blood test before colonscopy

Canyonbabe711

Veteran Member

Joined : Mar 2006

Posts : 1451

Posted 10/2/2008 11:05 PM (GMT -5)

My friend has emphysema like I do. Her Doctor will not order a colonscopy till she has a blood tests and we cannot figure out why. I have them more than I would like and neither gastro Dr. has ever asked for blood work. Do your Doctors require blood work and what would they be looking for?

Sarita

Veteran Member

Joined : Mar 2005

Posts : 2486

Posted 10/3/2008 2:09 PM (GMT -5)

A standard CBC (complete blood count) looks at a number of things, including the number, shape, and size of your white and red blood cells, your iron levels, stuff like that. A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) checks your electrolytes (potassium, sodium, chloride, etc.). In people with co-existing conditions, this would make sense to do, just to get a baseline measurement. No biggie!

Canyonbabe711

Veteran Member

Joined : Mar 2006

Posts : 1451

Posted 10/3/2008 8:28 PM (GMT -5)

There really isn't anything in the blood work that would relate to her breathing problem. She is going to ask him when she sees him what he is looking for. I am also going to ask my pulmonologist next week when I get my flu shot cause he has never requested one before my tests nor have the gastro's.

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