What blood tests to get?

[chapster]

After reading quite a lot on this forum regarding Thyroid conditions, sjogrens, hormone imbalances etc I decided to go to the local GP and ask for blood tests. I will be going tomorrow morning.

I want to make sure the doc does the correct tests.

Does anyone have a list of tests that I should ask for?

I wouldn't want to miss anything. It is strange that I am kind of hoping to find something wrong with my blood as then it will give me some hope.

[NeedMyEyes]

What blood tests to get for dry eye...

Thyroid: Free and total T4, free and total T3, TSH

Hormones: DHEA, testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen levels.

Lipids: LDL, HDL, total cholesterol (also, there are some tests that will tell you your blood omega 3 and omega 6 ratios, etc. though I am not familiar with these)

Autoimmune: ANA, Anti-SSA, Anti-SSB (these are also called Anti-Ro and Anti-La), anti-DSDNA, Anti-Smith, there are many, many other antibodies to check for other related conditions: Sjogren's, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Grave's disease, Dermatomyositis, etc.

It might also be nice to get an ESR and a CRP because these can be elevated in certain infections that might be related to dry eye.

I feel like I am missing something, but this is a start.

Good luck!

[Rebecca Petris]

NME, thanks for posting that... very helpful.

[NeedMyEyes]

If you take doxycycline or omega-3s

If you take either of these (or you PLAN to take them), you will want to get something called:

Liver Function Tests (AST, ALT, PTT, PT, albumin, bilirubin, etc.)

If your liver function tests become elevated, you will need to stop taking the medicine, unfortunately.

[Mastiff]

If you take either of these (or you PLAN to take them), you will want to get something called:

Liver Function Tests (AST, ALT, PTT, PT, albumin, bilirubin, etc.)

If your liver function tests become elevated, you will need to stop taking the medicine, unfortunately.

You shouldn't take omega-3's if you have poor liver function?

[NeedMyEyes]

Safety concerns for Omega 3 fatty acids

Here is a great link to the national library of medicine's page on Omega 3s:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...tural/993.html

Large doses of fish oil can cause bleeding.

The liver makes the proteins that clot the blood.

In liver disease, you have a higher risk of bleeding.