Blood Draws

Marcie - posted on 03/25/2010

My sons blood is scheduled to be drawn evey 3 months. However, it's more than that. If he hits a growth spurt, his face gets puffy or any other signs, we get his blood drawn, just to make sure the meds are still working. The Dr calls me as much as the nurses do. I have the lab results sent to my family dr & the specialist. Both offices usually call me. I have given them both permission to leave it on my voicemail, if I can't answer.

Stacey - posted on 04/17/2009

I've had to paediatricians for my 2 with CH they are both very good, both would ask me to go and get bloods the day before our appoinment and we'd go over the results together the next day, and if i need bloods done between visits, the doc calls me at work with the results the next day whether they need dose adjustment or not.

Wendy - posted on 01/24/2009

here in the uk my daughter gets her bloods done every 6 months then we have to wait 2 weeks for the results through the post and on the food side of it ive never been told to avoid foods shes now nearly 7 and it scares me how much ive done wrong through lack of information i got none when she was diagnosed just to give her meds an treat her like my olther kids

Tammie - posted on 01/23/2009

Thanks for the advice.  As for the soy issue, we give the meds in the morning.  We were always told to avoid soy and any foods for about an hour after giving the meds because it can mess up the absorption of the synthroid.  We went through a period where I could not get the meds into him with out putting it in food.  We would hide it in applesauce, hash browns, etc, just to get it into him.  I'll admitt that I don't wait the full hour most mornings, but we stick to hash browns, yogurt, bacon and fruits for breakfast now.  It has been working out will for us.

Lauren - posted on 01/23/2009

I have a question for the moms that have older children.  I met with a nutritionist today b/c I had so many questions about his diet as he gets older.  I am learning more and more that there is soy in SOOOO many things.  My question is, did your grocery shopping habits change dramatically and do you have any ideas about how to make it easier?  And what do y'all do when your children go places where you can't exactly monitor what they eat?  Just curious...

Lauren - posted on 01/23/2009

For my son, we were drawing blood the day of his endo. visits, which I hated b/c that meant we had to be at the hospital for an extra hour at least.  Our endo is in Oklahoma City and we live about 3 hours away, so it's an all day affair going to see his doctor.  However, from now on, we will start doing his blood draws a couple of days to a week before his doctor visits.  This way, they have his results when we get there and they can make any adjustments then instead of having to call us with the results and/or changes to meds.  They haven't said anything about how to schedule it around his daily dosage.  Luckily, we have a go-between between us and the doctors.  She's the one I get in contact with about his blood draws, dosage, etc.  She then goes to the doctors and asks them and then calls us back.  We do have direct contact with the doctor when we are there, but I like this approach, too b/c the doctor we take him to is at a teaching hospital (Univ. of Oklahoma), so they're a pretty busy bunch.  I like it  b/c at any given time, he has 2-3 doctors looking over his case.  Usually, we deal with an intern or med student and she reports to her attending. 

As for your doctor, my advice would be to just lay it on the line and tell him/her how you feel.  After all, it is all about your child and I think that the doctor should do what the parents want, especially when it comes to this type of condition.  I would have no trouble going "momma bear" (as my mom calls it) on anyone when it comes to my children's health.  I guess I'm lucky b/c my doctors and other personnel are always asking if we have any questions, concerns, ideas and whatnot.  I'm still new to this whole concept, but I have to keep reminding myself that I have to do what's best for my son and I have to not worry about hurting someone's feelings or stepping on anyone's toes.  But, as I said before, we've been lucky and there's always been that open door policy.