Blood work, how often?

Acorn · 04-28-2005, 04:10 PM

Newbie here via the kindness of someone off another message board where I vented last evening about the medical work being done for my daughter who has tentative PCOS.

She was seen by a top notch nurse mid-wife at a large practice last October who ran blood test, ordered an US and did a work up on her for PCOS. She felt certain my daughter had it due to all the other issues and characteristics she had. The NM has been on a medical leave of absence since Dec so dear daughter just had the followup visit yesterday, instead of Feb. No blood work was drawn by this new NM, a lesser one by certification standards. Over the phone I inquired about the absense of blood work since dear daughter has insulin problems. She said the blood work could be checked in Oct at her annual visit or every couple years. Huh? Shouldn't it be checked to see if the meds are working at all?

Anyway, long story short, a Dr. friend told me last evening to get dear daughter (age 20) to a Dr. and not a nurse midwife. Via a network of girlfriends I located a Dr. who will see daughter in two weeks. I'm in the process of having her medical records transfered over. The current practice said to allow 30 days for this. BS, our appt is in two weeks.

So, in the case of a tentative PCOS diagnosis after a complete physical exam, lab work, US, etc., would it be best to have new blood work drawn to learn if the medications are working before a calander year goes by? I'm trying to prep for our new Doc.

In advance, thank you all for your help and opinons.

Citrine · 04-30-2005, 01:43 AM

I would say you are on the right track. I think protocol for testing after being put on Met is 6 months later lab work is redone. I know I need to get mine reworked, just haven't gotten around to it. Not good! I've been on Met for well over a year without having any testing redone. I guess I better make that appointment!
Jean

cec414 · 04-30-2005, 02:01 AM

I get my blood work drawn every six months, unless there is a problem or the doctor wants to check something specifically and we'll make a special appointment in six weeks to check up with the bloodwork and again if needed. In my opinion it would be a good idea to keep a consistent check on your daughter's hormones, not every few years, since a lot of things can change over the course of time. This way if the meds need to be adjusted, combined with other meds, or if your daughter needs any other evals, it can be detected sooner than later. I would highly recommend seeing both an endocrinologist(they deal in the hormones and biochemical aspects of PCOS) and an gynecologist to deal with the reproductive aspects of PCOS since it's important to make sure the lining of the endometrium does not build up too much, and it should be cleared at least 4 times a year which may require induction if she doesn't get her period on her own. Hope this helps, and feel free to ask some questions if you have any