Thursday, December 6, 2018
After my acupuncture appointment today, we drove directly to the San Leandro Kaiser where I got two lab tests: one for TSH which Dr. Prabaharan had ordered three months ago to be done on December 6, and the other one the c-peptide test that I had requested.
As I pulled out 311 from the take-a-number machine, I heard the overhead announce that number 308 was to go to the receptionist. So I knew I wouldn’t have to wait a long time. There was hardly anyone else in the waiting area, and I barely had time to take a picture before my number was called. I made sure by asking the receptionist to confirm that I had two tests today.
“You actually have three tests,” he said. And that surprised me!
“I know about the TSH and the c-peptide,” I said, “but what is the third one?”
“Hep C,” was the reply. Well, I had forgotten that I had intended to ask Dr. Prabaharan about that since seeing the TV commercials about a pharmaceutical available to “cure” it. And that all baby boomers should be tested. “I didn’t know he had ordered it,” I continued. “I suppose that’s an indication of a very thorough PCP.”
“Yes, that’s one way to look at it,” he mused, “and better than thinking he was negligent in notifying you of it.”
I just smiled and sat down to wait for number 308 to be called for the blood draw, which was efficient and really wasn’t very painful. Though I still close my eyes or look away at the exact moment that the needle pierces the flesh.
By the end of the day on Friday, I had access to all the results:
- TSH = 1.62 (range 0.40 – 5.00 uIU/mL). I’m guessing Dr. Prabaharan will not change the dosage of levothyroxine.
- C-peptide = 2.6 (range 0.5-6.3 ng/mL). Looks like I don’t have hyperinsulinema. Nor do I have hypoinsulinemia, which could indicate LADA or even Type 1. My guess is that my low-carb diet has not only lowered my blood sugar but my insulin levels as well.
- Hep C = NEGATIVE. Whew! Don’t have to worry about that any more.
