3rd Trimester
Unnecessary tests?? WWYD?
I'm a little aggravated because my OB called and wants me to take the 3 hour GTT test because, even though I passed the 1 hour, the results were "elevated". I checked online and the normal range for fasting 1 hour is 65 to 95 - I got an 83. Maybe it's just because I don't want to sit through a 3 hour test, but does that seem "elevated" to anyone else? At my last visit she ordered bloodwork to check my thyroid because I gained 7 lbs in a month. I'm currently 30 weeks and only gained 10 prior to the 7 lb jump. I told her that I had my thyroid tested not even a year ago and it was normal but she insisted I check again because sometimes thyroid issues surface during pregnancy. Part of me thinks I should just do what's recommended to rule out any possible issues, but there's something inside telling me that she's pushing the tests because she's getting something out of it. It just seems like something new is ordered at every visit.
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Re: Unnecessary tests?? WWYD?
Its not that bad. I'd take the 3 hour, personally. Better safe than sorry. Your number seemed in the middling area. If it were 73 I'd say skip it, but 83 is close enough. Your weight gain may be another indicator that you might have GD. If your doctor thinks its necessary then I wouldn't fight it too much. Honestly, its better to "prove him wrong" with a negative test than to skip it and put yourself at risk.
What do you honestly think your doctor gets out of ordering tests? I am asking you to sincerely consider this. I think its ludicrous to assume that your doctor is not acting in your best interest when trying to screen you for two very big things that can affect your health and your pregnancy. Another serious question: If you don't trust your doctor then why are you using them? If you don't trust them to screen you for your own good then what in the world do you think they are out to do trying to deliver your baby? I am side eyeing that being your reason for not wanting to get the tests. If you don't trust your doctor to do right by you then get a new one.
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All of this.
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With assuming you were within a normal BMI weight range pregnancy your weight sounds fine to have gained 17 lbs by 30 weeks. I have been gaining weight really randomly this pregnancy. I was only up 5lbs and then BAM I gained like 9 in a matter of 4 weeks but it is tapering off to a lb a week now. My OB hasn't said anything to be about it because I still within the average, although low, for what I should be gaining.
For the gluclose my results said the standard range is 70-129mg/dl and I came out with a 69. Is there any other OB you can possibly get a second opinion from?
You could ask to do the 2 hour fasting test instead of the three hour. From what I understand it can be more accurate than the three hour if you really want to be sure and it takes an hour less than the three hour. It might be better to be safe than sorry as undiagnosed GD can cause issues.
But if you are finding yourself not trusting your caregiver then I think it's time to find a new one. It just sounds like you feel like she has other motives and if that's how you're feeling then you clearly don't trust her, whether she's wrong or right. It sounds like you don't feel like you can have open conversations with her and that's an issue. Just be warned that a new doctor may suggest the same tests, but hopefully you find someone where you feel safe asking these questions to.
Just and FYI though, I gained 10 pounds in 4 weeks between week 18 and 22. I was told that this sort of gain at that point is very common in the second trimester and it's likely due to my body changing how it processes certain foods thanks to the pregnancy. She suggested I cut down on carbs and sugars (I was eating a lot of fruit), which I did. Since then I haven't gained a pound. It had nothing to do with my thyroid or blood sugar and she considered it normal. A few small diet changes fixed it right away.
B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
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I know it's not that bad and I most likely will have the three hour done, but I was curious to see if anyone else would be suspicious. The office I go to has their own lab, so I do think the more tests that are run the more $ they make. The range on my test results said 65-95 was the normal range so I wouldn't necessarily think that an 83 was elevated. I'm going to this OB because she came recommended by a family member who happens to be a L&D nurse where I'm delivering. I'm farther along in my pregnancy and I don't really want to change OBs now.
I'm 32 weeks and switching caregivers. Not because I want to but because I moved but it's not that bad. And if I meet this new doctor (next week) and decide I don't like her I will not hesitate to switch. I find it VERY important to be with someone I trust rather than settle for someone I can deal with. But that's just me when it comes to doctors in general! I am VERY picky.
I agree that 83 doesn't really seem elevated if those are the numbers you were given, but maybe the doctor is seeing other things to base this re-test off of. Is there sugar showing up in your urine, perhaps?
B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
The thyroid test is a simple blood draw. I am a slim, active person regularly and I had to both take the 3 hour GTT and was diagnosed with subclinical [caused by the pregnancy] hypothyroidism. Both issues can arise in anyone, anytime.
All of this!! Go do the test. It's better safe then sorry..it's really not that big of a deal!!
A. Actually you said once you most likely will take it. Not you will
B. You're not a Dr so of course in your opinion it's not a big deal.
C. Welcome to pregnancy.
D. Then why are you questioning taking these tests. If your Dr thinks they are needed, she is probably being safe than sorry as well.
You got off seriously light for the amount of presumption you displayed.
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I do this for a living and if someone told me their 1G50 was in the 80s I would wonder why the doc was ordering a 3hr. Also, a passing 1hr is <139. OP, honestly, isnt totally out in left field here. OP, they only drew you once, right? After the drink?
Testing thyroid is never a bad idea, but it's not routine around here.
It's your right to refuse whatever test you dont want, keeping in mind pre-preg labs dont mean squat. If there is a question about your sugar levels, I would DEFINITELY get a second opinion if you dont trust your OBs.
ETA(again)- I dont know how your office is setup obviously, but our lab is completely separate. It sounds to me like your doc is just a cautious one.
Doctors are not the end-all-be-all. It's not a sign of bad motherhood-to-be if you ~question~ your doc. You can absolutely ask for a second opinion and ask your doc what specifically made her want to do the 3hr. She should explain it well if she has such a specific idea why she wants it done. It's not like the 3hr is just some little blood test. It sucks. It's worth it if you need it, but I read OP's only hang up is the necessity. Over-treatment can be just as bad as under-treatment.
This. Doctors don't make money off of lab tests. And any good doctor would never want you to do unnecessary testing. And if you don't trust your doctor, if you don't think them to have your best interest in mind, you absolutely should be seeing them. What are you going to do if there is an emergency and you have to make a decision in a moment based only on your doctors recommendation?
Yep, Prim says it best. I don't really understand why you would think your doctor is going to "get something out of it".
I'm wondering if the test is a different one, my number cut off was 135, but she said earlier her cut off was 95 so maybe it's a lesser amount of glucose or something?
I believe it's standard to not do a fasting draw with the 1hr, so Im wondering if there was some confusion on OPs part about what the cutoff is or if they did do a fasting and that was her fasting number. I was hoping she would answer how many times they drew her blood.
If that was her 1 hour then she passed with flying colors. If it was her fasting, and she doesnt have her actual 1hr results, then she very well could be high. The <100 rule is for fasting results.
If this were me, I would definitely do the thyroid screening. That can change crazy fast with pregnancy and I had a friend that had some complications.
I would probably ask the doctor for clarification on what she considers elevated about the GTT.
To me, it sounds like your doctor is doing her "due diligence" but I always advocate a patient making sure they have clarification to the point of comfort with any medical procedure.
a. You got me ... I said it once -thanks for keeping tabs post police.
b. just because I'm not a doctor doesn't mean I don't have the right to question what she wants me to do.
c. Thanks, this is my second pregnancy so I do have a prior experience to compare this one to.
d. Again, it's my right to question whatever I want to. If you passed a test, any test, wouldn't you question why someone wants you to take it over? That doesn't seem strange to you? Sorry for being suspicious/curious.
I wasn't looking for a particular answer, but you repeating "just go take the test, it's not that big a deal" and saying i'm "ludicrous" for thinking my doctor, who has a lab within her office, might benefit from the amount of tests she orders, did feel like an attack and something I wanted to respond to. Do you have medical training? Unless you do, who are you to say that it IS necessary? Someone else posted saying that she does this for a living and she would question why the doc would want me to take the test over. Thanks for taking it easy on me, I appreciate it. I'm glad we have pregnancy experts like you to set me straight.
To everyone else, thanks for your support and for sharing your experiences and advice. That's why I posted to the board.
Sorry - I also wanted to respond to some other questions:
I know there are different GTT tests but the one I took was a one hour test. I did fast before the test but i was told it wasn't necessary. My blood was drawn before I drank the glucola and then 1 hour after. I spoke to my doctor tis afternoon about why she wanted me to take the test over and why she felt my numbers were elevated since my # was right in he middle of the normal range. She said that she wanted me to do the three hour just to be safe since I am measuring two weeks ahead. She also ordered an u/s to get an idea of how big the baby is. I am totally fine with this explanation and I plan to take the test tomorrow. Even with her explanation I still question her recommendation because if her plan was for me to take the 3 hour regardless of my 1 hour result then why wouldn't you just have me do a three hour to begin with? I also had my thyroid tested and that came back normal - again no big deal to get my blood drawn, but i was curious if other women had concerned OBs if they gained 7+ lbs in a month.
I can see how my post and responses could come off that way. Maybe it's not my doctor, but the healthcare system in general that I don't trust. I am very thankful that I have excellent insurance but I am also very aware that are many people in this country who have serious medical needs who don't have access to treatment and testing. It just seems very unfair and maybe that's why I'm a bit suspicious. With my first pregnancy I did whatever my OB wanted me to do because I felt that they were the expert and I should trust them. Looking back on the experience I felt that I was pressured into an unnecessary c-section because my doc was impatient. He actually told me it's time to "sh*t or get off the pot" because I wasn't progressing fast enough. I also didn't feel the need to get into this, but my son is also autistic. Any parent of an autistic child thinks about all the things that could have attributed to the diagnosis (in my case - i keep going back to his delivery) so that might be why tend to question things more than others. I know this may seem contradictory because you would then think I'd want them to test me for everything, but I want the most natural birth possible for this baby so I am trying to avoid what i feel to be unnecessary interventions if I can help it.
it wasn't that I wanted everyone to agree with me, but I didn't find it helpful for some to act like I was being over dramatic when all I wanted was to do was vent and see if anyone else had a similar experience. We all need to vent our frustrations from time to time - that's why many of us post - I get irritated when I see the same "know it alls" telling people they are wrong for feeling what they are feeling post after post.