Annual check up!!

Hi Everyone,

Zainab is due for her annual tests,her doctor suggested following tests,

1-CBC
2-ferritin (done every three months )
3-hepatitus c antibodies
4-urine detailed report
5-creatinine
6-liver function test
7-alkaline phosphate
8-calcium,magnesium,phosphorus
9-TSH

Along with an eye check up and echo,and as MRI is quite expensive,i am planning to do an ultrasound just to know the size of her spleen.Do you think anything else can be added?
Does that make any difference if these tests are done when her hb is low,i mean when we go for cross matching,do you think it would effect the results in anyway?

Thanks for your time,

ZAINI.

Hi Zaini,

These tests are regardless of Hb. These are the usual test that are prescribed as a routine check up.

Well, I had also been prescribed T4 Hormone test. Maybe that is not required for Zainab's age and TSH should be enough.

Hi Zaini,

Most of the standard tests are represented here, but as Sajid mentioned, T4 is often done, as is PTH (Parathyroid Hormone). Vitamin D, zinc, copper, and selenium are also routinely tested. In our documents section you will find a couple very relevant documents pertaining to comprehensive care and what is included. I would suggest all parents and patients read these documents and if possible, make sure your doctor has a copy.

http://www.thalassemiapatientsandfriends.com/index.php?topic=1762.0

http://www.thalassemiapatientsandfriends.com/index.php?topic=1587.0

We have Dr Vichinsky to thank for developing these guidelines.

PTH was also included. Sorry I missed it out.

Thanks Andy

Thanks Andy and Sajid,

For your input,we did these tests yesterday and i'll post the results here tomorrow hopefully,regarding other tests,i think i'll wait a month or so as tests are very costly. i hope everything comes back normal.

ZAINI.

Hello everyone,

Well, here are the results of Zainab's blood tests mentioned above,

TEST               RESULT                    NORMAL RANGES

TSH                5.73ulU/ml                  0.6------6.3    (for 4 months to 15 years)
Ferritin             1232 ng/ml
Hepatitus C
Antibody           non reactive (0.13)

Magnesium         2.2 mg/dl                  1.9-2.5
Calcium              9.5 mg/dl                  8.6-10.5
Phosphorus        5.4 mg/dl                  4.0-6.3

Serum creatinine  0.3 mg/dl                 0.65-1.1

LFT
S.Total bilirubin   0.9 mg/dl                  0.0-1.0
S.Direct bilirubin  0.1 mg/dl                  0-0.15
S.Indirect bilirubin 0.8 mg/dl                0.1-0.95
GAMMA GT          19IU/L                    1-37
SGPT(ALT)          20IU/L                    3-33
Alkaline phosphatase 158 I.U/L             97-278

Now i think every thing seems to be normal Alhumdulillah,now we'll go for echo and eye checkup,hope everything will be ok there too.

ZAINI.
   

Hi Zaini,

Zainab is doing quite well and it's nice to see her ferritin low. I like to think IP6 has made some difference supplementing her chelation. Zaini, you're doing great keeping her healthy. 

Don't worry about the echo and eye. Insha Allah they will be normal as well

You are doing a good job Zaini.

Zaini,

The results look great (thank god) - you are doing a wonderful job Zaini.  The rest of the results will be great too.  Best of luck.

Sharmin

Thanks pals,

For your encouraging words,it's all by the grace of ALLAH Almighty,HE gave me the courage to fight it.

And also i give a lot of credit to you friends,especially Andy,i believe IP6 and wheat grass are working inside her body making her stay well.

ZAINI.

 

Zaini,
It is nice to see Zainab's results.I wish her all the best for the future.
Sah.

Zaini, you are doing an excellent job

manal

Thanks sah and Manal 

ZAINI.

hi Zaini,

I found this from an article.  It is about the check up to be made.  I hope this is helpful:

For individuals with thalassemia major, follow-up to monitor the effectiveness of transfusion therapy and chelation therapy and their side effects includes the following:

    *

      Physical examination every month by a physician familiar with the affected individual and the disease
    *

      Assessment of liver function tests (serum concentration of ALT) every two months
    *

      Determination of serum ferritin concentration every three months
    *

      Assessment of growth and development every six months
    *

      Annual
          o

            Ophthalmologic and audiologic examinations
          o

            Complete cardiac evaluation, and evaluation of thyroid, endocrine pancreas, parathyroid, adrenal, and pituitary function
          o

            Liver ultrasound evaluation and determination of serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration in adults with hepatitis C and iron overload for early detection of hepatocarcinoma
          o

            Bone densitometry to assess for osteoporosis in the adult
    *

      Regular gallbladder echography for early detection of cholelithiasis [Galanello et al 2001], particularly in individuals with the Gilbert syndrome genotype [i.e., presence of the (TA)7/(TA)7 motif in the promoter of the UGT1A gene]