level a little low, need advice please..

[halleyg]

I am 6 weeks post-op.. was having my levels checked every week up until 2 1/2 weeks ago. They were high at first but got down to 3.0 last check w/my internist who is regulating me, so she had me wait two weeks till the next check. I was a little worried during this time b/c my appetite has gotten better and I've been eating more "greens." I had a cardiologist appt. yesterday so I just had them check my level to save myself an extra trip (and co-pay) instead of going to my internist. Anyhow, I got my level back from my cardiololgist this morning and it is 2.39 - not terribly low, but too low nonetheless. I have put in a couple of messages to my internist to see what dosage I should take tonight (I take 6 mg. daily) but for some reason I never heard back from the nurse or my dr. Usually they are good about returning calls and now the office is closed. Anyhow, I want to go ahead and jump on it, so I was wondering from those of you who monitor yourselves (which I would like to do eventually), what would you do? Or is it OK to go another day until I talk to my dr. or should I go ahead and bump it up a little this evening?

 

[Ross]

I'd give it one more check in a week and if still low or falling, increase the overall weekly dose by 10% and retest in one week. If your taking 6mg a day, that's 36mg a week, so 36X10%=3.6 or 3.5 rounded+36 for a new total of 39.5mg for one week.

 

[catwoman]

I'd give it one more check in a week and if still low or falling, increase the overall weekly dose by 10% and retest in one week. If your taking 6mg a day, that's 36mg a week, so 36X10%=3.6 or 3.5 rounded+36 for a new total of 39.5mg for one week.

Ross:

Shouldn't that be 42mg a week (6X7)?
Increasing it by 10% would be 4.2mg, go with 4.0mg + 42mg = 46mg a week. That could be done with 7 mg on M - W - F & Sat, 6 mg on T - Th - Sun.
Or you could just take 6.5 X 7 and you'd be 0.5mg short, but that'd probably work.

 

[Karlynn]

I agree - keep it as is, test in a week, if it's still low - do the 10%.

 

[halleyg]

Thanks!!! I am such a newbie still, I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. Thank goodness for this site and helpful people like you! I hope to be able to figure all this out on my own someday.

 

[Ross]

Ross:

Shouldn't that be 42mg a week (6X7)?
Increasing it by 10% would be 4.2mg, go with 4.0mg + 42mg = 46mg a week. That could be done with 7 mg on M - W - F & Sat, 6 mg on T - Th - Sun.
Or you could just take 6.5 X 7 and you'd be 0.5mg short, but that'd probably work.

You mean to tell me that there isn't 6 days in a week?
Hey what do you want, I graduated from Hoover High.