink and the test. Being "hung over" is partly due to a low blood sugar..

[mommysboy]

Difficult to say without knowing which specific test they are referring to..Large amount of alcohol prior to a panel of tests may affect several..It would have a direct effect on the blood glucose level (low) but that depends on time lapse between last drink and the test. Being "hung over" is partly due to a low blood sugar..

The nurse explained that the second test is to rule out diabetes and and that it is common procedure as the initial general glucose test is prone to be effected by food consumption.

The test was a 16 hour fasting test. The nurse drew a blood sample. I was informed (4 days ago) if there was any need I would be contacted.

Last time they contacted me within 24 hours for the retest so I am hoping that no news is good news.

But tests you know? I am looking more closely at my life style and indeed the bigger problem I have is stomach/ intestinal problems.

And I am wondering whether raised blood sugar could explain IBS like symptoms.?!

[kurnell]

How do you jog while drinking tea?

[bkkmick]

Possibly a HBA1C test. This measures blood glucose over a longer period of time. This would eliminate any spike there might have been in your initial blood test.

Edited October 8, 2011 by bkkmick

[pauleddy]

Yes, it may be a GTT (Glucose Tolerance test). What happens is that, rather than a one off test after fasting, you are given glucose and then you are tested several times the same day, or morning (blood test) to see how well the body has dealt with the glucose. So, really like a fine tuning of a normal blood glucose test.

The night before any glucose test you shouldn't go crazy. Alcohol could give a false reading. Beer has a lot of carbs. Wine less so. Anyway, ethanol itself can play around with blood sugar, whether the drink is sweet or not sweet.

All these early morning glucose tests require you to starve for 8-10 hours. You can drink a bit of water. Fasting blood glucose, the single early test, shows how much glucose is circulating when the body has had nothing to 'eat'. In normal people, the body's own insulin will have dealt with sugars in the food taken the day before, and the reading will be 'normal'. In diabetics, this doesn't happen so well, and here will still be a high reading even though you starved for 8 hours.

There are overall 2 types of diabetes (although some variations exist within the types, in terms of onset, severity, relationship with other metabolic factors etc). Type 1's develop diabetes in their teens, or younger, and need insulin forever. Type 2's develop a milder form during middle age, and this form is usually linked to other metabolic problems like being fat, drinking, poor diet, chips and Mars Bars. Type 2 can be controlled by diet and/or tablets. Diabetes must be controlled. Severe forms can rapidly lead to comas (from having too much sugar in the blood, or having too much insulin/burning up sugars too quickly). All forms have long-term effects on eyes, kidneys, circulation etc

Obesity is now a huge problem, and adds to more people getting diabetes.

We are not meant to be fat. We were hunter/gatherers and also had to run away from dinosaurs. A few years ago, in a test, one group of rats was kept slim and active by feeding them on grains and berries. The second group was fed burgers etc. The 'slim' group lived longer and developed far fewer problems. It is common sense. You do not see many fat people living well into their 80's.

Eddy

[Ijustwannateach]

^Well, our little squirrel-like ancestor creatures ran away from dinosaurs, anyway... we came around about 65my later... otherwise agree with your description of what we were meant to be entirely!

To add to your post, many animal experiments (and at least a few human ones now) are showing great results with longevity based on a low calorie diet.

OP, if you can't get by for one night without any alcohol (which definitely WILL affect your test), maybe this is a sign of something you should worry about? Perhaps the alcohol is not the symptom, but the cause of many of these problems? It is a great immune system depressant, and in great quantities (something you yourself admit you are consuming) a poison.

But do go ahead and get checked for diabetes, too. Make sure you are discussing with the doctor your drinking habits.

[kkerry]

15-20 cups of tea a day... unless decaffeinated then seems like you would be getting an large daily hit of caffeine, something to be avoided if you have IBS.

[mommysboy]

Thanks for all the interest and advice.

It does strike me above all else that my diet is wrong and the alcohol consumption likewise. Ordinarily in Bangkok I do not now drink at all on account of the heat, the wine being so cra* and expensive to boot. But yes I have relapsed and that is a problem I guess. My family and especially friends are big drinkers and it's difficult to say no. Still I'm back in BKK on Wednesday and then little or no alcohol, and I'm embarking on a change of diet, one which will see far less refined sugar, less fat, good carbs, and plenty of greens. I've reduced tea down to 4-5 cups a day. And I'll be looking to drink fresh water as standard.

Whether or not I am a bit glucose intolerant as I suspect , prediabetic, or diabetic, it really is a matter of just common sense now that I get my habits in order, especially as I want to get super fit for soccer.

It's 6 days on from the test, the instructions were don't call us we'll call you if.... I guess then the test was negative, but I think I will repeat it in BKK as I would prefer to see results.

[deejah]

i have had blood tests/panels

at clinics in thailand

and they failed to tell me to fast

and i forgot myself

perhaps it is not always necessary

when and why is it necessary?

and what tests dont require it

i am assuming most tests dont require it

in the case of OP

sounds like someone is doing something right

[Sheryl]

It is necessary to fast before glucose and lipids (cholesterol, triglyceride) measurements .

As these are standard parts of any overall check-up, you should always fast before hand. Doesn't have to be 16 hours but should be nothing past midnight the night before.

You are wasting your money to have blood panels done without fasting.

e\Exceptions would be things like a complete blood count or antibody-based tests like HIV.

[partington]

We are not meant to be fat. We were hunter/gatherers and also had to run away from dinosaurs.

Eddy

Hee hee hee. Just read this and finally able to pick myself up off the floor. I do hope this was meant to be funny.

Or are you a creationist?

Dinosaurs went extinct approximately 60 million years before humans arrived.

[deejah]

well maybe someone ate those red and white mushrooms

[meatboy]

i have my blood tested every 4-6weeks,ptt and inr never eaten anything in the morning of the test,i know i must avoid cranberry,grapefruit,but yesterday my ptt went off the scale 120+ normally 25-40.being concerned as this has never happened before i looked up thromboplastin time as i am on warfarin for life,this is the time it takes for your blood to clot,this is what i discovered ascorbic acid can send your ptt test haywire,the night before the test i had 3 oranges and a glass of grape juice,then half an hour before the test a bottle of concentrated orange all full of acid,i hope this is the reason so i have to go back for another test saturday.sheryl can you throw any light on this.

[Sheryl]

I don;t think the juices could account for this much of a rise, I think either it was a lab error or your medication dosage needs adjustment

[meatboy]

I don;t think the juices could account for this much of a rise, I think either it was a lab error or your medication dosage needs adjustment

thanks sheryl as all my tests the last 3years have been good,no change of medication,no feeling unwell it maywell be a lab error.

[meatboy]

I don;t think the juices could account for this much of a rise, I think either it was a lab error or your medication dosage needs adjustment

thanks sheryl as all my tests the last 3years have been good,no change of medication,no feeling unwell it maywell be a lab error.

bang on sheryl lab error,good today ptt 27.6 inr 2.2,what convinced me a lab.er.tech.said hold up your arm as blood will run down it,told him that did not happen last time or will happen this time.[still had to pay]