Regular blood while on immune suppressants

[dreamintwilight]

I was wondering how often those who are on immune suppressants get blood work done. And what types of blood work are you getting?

Once I started Humira, my GI wanted me to get CBC (complete blood count) and CRP (C-reactive protein) tests every 3 months. At my follow-up last month (right before I went into the hospital for obstruction) he said he wanted me to get CBC and CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel) every month if/when I start Imuran.

So, now I'm wondering if I misremembered and was supposed to get CBC every month. AND did he really mean CRP every 3 months? I finally got copies of my blood results from last month and realized my GP's office only ran CBC and CMP. So, now I don't know if my GP read the order wrong, I read the order wrong, or my GI wrote the order wrong, haha! :ybatty:

So, I'm curious what sorts of labs is everyone having and how frequent are they?

 

[CrohnsHobo]

I have no idea what my gastro orders but I get one about every 6-8 weeks.

 

[Lydia]

I go once a month to get my CBC and liver checked.

 

[Nyx]

When I was on Imuran I went once a week for the first 4 weeks, once every 2 weeks for the next 4 weeks, then once a month. I was supposed to go down to one every 3 months after that, but my insides exploded instead...lol Then I got to do the twice a week thing for the bloodthinners...thank God I'm off them now!! I also have no idea what tests she was running - mostly for liver function I think.

Not sure how helpful this has been...

 

[dreamintwilight]

Thanks everyone. Yeah, I called my GI's office and the nurse said I should be getting monthly CBCs and then CMPs every 3 months when I start Imuran and then my doc will decide based on my results how quickly he wants to taper the blood work. No mention of CRP tests, so perhaps I will ask my GI again when I see him in a couple weeks if he wants that done or I just imagined it.

It's all so confusing. My insurance plan doesn't allow me to get blood work at my GI's office, so I have to do everything at my GP's office which requires me to relay lab orders and info to them. But it gets all confusing with new medications going on and new scripts being handed to me. I can't wait to be on a regular schedule!

 

[kenny]

My GI gave me a sheet to take to a private lab. (The labs just bill the province with the gvt health program here) I did not play much attention to it but my scedual was pretty much the same as Nyx's.

1 per week at four weeks.
2 every second week for 4 more visits
once per month now
re evaluation in Sept.

they only take the one vial

 

[dreamintwilight]

IF you are just getting CBC and CMP, do you have to fast for those tests? My doctor never specifically mentioned it (or indicated doing so on my lab orders), but normally I go early in the morning and don't eat or take my meds before then. Today I'm getting it taken later in the day, so of course I've eaten breakfast and took some of my meds already.

I mean...I'm taking the tests to see if the meds I'm on lower my WBC count too much, so in theory I should be alright taking those medications before my blood draw, right?

I was just curious if any of you were instructed to fast (no food or meds) before your regular blood work. Worst case scenario, I go tomorrow to get my blood drawn.

 

[MapleLeafGirl]

I don't have to fast for mine. I get CBC, CSR, ESR plus all of the liver ones (I can't recall them all, but I want to say ALT, BIL and a couple of more). I get mine monthly.

 

[katiesue1506]

CBC and a liver panel once a month for me... no fasting

 

[Lisa]

I get all kinds of test run every 4 months (every other remicade infusion) - the bloods are usually drawn just before my infusion right at the hospital. Not sure what all I get tested for, except for vitamin D, B, CBC, probably liver function, last time there were 4 vials, I think.......

 

[DustyKat]

Roo was down to bloods every 2 - 3 months but her new GI has pulled her back to monthly again. As far as I know there are no abnormalities as her meds haven't changed so it must be his preference. When I asked her about it she said - he makes me have them monthly. lol.

She doesn't have to fast and she normally has -
FBC - Full Blood count.
UEC's - Urea, Electrolytes, Creatinine - measures kidney function.
LFT's - Liver Function Tests.
CRP - C-Reactive Protein
ESR - Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
Plus her bloods due to the terminal ileum removal.

 

[dreamintwilight]

Thanks for the replies I went in and wasn't even asked if I had fasted. Good to know it's not needed!

 

[belle1999]

I was getting CBCs every two weeks for quite a while. I just recently got changed to once a month. Occasionally he orders something else, but only if he is looking for something specific.

 

[Dunbar]

No fasting, yeah, I need all the food I can get lol cdc,creat,cun,lytos,alt,ast,get,ldit,aig,phar,bil and a lot of these I am guessing as he has a typical chicken scratch. standing order every thursday for the next 3 months. Yipee