How often do you do labs? How often do you see the doctor?

Just wondering how often everyone gets their labs done? They have been doing mine every 6 months. I just asked that they be done more often to monitor my condition better. How often do you see the doctor? I see mine every 3 months. I think I might need to see him more often.

Quarterly blood tests are managed by my GP. I only see my gastro if I think I'm flaring or if I have questions about my medication.

It's going to be all over the map for folks: how often do you do labs and see your doctor? It depends on two big variables: what medications are you on (as some require more frequent monitoring than others) and how bad are your UC symptoms (we see our doctors frequently when flaring, and infrequently when in a remission).

When I'm in a remission, I see my gasteroenteroligist either annually or twice a year. When I am flaring I see my gastroenterologist every 6-8 weeks. In between those visits, I call into the doctors office and speak with the doctor's nurse when I'm not improving, have questions, etc. I'm on 6MP, so I get bloodwork done every 3 months, a necessity/requirement while on that drug. I get a Complete Blood Cell Count (CBC), Hepatic Function Panel (LFT), and a C-Reactive Protein (CRP) test done every 3-months. The CRP is for monitoring my current inflammation levels, which is a good non-invasive way to see if my UC is stable, getting worse, etc. The CBC and LFT are necessities for as long as I am on 6MP, to make sure my white blood cell (WBC) count doesn't unexpectedly plummet (6MP intentionally lowers my WBC count but it has to stay within a safe range and not get too low) and make sure my liver enzymes don't suddenly jump.

As you're on the meds humira and lialda, then I would think annual blood tests run by your family doctor or general practitioner would be perfectly fine. There is no required blood monitoring schedule for mesalamine and humira. It makes sense to check them as part of your annual physical.

Some gasteroenteroligists non-invasively monitor your UC through the CRP blood test, or through a Fecal Calprotectin (FCP) stool test. That can be done quarterly, twice a year, or annually. A lot of variability.

Glad you're getting scopes and bloodwork done IAC. I do worry about some who, by choice are doctor-free and med-free with chronic UC, yet had UC for a long, long time. Out of shear curiosity, what does your biopsy/colonoscopy reports say? Is it signs of inactive, chronic UC, with architectural changes consistent of an IBD in a histological/deep/quiescent-remission? Just hoping there's no inflammation lingering and no signs of dysplasia...

When I need it, I take a generic metamucil (ground psylum husks without flavoring, sugar or coloring), that has the consistency and taste of sand...bleh. The wife quite aptly calls it grit lol.

what does your biopsy/colonoscopy reports say?

My reports are fine and the doctor said I may not need another colonoscopy for about 7 years.

Hi momto2boys! Nice to meet you.

Thank you so much for sharing your positive information with me regarding how you do your labs and appointments. Sounds like a great plan.

I am trying to get my Dr. to do something like this. Your doctor is so right about needing to stay on top of IBD because it can turn course quickly. Like in my case. I am hoping to start getting my labs done more often now that things got out of control and I had to be treated in the Hospital. My doctor is a bit mad that I asked him to monitor me more closely now and sent me a snarky portal email message but I did get a standing order out of him for labs and that's what really matters right now.

It's all about being your own advocate and fighting for what you need if need be. They call it Self Care in cognitive behavior therapy and state that putting oneself first is not selfish it's called self care and taking care of ones needs first is essential to a persons Health and Wellbeing and if you do this you will be able to help others when needed.

Wishing you the best and sending positive energy your way today.

I get my labs done every 3 months, and I see my doctor every 3 months also

I do them all the time. Self-pay pricing. The heart surgeon, the Entyvio internist, the GP they all do them too.

Then the Entyvio internist freaked out because my creatinine was 1.9 and bun 30. I told him to ignore it because its always high because I lift weights daily and eat a lot of protein. It always says I have kidney disease upon hospital discharge. He says the numbers are for someone with only one kidney or an 80-year old.

I go see the "Nephrologist" and tell her to take a 'Cystatin-C' test and send it to Mayo Clinic because it is not effected by lifestyle.

Results are equivalent to someone in the age group younger than myself not an 80 year old as he suggested. Onward to protein in urine test, oops divide by zero looks like there are none found so kidneys not leaking either.

Onward to the kidney ultrasound - looks like there are two in there and they are normal in every way.

2nd nothingburger after heart surgery was also from flawed diagnostics and not needed.

I think it is important to know your own bloodwork, what is normal and what the tests mean and not entirely rely on the doctors IMO. Obviously some tests are fallible. Always better to be safe than sorry as the truth can withstand questioning.